DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25989#0177
TO CHATBHGAON.
!61
thickness and extent, constructed with large
stones ; and with a degree of labour such as a
powerful state alone could have commanded.
Where the masonry is delapidated, the inter-
stices have by the Burmese been Riled up with
piles of timber. The interior work is compara-
tively trifling to that by which the defects in the
circumvallation of the hills appear to have been
supplied. At every point where the continuity
of their general outline is broken, artiRcial em-
bankments, laced with masonry, some of a very
great height, connect them with each other; and
the excavations whence the materials were
quarried, have now formed into what resemble
large natural ponds. The Burmese intrench-
ments, merely followed and took advantage of
this ancient line of defensive outworks. The
extent of the circumference is nearly nine
miles. At the gateways the stone Avails ap-
pear to have been of considerable elevation and
great solidity ; but where the steepness or alti-
tude of the hill rendered artiRcial defences of less
importance, a loAV Avail of brick or stone has
been carried along the summit. These defences
are said to have been constructed several cen-
turies ago.
'AH the hills and hillocks contiguous to
the toAvn are surmounted by Pagodas, which by
resembling spires, give the place something of
u
!61
thickness and extent, constructed with large
stones ; and with a degree of labour such as a
powerful state alone could have commanded.
Where the masonry is delapidated, the inter-
stices have by the Burmese been Riled up with
piles of timber. The interior work is compara-
tively trifling to that by which the defects in the
circumvallation of the hills appear to have been
supplied. At every point where the continuity
of their general outline is broken, artiRcial em-
bankments, laced with masonry, some of a very
great height, connect them with each other; and
the excavations whence the materials were
quarried, have now formed into what resemble
large natural ponds. The Burmese intrench-
ments, merely followed and took advantage of
this ancient line of defensive outworks. The
extent of the circumference is nearly nine
miles. At the gateways the stone Avails ap-
pear to have been of considerable elevation and
great solidity ; but where the steepness or alti-
tude of the hill rendered artiRcial defences of less
importance, a loAV Avail of brick or stone has
been carried along the summit. These defences
are said to have been constructed several cen-
turies ago.
'AH the hills and hillocks contiguous to
the toAvn are surmounted by Pagodas, which by
resembling spires, give the place something of
u