1850.] 



Sircar of Pytun. 



371 



have — a centre aisle is perceived flanked by plain octagonal pillars, 

 nine of which alone remain. The roof is waggon-shaped, with the 

 ribs cut in stone, terminating in a half dome at the further end, 

 where the ends of the ribs converge towards the centre, — immedi- 

 ately beneath which is seen the deghopa, a plain hemispherical 

 dome, surmounted by the tee, pierced with holes for fixing the um- 

 brella of state. No sculpture nor ornament appear upon the cir- 

 cular basement. Upon the pillars, and aisles, remains of painted 

 Stucco may be observed. 



No. 4.— The fourth cave is the last of this group, and is the 

 one rendered conspicuous by having been whitewashed. This cave 

 is but twelve feet long, and nine broad — a passage three feet 

 wide isolates the sanctuary from the walls ; within it, seated on a 

 bench, is a gigantic Idol, measuring as sitting 8 feet : the features re- 

 semble those we have described, but the attitude is different; the legs 

 being crossed, by the right foot resting on the left calf, showing the 

 soles of both feet; and the right hand resting in the palm of the left 

 upon the lap ; folds of a robe appear on the rock behind, and round 

 the throat ; in other respects there are no appearances of clothing: the 

 figure is of black color : no ornaments appear upon the person, and 

 the sole decoration of the bench, is a conch shell, placed conspicuous- 

 ly in the centre. We may safely ascribe this figure to a Jain source, 

 from the position and colour of the Idol, and the distinguishing em- 

 blem cut upon the plinth, which Mr. Colebrooke* in his Essay on the 

 sects of the Jains tells us is the discriminating sign of Nemi, the 22d 

 Tirthankar, who is also described as being of a black complexion. 

 Tod mentions Neminatah the Negro-visaged, as being ushered into 

 the conclave, with the deification of his cousin Krishna — the Saint is 

 said to be sought by the amorous devotees of the faith — Nemi departed 

 from this world at Ujjintah, described as being on the peak of a moun- 

 tain and doubtlessly the same as Ajuntah. 



The second series of excavations is situated about a mile to the 

 east, in the same hill side, and at about the same height. They 

 consist, of four caves; two of which are very conspicuous from a dis- 

 tance, whilst the other two are hidden by bushes. 



No. 5 will be the first of this series, it has had a ruined external 

 verandah, inner verandah, vestibule, Sanctuary with passage pass- 

 ing round, and Lateral cells. The outer verandah shows by the re- 

 maining portions at either extremity, to have measured seventy feet : 



* Asiatic Researches, Vol. ix. p oO'J. 



