WONDERFUL RUINS IN SIAM.

Evening Star, Issue 3125, 24 February 1873, Page 3

WONDERFUL RUINS IN SIAM.

General Perrin, a Frenchman, commanding the land forces of the King of Siam, writes to a French paper as follows :

For six days’ journey of an elephant, I have traversed the ruins of Ancor-Niat, only penetrating at intervals where explorers ha 1 never been before. What I have seen ol monuments, temples, palaces, columns, staircases, and piles of marbles, cannot be told. I hev would not believe me. The people of the'country say that the ruins are spread over a circle of from ten to twelve leagues in diameter. What was the city that exi:ted there—and of what empire was it the capital? I have seen temples in a good state of preservation (except the vegetation that had sprung up in them), which measured not less than a league round. There arc forests of marble columns; everything is marble. Although much may have disappeared beneath the soil, what remains is far above what we see at Versailles or elsewhere. In some places they .are as solid as though built but yesterday. But for the undergrowth and oftcc- of lightning, these monuments, which the people say are from four to five thousand years old, might be to-day in perfect preservation. I regret that I had no photographic apparatus, C assure you, and, believe me or not, the most celebrated monuments of ancient or modern » urope are as meie barracks compared with these ; while our palaces and uasilicas, the Vatican and Coliseum, are little better than dog-kennels in comparison. I wished to ascend to a temple which appeared to be in a good state of preservation. i here were eleven staircases, of I knew not how many steps, which must be ascended to arrive at the first of the five peristyles, I commenced my upward journey at six in tie morning; at half-past seven I hadscaiceiy entered tbe lower halls. Fearing that I might have to descend the steps in tbe heat of the day, I was compelKd to shorten my visit. The walls are in every part scull tured and ornamented. The first effect which the subt of these monuments produced upon me was one of amazement. I am no amateur to go into eebtasie over small thing*. 7'he next morning I climbed the winding staircase of an immense tower, situated on an eminence. Arrived at the summit, 1 enjoyed the sight of the ruins. 7'here are, in localities where 1 have not yet penetrated, palaces of a height and grandeur truly colossal With a fi.ddglass 1 examined the details. Their architectural richness is unrivalled, and they extend into the territory of Cambodia, a distance of ten or twelve leagues. Picture to yourself how Paris would appear in ruins. A few rough stones scattered over a diameter of two or three leagues at the utt6rmost. Here there is on the ground, and below its surface, m rble, already hewn in sufficient quantities to build, even as the giants have built here, all the cities of the universe. I have seen the leg of a statue, the great toe of whi hj wait eleven times the length of my hunting rifle. It is ma.ble like the rest—in fact there hno other stone near, except the pieces of colored statues, which are more lofty aud larger than the Church of Saint German I’Auxerrois. Think of octagonal pyramids cut off at the middle, and all t}ris in marble ! Who has done these things ? If some illustrious dynasty, they can have but little satisfaction with the oblivion that has enveloped their magnificent monuments The people of the country have no conception of the bui’ders although thrir literature extends back into the centurics as £ai* as ours.