1864.] Figures of Deities and other 'Religious Drawings. 151 



There are numerous small hamlets in Talash, inhabited by people of 

 the Nurah Khel, who constitute the most considerable number of its 

 inhabitants. 



The district of Talash is very rich in monuments of antiquity, con- 

 sisting of domes or cupolas, on the face of one of which, I am inform- 

 ed, there are several tablets, half a yard long, and inscribed in an 

 unknown character, said to be Ytinani or Greek, but probably Pali. 

 If Greek, the examination of these ancient monuments would, no 

 doubt, throw an extensive, and clearer, light on the proceedings of the 

 Greeks in these quarters, which are so mixed up with nonsensical 

 fables, as to furnish ready tools in the hands of those ignorant of 

 the antecedents of the Afghan nation, for working out their own 

 theories. 



On the System employed in Outlining the Figures of Deities and 

 other Religious Drawings, as practised in Ladafc, Zaskar, 8fc. 



(Communicated by Capt. H. H. Godwin Austen, F. E. G. S., 2nd Assist. G. T. 



Survey of India.) 



As I believe no notice has hitherto been taken of the above subject, 

 and as I only accidentally discovered its existence when in Zaskar 

 last summer (1862) I have been led to write a few lines regarding it ; 

 trusting that they may prove of interest to some, and add to our 

 knowledge of the history and customs connected with the ancient 

 religion of the Buddhists. I do not claim any new discovery in this 

 paper, as others may have observed the method of drawing long since. 

 It has a resemblance to that adopted by ourselves in teaching Figure 

 Drawing, and it was when shewing this to a native draftsman of 

 Shilar, a village near Padum, that he produced a sketch of a figure 

 outlined as shewn in the accompanying plates, as also that of the 

 " Churtun" or " Offertory Temple." 



The system of the first shews a great amount of ingenuity in its 

 details, but is far more intricate than our simple way, where more is 

 left to the talent of the artist. 



The Deity thus given as a specimen is Sakya Thubba, or Bhuddha. 



The first line laid down is the perpendicular AB, to which a line 

 (No. 20) is drawn at right angles, and on either side of AB on this 

 line are laid off from a scale proportions equal to 12, 4,-2, 8, and lines 

 parallel to AB drawn through these points. On the two outer lines, 



x 2 



