684 



Journal of a Tour in Orissa. 



[Aug, 



sions several times, but not succeeding, I copied it accurately in pencil*. 

 1 found that in spite of all my measures and efforts that the brahmans 

 would not allow me to enter the great temple to copy the numerous 

 inscriptions there ; therefore I set to work to draw the sculpture of some 

 of the elegant temples around me, but it coming on to rain hard I was 

 obliged to give it up, not however, till, with the shelter of a chatta 

 and a sheet, I completed a sketch of Ling Raj temple with the Bindsd* 

 gur tank and buildings. 



The rain still continuing, I left at four p. m. for Cuttack where I 

 arrived at ten a. m. the following morning, after passing a very stormy 

 and wet night and being thrown down in my palkee frequently ; on my 

 arrival I received a letter from my friend, the Secretary^ informing 

 me of his discovery of the name of Antiochus in the Girnar and 

 Dhauli inscriptions, and requesting me to recompare my transcript 

 and correct any errors. I instantly laid my dawk and left at six p. m. 

 for Dhauli which curious place I reached before daybreak and had to 

 wait till it was light ; for the two bear cubs which escaped me there 

 last year, when I killed the old bear, were now full grown and 

 disputed the ground. At day break I climbed to the Aswastuma and 

 cutting two large forked boughs of a tree near the spot, placed them 

 against the rock: on these I stood to effect my object. I had taken the 

 precaution to make a bearer hold the wood steady, but being intent on 

 my interesting task I forgot my ticklish footing ; the bearer had also 

 fallen asleep and let go his hold, so that having overbalanced myself the 

 wood slipped and I was pitched head foremost down the rock, but fortu- 

 nately fell on my hands and received no injury beyond a few bruises 

 and a severe shock : I took a little rest and completed the work. 



I then climbed to the cavern and attempted to penetrate it, but the 

 stench of the bats and the dung of those animals and cockroaches pre- 

 vented my going more than 20 or 30 yards. I procured a few specimens 

 of the curious kind of bats occurring here, then returned towards Cut- 

 tack, and arrived at six p. m. much satisfied at having been able to effect 

 so desirable an object. 



I took one day's rest and the second day at five p. m. left again on 

 my march to Tdlchir in search of coal. I had sent on my tent and 

 servants to Kakhar the first march ; I passed the night there and 

 marched to Gcvindpur in Dhenlcunnal before daybreak the next morn- 



* We have unfortunately mislaid this inscription, or rather have placed it 

 carefully by, where we cannot put ouv hands on it. When found, an account of 

 it shall be given in our series of inscriptions, which daily multiplies, and en- 

 grosses more and more of our time and attention. — Ed. 



