440 RpMARKS ON SOM^ ANTIQUITIEc ON ZHE 



the four center ones of which only are cut to r^egular 

 form with bafes and capitals : itexa611y fronts the line of 

 the avenue to the temple on the height : on its north fide 

 are two pillars* alfo fculptured, forming an ex aQifquare 

 \vith the two central ones of the colonade, in the center 

 of which is a fquare opening of about two and a half feet 

 on the fides faced with (lone but nearly filled up with 

 earih ; this feems to have been the fituation of the in- 

 terior reccfs where the objeft of w'orfhip was placed, of 

 which and of the roof no veftige remains. 



Proceeding thenCe by an eafy afcent, we crofs tlie 

 ruins of a wall probably the enclofure of the grand tem- 

 ple, marked by feveral pillars and upright Oones, but no 

 I'culpturcs are to be feen till we reach the Cipgakjv itiv.- 

 ple, nearly fronting which (lands the inner portal of a 

 Hindu temple, confiding of two upright flones fupport- 

 ing a crofs one, all carved on one face, with ornaments 

 fmilar to thofe of the interior parts of the pagodas ©n 

 the coaft ; the center of the crofs Done occupied by ^ 

 fierce fantaftic head, the fides by ^ running border of 

 foliage, and the bafement fupported by figures exactly 

 in the fame flyle and tafte. 



To the left of the Cingalefo building are more ruins, 

 evidently the remains of other temples : the (leps lead- 

 ing up to the raifed floors of thelje are decorated vith 

 the heads of elephants, carved out of Hones placed on 

 either fide; an ornament frequently to be oblerved ia 

 Hindu temples, as the entrances of Egyptia?! bailings 

 were ornamented with thofe of the fphynx. 



Near thefe we meet a deep well, acrofs the moudi of 

 ■which was placed a flat granite (tone, with a perforation 

 of fix inches Iquare through its center, between the figure 

 of the prints of two feet raifed on the Hone: the ft- 



* Plate, No. I . 



gure 



