DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0074
52 EASTERN CAVES.
fragments of sculpture lying about, but evidently of a much more
modern date. As Mr. Beglar's map is nearly as unintelligible as his
drawings, we are left to conjecture which of the two caves marked
upon it are those just referred to, nor how many more exist on the
spot. The text says 7, 2+5, but only four are shown, and the other
buildings he describes cannot be identified on it.1 Enough, however,
is shown and said to make it quite clear that these are the caves
referred to by the Chinese pilgrims, and to prove to us that, like all
the caves connected by tradition with the name of Buddha, they are
mere natural caverns untouched by the chisel, though their irregula-
rities are sometimes smoothed down with brickwork and plaster, and
that the latter may, in some instances at least, have been originally
adorned with paintings.
Sita Marhi Cave.
Before leaving this neighbourhood there is still
one small cave that is worth mentioning as the only
other known of the same age as those of Barabar
and Rajgir.2 It consists of a chamber rectangular
in plan, and measuring 15 feet 9 inches, by 11 feet
3 inches, which is hollowed out of an isolated granite
boulder lying detached by itself, and not near any
other rocks. Inside it is as carefully polished as
any of those at Barabar, except the inner wall where
the surface has peeled off.3 Its principal interest,
however, resides in its section (woodcut, No. 11),
No. n. Plan ana Section which is that of a pointed arch rising from the floor
Sita ar 1 ave. \eyei} without any perpendicular sides, which are
1 The information regarding these caves is not to be found in the body of Mr.
Beglar's report, vol. viii., but in a prefatory note, pp. xv to xxi, which makes no refer-
ence to the text, -which it contradicts in all essential particulars, or to Map XXII.,
which is equally ignored in the body of the work. In fact, it is very much to be
regretted that the manner in which these reports are put together is not creditable
to any of those concerned in their production.
2 It is situated at a place called Sita Marhi, 14 miles south of Rajgir, and 24 east
from Gaya, as nearly as I can make out from the map attached to Mr. Beglar's report,
but the spot is not marked, though the name is.
3 Mr. Beglar, from whose report (viii. p. 106) these particulars are taken, men-
tions some pieces of sculpture as existing, and now worshipped in the cave, but whether
they are cut in the rock or detached is not mentioned, and is of very little consequence,
as they are evidently quite modern.
fragments of sculpture lying about, but evidently of a much more
modern date. As Mr. Beglar's map is nearly as unintelligible as his
drawings, we are left to conjecture which of the two caves marked
upon it are those just referred to, nor how many more exist on the
spot. The text says 7, 2+5, but only four are shown, and the other
buildings he describes cannot be identified on it.1 Enough, however,
is shown and said to make it quite clear that these are the caves
referred to by the Chinese pilgrims, and to prove to us that, like all
the caves connected by tradition with the name of Buddha, they are
mere natural caverns untouched by the chisel, though their irregula-
rities are sometimes smoothed down with brickwork and plaster, and
that the latter may, in some instances at least, have been originally
adorned with paintings.
Sita Marhi Cave.
Before leaving this neighbourhood there is still
one small cave that is worth mentioning as the only
other known of the same age as those of Barabar
and Rajgir.2 It consists of a chamber rectangular
in plan, and measuring 15 feet 9 inches, by 11 feet
3 inches, which is hollowed out of an isolated granite
boulder lying detached by itself, and not near any
other rocks. Inside it is as carefully polished as
any of those at Barabar, except the inner wall where
the surface has peeled off.3 Its principal interest,
however, resides in its section (woodcut, No. 11),
No. n. Plan ana Section which is that of a pointed arch rising from the floor
Sita ar 1 ave. \eyei} without any perpendicular sides, which are
1 The information regarding these caves is not to be found in the body of Mr.
Beglar's report, vol. viii., but in a prefatory note, pp. xv to xxi, which makes no refer-
ence to the text, -which it contradicts in all essential particulars, or to Map XXII.,
which is equally ignored in the body of the work. In fact, it is very much to be
regretted that the manner in which these reports are put together is not creditable
to any of those concerned in their production.
2 It is situated at a place called Sita Marhi, 14 miles south of Rajgir, and 24 east
from Gaya, as nearly as I can make out from the map attached to Mr. Beglar's report,
but the spot is not marked, though the name is.
3 Mr. Beglar, from whose report (viii. p. 106) these particulars are taken, men-
tions some pieces of sculpture as existing, and now worshipped in the cave, but whether
they are cut in the rock or detached is not mentioned, and is of very little consequence,
as they are evidently quite modern.