Page:Life in Java Volume 2.djvu/187

 ALTAR FIGURES. 171

hair of the same description. They very much resemble each other, and both wear crowns. We also observed that the left arms were stretched out very much in the same deformed manner as those of the dancers at Djokdja. Their right hands are held near the breast with two fingers raised, like the figure of St. Peter at Home.

One of these figures is bound to the altar on which it rests by a chain carved out of the stone ; and the other is nailed throuo;h the thio-li. A curious tradition is related of these three figures. One of the IJuddhist deities, whom the natives now call Ivajah liandong, is described as having paid his court to the <roddess Durtja, and, on beinix rc- jected by lier, marched with a large force to compel her to submit to his wislies. Durga, fearing tliat her army miglit be defeated by so powerful an adversaiy, ap[)hc'([ to Slambey for his assistance in tiiL' struggle. This deity, glad of an opportunity to serve the fair goddess, lost no time in suuunon-

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