870 Notes of a journey to Girndr. [Oct. 



the viharas, but they were quite at a loss to account for either ; my 

 aversion on principle to remove such relics, alone prevented me from 

 making a prize of this, which unless I have overrated its value, would 

 doubtless form an interesting- addition to one of our museums. Still, 

 neglected and unknown where it now is, its presence may prove of great 

 use to some future, and more capable, inquirer into the antiquities of 

 this part of India, which has been designated by Colonel Tod, as " the 

 cradle of Jain and Buddhist worship." After visiting all the viharas, 

 and a very pretty though modern Jain temple in their vicinity, I re- 

 turned to Pattern, where the remainder of the day was occupied in 

 taking hurried sketches of the Somndth. I made every inquiry of the 

 few Brahmans to be found in the scanty Hindu population of Pattern, 

 for traditions, &c. respecting the temple or city, but I learnt that the 

 only one, whose chopras could furnish me with any information on the 

 subject, was absent. For coins I sought in vain, my good friend the 

 jemadar, however, having promised to forward me all that the city can 

 furnish, as well as to procure me some traditions*, I took leave of him 

 with many acknowledgments of the attention he had shown me. I 

 regretted exceedingly, that time did not admit of my making a longer 

 stay at Pattern, as well as of my proceeding to the ruins of Mundore, 

 Prachee, and other interesting places in the neighbourhood. I doubt 

 not they would have well repaid me the trouble of a visit. 



May 1 6th.~ — Reached Junagarh. The whole country passed through 

 from Verawal to the capital, is not only the richest, and most produc- 

 tive in Kattywar, but may vie in fertility w T ith any part of Gvzerat. 

 A black soil is watered by numerous streams, whence irrigation is easily 

 carried on, the water being sufficiently near the surface to admit of its 

 being raised by the Persian wheel. This division of the province, con- 

 sequently suffers comparatively little from the droughts, which too fre- 

 quently cause devastation and famine in other parts of Kattywar ; from 

 the continued and abundant supply of water, from these rivulets, the want 

 of rain is not so severely felt as elsewhere. The crops are chiefly sugar- 

 cane, wheat, and jowaree, the mango tree flourishes in great luxuriance, 

 and the fruit is excellent. Indeed a stranger would form a most erro- 

 neous opinion of the whole province, were he to judge of it in passing 

 through the territories of H. H. the nawab of Junagarh : for the arid 

 and extensive plains, which form the leading features of the Kattywar 

 country, are strikingly contrasted with this highly favored division, 

 abounding in hill and dale, wood and water. From the indolence of its 

 ruler however, this fair possession is sadly mismanaged. 



* These I received whilst at Junagarh and forwarded to Mr. PRINSEP, who will 

 be able to determiue their claims to notice. 



