1855.] 



Notes on Assam Temple Ruins. 



19 



Captain Westmacott found stone walls running in various direc- 

 tions. These have now been removed ; but that the holy buildings 

 were all contained within a spacious enclosure, sufficient for them 

 and a large monastic establishment, is highly probable. We have 

 it from Hiuan Thsang, the Chinese traveller in India, in the seventh 

 century, that such existed in Assam in his day, though neglected 

 and holding heterodox opinions. May not the extensive monastic 

 establishments of Assam, Vishnuvis of the present day, have ori- 

 ginated in ancient Buddhist monasteries ? 



Of one of these modern institutions, I have given an account in 

 Vol. XX. of the Journal. I have recently visited another, the 

 Awoniathi in the Majule, the head priest, second priest and all the 

 inmates of which are monks ; and the sacerdotal dress is a cloth of 

 a garnet colour similar in hue to the robe worn in the Lamesories of 

 Bootan. The huts of these monks form an extensive quadrangle, 

 surrounding their place of worship, and no women are allowed to 

 take up their quarters there. No inscriptions have been found 

 appertaining to these ancient temples ; but in plate V. figure 3, and 

 in plate XXXV. there is a representation of a stone, the carving 

 on which is so singular, that it must surely have been intended, 

 for something more than mere ornamentation, if this be doubtful, 

 a symbolical object must be ascribed to the figures on the other 

 stones represented below. 



Seebsagur. 

 (But supposed to have originally been found in Central Assam.) 



d 2 



