1865.] Ancient Remains at Saidpur and Bhitari. 81 



ing two are of undoubted antiquity. These latter we shall proceed 

 to describe. 



The first is a small domed building sustained by four stone pillars, 

 the bases of which rest on a platform twelve feet square, raised a few 

 inches above the ground. The shafts of the pillars are square, and 

 the capitals are cruciform, each limb being one foot ten inches in 

 length, and having the usual Buddhist bell-ornamentation. The pillars 

 on the north and east quarters exhibit a groove about 15 inches in 

 height, which evidently once contained a pierced stone railing. The 

 eaves stones above are apparently original, and have a projection of 

 15 inches. These eaves are strikingly characteristic of the architec- 

 ture of the early period to which this building must be assigned, and 

 are often of great size and solidity. In ancient Buddhist structures 

 both in Benares and in Jaunpore, as well as in this instance, they are 

 cut on the upper surface to resemble woodwork. Some persons will 

 be reminded by this circumstance of Akber's stone roof at Futteh- 

 pore Sikri, cut in imitation of tiles, and of the carved beams in the 

 caves at Elephanta. 



The second building is 26J feet long by 23 broad, and is upheld 

 by at least 34 columns disposed in the following remarkable order, 

 namely, 6 at each of the north-east and south-east corners, 9 couples 

 at intervals in the circumference, and 4 single pillars in the centre, 

 forming a square. The two clusters of six pillars have been united 

 by stone slabs into two thick ones, each 2J feet square. This curious 

 amalgamation is, in all probability, the work of the Mahomedans, 

 though from what motive, it is hard to conjecture. The building 

 was already strongly supported, and the alteration considerably de- 

 tracts from its native simplicity. The space between the side pillars 

 is 5 feet 9 inches, between the side and centre pillars 6 feet 4 inches, 

 and between the centre pillars themselves 5 feet 1 inch. The height 

 of each column is 6 feet 11 inches, of which the base is 9 inches, 

 the shaft 4 feet 8 inches, the stone upon it 10 inches, and the capital 

 1 foot 8 inches. The innermost line of columns is built into a wall 

 of solid masonry composed of ancient stones, and is of more recent date 

 than other parts of the edifice. The roof is of long stone slabs, but 

 in its centre there is a primitive Buddhist ceiling consisting of four 

 stones placed diagonally upon the architraves and crowned by a flat 



