862 



On the Buddhist Remains of Sult&nganj. 



[No, 4, 



quadrangle. These chambers form a part of the western side of a 

 large courtyard on the north of which Mr. Harris, Eesident Engineer, 

 East Indian Railway, under whose superintendence the excavations 

 under notice have been carried on, has brought to light the founda- 

 tions of two similar chambers. The southern and the eastern facades 

 yet remain unexplored. But the accumulation of rubbish on those sides, 

 rising to the height of 10 to 20 feet, clearly indicates that chambers 

 corresponding to those on the west and north are to be met with 

 under it. 



At the middle of this long ridge of rubbish Mr. Harris has found 

 the foundation and the side pillars of a large gateway which was evi- 

 dently one of the principal entrances to the quadrangle. Similar 

 gateways probably once existed on the other three sides, but their 

 vestiges are no longer traceable. 



The accumulation of rubbish at the south-east corner is greater than 

 any where else, and on it is situated the bungalow of the Resident 

 Engineer. It would be well if a shaft could be run through this mound, 

 as it is here that relics of importance are most likely to be met with. 



The chambers excavated at the south-western side are not all of the 

 same dimensions. They measure within the walk from 12'xlO' 6" to 

 14' % 12'. The depth from the top of the plinth to the lowest part of 

 the foundation (the only portion now in situ) is 13 feet. This 

 depth was found full of earth and rubbish, but divided at intervals 

 of 3 or 4 feet by three distinct floors formed of concrete and stucco. 

 The lowest shews no trace of plaster. The upper floors had open- 

 ings or hatchways through which people descended to the bottom, and 

 used the different stories as cellars or store-rooms. No valuable 

 property or remains of corn or other goods have, however, been traced 

 in these cellars, as most probably they had been removed before the 

 monastery fell into the hands of the destroyer. 



The interior of the walls had never been plastered, but the front, 

 facing the courtyard, has a thick coating of sand and stucco such as 

 are to be seen in modern Indian houses. 



The bricks used in the building of these chambers measure 13' % 

 9' / x2i' / , and in density, colour and appearance are similar to those 

 employed in the construction of the great temple at Buddhagaya, 

 At Sanchi, Sarnath and other old Buddhist remains, bricks of such 

 large size appear to have been common, and they give a pr etty close 



