34 
P. Doyal —An ancient Cave. 
[No. 1 
to the cave was pointed out to him as the way Buddha descended, and 
so he noted the positi on of the cave as being half-way down the south - 
ivestern slope. The facts (1) that this stone chamber is in a south¬ 
westerly direction from the stupas, (2) that it is situated half-way down 
the slope of the range, (3 ) that it is backed by a crag, a high precipice 
of rock on which stands stupa No. J, (4) that the cave faces the valley 
between the main range on which the stupas stand and the projecting 
spur of hill, down which a stream would pour during the rains, (it is 
probable that Hwen Thsang visited the spot in the rainy season), and 
(5) that the cave is at a distance of about 14 or 15 li from the Bodhi 
tree, I think, prove conclusively that the stone chamber mentioned by 
the pilgrim is no other than the cave. 
As to the question of these remains not having been visited by any 
antiquarian, I would quote below the description given on page 66 of 
the “List of Ancient Monuments in the Patna Division” revised and 
corrected up to 31st August 1895 :— 
“ 67.—Gfaya—Mora Hill Cave. 
“ This cave is a natural fissure about half-way up the western slope 
“ and facing the Phalgu River. It is shaped like a crescent, 37 feet in 
“ length and five aud a half feet in width, with an entrance in the 
“ middle of the convex face 3 feet 2 inches in width, and 4 feet 10 
“ inches in height. At the upper or north end there is another opening 
“ 4 feet broad, and 4 feet high, which gives light to the cave. At the 
“ south end the fissure continues for a further distance of 24 feet, but 
“ of such small dimensions that a man can only just crawl along it. 
“ Its height is 2 feet 7 inches, but its width is only 1 foot 7 inches. 
“ At the back or east side of the cavern, there is a ledge of rock 
“ 8 inches high, which probably served as a pedestal for the shadow of 
“ Buddha which was figured in the rock. Every year, at the close of the 
“ rainy season, the monks used to climb this hill to make their offerings 
“ and to spend a night or two in the cavern.” 1 
The above quotation shows that the cave now described by me 
was not intended, but some natural fissure in some other part of the hill. 
As the range extends for several miles and contains many natural 
fissures along its slopes, different guides may take travellers in 
l [This description is a literal quotation from Yol. iii, p. 106 of Cunningham’s 
Reports. I have no doubt that Cunningham referred to the very cave described 
by the Babu in this paper, as the position of his cave agrees with the site of the 
Babu’s cave, but the account given by the late General is very inaocurate. There 
is, e. g., no ‘ opening 4 feet broad and 4 feet high* at the npper or north end of the 
cave, and it is very unlikely that such an entrance existed 30 years ago, when 
Cunningham visited the place. T. Bloch,] 
