22 J. H. Rivett-Carnac—TZhe Snake Symbol in India. [No. 1, 
scending twelve stone steps you reach the water which is stagnant and 
foul. Beneath the water is a sheet of iron, which constitutes the door 
leading to a still lower well, which perhaps may be the old well in its ori- 
ginal state. The stairs, I suspect, are not of great date. On the inside of 
those to the east is an inscription, to the effect that, in 1825 Samvat, or 
nearly one hundred years ago, a Raja extensively repaired the well. It is 
possible he may have built the stairs then. Many of the slabs of stone of 
which they are composed display carvings on their external surface, some 
of which bear unmistakeable marks of considerable antiquity. These 
slabs were doubtless taken from dilapidated buildings in the neighbour- 
hood. A thorough examination of them, especially of the more ancient 
among them, would, I am satisfied, be not unproductive of interesting 
results. The wall was also repaired by Mr. Prinsep about thirty years 
ago. 
“ At this well the Nag or serpent is worshipped. In a niche in the wall 
of one of the stairs is a figure representing three serpents; and, on the 
floor, is an emblem of Mahddeo in stone, with a snake crawling up it. 
The well is visited, for religious purposes, only once in the year, namely, on 
the 24th and 25th days of the month Sawan, when immense numbers of 
persons come to it, on pilgrimage, from all parts of the city. The women 
come on the first day, and the men on the second. They offer sacrifices 
both to the well and to Nageshwar, or the serpent-god”. (Sherring’s 
Sacred City of the Hindus.) 
The well does not seem to attract much attention during most months 
of the year. I have often passed it and seen but few people there. In the 
dry season, there is little or no water in it. But the “ Nag Punchami’— 
is a gala day at the well, and I believe at most Siva temples. ‘The 
Mahadeo from the neighbouring temple of “ Nageshwar” is brought 
to the third step of the stairs on the west side of the tank surmount- 
ing the well, and Hindus of all classes come in thousands to adore 
the Mahddeo and bathe in the well, which, as the “Nag Punchami” 
Fair is held in July, or during the rains, is filled with water at this 
season. On the fourth step of the stairs above mentioned, are six circular 
holes, each 4} inches in diameter and about 4 inches deep arranged in a row. 
Being always on the look out for “cup marks,” I immediately noticed 
these holes, but the Brahman in attendance explained that they were intended 
to collect the libations poured over the Mahadeo, and which trickled down 
from the gutter above. The same idea, Dr. Keller informed me at Zurich, 
exists in Switzerland, regarding these cup marks. And from a paper, 
recently received from the Society of Antiquaries of France, I learn 
that cup marks are frequently found on stones and slabs in the founda- 
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