1847-] On the route of Fa-hian through Behar. 959 



spot, a good view is to be had of the valley and of the pass and plains 

 beyond, looking over Rajgriha nearly due north : to the east the valley 

 grows narrower for a mile or so, and thence two valleys branch off, one 

 leading under the Gidhona peak, so named from the vultures, which 

 perch and build their nests there, the other to Tupobun where there 

 are other hot wells ; this place is also held sacred and a fair is held at the 

 vernal equinox. Before reaching the bifurcation of the valley is a spot 

 called the " Panch-pandub" and " Rungbhoomi" from the different asce- 

 tics take a colored earth with which they besmear their bodies. Turning 

 to the east, the valley extends for six or seven miles, gradually narrow- 

 ing to the " Guddehdwar" pass, which opens into the plains at the 

 easternmost end of the cluster, of which more hereafter. 



To the north-east is the hill called " Rutna Girri," up the acclivity 

 of this runs a wall of loose stones in a zigzag shape, from the base of 

 which and of the hill is seen an immense embankment called " Nek- 

 pay," extending across the widest part of the valley (above one mile) 

 north and south, and from its southern end again a much more massive 

 wall is continued to the summit of the high hill called "Udhaya 

 Girri," along the top of which the same is continued for a great dis- 

 tance, both east and west, whether these walls, which are not high, 

 were intended as fortifications or fences, as said by some, to enclose a 

 Shikargah or preserve, it would be difficult to decide, indeed there are 

 so many curious remains, that one is completely at a loss, — the people 

 ascribe all to enchantment and to demons. 



A second high embankment stretches from the " Nekpay" almost 

 at right angles, till it reaches the Sona Girri hill, the lowest and eastern 

 spur of which projects to about the middle of the valley. 



Leaving the tumulus and proceeding southward to this cross bank 

 or wall and passing through the same, the road winds at the foot of the 

 Sona Girri close to a low ledge of laterite forming a terrace as even as if 

 cut by masons ; this place is called " Bheem Sen's Ukhara," or wrestling 

 place. The many indentations and cavities, peculiar to such formations, 

 are supposed by the ignorant, to be marks left by the wrestlers. Continu- 

 ing to the southward towards Udhaya Girri, the road is formed by the 

 bare rock in which occur many short inscriptions in the shell pattern, 

 and other curious forms but much worn and some overgrown with 

 moss and rubbish. I deem these to be great curiosities, and think that 



