1870.] Note on a Gireh of Stones, 50 



The squared stones are from twelve to fourteen inches square The 

 stones are placed from three to four feet apart. There is no appearance of 

 any stones having been placed across the tops of the uprights. On 

 the north side, two short upright stones are placed against the taller 

 ones, as if to mark an entrance to the circle. In the centre of the 

 circle, there has once stood an upright pillar, now thrown down and 

 half hidden with earth. A hole some four feet deep shows that this 

 pillar has been undermined, probably in search of treasure. 



There are traces of an outer circle of smaller stones having once 

 surrounded that now described, at a distance of fifty or sixty feet. 

 The people of the country call this stone circle in the Pushto language 

 LuJcJci Tiggi, signifying, I am informed by Colonel Keyes, C. B., Com- 

 manding the Guides, u Upright stones." 



The only tradition or legend they have regarding the fabric, as far 

 as I could learn is, that the members of a marriage, while passing over 

 the plain, were changed into these stones, by some powerful magician, 

 or malignant demon. Within a mile or two there are indications, in 

 the shape of granite slabs, smaller than those in the large circle, lying 

 about in the fields, of other similar monuments having once existed. 

 It may be mentioned also, that many Muhammadan tombs in the 

 vicinity, have unusually high slabs of stone, placed at the head and 

 foot of the grave. Some of these slabs, though thin, are from eight 

 to ten feet high. Whether any of these have been appropriated from 

 ancient ircles is doubtful ; but in an adjoining village I saw two 

 massive squared granite pillars about five feet high, put up as gate 

 posts to a house. These apparently had once belonged to a smaller 

 stone circle, such as those already alluded to. 



The country of Eusoofzye is full of Buddhist remains, such as ruined 

 stone monasteries, topes, idol temples, carved images, and so on. 

 These stone circles are believed to be in no way connected with them, 

 and they probably existed before the Buddhist era. The present po- 

 pulation is almost entirely Muhammadan. They take no interest in the 

 ruined buildings or monuments of the Kafirs, and cannot help the 

 enquirer with trustworthy traditions. 



