tributaries of the Ganges, is a column of brick, approaching in its colossal dimensions to the huge pyramids of Egypt. It is supposed to have been erected as a shrine for the god Maha Deo. At the present it is very much decayed, yet sufficient remains to show its original form to have been a cylinder placed upon the frustrum of a cone, and reared to such a height as to be seen at a great distance. An English traveller (Mr. Burrow) gives the dimensions of this structure, as follows: diameter of column at its base, three hundred and sixty-three feet; height of the conic frustrum on which the cylinder is placed, ninety-three feet; diameter of cylinder sixtyfour feet; entire height one hundred and fifty eight feet. The cone and cylinder are made of burnt brick, but when they were erected cannot be determined.

CHAPTER III.

Chinese Architecture-Porcelain Tower-Seven PagodasShoe-madoo-Tomb at Thibet-Persian Architecture--Antiquity of the Empire-Persepolis Temple-Palace-Destruction of the city-Hebrew Architecture-Tabernacle and Temple of Solomon-Petra-Greece-Its early Cities-Building Materials used-The five Epochs of Grecian ArchitectureThe three Orders, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian-Their Origin and Proportions-Beautiful Roman Specimen-Temples of Greece, and her Colonies-The Etruscans-Caryatides-Their attributed and real Origin-Ancient Cenotaph.

We have previously mentioned that the Chinese cultivated architecture at a very early period, not more than two hundred years after

the flood. Their style is peculiar, and is but an imitation, in form, of the original tent. They have very few monuments, but pagodas or temples of worship are profusely scattered over the empire. Their temples and houses are both im itations of the tent, though the latter are often many stories high and splendidly ornamented. The most remarkable of these structures is the porcelain tower, situated in the vast plain near the city of Nankin. Its form is octagon, with nine arched stories, encrusted with marble in the interior, and covered with porcelain without. At each story is a gallery with green roofs and gilded pillars, from which are suspended little bells that send forth an agreeable sound when agitated by the wind. So neatly are the plates of porcelain joined that it is impossible to discover the joints, and the enameling used being of green, yellow, and red colors, gives it the appearance of being studded with gold, emeralds, and rubies. The pinnacle is surmounted by a huge pine-apple of solid gold. This building is said to have existed eight hundred years without injury.

But among the most ancient specimens of Chinese architecture extant, are ruins of what seems once to have been a magnificent city, situated near the sea-shore on the borders of Pegu The place is known by the name of the Seven Pagodas. Several of these temples excavated in the solid rock, are to be seen there, in which are sculptures nearly resembling the Egyptian and Hindoo, with the exception that the representation of lions and other animals are more perfect and correct than those of Ellora. One of these pagodas seems to have been left unfinished in consequence of some mighty convulsion.

of nature, for the rock out of which it is newr. is rent from top to bottom, leaving a yawning fissure through the centre of the temple. Some

pagodas partly immersed, and others entirely so, by the ocean, are to be seen in the vicinity; and it is supposed that some terrible earthquake whose shock rent the rock just mentioned, engulphed the city in the general ruin which it now exhibits. The pagodas which yet remain above water, bear great resemblance to the Egyptian style of building, and were probably the work of a people contemporary with those who reared the temple of Carnac, or excavated the cavern fanes of Elephanta.

The temple of Shoe-madoo was erected about six hundred years before Christ, and is still in a fine state of preservation. It consists of a solid pyramid built upon a double terrace, one raised above another. It is constructed of brick without any excavation, and its diameter at the base is one hundred and sixty-two feet. The lower terrace is quadrangular, each side of which is one thousand four hundred feet, and the upper one six hundred and eighty-four feet. On these terraces are situated the dwellings of the priests. On the top of the temple or pyramid is a tee or gallery, in the form of an umbrella, fifty-six feet in circumference, and superbly gilt.

At Thibet is a magnificent tomb supposed to be a work of great antiquity, and in its style very much resembles the pagodas of the present day. In fact, comparing the remains of ancient Chinese architecture with the descriptions of buildings given by Marco Polo, and those of the present day, it is obvious that very little difference has been made in their style, during the lapse of

many ages.

So also with the Hindoos. Their present temples and shrines, and dwellings, vary but little from those of their earlier ancestors; and the present political condition of India, combined with the social degeneracy of its inhabitants, renders it quite certain that architecture and every other branch of the fine arts must gradually decline, and all the glory of their past greatness be eclipsed for ages, perhaps for ever

The Persians, or Iranians as they are properly styled, cultivated architecture at a very early period. Some writers advance the supposition that Iran, commonly called Persia, is the oldest empire on the globe, and Sir William Jones, that most learned and indefatigable investigator, gives it as his opinion, that it was the centre of population, arts, literature, languages, and science, and that Assyria, Egypt, and the whole of ChinIndia are indebted to Iran for their population and knowledge. And yet history and tradition are very barren so far as regards their architecture and other branches of the fine arts, and we are obliged to rely mainly upon the ruins that exist, for the knowledge we possess of their advancement in these indications of civilization and refinement.

The principal architectural ruins in this region, are those of Persepolis, the ancient capital of Persia. It was situated in a vast plain, surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains of considerable height. The most magnificent part of the ruins is at Ischilmanar, or forty columns, so called from the fact that when the Mahometans invaded that part of the empire, forty columns were then standing, supposed to be the remains of an edifice erected by King Schemscheddin

At the present there are only nineteen of these columns erect. Each of these is surmounted by the figure of some well known animal. This is an important fact in proof of the great antiquity of this structure, for the Persians, in the earlier ages of the world, worshipped deity in the open air, either in groves, or, as in this case, within an area surrounded by columns without architraves or roofs. These columns are formed of exceedingly white marble with which the mountains in the vicinity abound.

Near this columnar temple is the ruins of what travellers suppose to have been a palace. Fifteen columns are still standing, which are nearly eighty feet in height. The pedestals are beautifully sculptured, the shafts are enfluted, and the capitals are adorned with a great profusion of ornamental work, more resembling fretting than foliage. Near this is a large square building with a granite door. The inner doors and the casements of the windows are made of black marble, finely polished. In the interior there are also some excellent basso relievos. At one entrance are two large pillars, with four figures carved upon them, bearing spears and dressed in long garments. On these pillars are inscriptions in characters unknown at the present day. For more than a mile in all directions from this palace, broken columns, entablatures and friezes are scattered in profusion, and tell of the magnificence of this ancient city when the ambitious Macedonian entered its portals with his destroying legions in his train. Alexander was persuaded by Thais, an abandoned courtezan, during one of his drunken revels, to set it on fire, and