490 Description of a Monument, near Bhilsd. [Oct. 



This point requires to be confirmed by a facsimile of the document 

 before it can be credited. If it were possible to perforate the struc- 

 ture without injury, some coins might probably be found deposited in 

 the interior which would better serve to determine its antiquity. 



Description of an ancient and remarkable Monument, near Bhilsd. 



On the table-land of a detached hill, distant from Bhilsd four miles and a half, 

 in a south-westerly direction, is an ancient fabric, of a hemispherical form, built 

 of thin layers of free-stone, in the nature of steps, without any cement, and to all 

 appearance solid ; the outside of which has been faced throughout with a coat of 

 chunam mortar, four inches thick ; most of this still remains in perfect preserva- 

 tion, but in one or two places a small portion has been washed away by the rain- 



The monument (for such I shall term it) is strengthened by a buttress of stone 

 masonry, 12 feet high and 7 broad, all around the base, the measured circumfer- 

 ence of which is 554 feet. The diameter of the superior surface is 35 feet, the 

 ascent to which is easy by the assistance of the projections of the different layers. 

 Originally it was crowned with a cupola, supported by pillars ; but the cupola is 

 now split, and lies, as well as the pillars, on the top. A line drawn from any 

 given point of the base to the centre of the crown measures 112 feet. 



The weight, together with the age and extent of the structure, has forced a 

 portion of the buttress to jut out and give way, by which I had a fair opportunity 

 of fully determining that no cement has been used in the interior of it. 



From the different buildings near it having fallen into decay, whilst this stands 

 entire, together with its immense extent, which would rather aid dilapidation than 

 otherwise, I am induced strongly to suspect (enforced by the general impression 

 the structure made upon me whilst examining it, and an aperture appearing in 

 every representation of the monument, sculptured in the different compartments 

 of the gate-ways, and even on detached stones), that it is supported by internal 

 pillars. If so, apartments undoubtedly exist within, highly interesting, and 

 worthy of being further examined. Indeed when you view so large a mass of 

 stone, placed in such neat order, without any cement in the interstices, it must 

 forcibly strike the most superficial observer, that inner supporters were re- 

 quisite to its completion, and were undoubtedly used in the construction. 



This point could not be ascertained without much time and labour, and would 

 require also, I presume, the acquiescence and countenance of the NawAb of Bho- 

 p&l, in whose territory it is situated ; but I conceive that no hesitation would be 

 made to this on the score of its creating jealousies, as the monument is of a na- 

 ture which prevents the orthodox Hindu from visiting it, and the Jainas, as well 

 as every other class, have become totally indifferent regarding it. 



As dilapidation has commenced, the ravages of a few years, most probably, will 

 cause the whole to fall into a mass of ruin, destroying the inner apartments and 

 images, if any, and thus for ever depriving the curious from knowing what so won- 

 derful a monument of human genius contains. 



It is surrounded by a colonnade of granite pillars, 10 feet high, distant from 

 each other a foot and a half, connected by parallels also of granite, of an elliptical 

 form, united by tenons, leaving an area of 12 feet clear of the base of the monu- 

 ment, to which it strictly conforms. 



