Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 2) (London, 1832)

ANTIQUE PILLAR. 169

or pillar, of great antiquity, claimed equally by
the Hindoo and Mussulmaun as due to their
respective periods of sovereign rule. The site is
an elevated spot, and from the traces of former
buildings, I am disposed to believe this pillar,
standing now erect and imposing, was one of
the minarets of a mosque, and the only remains
of such a building, which must have been very
extensive, if the height and dimensions of the
minaret be taken as a criterion of the whole.

This pillar has circular stairs within, leading
to galleries extending all round, at stated dis-
tances, and forming five tiers from the first gallery
to the top, which finishes with a circular room,
and a canopy of stone, open on every side for
the advantage of an extensive prospect. Verses
from the Khoraun are cut out in large Arabic
characters on the stones, which form portions of
the pillar from the base to the summit in regular
divisions; this could only be done with great
labour, and, I should imagine, whilst the blocks
of stone were on the level surface of the earth,
which renders it still more probable that it was
a Mussulmaun erection.