No. 35. — 1887.] notes on jatakas. 



183 



Jatakas, of which I have found two in the semi-Greek bas-reliefs of 

 the Yasuf zai sculptures. But these are not older than the beginning of 

 the Christian era. 



Under these circumstances, I turn to the Asiatic Society of Ceylon 

 to assist me, if possible, in illustrating some of these curious legends. 

 The names of those of which I am most in want are the following : — 

 " Hansa Jataka" (Story of Bird with Peacock's Tail), " Kinara Jataka " 

 (Kinaras dressed in leaves), " Miga Jataka " (Antlered deer, not 

 Antelopes) " Maghadeviam Jataka "? (the Princess Maghadevi), 

 " Majhakiyan Jataka," "Bhisaharaniya Jataka," " Latuwa Jataka " 

 (Story of Bird and Elephant), " Yiturapansaka Jataka." 



If there are any published accounts of Jatakas I shall be most happy 

 to purchase them through^ any Colombo bookseller, or I shall be glad 

 to pay for any abridged, or full, account of the above Jatakas if any 

 Pali scholar can be found to translate them for me. 



I am very anxious about these Jatakas, as their value is very great on 

 account of their undoubted age, for the sculptured representations 

 show that all the legends here pictured must have been in existence 

 . before the time of Asoha. 



Besides the legends there are other bas-reliefs of historical subjects, 

 such as one of Ajatasaton, who is labelled overhead Ajdtasata. There 

 is also a curious scene giving the names of Rama, Janaka Raja, and Sita 

 Devi, with their names written over them. 



The above meagre account will be sufficient to show the great value 

 of the sculptures which I have discovered ; and I trust that the impor- 

 tance of the subject will be my best excuse for asking the Asiatic 

 Society of Ceylon to assist me in procuring any written accounts of the 

 Buddhist Jatakas which may have been published, or which may be 

 procurable. 



I am, &c, 



A. Cunningham, 



Major-General, 

 Director-General of Archaeological Survey of India. 



Rev. F. Falkner, 



Honorary Secretary, Ceylon Asiatic Society. 



IB- 

 Memorandum on the Operations of the Arch^ological 

 Survey for Season 1873-74. 

 By Major- General A. Cunningham, R.E., C.S.I. 

 (Proceedings, Bengal A. S., May, 1874, pages 108-116. J 



But the most interesting remains are at Bharahut, six miles to the 

 north-east of Uchahaara, nine miles to the south-east of the Sutna 



