290 V. A. Smith — Observations on some Chandel Antiquities. [No. 4, 



fourteen in number, and five are still in position, supported on flat brackets, 

 which now look weak owing to the absence of the slender stone props which 

 supported the outer end of the brackets, of which the inner ends rest on 

 the boldly projecting eaves of the balcony roofs. The mortice holes into 

 which the props were inserted are still plainly visible, and in the Kandariya 

 Mahadeo temple, the steeple of which is also adorned with small elephants, 

 one at least of these props is in place. 



The appearance of these little elephants, when the pedestal is perfect, 

 is not inelegant. 



The subject of the construction of the Khajuraho temples has hardly 

 been touched on in the published accounts, a few words on this topic may 

 therefore be found of interest. 



In the Hamirpur District granite alone has been used for the con- 

 struction of the religious edifices, sandstone being employed only for deco- 

 rative purposes. At Khajuraho on the other hand almost all the temples 

 are built entirely of sandstone, the only exclusively granite building being 

 the so-called Chaonsat Jogini temple. 



We noticed, however, that several of the sandstone temples rest on a 

 granite foundation, which is almost concealed from view. Judging from 

 the number of granite pillars lying about, it is probable that at one time 

 many buildings of the coarser material existed at Khajuraho. 



The silcharas or steeples of the larger temples are very graceful in 

 design ; that of Kandariya Mahadeo is perhaps the best, but those of the 

 Chaturbhuj and Vis'vanath temples are almost equal to it. 



The steeples, except those over the sanctum, which seem to be solid, 

 are so constructed as to include many spaces or chambers, the intention 

 evidently being to lighten the weight of the mass of masonry. We could 

 find no trace of mortar in the joints of the stones with dressed outer faces 

 which form the casing, but it has been freely used to bind together the 

 undressed inner stones, 



Access to the roof of all the chief temples is obtained through a small 

 square hole at the top of one of the side walls of the sanctum, which can 

 be reached by climbing over the sculptures. 



The domes at Khajuraho are of course all constructed in the usual In- 

 dian way with courses of overlapping stones. The architects seem to have 

 felt a difficulty in spanning a considerable space with a self-supporting 

 dome of this kind, and have accordingly in several of the great cruciform 

 temples introduced four extra columns in the middle of the mahdmandapa 

 to assist in bearing the weight. This arrangement has the advantage of 

 giving an appearance of richness to the interior, and of giving additional 

 facilities for a display of sculpture and carving, but is disadvantageous in 



