18/2.] A. M. Broadley — The Buddhistic Remains of Bihar. 305 
Before leaving Bargdon, I made a careful survey of the ruins between 
the mounds, and succeeded in distinctly tracing eight halls or yards. This 
mass of ruins lies parallel to the great moimds numbered by me III, IV, and 
V, and between them and No. VII. No. I (to the extreme south) is 114 
feet east and west, and 84 feet north and south ; No. II, 72 feet east and west 
by 40 feet north and south ; No. Ill, 00 feet east and west by 50 feet north 
and south ; No. IV, 40 feet east and west and 70 feet north and south; 
No. V, 195 feet east and west by 75 feet north and south ; No. VI, 100 feet 
east and west by 70 feet north and south ; No. VII, 100 feet east and west 
by 70 feet north and south ; No. VIII, 100 feet east and west by 60 feet 
noith and south. I discovered in these ruins several gateways and pillars, 
but no idols. These are evidently the remains of the eight “ halls of dispu- 
tation,” described by Hwen Thsang as being built on the land between the 
monasteries and the dwelling of the teachers of the “ right law.” 
It is a remarkable fact that the line of mounds still bears the name 
of “ dagop" by the country people. Is not this the ddgoba of the Pali 
annals ? They are also called tild and dedra. 
Subsequent to the excavations of October 1872, I employed with per- 
mission, for some three or four weeks, the labour of about twenty prisoners, 
and succeeded in making a deep cutting on the northern face of mound VII. 
The result has been the partial uncovering of the northern fa 9 ade of a 
square building flanked by four circular towers, about twenty-five feet in cir- 
cumference. The whole of the wall is decorated with the most beautiful brick 
mouldings divided by lines of niches, containing Buddhist figures at regular 
intervals. The cornices which surround the towers are quite perfect, and the 
whole exterior appears to have been traversed by small staircases leading to 
the roof. The thorough exploration of these magnificent ruins would lead 
to results as important to the historian as to the archsoologist, and I still 
hope the task may be undertaken at no distant day by the Government. 
Iliere are no difficulties to contend with ; the ground which is covered by 
these mounds, is a barren waste, and the proprietor, Chaudhari Wahid ’Ali, 
is quite willing to permit their excavation, and to facilitate matters as much 
as he can. 
Of the nature of these remains there can bo little doubt. Various 
writers have made Bargaon the capital of a great kingdom, the seat of 
the rale of some mysterious prince of Magadha ; but this theory seems 
to me distinctly negatived by the appearance of the rains. At Bargaon 
one sees no lofty wall ; no rugged battlements ; no rained towers and 
bastions, — the characteristic features of Kusfigarapura, the royal city of 
Bimbisara, or of Kajagriha, the capital of his son. The exploration of its 
ruins already made, and every fresh excavation that may hereafter be accom- 
plished, will, I think, lead to the conclusion that “ Vihara-gram” was merely 
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