[153] Roger Fry on Oriental Art, January, 1910.
[154] In the position called silo by the natives, but with the body straight, not bent forward.
[155] The lowest circular terrace has or ought to have 32, the second or middle one 24, the highest and last 16 of them.
[156] M. A. Foucher points out in the Bulletin de l’Ecole Française d’Extrême Orient, iii., that the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsiang found another unfinished statue in the Mahabodhi temple near the Bo-tree of Enlightenment, a statue which, according to the description, represented the Buddha in the same position, his left hand resting in his lap, his right hand hanging down, etc.
[157] The literature concerning this statue, says Goena Darma in the Javapost of December 5, 1903, is extensive and rich in curious conjectures but poor as to scientific value.
[158] Proceedings of the Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences, January 11, 1910.
[159] Professor Dr. C. Snouck Hurgronje, Nederland en de Islām.
[160] Since this was written, the information reached me that the recho belèq has been taken out of its hole to give it a place somewhere in the temple grounds where it will be open to inspection, which the reconstruction of the dagob would have made impossible if left in its original station. The sacrilege may be condoned to a certain extent if it implies the disappearance of the tablet intended to keep alive the memory of the disastrous royal visit.
The illustration opposite page [280] shows the upper terraces and the dagob after their restoration: the pinnacle of the dagob having been reconstructed with its crowning ornament, this was afterwards taken away because of some uncertainty as to its original arrangement.
[161] Gardus are guard-houses erected for the accommodation of the men who take their turn in watching the roads at night; near the entrance of each hangs the beloq (block), a piece of wood which, being hollow, is beaten with a stick to proclaim the hour or to signal fire, amok, the appearance of kechus (armed thieves), etc.