1848.] in the vicinity of Suddyah, Upper Assam, 467 



was placed near the doorway ; at the south-east corner, there was also 

 a stone gateway leading to the small stream, in the hed of which are 

 several carved and plain blocks of granite and sandstone to which it 

 would be difficult now to assign a place ; one of these is the triangular 

 shaped weather-worn block of granite (Fig. 3, PL XXX.) on which 

 are symbols, which perhaps may have some meaning, and give a 

 clue to the era of the building ; — one or two of the letter-like figures, 

 assimilate with some of the characters of the ancient Nagree alphabet, 

 but the shaded figures are too deeply cut to suppose they are more 

 than symbolical of a particular era and people. On some of the blocks 

 lying in the river, and in the foundation of the enclosure wall, as also 

 on the elephant, I found the marks, represented at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, of 

 PI. XXX, and which I fancy are typical of the sect of the mason, or of 

 the builders. In front of the temple, and lying between a small brick 

 terrace opposite the door, are several round- shaped plates of granite 

 sunk to a level with the ground, upon which offerings are said to have 

 been placed. The brick terrace has a low wall on three sides, now in 

 ruins, but the outer enclosure wall is in a tolerable state of preserva- 

 tion, and along the inside of both eastern and western faces, brick 

 tiles about 14 inches square are let in, having stamped upon them in 

 high relief, figures of some of the Hindoo Avatars ; the principal are 

 the caparisoned horse — the same with warrior, in a high conical cap, — 

 Hunooman, — the fabulous horse and tree, — two peacocks fighting, — one 

 bird preying on another, with a variety of flowers of the Lotus, Cham- 

 pa, and Nagasur, done in different forms ; most of the figures are dress- 

 ed in the conical shaped cap ; but I am inclined to think, this wall and 

 its embellishments, are coeval with the second building of the temple 

 about 400 years ago. 



The present ruinous state can be easily accounted for by the jungle 

 having grown up so thick around it and upon it ; for it is quite im- 

 possible that such buildings could stand when once trees and shrubs had 

 taken root on the walls, as one stone displaced, the roof would soon come 

 down. The present state of dilapidation is however ascribed to an 

 earthquake about 5 years ago, no doubt assisted by the numerous wild 

 elephants who tear down the shrubs from the highest points they can 

 reach, and rub themselves against the walls. 



Altar of worship called Boor a Booree. — Following my visit to the 



3 s 



