MONT PESIER. 195 
breakfasted at a small village of Ambola, where we were received 
by the Portuguese Cure, and afterwards we turned out of our way to 
examine an extensive excavation, which Monsieur Anquetil du Per- 
ron has described in his introduction to the translation of the Zend 
Avesta, and has given [a, plan of it, under the name of Djegueseri. 
All the apartments were square, and the roof was flat, throughout ; 
in the centre was a smaller building with a lingam ; the whole was 
therefore probably dedicated to Mahadeo. Several groups of 
figures in basso relievo, adorned the walls. They were much 
decayed, and the whole had a very unpleasant appearance. The 
floor, being lower than the surrounding country, was extremely 
damp, and the light, admitted at the three entrances, was nothing 
better than darkness visible. They run north and south, passing 
through a small hill that, in parts, is covered with jungle. There 
was no appearance of attendant Brahmins, but the lingam had 
been newly ornamented. 
We went on to dinner to Mont pesier, where our tents were 
pitched for us. Here are the ruins of a very handsome church and 
monastery, which, I understand, formerly belonged to the Jesuits : 
Monsieur Anquetil du Perron says, to the Franciscans ; but I am 
inclined to consider my information as correct, from there being the 
remains of an observatory on a small hill in the neighbourhood, 
which was more probably the work of the intelligent followers of 
Ignatius Loyola, than of the lazy monks of St. Francis. The church 
was originally lined with pannel-work of wood, disposed in com- 
partments, and richly ornamented with carving. In the centre of 
each was the head of a saint, tolerably executed, surrounded by 
wreaths of flowers, and other fanciful sculpture, in a very excellent 
VOL. n. G G 
