________________
AUGUST, 1879.)
BUDDHIST REMAINS IN THE JALÅLÅBÅD VALLEY.
229
with it, and I can only express my regret that what I have supposed to be built Viharas are I had no time to excavate the spot. Let me very plentiful in the Jalâlâbâd groups, but these here say, that after peace, and a satisfactory I take to have been all later than the more alliance has been established with the ruler of primitive rock-cut cell, which may have existed this country, that a systematic exploration will before a more organised monastic system came be made of the Buddhist remains, not only in into existence. A number of these caves are of the Jalâlâbâd valley, but all over Afghanistan. greater extent, but they do not differ in the It was supposed by those acquainted with the form of the round, plastered, roof-and the matter, that Masson had left no tope unopened. reason for their extension is, I confess, not He certainly opened the most of them, but he quite clear. The largest of these was one has left some untouched. There is one known shown first to Major Tanner, and which has as the Nagara Gundi, about two or three miles the tradition attached to it of being the west of Jalálábad, where Colonel Jenkins of Palace of the Rajah Hoda, from which Hoda is the Guides made some excavations, and from also supposed to derive its name. This is no what was laid bare I believe it is a tope of the doubt the same person as the Raja Hudi, whose largest size, and it does not seem to have been name is connected with Khairâbâd, opposite ever opened. Again, I have seen the excava- Atak, and so many other places, and regarding tions made by Masson, and Honigberger, and whom the stories told are as mythical as those it is apparent they only explored for coins. of Prince Arthur. Neither of these men seem ever to have re- Major Tanner made some excavations in this moved a stone on account of the architecture, cave, but the only results were two pieces of and here in this direction the field is almost sculpture, one a fragment of a lotus base, and quite new. The Vihåras have not yet been the other was the lower part of a Hindu touched, and there are plentiful remains of them at Corinthian capital, of very good work; but its Hada, Dåranta, Char Bagh, and other places, size was too great to admit of the supposition the details of which might be of the highest that it belonged to any structure which could importance. Some slight experiences at Hada have existed in the cave. They were both convinced me that sculptures to any amount found at the entrance, and the remains of buildwill be found when proper excavations are made. ings over the cave would suggest that they had
The great number of caves in Afghanistan originally belonged to them. The low hill in forms an interesting part of the subject of which this cave is excavated is called in MagBuddhist remains; and there is yet much that son's account Tappa Zurgaran, or "The Goldis wanted in the way of exploration before
smith's Mound." Not far from this are some attempting to speak with certainty about them. other caves of a different character. They are They are usually simple arched recesses into described in the Ariana Antiqua, p. 112. They the rock, and they bear so much resemblance are square and small, the roofs very flat, with to the group of caves near Gaya, that I cannot the exception of the dome in the centre. Magavoid thinking there is some connection between son mentions the remains of fresco paintings on them. An inscription in the Milkmaid's cave" these, which are still visible. The Rev. Mr. states that it was made by Dasartha as a hermit- Swinnerton made some excavations in these age for Buddhist ascetics. If this simple form Caves,' and I asked him to clear out the accaof cave was brought from Gaya to Afghanistan, mulated earth under the dome of one of we may naturally suppose that the object for them; this brought to light a base ornamented which they wera constructed was the same in with Buddhist figures in plasters, from which both cases. The Gayâ caves are about 200 B.C., I conclude that under these domes stood either and I am inclined to think that the Afghanis- small topes, or, perhaps, Buddhist figures, and tan caves are all older than the topes, which that they were devotional shrines. Along with are so frequently found in connection with them. these domed caves are the ordinary arched I only found one cave, at Darantâ, with the caves, in which it would be natural to suppose Vihåra arrangement, similar to the rock-cut the Sramanas dwelt who had charge of these Vihåras of Western India. The remains of Buddhist places of Worship.
See Rev. O. Swinnerton's paper, Ante, p. 198.
