1870.] Notes on Old Delhi. 73 



Delhi at the time of the Muhammadan conquest. The capitals of 

 the columns are frequently formed by female figures which spring at 

 the waist from the pillar, and with their heads support the roof •* 

 these figures appear to wear the same covering for the breasts 

 which is still in use (angti/a), and a waist cloth, the stomach being 

 bare ; they wear as ornaments bracelets, armlets, chains round the 

 neck, often with lockets attached, and a singular looking chain 

 passing from the necklace over the left breast and reaching to the 

 waist covering ; also waist chains, and in one group, of dancing girls 

 apparently, pendant chains depend from this waist chain over the 

 thighs. These female figures have usually a kind of coronet on 

 their heads, but I am inclined to think this was added to give a 

 larger space of support to the beam above. The workmanship of 

 the ornaments is very varied, and many of the patterns are highly 

 artistic. The men appear to wear dhotis, with the end hanging 

 down in front. Elephants covered with a pad and horses are seen 

 ridden ; the head-gear of the latter is much like that now in use, 

 but the riders seem to have no stirrups ; there are chains round the 

 animals' necks like the chains of white shells still in fashion. The 

 riders on the elephants are strangely enough depicted as riding 

 across the creature's back, as if it had been a horse. Over the 

 north gate is a car with a heavy, clumsy wheel. I have observed 

 no instance of a camel being introduced. Among the articles of 

 furniture, may be seen round earthen pots and beds like those now 

 in use, and round ottomans apparently of open cane-work. If I be 

 right in identifying certain pyramidal carvings as temples, they also 

 were in shape much like those erected now-a-days ; that they were 

 low buildings, the height of the columns now standing in the cloisters 

 clearly shows. So far therefore as these glimpses of a past age 

 serve us, the subjects of Prit'hvi Eajah differed little in appear- 

 ance from their descendants of to-day. 



Before quitting this subject I would mention that besides the 

 two slabs described by General Cunningham at page xlix, there 

 are numerous similar narrow slabs containing groups or processions 

 built into the wall or roof, but usually so mutilated or filled with 

 plaster, that it is difficult to discover their meaning ; perhaps though 

 the greatest difficulty is caused by our ignorance of the occurrences 

 or history of which these are the dumb records. 

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