Greaves, Edwin: Kashi the city illustrious or Benares (Allahabad, 1909)

SARNATH. 149

ail round the building, and had there been stone facing
above this level the probability is that some of the stones
would have been found in place.

In sinking the shaft, a slab of stone was discovered
in the centre of the tower, over two feet in length by one
foot broad, bearing an inscription, which has been trans-
lated as follows :—

" Of all things proceeding from cause, their causes

hath the Tatbagata (Buddha) explained. The

great Sramana (Buddha) hath likewise explained

the causes of the cessation of existence."

The stone portion of the tower exhibits some very

bold carving. To quote from General Cunningham :—

"The lower part of the monument has eight projecting

faces, each twenty-one feet six inches in width, with

intervals of fifteen feet between them. In each of the

faces, at a height of twenty-four feet above the ground,

there is a semi-circular headed niche, five and a half feet

in width, and the same in height. In each of the niches

there is a pedestal, one foot in height, and slightly

hollowed on the top, to receive the base of a statue ;

but the statues themselves have long disappeared......

There can be little doubt, however, that all the eight
statues represented Buddha......Judging by the dimen-
sions of the niches, the statues must have been of
life-size."

Running round the tower, immediately below the
level of these niches, is a band nine feet in width, of
very fine carved ornamentation. The band is split up
into three narrower bands, the centre and larger one
bemg> generally speaking, some geometrical design, the
upper and lower being of flowered scoll work. Only
in one place, the border on one of the recesses at the
south-west corner, are living creatures introduced,
these are some ducks, a frog, and also a tiny human