1874.] A. Cunningham— T// 6? Arclicsological Survey 0/ 1873-74. 113 



ture there are only three figures, of which one seated to the left is holding 

 out an arrow towards a male and female who stand before him — the latter 

 being behind the other. These figures are labelled respectively Rama 

 (the rest lost, but most probably Chandra), Janaka Raja and Sitala Devi. 

 I believe that this is by far the earliest notice that we possess of the 

 great solar hero Eama and his wife. 



I look upon the discovery of these curious sculptures as one of the 

 most valuable acquisitions that has yet been made to our knowledge 

 of ancient India. From them we can learn what was the dress of all 

 classes of the people of India during the reign of Asoka, or about 

 three quarters of a century after the death of Alexander the Great. We 

 can see the Queen of India decked out in all her finery, with a flowered 

 shawl or muslin sheet over her head, with massive earrings and elaborate 

 necklaces, and a petticoat reaching to the midleg, which is secured round 

 the waist by a zone of seven strings, as well as by a broad and highly 

 ornamented belt. 



Here we can see the soldier with short curly hair, clad in a long 

 jacket, or tunic, which is tied at the waist, and a dJioti reaching below 

 the knees, with long boots, ornamented with a tassel in front just like 

 Hessians, and armed with a straight broad sword, of which the scabbard 

 is three inches wide. 



Here also we may see the standard-bearer on horseback with a 

 human-headed bird surmounting the pole. Here, too, we can see the king 

 mounted on an elephant escorting a casket of relics. The curious horse- 

 trappings and elephant-housings of the time are given with full and 

 elaborate detail. 



Everywhere we may see the peculiar Buddhist symbol which crowns 

 the great stupa at Sanchi used as a favourite ornament. It forms the 

 drop of an earring, the clasp of a necklace, the support of a lamp, the crest 

 of the royal standard, and the decoration of the lady's broad belt and of 

 the soldier's scabbard. 



There are also houses of many kinds, and several temples, one of 

 which is labelled Vijayata pasade, or the " Temple of Victory." There 

 are animals of several kinds, as elephants, horses, deer, cows, and monkeys, 

 and a single specimen of a real tapir. There are numerous crocodiles 

 and fishes, and in one sculpture there is a very large fish, which is 

 represented swallowing two boat-loads of men. There is also a great 

 variety of flowers, and several kinds of fruits, amongst which the mangoe 

 is very happily treated. 



But perhaps the most curious of the Bharahut sculptures are a few 

 scenes of broad humour, with elephants and monkeys as the only charac- 

 ters. In two of these an elephant has been captured by a band of 



