180 Some observations on the temples of u Randan." [No. 4, 



I conceive that by this last we may fairly infer that the temples under 

 consideration are alluded to, as there is no other group one-tenth so 

 extensive to he found in the Lar or Scinde valley. 



Should this conjecture he correct, they would undoubtedly possess a 

 very high antiquity and in fact must be regarded as the most ancient 

 temples in the valley of Cashmere (not excepting that on the Takkt- 

 i-Suiaiman or Sandhimana par vat) which is stated to have been built 

 by this very king Jaloka, but seems to have been repaired and re- 

 stored to its present form by G-opaditya about A. D. 250, and is 

 generally considered the most ancient temple extant in Cashmere. I 

 may remark that a few fragments of temples overwhelmed in the 

 dense jungles exist to this day near Baramoola, but they have never 

 been to my knowledge deemed of sufficient importance to merit dis- 

 entanglement or description. Nevertheless I believe these, together 

 with the group I have taken the liberty of introducing in this paper, 

 to be the very oldest remnants of the ancient architecture of Cash- 

 mere ; for as I have stated in a former paper, the temples of Bejbika- 

 rie mentioned with those of Lar and Baramoola as already existing 

 in the time of Jaloka, were overthrown by the Muhammadan fanatic 

 Shihabuddin about the end of the 14th century, and are out of 

 contest for the honor, such as it is, of having survived the storms of 

 two thousand years, the attacks of Muhammadan fury, and the over- 

 whelming vegetation of the dense forest. 



The dates of other and possibly more attractive temples, such as 

 Martund, Pyatch, Pangethur, Put tun, &c, are much more recent, as is 

 also that on the Takht-i-Sulaiman in its present form as stated above. 



I have, I hope, said enough to attract attention to this remarkable 

 group of temples hitherto so strangely overlooked. Situated as they 

 are, however, in so remote a spot, and overwhelmed as they are in 

 forest, it were no light task to undertake their entire disentanglement. 

 I believe I have nearly exhausted this subject, or rather my slender 

 information on it, but before finally quitting it, I would respectfully 

 suggest to the Society that further investigation into the primitive 

 form of worship of the Cashmere valleys and mountains seems desira- 

 ble, as I have reason to think that relics* of a religion earlier 



* Bhadiakal, in the Kamraj, is a sort of small Stouehenge ; and elsewhere 

 in the deep forests appear isolated monoliths, altars, &c, attesting a certain 

 form of sylvan or Druidical worship. 



