1835.] ancient Temple at Harsha, in Shekdwati. 365 



have no doubt, the ingenuity of the artist must have been exhausted 

 in typifying the sagacity, and different uses to which this wonderful 

 animal may be put. This base is about 30 yards south-west of 

 the part described, and bears every appearance of having belonged 

 to a noble building, of which Nos. 1 and 2 (Plate xxx.)are specimens, 

 being the crowns or upper courses of domes, which have rested on 

 gradually expanding courses, with the carving and style of archi- 

 tecture of which I am convinced a most intimate connexion in the 

 buildings surrounding the court in which the Delhi town pillar stands, 

 might be traced. I will by the first opportunity send you a specimen 

 brought thence, and which will give a good idea of the quality of the 

 stone, and although much mutilated, of the finish of the carving. 



The whole of these remains have been worked in freestone of 

 excellent quality, which is no where procurable in the neighbourhood ; 

 neither have I met with it any where, but in the buildings before 

 mentioned, at the Kuttab, which are formed of the same sort of stone, 

 but of inferior quality ; and the finish of the sculpture will not bear 

 comparison. The natives could give me no account of whence it had 

 been brought. 



Lying on the extreme edge of the precipice on which these ruins 

 and temples stand, are 15 or 20 figures, male and female, about one 

 third larger than life, and although exposed to the weather, in very 

 good preservation. The numerous (I had almost said numberless) 

 groups, in some of which there are from 20 to 30 figures, consist of 

 processions, dancers, male and female, and musicians. (The instru- 

 ments used by the latter are generally the sitara, fife or flute, and drum.) 

 These fragments of sculpture are scattered over a space of two or three 

 acres ; besides what from accident or design have fallen over the 

 precipice, as well as others built in the modern structure : and I should 

 think that the whole of the Hindu Pantheon must have been here repre- 

 sented in a style, the pecuniary ability to follow which has, I fear, 

 gradually passed away with the genius which was capable of designing 

 and executing such a work of art. 



Not the very slightest tradition concerning these interesting ruins 

 is in possession of the resident brahmans (three in number), attached 

 to the temples of Siva Baijndth generally, but in particular to that 

 portion of the ancient one now remaining perfect. They say that it 

 is possible that they were contemporary with the palace of the Hur- 

 sah Murgarie Raja, the site of which is still known, and which is now 

 level with the surface of the earth, but to the existence of which, other 

 than as ruins, no date can be affixed. The elk, leopard, hog, and 

 nyl-gao, are found in, and in the neighbourhood of, this hill. 



