256 Essay on the Avian Order of Architecture . [Sept, 



Plate, A. B. C. D. E. F. and G. E. F. H. K. I. are the two roofing 

 stones, and I. L. N. R. P. and M. K. T. S. O. are two of the four 

 stones which form the walls. In the latter Plate, A. B. C. and D. are 

 the four wall stones. 



5. — An attempt has once been made, as noticed by Vigne, to pull 

 down this temple ; but either through accident or superstition, or per- 

 haps solely owing to the difficulty of moving such massive stones from 

 their positions the attempt was fortunately abandoned. The design cer- 

 tainly could not have been to destroy the temple, but only to remove it 

 to some other position ; for the attempt was made with the upper stone 

 of the roof which still remains displaced about five inches to the east- 

 ward. In the elevation of Plate XL I have, for the sake of symmetry, 

 restored this stone to its original position. A destroyer would no doubt 

 have made sure work by beginning below ; as the removal of a single 

 corner-stone would have completely overthrown the building. 



6. — The removal and appropriation of the Hindu temples would ap- 

 pear to have been a favorite practice with the Mahomedan saints of Kash- 

 mir, who thereby acquired a double benefit : renown during life by the 

 overthrow or desecration of Idol houses, and a lasting tomb after death 

 by the appropriation of the Idol houses to themselves. Thus Syad Ma- 

 homed Feroz appropriated the Hindu temple of Panthasok UTRjin^T, of 

 which one cloistered recess yet exists ; and Syad Mahomed Madani ap- 

 propriated another temple, of which two of the fluted pillars of the per- 

 istyle, and the intervening trefoiled recess, with the human-headed birds, 

 are still standing within the tomb. 



7. — This elegant little temple is only 8 feet square in the superstruc- 

 ture and 21 feet high, including the basement, which is almost a literal 

 copy of that of the cave temple of Bhaumajo. The mouldings indeed 

 are exactly the same both in form and in disposition, which may perhaps 

 be taken as another indication of the antiquity of the Payach temple, al- 

 though there are some slight differences in the relative proportions of the 

 different members. The temple has four doorways with a flight of steps 

 to the eastward : and in the niches formed by the trefoils over each door. 

 way there are sculptured representations of Siva and of other Hindu dei- 

 ties. The roof as usual is broken into two distinct portions by an or- 

 namental band. This band is divided into square spaces alternately pro- 

 jecting and retiring. The latter are occupied by flowers ; but the pro- 



