124 ORIGIN AND DECLINE OF THE 



placed it on a Calvary, in public places, and at the 

 meeting of cross roads ; and it is said, that even the 

 heathen ^iWw* m these parts paid also great regard 

 to it. I have annexed the drawings of two crosses, 

 from a book entitled the Cshttra-samasa, lately given 

 to me by a learned Bauddlia, who is visiting the holy 

 places in the countries bordering upon the Ganges,* 

 There are various representations of this mystical 

 symbol, which my friend the Jati could not explain 

 to me ; but says, that the shaft and the two arms of 

 the cross remain invariably the same, and that the 

 Calvary is sometimes omitted. It becomes then a 

 cross, with four points, sometimes altered into across 

 cramponney as used in heraldry. 



In the second figure there are two instruments de- 

 picted, the meaning of which my learned friend, 

 the Jati, could not explain. Neither did he know 

 what they were intended to represent ; but, says he, 

 they look like two spears : and indeed they look very 

 much like the spear and reed, often represented with 

 the cross. The third figure represents the same 

 tree, but somewhat nearer to its natural shape. When 

 it is represented as a trunk without branches, as in 

 Japan, it is then said to be the seat of the supreme 

 One. When two arms are added, as in our 

 cross, the Trimurti is said to be seated there. When 

 with five branches, the five Sugats, or grand forms 

 of Budd'ha, are said to reside upon them. Be this 

 as it may, I cannot believe the resemblance of this 

 cross and Calvary, with the sign of our redemption, 

 to be merely accidtnital. I have written this ac- 

 count of the progress of the Christian religion in 

 India, with the impartiality of an historian, fully 



* Plate 2. 



