1851.] A short notice of an Ancient Colossal Figure. 273 



curve, and forming a deep precipice which terminates in a debris com- 

 posed of heaps of loose rocks that have exfoliated and fallen from the 

 rounded mass above. The southern face of the hills is composed of 

 numerous smaller rounded and naked masses of rock, and on them 

 are inscriptions, sculptures, remains of buildings, flights of stairs cut 

 in the solid rock, tanks and other evidences to show, that this now 

 deserted spot, must have been at some very distant period of time a 

 scene of activity, industry and intelligence. 



At the southern foot of the hill is a large tank named Manohar 

 Kund, around the banks of which are numerous fragments of pillars, 

 capitals, scrolls of flowers and mutilated images — all cut in a rude style 

 from the rock brought from the hill ; the gneiss being composed of 

 highly contorted and minute strata and being filled with innumerable 

 garnets — the stone has a very beautiful appearance. 



From the base of the hill to near the summit are numerous flights 

 of steps connected with broad landing-places cut out of the solid rock ; 

 the steps amount to about 400 in number ; the rocks, in several 

 spots, have inscriptions carved on them the letters of which are seven 

 inches in length — about two hundred feet from the base a groove, 

 broad enough to lay the foundation of a wall, has been cut in the rock 

 and extends for several hundred yards along the face of the hill, but 

 if it ever was used for a wall, no ruins or trace of such a defence are 

 any where to be seen. 



Numerous heaps of carved stones appear on the hill but they have 

 evidently belonged to, or were intended for a temple which probably 

 was never erected, this last conjecture appears to be the more likely 

 one, as every thing connected with the half-finished works on the hill 

 leads to the belief, that the workmen must from some unknown cause 

 have been disturbed in their work, which was never resumed ; this 

 remark particularly applies to the colossal figure, which has been 

 partially carved from one of the rounded masses of granite. This 

 figure is about half-way up the hill and measures fifty-two feet eight 

 inches in height, although in a sitting posture. The image in Dr. 

 Buchanan's time, 1810, A. D.* was called Madhu Kaitabh, but by 

 the versatility of the Hindu religion, it is in 1851, called Bhima Sen, 

 although, still attributed to the Kol Rajas. It is a pity the learned 

 * Dr. B.'s Bhaugulpoor, p. 61. 



