140 



The Antiquities of the 



[No. 32, 



rassed with high grass and jungle as to render the attendance of some 

 one thoroughly acquainted with it indispensable. My pioneers were 

 compelled occasionally to cut a way through the obstacles that grew 

 around us, and which had in many places wholly obliterated the path. 

 From Arrawaddy the journey must be performed on foot as you 

 have to descend the declivity of a deep ravine, cross its channel by 

 stepping from rock to rock, and then ascend the farther bank of it in 

 which the cave is situated. On my way up I passed an old circular 

 wall that had once formed the outlines of a temple, perhaps a Betta 

 or open temple of the Jains, or a Druidical enclosure. The Corum- 

 bas knew nothing of its origin. On reaching the cave I proceeded 

 to measure, and found its depth thirteen yards, its breadth six, and 

 the height of its entrance forty feet, the roof sloping downwards till 

 it meets the inner wall five feet high. The rock in which this cave 

 is situated is perforated with several passages intersecting each other 

 and connecting the interior of the cave with the flat surface above 

 it. 



I explored these piassages but found nothing except an old iron 

 ring. The sides of the large cave were marked with outline intaglio 

 figures, and what were perhaps once in inscriptions now so defaced as 

 almost to defy an attempt to copy them. I however contrived to 

 transfer the "more legible to paper. On the left side of the cave are 

 the following intaglio cuttings in the rudest style. 



A human figure having the head of a bird with its waist encircled 

 by the fold of a snake, seemingly expanding and raising its seven heads 

 behind the figure. In front of this human figure is a symbol havino- 

 some resemblance to one of the Buddhist symbols mentioned by 

 Colonel Sykes. The seven hooded snake is frequently seen accom- 

 panying images and draw^ings of Buddha. To the proper left of the 

 figure is, what I take to be, another Buddhist or Jain symbol of a 

 gridiron form with a handle above it. To the right of the larsje 

 figure and snake, is the rude effigy of a human being from whose 

 head rises a long shaft surmounted by a chuckrum or a lotus. To! 

 the left of this emblem are two forms like demons. There is a Budd- 

 hist symbol not unlike these. Tlie same figure which seems to be 

 balancing the chuckrum has a broom in its hand, which it will be 

 recollected is one of the symbols of office of (he Jaina priests who use 

 it to sweep insects out of their way for fear of treading u^on them. 

 In front of the figure of the Jaina priest is a tree. Below this a 



