66 Description of Ancient Remains of [No. 2 



A trench having been dug on the east side, it was discovered that 

 the bases of many of the columns were embedded deep below the 

 modern stone pavement, while in the front of the smaller cloister, at a 

 depth of about a foot, the onter moulding of the ancient floor could 

 be traced continuously from one end to the other. Notwithstanding 

 all these extensive alterations which the building has undergone 

 from time to time at the hands of different masters, we cannot but 

 think that many of the columns are standing on their proper sites, 

 and that the edifice, although greatly changed, is still in its *main 

 features a Buddhist structure. The cloisters were transformed into 

 their present condition as a mosque some 80 years ago, and the 

 modern pavement was then put down. 



There is reason to believe that a third cloister, corresponding to the 

 smaller, formerly existed at the southern extremity of the larger 

 cloister ; and this supposition is greatly strengthened by the circum- 

 stance of a Singhdsan or throne of Buddha, already referred to, being 

 still standing by the wall in the centre of the latter, but altered 

 from its original form, having been used by Mohammedan Mullahs as 

 a rostrum or pulpit. The vihar, when complete, was in all likelihood 

 a square, each side being at least the length of these three cloisters, 

 and the chief Buddha was exactly opposite the centre of the square. 

 What other buildings were formerly here, in addition to those now 

 visible, can of course only be conjectured. It is probable that on 

 three sides were cloisters, and on the fourth, namely that to the east, 

 was a row of temples, the largest containing the principal figure of 

 Buddha. That other buildings were once here, is certain from the 

 various sculptured stones found near by. We observed seven pillars, 

 sixteen isolated capitals, and four large carved stones used for archi- 

 traves, some of which support a recently erected structure attached 

 to the smaller cloister. 



The venerable ruins described above, present a very remarkable 

 appearance. In the year of the mutiny, barracks for European troops 

 having been erected in their neighbourhood, they were converted into a 

 vast cook-room or kitchen. Fires were lit inside on the stone floor 

 from one extremity to the other, and consequently the roof, walls, 

 and columns, were charred by the heat and blackened by the soot, 

 so that now the interior of this grand edifice is most dismal and 



