84 Ancient Remains at Saidpur and Blutdri. [No. 2, 
this entire region, might be made. It is the opinion of General 
Cunningham that the Bhitari ruins date from the Gupta period, or 
from A. D. 100 to A. D. 300, and that they are amongst the oldest 
Brahmanical remains known to us. He is wrong, however, in the 
implied supposition that they are altogether of Brahmanical origin, 
as we shall presently show. 
Judging from the relics of tombs and religious houses dispersed 
over the village and its suburbs, Bhitari must have been a place of 
some importance during the Mahomedan rule in India. The few 
inhabitants still residing in it are, for the most part, followers of the 
prophet. The bridge over the Gingi below the village, was erected 
by the Mahomedans. It dates from at least two eras, and the origi- 
nal structure, General Cunningham considers, ‘ consisted of only two_ 
small arches,’ to which two others have been subsequently added. 
The bridge has been altogether built with cut stones taken from other | 
buildings, and in one place the figure of an animal, such as supports 
the brackets in the Atali Masjid in Jaunpur, is inserted into the 
wall. A mason-mark found on one of the stones, is indisputably of 
the age of the Guptas. Although in a dilapidated condition, the 
bridge nevertheless possesses considerable strength ; and its thorough 
repair, which is very desirable, might be effected at a comparatively 
small cost. 2 
In the enclosure itself, the most noticeable object is undoubtedly 
the famous column with the Gupta inscription upon it. The column 
rests upon a roughly hewn stone, and is 284 feet in height. This: 
includes the base which is 10 feet 2 inches high, of which, between 
five and six are below the level of the adjacent soil. It is out of the 
perpendicular, and the cause of this, as well as of the injury to the 
capital, is attributed by the inhabitants to lightning with which, they 
say, the pillar was struck many years ago; but it is just as probable, 
perhaps more so, that both results may have been effected by the 
Mahomedans, who, failing in their attempt to throw down the column, 
may have mutilated the capital, as is commonly reported they did, with 
cannon-shot, and destroyed the figure of a lion, which, it is with om 
reason conjectured, formerly crouched upon it. 
In his Report to Government, Mr. Horne says :—“ TI laid bare the 
east face of the foundation, as the column slopes to the north, and 

