1865.] Description of the Buddhist Ruins at Bakariya Kund. 13 



original frieze. Beneath the loop of the drooping cord is the repre- 

 sentation of a gem carved in the stone. Many figures similar to those 

 now described, have been lately found among the ancient buildings in 

 Jaunpore. Plate, No. 4, which represents a group of stones taken 

 from these buildings, is added for the sake of comparison, as it 

 pourtrays strikingly this similitude. In the College grounds in 

 Benares, are some magnificent sculptures brought from Sarnath, one of 

 which is a long frieze, cut with great boldness, the figures of which 

 are connected by a narrow band or garland. A photograph of this 

 frieze may perhaps at some future time be sent to the Society. The 

 length of what remains of it is 26J feet. 



The topmost stone shews the projecting position it occupied, by its 

 under-cutting, but it is hard to say in what part of the building this 

 found a place. The next stone beneath it consists of a circle, formed 

 by a narrow band, and surmounted by an elegant ornamentation indi- 

 cating the central position which it originally occupied, which was 

 probably the crowning decoration of a niche. In the circle itself a 

 very merry face is depicted, by no means that of an ascetic. The 

 large circular stone below this, represents eight human figures standing 

 in most uncomfortable postures and supporting a cord or garland. 

 This was probably the capital of an ornamental column ; and there is 

 reason to think that it must be assigned to a later date, on the ground 

 that ancient Buddhist sculptures rarely if ever exhibit any distortion 

 of limbs, while the Jains and modern Brahmins twist and distort their 

 figures in every possible manner. The other half of this circular stone 

 lies at the College, and as Major Kittoe is stated to have taken stones 

 from Bakariya Kund until stopped by the people, may have been 

 brought from this place. 



In addition to these Plates which have now been described, 

 Mr. Tresham has kindly taken two others, one representing the south 

 end of the Kund, No. 5, and the other a portion of the retaining wall 

 on the western bank, No. 6, copies of which are also forwarded. 



