1837.] Account of a Buddhist Image in Gorakhpur. 477 



tion of the symbols. As regards the discussion of the edict of Deva- 

 nampiyatissa, the testimony of Jambulus is invaluable, because it 

 proves that written characters, — our written characters, were then in 

 use, (notwithstanding the Buddhist books were not made up till two 

 centuries later :) and it establishes the credit of a much vituperated 

 individual, who has been so lightly spoken of, that Wilford endea- 

 vours tc identify him with Sindbad the sailor and other equally 

 marvellous travellers ! 



III. — Notice of a Colossal Alto-Relievo, known by the name of Mata 

 Kootir, situated near Russia Tannah, in Pergunnah Sidowa, Eastern 

 Division of Gorakhpur District. By D. Liston, Esq. 



Should a traveller happen to encamp afe Kussi'a, a village situated 

 about five kos from the Chapra boundary in the Gorakhpur district 

 and on the road joining the two stations, it may so happen that his 

 eye may alight on a pyramidal-looking mound of bricks about half a 

 mile S. W. of the serai, over which spreads a magnificent banyan tree. 

 Should he be of an inquisitive turn, his natural inquiries will be, what 

 is it, and who has the fame of being its builder ? : He will be informed 

 that it once belonged to Mata Koonr* ; a somewhat less ruined brick 

 pyramid with other brick mounds, about three quarters of a mile to 

 the west of the object that first caught his observation, will probably 

 be pointed out as Mata Koonr's fort ; and if it should be observed that 

 our traveller's curiosity is thus excited, he will be told that Mata Koonr 

 himself lies petrified at but a short distance from his former place of 

 abode. A walk of about a couple of furlongs from the ruins, called the 

 fort, will bring our tvaveller to the side of a colossal alto-relievo of 

 very respectable execution, surrounded by much carved work, many 

 of the figures of which are well designed and cut, though others of 

 them are of an exaggerated and outre" character ; but the features of 

 almost all the images, as well as those of the principal idol, he will find 

 have been destroyed with an unsparing hand, and with a care worthy 

 of a better object. 



Not only have the countenances of the figures been defaced, but an 

 inscription, of which I send you the remaining lines as correctly as I 

 can copy them, seems at the same time to have been erased, or ground 

 out, the bigotry which prompted the one deed having doubtless also 

 instigated to the commission of the other more irreparable and lament- 

 able outrage. 



* Mrila Kumdra, the dead kum&ra (god of war). — Ej>. 

 3 o. 



