362 Description of the Ruins of an [July, 



not higher than the human figure, although about 80 feet high ; and 

 even when viewing it at the distance of two coss from the bottom of 

 the hill, I still thought it might possibly be formed of one block of 

 stone, (as I had been informed it really was, by a Dourah, from the 

 hill fort of Rowasah, who had been residing all his life within five or 

 six miles of it,) which would entitle it to be classed among the Laths. 

 Fully expecting to find it so, I ascended the hill by the only regular 

 path, or rather causeway, which begins at the south side of the village 

 of Hurse, and is paved with stones laid flat and on edge. It is 12 

 feet wide, and takes a general zigzag direction to the southward. 

 The turns of each zigzag are particularly distressing in getting up, 

 as there are no landings, but one slope is led into another. The whole 

 length of the ascent is computed by the inhabitants of the neigh- 

 bouring villages to be one wurrum coss. I imagine it cannot be less 

 than one and half mile, with an average slope of two feet in 10. 



On the way up by the side of the causeway, where the ground 

 will admit, several small chabutras are raised, two or three feet high, 

 on each of which is set a block of stone on end, blackened with 

 smoke and oil : and about a quarter distance from the top, a singular 

 building of cubical form appears, (Plate xxviii. fig. 1,) standing on a 

 natural platform ; thelength of whose side isabout 10 feet. It is dedicat- 

 ed by the present generation to Devi. Its singularity consists in the 

 peculiarly massive structure of a building of such a size. Set in the 

 wall, opposite the door- way, are three or four stones, on which are carved 

 in bass relief, various symbols, among which are three figures of an 

 animal resembling the Nyl Gao*, more than the domestic cow, having 

 no hump, a short tail, and a neck very like the former animal. I have 

 given a sketch of some of the principal symbols, (figs. 2, 3, and 4.) 

 as they may throw a light to assist in tracing the origin of the temple 

 above, with which I think it is more than likely they are cotemporary. 



About 100 yards from the upper end of the causeway, on passing 

 the crest of the hill, stands a Binising Mandir, dedicated at present to 

 Ganesh. It is built of about 45 cubical blocks of stone, without 

 mortar or any connecting body ; the side of each cube is about one 

 foot. It forms an enclosure to the N. S. and W. but open to the 

 E., and has no roof. The stones are extremely well hewi,, and 

 without the slightest ornament. Some mutilated figures are lying on 

 the ground at the inside of the west face, (fig. 5.) 



• The Nyl Gao is an object of peculiar sanctity in this country ; the penalty of 

 the crime of killing one is loss of nose, ears and estate, and expulsion from the 

 Tillage to which the perpetrator may beloug. 





