494 Inscription on the Iron Pillar at Delhi. [Oct. 



About a quarter of a mile to the northward of this monument, is another, exact- 

 ly similar to it in shape, but smaller, and built of free-stone, without any cement, 

 each layer closely fitting, and not projecting over each other as in the former ; nei- 

 ther has this been covered with a coat of mortar. It has a buttress, which mea- 

 sures round the base 246 feet ; the diameter of the superior surface, 19 feet. It is 

 in perfect repair, not a stone having fallen, and is surrounded by a colonnade of 

 granite pillars, of the same description as that encompassing the large one, giving 

 a clear area of 8 feet. 



Almost every stone of this bears an inscription in characters similar to each 

 other ; there is no sculpture, nor gate-ways, but numerous stones lie strewed 

 around in the vicinity of both monuments, being parts of columns, capitals, muti- 

 lated images of Buddha, pedestals, tablets covered with sculptured figures of horse- 

 men, elephants, lions, and almost obliterated inscriptions, &c. There is no re- 

 servoir for water, nor a single well within the whole enclosure, nor on the hill • 

 but there is a pucka tank, and several wells lined with masonry, about a mile from 

 the monuments, both of which are undoubtedly co-eval. 



Any antiquary, skilled in research, would here find employment and amusement, 

 for some time ; even the taking fac-similes of the numerous old Sanskrit inscrip- 

 tions that I observed, (and more would perhaps be found if sought for,) would oc- 

 cupy some days. I lament exceedingly my want of sufficient ability in the art of 

 drawing, to do justice to the highly finished style of the sculptures ; and also my 

 deficiency in technical knowledge, and in experience in the power of description, 

 for which these monuments afford ample scope. 



These defects, together with the very limited time I possessed for inspection, 

 will, I fear, render my account less satisfactory than I could wish : indeed I am 

 fully aware my description can convey but a very faint idea of the magnificence of 

 such stupendous structures, and exquisitely finished sculpture, — but as I know of 

 no previous description of them that has been given to the world, I have been 

 emboldened to send it you with all its imperfections on its head. 



Hasingab&d, Jan. 31, 1819. E. FELL. 



IV. — Inscription on the Iron Pillar at Delhi. 



Having prepared also in Plate XXX, an engraving of the inscrip- 

 tion on the Iron Pillar at Delhi from a facsimile taken by the late 

 Lieut. William Elliot, of the 27th Regt. N. I., at the request of the 

 Rev. Dr. Mill, I think it as well to insert it in this place, although 

 unprepared to give any account of its contents. Many of the letters 

 agree with those of the Canouj alphabet, but the general aspect of 

 them, I think, has greater conformity to the classical Deva Nagari. 



Those who are acquainted with Sanscrit are invited to aid in 

 decyphering it. The first few letters appear to contain figures, 

 probably conveying the date of the monument. J. p. 



