Indian Antiquary Vol 01

SR No.: 032493
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[FEB. 2, 1872
ing at the foot of the wall in No. 3, and I had equalling it in size, or was more likely-as I shall unfortunately no gun with me, having brought shew presently comparatively modern erection, a sketch-book and measuring rod instead, it was built when the old fort had become so far ruined not thought prudent, to remain long in that! as to be no longer tenable, neigbourhood. For the same reason there was The eastern entrance is through a vast hall not time to make more than a plan of the build- or yard, with walls of hewn stone in which are ing with a rough measurement. The covered still to be seen the staples to which, in native gateway is about 40 feet wide and 25 feet deep, tradition, the Rájá's elephants were fastened. and rooms Nos. 5 and 6, though so encumbered This gateway is called the Háthí dwar or Hathi with rubbish as to be quite inaccessible were bandhá dwár, elephant gate, or elephant-enclojudged to be about the same size. This approx- sure gate.) The southern door-way, of which imation will enable the reader to judge of the only a crumbled heap of stones remains is called size of the other rooms. The rest of the palace the Sona mukhi, or golden faced gate, the origin was probably, as usual in Bengal, built of mud of which name I cannot trace; but so many places with thatched roofs, which mode of construc- in northern Orissa are called Sonamûkhi, - even tion would account for its total disappearance. bare salt-marshes washed by the sea, that the
The last fort of the group is that which I have appellation must be very ancient, and the allusion called the "Stone Fort," as its walls, as far as which it was meant to convey has become obscure. they could be seen, are built of hewn stone not The only suggestion offered is—that it refers to covered, as in the other, with mud. It seems the golden face of the idol Jagannath at more modern than the mud fort, and may either Puri-miniature copies of which are to be seen have been originally a mere out-work to the in many parts of Orissa. Such an idol may have other, which seems improbable from its nearly stood in or near this gateway.
THE SO-CALLED DASYUS OF SÁNCHI.
BY BABU RAJENDRALÁLA MITRA, Hox. M.R.A.S. MR. FERGUSON, in his magnificent work on are occupied in splitting wood or other domestic “Tree and, Serpent Worship," has discussed at tasks; occasionally navigating in rude canoes; great length the ethnology of a race of men repre- but they never seem to mix with the community sented on the Sánchi bas reliefs, whom he desig- at large, except for the observance of religious nates the Dasyus or aborigines of India. rites. They have invariably by them a chaffing The deductions he has drawn, however, are not dish with a blazing fire, a pair of tongs, and a warrantable from the premises on which he has bowl which, from its shape, appears to be made argued. As the subject is of some importance of the hard shell of the gourd. It was carried in connexion with the history of the Sánchi about hanging from the left hand. In one Tope, & summary of it will perhaps not be un- instance a man has a stand of the shape of a interesting.
morá, over which he holds something which The people who are called Dasyus or abori- appears to us, from the tracing of writing on it, gines, as distinct from the Aryans, are generally re- to be a scroll or a mass of written paper ; a compresented as people of the woods, living in thatch- panion of his is folding or unfolding a similar ed huts, wearing a small dhuti wrapped round scroll or bundle, and a third is taking up some the waist, and pussessing no ornaments. Their burning charcoal with his tongs. Mr. Fergushead dress consists occasionally of a plain skull- son, following General Cunningham, takes the cap, but frequently of plaited or matted hair wound first scroll to be a flagon from which the man is round the head, and tied on the crown in a coni- pouring something into his fire pot, and the cal form. Occasionally they allow the hair to second a fan with which the owner is enlivening hang behind in loose tresses. Most of them have his fire ; but the appearance of the scrolls and beards : & few appear with shaven chins. They the position and action of the hands according to sit with their knees raised and legs crossed and several intelligent European gentlemen includtied round with a strip of cloth or a napkin, and ing two professional artists, are entirely against liar gambhfra. The change was probably caused by their vaults, and it was not till I had the jungle cleared from appronching the building from the top of the walls, as they the northern face that I convinced them the rooms were not took me been from this position the rooms look like deep underground.