167 
18,95.] Alexander E. Caddy— Asoka Inscriptions in India. 
on tlie other side is quite gone; of what remains I have brought a cast 
to Calcutta. 
49. The Hathigumpha in all probability was the Pilkhana or 
elephant-house. But from its prominent character the rounded brow of 
the cave lias been selected for the laudatory inscription, in Asoka 
characters, which gives it its importance. 
50. Considering the nature of the sandstone—gritty, friable stuff 
that it is—it is fortunate not to have come under the weathering in¬ 
fluences which have obliterated larger-featured sculptures. 
51. Most of the dedicatory tablets are obscure and of no im¬ 
portance, save for their ancient character. One—that on the Tiger cave— 
points to a period when there was a change in religious opinion, and 
some intolerance prevailed. The Tiger cave is labelled as the chamber 
of a fierce anti-Vedist. 
52. Between the two hills a road now runs where jungle filled the 
glen, and the stair leading to the cave level of Khandagiri gives access 
to caves unknown when Fergusson visited the place. Here, on the level 
of the highest bluff of Udaigiri , is the Ananta cave, opening to the 
north. Of the Asoka inscription which once described it, little is now 
discernible. 
Mr. Fergusson has attached some importance to this cave, for be¬ 
sides the description of it by Dr. Mitter, and the photographs of the 
sculptures by Mr. Locke, he had the Commissioner of Orissa ask Mr. 
Phillips to visit the cave before he was satisfied that all particulars had 
reached him. 
At page 72 of his book on the “ Rock-cut Temples of India,” under 
the joint-authorship of Mr. Burgess, he says, referring to the four 
sculptured tympana inside the arches, two of which are perfect:— 
“ From our knowledge of the sculpture of Barhut, we may safely 
predicate that in addition to the Tree and image of Sri, the two re¬ 
maining tympana were filled, one with a representation of a wheel , and 
the other of a dagoba , the last three being practically the three great 
objects of worship both here and at Sanclii.” What I have written in 
my fuller report, before 1 saw Mr. Fergusson’s book, is to this purpose. 
53. The Ananta cave has been an important place of worship^ 
Within its inner chamber is a sketch-relief of what has been supposed 
to be a preaching Buddha. This figure has been accepted by Dr. Mitter 
and others as a Buddha—probably it is a Tirthankara made at a later 
period; above his head are a row of emblems,—the trisul flanked by a 
shield on either side, and these again each by a tree emblem and then the 
swastika. 
This cave, already described by Fergusson, Dr. Mitter and others 
