44 



Sculptures at Masulipatam. [No. 1 1 , hew series. 



III.— A Brief Account of the Ancient Buddhist Sculptures at Ma- 

 sulipatam, lately in the possession of Mr. Alexander, from 

 which the restored form of the Dagobahs or Topes is obtained. 

 By Major H. Congreve. 

 These remarkable and very beautiful Sculptures were brought 

 from some ruins situated at Omaraputty, on the right bank of the 

 river Kistnah about twenty miles above Bezwarrah. They were 

 first discovered or noticed by Captain C. Mackenzie, at that time 

 Surveyor General, who selected a number of stones which were 

 forwarded to Calcutta early in 1819 ; subsequent to which, those 

 at Masulipatam were brought there with the view of erecting some 

 building, where they lay for eighteen years or more before they 

 wer8 given to Mr. Alexander. The height of the Masulipatam 

 stones varies from two feet to eight ; the breadth being from five 

 feet to three ; the average thickness eight inches ; and the num- 

 ber of stones is twenty-eight. 



Some of these stones are of a tall oblong shape, having wrought 

 on them two large ornamented circles or medallions joined by an 

 upright band ; and having the medallions filled with groupes of 

 men and animals, illustrative of passages in the life of Buddha, 

 the spaces on each side of the band being likewise covered with 

 sculptures of processions, groupes of musicians, &c On the top 

 of one of these stones, surmounting the upper circle, appears an 

 altar with figures worshipping in front of it, the bottom of the 

 stone has figures of the lion, dragon, and elephant. In some of 

 the sculptures, for the lower circle is substituted a semi circle, 

 whose diameter is the upper line of the plinth (if I may use the 

 expression) of the stone. Other stones are square, both sides of 

 which are flanked by a pillar ; the middle of the stone is occupied 

 by aDagobah, on the front of which appear five columns supported 

 by rampant lions. The dome is richly ornamented with festoons 

 of chain and flower work. The base of the temple is crowded 

 with sculptures, of human beings, animals, &c. Amongst these 

 stones is one most perfect and beautiful, profusely adorned with 

 the most elaborate sculptures. The great value of these latter 

 stones consists in their affording, what I believe to be, a perfect 

 picture with all the architectural details, of the Buddhiet Dago- 



