48 Dr. Hamilton^ Description of the Ruins of Buddha Gdija. 



and frequented by pilgrims from Gdyd, as I have already mentioned, the 

 north side of the terrace has been repaired as a road ; and some zealous 

 person has lately built a stair on the outside, so that the ortliodox may pass 

 up without entering the porch, and thus seeing the hateful image of Bud- 

 dha. The Mandir has been covered with plaster, some remains of which 

 shew that it has been subdivided into numberless projecting corners, petty 

 mouldings, and niches, each containing the image of a Buddha in plaster ; 

 and on each projecting corner has been placed a stone somewhat like a 

 bee-hive,* having a Buddha carved on each of its four faces, with a hole 

 in the top for incense. The number of such now scattered over the coun- 

 try is almost inconceivable. The porch has always been small ; and since 

 it fell, some persons have cleared away the ruins and constructed a gate 

 of the fragments. The shrine or cavity in the Mandir that is on a level 

 with the ground, and the entrance to which was through the porch, is 

 small, and covered with a Gothic arch, the plaster-work on which has been 

 divided into small compartments, each containing an image of a Buddha. 

 The whole far end of the chamber has been occupied by a throne of stone 

 (singhdsan) in a very bad taste, and which has been disfigured by a motley 

 row of images taken from the ruins, and built on its front, so as to hide 

 parts of the deity. This is a monstrous mis-shapen daub of clay, and has 

 been well enough represented in a drawing published, if I recollect, by 

 the late Col. Symes. The extreme rudeness of this image may, perhaps, 

 be considered as a proof of great antiquity ; and this may have been the 

 original image placed here in the time of Gautama, round which the tem- 

 ple has been constructed. There is, however, current a tradition of the 

 original image having been gold, and of its having been removed by the 

 Muhammedans ; so that the present image is supposed to have been made 

 after the sect had undergone persecution, and could no longer procure 

 workmen capable of making a decent substitute. 



Above this chamber are two others, one on the level of the old terrace, 

 and the other still higher ; but with these the falling of the porch has cut 

 off all communication. Several of the people, however, in the vicinity, 

 remember the porch standing, and have frequ3ntly been in the chambers, 

 a stair from the terrace leading to the uppermost. This was quite empty, 

 and was probably the place where treasure was deposited. The middle 



* Deh. 



