are built on raised platforms whereon are crowded shrines, zayats (rest-houses), images, altars for lights and flowers, bells, tagundaing (posts decorated with streamers), water-stands, images of the Buddha.
Pagodas at Rangoon, Mandalay, Pagan, and elsewhere have already been described. A long list of other pagodas might be compiled and an account of Burma would be incomplete without mention of the most notable. When great
Fig. 80. Chinthes, figures at Pagoda entrance.
age is assigned to a pagoda, it must not be supposed that it was built originally of its present height and splendour. The first building was probably small and insignificant, magnified by later accretions superimposed.
In the midst of Rangoon stands the Sule Pagoda, of venerable antiquity, but overshadowed by the dominance of Shwe Dagôn. In Thatôn are Zingyaik (11th century) and a pagoda said to have been built by King Dhammacheti
