84 Ancient Remains at Saidpur and Bhitari. [No. 2. 



this entire region, might be made. It is the opinion of General 

 Cunningham that the Bhitari ruins date from the Gupta period, or 

 from A. D. 100 to A. D. 300, and that they are amongst the oldest 

 Brahmanical remains known to us. He is wrong, however, in the 

 implied supposition that they are altogether of Brahmanical origin, 

 as we shall presently show. 



Judging from the relics of tombs and religious houses dispersed 

 over the village and its suburbs, Bhitari must have been a place of 

 some importance during the Mahomedan rule in India. The few 

 inhabitants still residing in it are, for the most part, followers of the 

 prophet. The bridge over the Gangi below the village, was erected 

 by the Mahomedans. It dates from at least two Eeras, and the origi- 

 nal structure, General Cunningham considers, ' consisted of only two 

 small arches,' to which two others have been subsequently added. 

 The bridge has been altogether built with cut stones taken from other 

 buildings, and in one place the figure of an animal, such as supports 

 the brackets in the Atali Masjid in Jaunpur, is inserted into the 

 wall. A mason-mark found on one of the stones, is indisputably of 

 the age of the Guptas. Although in a dilapidated condition, the 

 bridge nevertheless possesses considerable strength ; and its thorough 

 repair, which is very desirable, might be effected at a comparatively 

 small cost. 



In the enclosure itself, the most noticeable object is undoubtedly 

 the famous column with the Gupta inscription upon it. The column 

 rests upon a roughly hewn stone, and is 28J- feet in height. This 

 includes the base which is 10 feet 2 inches high, of which, between 

 five and six are below the level of the adjacent soil. It is out of the 

 perpendicular, and the cause of this, as well as of the injury to the 

 capital, is attributed by the inhabitants to lightning with which, they 

 say, the pillar was struck many years ago ; but it is just as probable, 

 perhaps more so, that both results may have been effected by the 

 Mahomedans, who, failing in their attempt to throw down the column, 

 may have mutilated the capital, as is commonly reported they did, with 

 cannon-shot, and destroyed the figure of a lion, which, it is with good 

 reason conjectured, formerly crouched upon it. 



In his Report to Government, Mr. Home says : — " I laid bare the 

 east face of the foundation, as the column slopes to the north, and 



