1865.] Description of the Buddhist Ruins at Bakariya Kund. 11 



the most fastidious must pronounce to be of no mean order of beauty. 

 A small cloister was originally connected with the south-west corner 

 of the temple, as is shown by the continuation of the ancient basement 

 moulding, a moulding which surrounds indeed all Buddhist buildings 

 in these parts. This was probably the vestry or retiring room of the 

 officiating priests. Some of its walls are still visible. 



It is greatly to be regretted that a large portion of the site of these 

 ruins is in a disgustingly filthy state, so that none but the most ardent 

 investigator would care to visit a place so foul and abominable. 



As to the date of the buildings which have been briefly described, 

 some of them at least must have been erected as early as the large 

 tower at Sarnath, which General Cunningham considers was in exist- 

 ence in the beginning of the fifth century of oar era, and was then 

 seen by the traveller Fa Hian. They formed probably one of the 

 thirty monasteries referred to by Hwan Thsang, to which allusion has 

 already been made. When looking upon these extensive ruins, we 

 cannot fail to recall the time when they were frequented by crowds of 

 priests and disciples of the Buddhist faith. Then probably the tank 

 was surrounded on three sides by a lofty terrace of stone, while a large 

 ghaut or flight of steps was on its southern side. Around the edges 

 of this terrace, both to the south and west, ran cloisters, and to the east 

 there must have been massive temples capable of carrying such caps or 

 ' kalases,' one of them nine feet in diameter, as have been referred to 

 in this description. It is a matter of much interest to the archaeologist 

 to try and save from total oblivion these few traces of the past, when 

 the Buddhists, who long ages since were expelled from the country, 

 were still famous, if not powerful, and were already engaged in that 

 tremendous struggle with the Brahmins, which eventually terminated 

 in their own utter extinction in India. 



We propose shortly submitting some notes relating to the numerous 

 symbols found on the stones at Bakariya Kund and elsewhere, 

 commonly known as mason's marks, and would invite correspondence 

 with any parties interested in the subject. A comparison of symbols 

 found in various places would be curious, and would render our paper 

 more complete. 



In illustration of the foregoing paper, there are herewith submitted 

 two Plans, one representing this entire locality, and the other the 



