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



point of drowning, is making an expiring effort to nscend the side ; the features of 

 all fully pourtray their melancholy situation. 



In another compartment is the sacred tree and altar, surrounded by groupes of 

 figures, both male and female, some beating tympans, others playing cymbals, 

 others dancing ; the winged figures before described attend above the groupes. 

 The lintel of this gate-way is borne by the uplifted hands of five uncouth dwarf 

 figures, five feet high, with thick lips and flat noses, their hair curly, and having 

 large protuberant bellies, appearing as if on the point of being crushed beneath 

 the immense burthen they are supporting ; in short, it is hardly possible to con- 

 ceive sculpture more expressive of feeling than this. 



A representation of the grand monument fills another compartment of one of 

 the perpendiculars. (See plate xxvii.) 



The eastern gate -way is of the same dimensions as the others, with door-wardens 

 armed with maces. Two of the compartments in each perpendicular comprise a 

 procession leaving the gates of a city in progress to the tree and altar, near which 

 is a human being, his hands strongly corded above the wrists, and held by another. 

 The procession consists of horsemen, footmen, elephants, and short-bodied cars, 

 drawn by horses : the latter crowned with plumes, all highly finished. The head- 

 dress of the figures seated on the cars is the Roman helmet, with the plumes and 

 hair. The whole is preceded by footmen, armed with circular shields and clubs, 

 followed by a band of musicians playing flutes. The head-dress of the groupe run- 

 ning by the side of the cars differs from that of all others, being a closely- fitting 

 turban of circular folds, most exquisitely delineated, on the top of which is a small 

 globular crown. 



Another compartment is filled with figures of devotees of different orders, per- 

 forming various penances. In another division are three figures, with long beards, 

 (the only figures of this description seen throughout the whole building,) seated in 

 a boat in an open sea, at the bottom of which are seen various kinds of shells, alli- 

 gators, &c. Underneath the ocean, and as if supporting it, are three male figures, 

 and one female, the central male figure with uplifted hands, and his back outwards, 

 the female in the act of pray ing to him. The whole of this groupe are clad in long 

 loose vests, and the head-dresses of the males resemble mitres. On both sides of 

 the groupe are the winged figures, the tree, and altar. 



The lintel of this gate-way is supported by elephants, richly caparisoned, and 

 resting on projecting horizontal cornices. 



The capitals of the several gate-ways are crowned by figures of lions, elephants, 

 naked and clothed statues, and images of various birds and beasts. 



On the south, there is a plain entrance, near which is a double colonnade of 

 quadrangular pillars, 20 feet high, most curiously set up, and forming an almost 

 oval apartment. Near this lies a large obelisk, in circumference nearly equalling 

 the L&th of Firoz Sh*h, near Delhi. On the part which is uppermost, I could 

 not observe any inscription ; it is worked with a string of flowers. 



At the door of the apartment above mentioned, is the lower part of a statue of 

 Parswan;ith, smaller than those of Buddha in the gate-ways, resting on a throne 

 which is supported by lions couchant on a pedestal, on which is an inscription, but 

 so much obliterated, that I could make nothing of it, although the few letters that 

 partially remain are Sanscrit. Near this is also a pillar, 14 feet high and 3i in 

 circumference, crowned with lions and tigers. 



