8 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [January, 1909. 
a 
ous to this spot and which also contain many ancient remains, 
apparently formed a part of the compound of the religious estab- 
lishment of Patharghata. There are altogether seven caves cut 
out of the solid rock, the chisel marks being still visible.! 
Almost all of them contain niches in the middle of the walls to 
hold the images of the deities just fronting the low narrow door- 
ways. Some of these rock-cut caves are 11 feet in length by 
10 feet in breadth. One of them is 21 feet 10 inches in length by 
9 feet 9 inches in breadth, and it is divided into three compart- 
ments. There is another cave called Patdlpuri, and not “ Putul- 
puri or the Idol house” as stated by Major Francklin: it is hke 
a subterranean passage containing alcoves at intervals on both 
sides of it, but it is so dark and so infested with bats that no one 
Some of the images, I was told, were removed from Pathar- 
ghata to Colgong-by Mr. C. H. Burnes, the quendam manager 
of a European firm who subsequently became a landed proprietor. 
These images may still be seen in the * Hill-house”’ of Colgong— 
a house which he built upon a hill close to the Railway Station 
as aguest-honse. Among them I observed some votive stupas, 
eacher, which pose 
clinching fingers and thumbs of the upraised bands as if some 
gracefulness and tasteful execution, and the latter by their 
beautiful design and artistic value. I never expected to find such - 
1 See also the following description of the place in the Uttara 
Purdna :— 
aerate eae zara | 
fafeafanaitedt fafcqerarcifa feast: | 
qe aqeduaies: deasTiaT | 
avian fa asfafuaut aieiea wa | 
(Uttara Pnrana as quoted in Major Francklin’s Site of Ancient 
Palibothra.) 
