1834.] Description of a Monument, near BJiilsd. 493 



In front of and about 60 feet from the eastern gate-way, lie the shafts of two 

 obelisks, about 10 feet in lengtb, broken from the bases, which formed an en- 

 trance 14 feet in width ; on these I confidently expected to find an inscription, but 

 was disappointed. 



The whole has been surrounded by a stone wall, varying in distance from the 

 monument, from 60 to 400 feet. It is 12 feet thick, and 8 feet high, built without 

 cement ; at the four intermediate points were gate-ways, similar to but on a small- 

 er scale than those in the colonnade around the monument. 



The wall has fallen into general decay, and only one gate-way now remains, 

 which is on the north-east. 



In the upper compartments of the perpendiculars are female figures, naked and 

 fettered, supporting on their heads a circle divided into 27 equal parts ; there are 

 also figures holding snakes, standing close to a small relievo representation of the 

 monument, in the body of which is a small aperture. This, as I have before said, 

 serves to strengthen the opinion of apartments existing within. The lintel is 

 slightly sculptured with circles of flowers in the same manner as in the others. It 

 is supported by five uncouth dwarf images, with thick lips, curly hair, and their 

 features expressive of the immensity of their burthens. 



The upper parallels are beautifully sculptured with hooded serpents, passing 

 through them in spiral wreaths. In that part of the outer hall which is still en- 

 tire, are small flat-roofed apartments, 12 feet square, in most of which are large 

 mutilated images of Buddha. 



In a larger apartment, which stands opposite the eastern entrance to the monu- 

 ment, the roof of which is flat, and supported by a double row of granite pilasters, 

 is a gigantic statue, the profile of the face measuring 13 inches from the fore-curls to 

 the chin ; the nose and lips are much disfigured, and both arms are broken off 

 below the elbows. This appears to have been more highly finished than any other. 

 In the same apartment, on the right, is an image of Brahmii, with the sacerdotal 

 thread, the front face mutilated ; the remaining, as well as all the tiaras, in excel- 

 lent preservation. It measures three feet and a half from the throne, which is sup- 

 ported on two cobra capellas. 



At the bottom, and in the centre of the supporters, which are diamond-cut, are 

 alto-relievo figures of the Brahmanical order, their bodies thrown back in the act of 

 attempting to avoid the heads of the serpents, which are not expanded, but pro- 

 jecting from under the throne, and turned as if endeavouring to ascend the co- 

 lumns. 



On projecting pedestals, and in a line with the diadem, are small figures of Par- 

 swanath, cross-legged ; another also crowns the centre. This is the only statue 

 of the Brahmanical mythology which I observed throughout the different subjects 

 of sculpture. In a corner of the same apartment, is an image of Parswanath over 

 which are five expanded serpent-hoods, the only one which possesses this distin- 

 guished mark. 



I was highly gratified at finding, on one of the pilasters, a Sanscrit inscription, 

 with a date, which determined the structure to have been completed in the 18th 

 year of the Samvat sera, or 40 years anterior to the birth of our Saviour. 



There are numerous inscriptions on different parts of the colonnade around the 

 monument, in a character almost totally unintelligible to me, though some of the 

 characters are Sanscrit. I have taken fac-similes of a few. 



