1849.] Remains of Greek Sculpture in Potowar. 133 



at Kala, under the belief that the figure in the niche is a representation 

 of the goddess Kali. I perceived at once that it was Grecian ; although 

 the interblending of styles would, I foresaw, make it difficult for me to 

 convince others of the fact. The pillars you will perceive, are, as in 

 those of the Tchoah temple, of what may be styled Indian Ionic : the 

 simple volute being exchanged for an acanthus leaf. The figure bears 

 in its left hand what seems to be a cornucopice. It is rather clumsy, 

 and savours of the land of Egypt ; but the hands are wrought with 

 perfect truth and the transparency of the drapery is admirable and 

 utterly inimitable by eastern art. The head dress can only be surmised by 

 what remains of it ; the face and head having been mutilated by Muham- 

 medan bigotry. It would seem to have been a turban, and we learn 

 that in Alexander's day, Persian women wore turbans. The bosom is 

 defaced and the sex of the figure is doubtful. There are points of re- 

 semblance between this sculpture and the figure of Osiris at Aknoor, 

 (see your late appendix), viz. The bend of the body, its clumsiness and 

 the beading in the huge head-dress. It seems highly probable that the 

 bulk of the imported sculptors were Egyptian, superintended by Grecian 

 architects. The greater proximity of Egypt and her skill at that 

 time in sculpture, as well as the dependence at the outset of the colonies 

 upon Egypt, and their utter separation from Greece by the intervention 

 of Egypt, when that dependence had ceased, rendering this highly 

 probable. Allowing this, we shall not be surprised at the abundant use 

 of the lotos, applicable to temples of Jupiter Ammon, of Osiris and of 

 Bacchus. The lotos ordinarily employed is that bastard kind so com- 

 mon in Bengal, and not allowded to be the Puddum or Kuwwul, or 

 sacred lotos. In the Tchoah temple, however, we have the true lotas 

 unmistakeably and most faithfully sculptured, (see Fig. 3, PL III.) 



The head (Fig. 2, PI. IV.) has been severed from its trunk, and as the 

 figures of Bacchus were often effeminate, the sex cannot be determin- 

 ed. The cap resembles that of a Toorcuman* bride, and is manifest. 

 ly Tartar. It may have represented Juno as Ammonia, or Isis, as the 

 companion of Osiris Ammon. The three plates upon the cap are mani- 

 festly of lamb-skin and the sculpture may have been executed previous to 

 the separation of Potowar from Bokhara. 



* There can be little doubt that the Amazons or Hummanzun were Torcumuns, 

 and this figure may represent one of them as amongst the attendants of their con- 

 queror Alexander. 



