DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0332
289
similar date in Jerusalem, or Damascus, or Rome. The
terms ' ancient' and ' old' will, therefore, not be ap-
plied here to buildings erected five hundred or even
eight hundred years ago, but to those of an anterior
period.
That wonderful mass of lofty houses, separated by
narrow lanes, and packed together in such wild dis-
order,-—appearing, in fact, like one immense structure
of gigantic proportions,—which extends along the banks
of the Ganges for more than two miles, having a cir-
cumference of at least six, and which is regarded, by
all visitors of Benares, with great curiosity, although
built, for the most part, of solid stone, and presenting,
largely, the aspect of hoary age, has no right to the
epithet of 'ancient.' Some of the buildings of which
it is composed have been standing fully five hundred
years; yet there are very few indeed, if any, that
have not been erected since the commencement of the
Mohammedan period in India. Nevertheless, speaking
generally, this, together with a part of the northern
boundary of Benares, is the oldest portion of the present
city; while the vast expanse of buildings lying south
and west beyond it, and occupying four or five times
its area, is, chiefly, of recent date.
The question which we have attempted to investigate
is, what is there in Benares more ancient than, say, the
epoch of Mahmud of Gazni, who invaded India in the
year of our Lord 1001 ? Are there any remains of the
preceding Hindu, Jaina, and Buddhist periods? And
is there any remnant whatever of the first' Hindu period,
before the rise of Buddhism,—perhaps in the sixth een-
19
similar date in Jerusalem, or Damascus, or Rome. The
terms ' ancient' and ' old' will, therefore, not be ap-
plied here to buildings erected five hundred or even
eight hundred years ago, but to those of an anterior
period.
That wonderful mass of lofty houses, separated by
narrow lanes, and packed together in such wild dis-
order,-—appearing, in fact, like one immense structure
of gigantic proportions,—which extends along the banks
of the Ganges for more than two miles, having a cir-
cumference of at least six, and which is regarded, by
all visitors of Benares, with great curiosity, although
built, for the most part, of solid stone, and presenting,
largely, the aspect of hoary age, has no right to the
epithet of 'ancient.' Some of the buildings of which
it is composed have been standing fully five hundred
years; yet there are very few indeed, if any, that
have not been erected since the commencement of the
Mohammedan period in India. Nevertheless, speaking
generally, this, together with a part of the northern
boundary of Benares, is the oldest portion of the present
city; while the vast expanse of buildings lying south
and west beyond it, and occupying four or five times
its area, is, chiefly, of recent date.
The question which we have attempted to investigate
is, what is there in Benares more ancient than, say, the
epoch of Mahmud of Gazni, who invaded India in the
year of our Lord 1001 ? Are there any remains of the
preceding Hindu, Jaina, and Buddhist periods? And
is there any remnant whatever of the first' Hindu period,
before the rise of Buddhism,—perhaps in the sixth een-
19