1875.] J. Beames — The Alti Sills in Guttach. 23 



It consists of two upright slabs of stone, supporting a third as lintel. 

 The dimensions are as follows : 



ft. in. 



Height of opening, 5 5 



Breadth of ditto, 2 3| 



Thickness of stone, . 1 3|- 



The two side jambs are divided into bands separated by grooves, f of 

 an inch wide and 2f inches deep. The panel or band nearest the doorway- 

 is carved with a continuous wavy creeper up which human figures are climb- 

 ing in grotesque attitudes, from the excessively nita/rribmi outlines they are 

 probably intended for females. The next band has a columnar type, and 

 the capitals are those given by the Babu ; but I append a more accurate 

 drawing of them. The pilaster of the column is adorned with intricate ara- 

 besques and lion's heads. The next band is divided into tablets, each of 

 which contains a beautifully carved group of a male and female figure engaged 

 in what I may venture to call flirtation of an active kind. The beauty 

 of these carvings is very striking, though they are much worn and covered 

 with lichen (plate III) ; some indeed were so defaced that I could not make 

 them out. The size of each tablet is 8 inches by 5. Just inside the gate- 

 way is the colossal Buddha, the size of which will be seen from the choki- 

 dar standing by. It is half buried in the earth in a damp gloomy pit and 

 is noseless, as an Orissa statue ought to be who has heard the rattle of 

 Kalapahar's kettle drum. (Plate V.) 



With the permission of Babu Bamgobind Jagdeb, the zamindar of the 

 estate, I am now engaged in having this beautiful gateway carefully removed 

 by skilled workmen to Cuttack, where it will be erected in the Public Garden 

 and taken care of. I hope to be able to get it photographed. 



There are hundreds of statues and many temples on this hill, but owino- 

 to the limited time at my disposal and the denseness of the jungle, I was 

 unable to carry my explorations further. I hope to do so on a future 

 occasion. 



