[Illustration: SHWAY-DA-GONG, THE GREAT PAGODA OF RANGOON, BURMAH. IT CONTAINS RELICS OF BUDDHA. THE EXTERIOR IS COVERED WITH GILT. THE ENTRANCES ARE GUARDED BY GRIFFINS.] Within the pagoda inclosure there are many temples, most containing huge images of Gautama, made of wood, brick and lime, or marble and metal. On small tables, in front of many of the images, are placed candles, flowers and little paper flags. Around the pagoda tall poles are placed at short intervals, each crowned with a h’tee. Near the pagoda is a great bell, under which a man may stand upright. The worshipers strike upon this bell, to attract the attention of the recording angels, so that they may not omit to credit them with the worship about to be performed in honor of the gods. THE STORY OF SHWAY-DA-GONG. Two brothers, said in the native books to have been Mōns or Talaings, having made an offering to Gautama, begged in return some relic of himself, on which he stroked his head, and gave them eight hairs that came out. These he desired them to deposit in a pagoda in a spot where had already been buried certain relics of his three great predecessors. They accordingly started with them for “Suvarna-bhumi,” the Sanskrit name of Pegu, but on the way lost six of the hairs. However, they were recovered in a miraculous manner, and the holy site pointed out to them by the Nats. Here, on digging, the relics of the former Buddhas--viz., a water-scoop of Gaunagon, a robe of Kathapa, and a staff of Kanthathon,--were found, and these, together with the eight hairs of Gautama, were deposited in a hole on the top of the hill on which “Shway-da-Gong” now stands, and a solid pagoda of stones, sixty-six feet high was erected. This pagoda is thus specially sacred to all Buddhists, as the only one known to them as now existing, which is supposed to contain the relics not only of Gautama, but also of all the Buddhas of this present world. At the time of its erection, and for centuries afterwards, no town existed on the site of Rangoon, and the pagoda stood, like many others at the present day, in the midst of the wild forest. The history of the pagoda, which is rather a long one, contains detailed particulars of the various improvements, repairs and enlargements made to it by various kings. The edifice has been cased several times (as was also the custom with the Ceylon dagabas) with a fresh outer surrounding of bricks several feet thick, thus each time increasing its height and size. Thus, in A.D. 1447, the King of Pegu encased it afresh, and made its height 301½ feet. In 1462, the King of Pegu cast, it is said, a colossal bell, 168 feet high, 12 feet in diameter and 36 feet in circumference; also several other smaller bells, and paved the platform or terrace of the pagoda with 50,000 flat stones. This wonderful bell, it is perhaps unnecessary to say, is not in existence at the present time. OTHER PAGODAS.