398 Exploration of the ruins of Sarnath. [No. 5. 



(besides the decay of the iron cramps) any unequal sinking of the 

 foundation, as would appear from some vertical cracks, this evil is 

 probably aggravated by the existence of two open galleries driven 

 into the axis of the building, and by a well sunk in its centre, 

 besides the shaft that is cut through the axis of the plinth and 

 opens to the air near the summit of the plinth. These three open- 

 ings should be walled up externally, so as to prevent the access of 

 rain and drainage water. At present, the openings at the founda- 

 tion are also a nursery for snakes. I saw a large cobra there this 

 morning, and was informed that a man had died from the bite of 

 one, two days before, and that they swarm round the tope. Trees, 

 moreover, have grown on the summit, and will, in some severe 

 storm, bring down part of it with them, and may throw down some 

 of the ornamental casing in their fall. Some of the sculptured coat 

 is already too much detached to admit any hope of its being suc- 

 cessfully propped up ; and the rest will follow its course, when its 

 iron cramps shall have been corroded through. This mischief might 

 perhaps be delayed by the application of a waterproof pointing to 

 all the outer points, where they still appear sound. No cement had 

 been used in the original construction ; the stability of which had 

 been entrusted to iron cramping and occasional string-courses of 

 long projecting stones. 



At all events, if the whole of the ornamental surface must scale 

 off, its memory ought to be preserved by the photograph. All 

 the designs are interesting ; the geometrical form, their originality, 

 and the flowered tracery from the boldness and beauty of its forms, 

 and from the striking resemblance of its sun-flowers and foliage to 

 the stems and raffles of the acanthus as treated by Grecian sculp- 

 tors. The comparative flatness of large portions of the curved sur- 

 face, from the greatness of its diameter, would render this an easy 

 task. Photographs of the portions, where the workman had just 

 traced or partially executed his work, will be highly prized, when 

 Sarnath shall have become " heaps." 



I have, &c. 

 (Sd.) D. Butter, Jf. D. Superintending Surgeon. 



