1847.] Notes on the Caves of Burahur. 407 



burning which I had accidentally brought with me. But to return to my 

 subject, on the left corner of the door is the inscription number 5, plate 

 IX. which is nearly obliterated, through the effects of the weather and 

 probably by the hand of some fanatic, at a very remote period, it is much 

 to be regretted, for there is just enough left to excite our curiosity, 

 and show that the record was valuable : I have restored as much as I 

 well could ; it appears to have entirely escaped notice hitherto, indeed, 

 although a square space has been cut and polished, it is but bare- 

 ly perceptible, and not at all in the strong light of noon-day ; it is 

 best seen by clear moonlight standing beneath. I availed myself of 

 the opportunity before I lay down to rest, to trace all the visible letters 

 with red ochre ; sunrise and sunset are also favorable periods, which I 

 remarked upon in my notes on the inscriptions of Cuttack. Dr. Bland, 

 H. M. S. Wolf, made the same discovery whilst tracing the inscription 

 at Singapore. I shall revert to this subject when treating of the whole 

 of these Pali inscriptions together. 



There are eight other short sentences, of some of which James 

 Prinsep gave translations in the sixth volume of the journal, but as he 

 had only very imperfect impressions with Persian labels, the work of a 

 pedantic Kaith employed by Mr. Hathorn, he was led into error and dif- 

 ficulty thereby. I shall therefore embody the whole in a separate plate,* 

 for easy reference : these I must again refer to under the head inscriptions. 



On the right hand, facing the cave and separated from the main 

 mass, is another, the eastern end of which has been scarped and a 

 terrace cut ; in this face are three niches with carvings rudely executed ; 

 the right hand one contains the linga, the two others, apparently figures 

 of Siva and Parbutti, but they are undoubtedly of far later date than 

 the caves, and the same as that of the sculptures at Kowa Dol and on the 

 Sidheswur mount. 



We now proceed to the largest caves, two in number, entered on 

 the southern face of the ridge of rock, parallel with that of the cave 

 above described, and which ridges are about 950 feet long, and 70 

 across, with a narrow passage between. There is a space of about 100 

 feet wide between the main hill and rocks and these ridges ; this is 

 filled for some depth with bricks, earth and hewn stones, the ruins of 

 temples, so as to block up the entrance of the westernmost cave, 



* See plate IX. 



