478 Account of Buddhist remains [June, 



The inscription, of which No. 1 forms the remaining portion of the 

 two first and only lines left, seems to have occupied the whole of 

 what I may denominate the shield, if we consider the surrounding 

 carving as emblazonry, which it much resembles. Some additional 

 writing has also existed on each side of this scroll or shield on a sort 

 of cornice, but that on the left hand of the figure has been so com- 

 pletely obliterated that we can only now venture to assert that there 

 has been writing. Of the remains on the other side the letters given in 

 No. 2 may be considered as a careful attempt at a copy. 



Mata Koonr is an object of worship in this vicinity, and that his 

 fame extends into neighbouring districts I had a proof in a pilgrim 

 from Bettiah pouring a vial of gangotri water on his sacred head whilst 

 I was engaged with the sketch, of which I enclose a copy. The head, 

 too, bears marks of being periodically anointed by a serving brahmin 

 with ghee. 



The enclosed sketch is to be considered as a plan of the design, and 

 was taken from actual measurement. It struck me as rather remark- 

 able in taking these measurements, that the results were genei'ally in 

 complete inches and almost never in fractions of that unit. 



The countenance is that of a young man : the chin well turned, the 

 forehead out of proportion, large. The appearance of the head seems 

 to have been given by the hair having been twisted into pyramidal 

 spirals. 



Mata Koonr is supposed to be a divinity of considerable power. 

 Some years ago a lohar cut a piece from his left arm for the purpose 

 of making a whet-stone ; which sacrilege occasioned the death of him- 

 self and entire family — it is said by disease. 



Tradition relates that Mata Koonr on the arrival of a Musulman 

 army to attack his fort, feeling himself unable to cope with the force 

 arrayed against him, caused his family and dependants to descend 

 into a well, and he himself having become a stone, lay down on the 

 mouth of it in order to conceal it from his enemy, and to ensure that 

 no disgrace should befal the objects of his affection. A few years 

 ago a gentleman, (name not now remembered,) caused the stone to be 

 removed from its site in order to ascertain whether it covered a well 

 or no, but none was found : the stone or pieces (for the stone has split 

 from end to end nearly in the middle) were not put back in their ori- 

 ginal position ; — a dry season followed, and the cultivators of the neigh- 

 bouring villages deeming that this was occasioned by the wrath of 

 Mata Koonr, came in a body and laid him again in the position which 

 he had been known to occupy for many preceding generations. 



The stone is apparently a black clay-slate. 



