JOURNAL 
OF 
THE ASIATLC SOCIETY. 
No. 23.—November, 1833. - 
I.—On the Colossal Idols of Bamian. By Lieut, Alexander Burnes, 
Bombay Army. 
On the 23rd, we reached Bamian, which is celebrated for its idols 
and excavations. These caves are to be seen in all parts of the valley 
for about eight miles, and they still form the residence of the greater 
part of the population. They are called ‘‘ Sinaach’” by the people. A 
detached hill in the middle of the valley is quite honey-combed with 
them, and brings to our recollection the Troglodytes of ALEXANDER’s 
historians: it is called the city of -Ghulghula, and consists cf a con- 
tinued succession of caves in every direction, which are said to have 
been the work of a king named Judal.. The hill of Bamian is formed 
of hardened clay and pebbles, which renders its excavation a matter of 
little difficulty, but the great extent to which this has been carried excites 
attention. Caves are found on both sides of the valley, but the greater 
number are on the northern side, where we found the idols : altogether 
they form an immense city. Labourers are frequently hired to dig in the 
ruins, and their labours are rewarded by rings, reliques, coins, &c. They 
generally bear Cufic inscriptions, and are of a later date than the age of 
Munammep. These excavated caves or houses have no pretensions to 
architectural ornament, being no more than squared holes in the hill : 
some of them are finished in the shape of a dome, and have a carved 
frieze below the point from which the cupola springs. The inhabitants 
tell many remarkable tales of the caves of Bamidn, one in particular, 
that a mother lost her child among them, and recovered it after a lapse 
of 12 years! The tale need not be believed, but it will convey an 
idea of the extent of the works. There are excavations on all sides of 
the idols, and in the larger one half a regiment might find quarters, 
3D 
