1865.] Report of the Archaeological Survey. 105 



entrances not less than 160 feet. Tins might have been disposed 

 either as a square enclosure of 40 feet side, or as a circular enclosure 

 of upwards of 50 feet diameter. The last would have been sufficient for 

 the circular railing of a Stupa 40 feet in diameter. 



181. No inscriptions or numbers have been found on any of the 

 large sized pillars, but there can be no doubt that they must have formed 

 parts of the surrounding railings either of Stupas or of holy trees, such as 

 are represented in the Sanchi bas-reliefs, or as we see them in still existing 

 examples at Sanchi and Sonari. Of the middle-sized railing I found a 

 single broken rail, and also a single specimen of tbe architraves or 

 coping stones. In the Sanchi and Sonari examples the coping is quite 

 plain, but this Mathura specimen is ornamented on both faces with 

 semi-circular panels or niches containing figures and flowers. 



182. The sculptures on the Mathura pillars are of two kinds ; 

 namely, large single figures on the front, and on the back either small 

 bas-reliefs in compartments one above the other, or else full-blown 

 flowers at regular intervals. Both in the single figures and in the 

 bas-reliefs we find the same mixture of religious and social subjects as 

 in the sculptures of Sanchi and Buddha Gray a. On one pillar we have 

 a standing figure of Buddha, the Teacher, with a halo and umbrella 

 canopy, and on the back four small bas-reliefs representing. 1st, a holy 

 tree with suspended garlands, surrounded by a Buddhist railing ; 2nd, 

 a pair of figures, male and female ; 3rd, a kneeling figure presenting 

 an offering to a standing figure ; and 4th, an elephant with rider. One 

 of the other single figures is a female holding a water vessel to her 

 lips, and no less than four of the others are representations of Maya 

 Devi standing under the Sal tree, and holding one of its branches, in 

 which position she is described as having given birth to Buddha. A 

 specimen one of the large sized Mathura pillars may be seen in the 

 Asiatic Society's Museum in Calcutta, where it was deposited by 

 Colonel Stacy. 



183. But perhaps the most curious of all the Mathura sculptures' 

 is that which was figured and described by James Prinsep in 1836 

 as a Statue of Silenus. The block is 3 feet 10 inches in height, 3 feet 

 broad, and 1 foot 4 inches thick. On the top there is a circular 

 bason 16 inches in diameter and 8 inches deep. On the front there is 

 a group of three figures about three-fourths of life-size, with two 



