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ch. xix]

CHIEF TOWNS

175

for the great press of people; for they come from all places of the Kingdom of Pegu thither at their feast[1].

The Pagoda consists of a solid mass of brickwork, 312 feet in height from the platform. A great part of the fabric is covered with gold plates renewed from time to time. The whole is crowned by a ti, a metal framework studded with jewels, presented by King Mindôn in 1871. The platform

Fig. 69. Shwe Dagôn Pagoda platform.

Fig. 69. Shwe Dagôn Pagoda platform.

is crowded with smaller pagodas, zayats (rest-houses), tagundaing (poles adorned with streamers), subsidiary shrines, and other sacred buildings. Here is a great bell which the British essayed to remove by sea after the Second War. Unluckily, while it was being shipped, it fell into the river and all the king's horses and all the king's men failed to get it up again. In reply to their request,

  1. ↑ Hakluyt, ii. 393.
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