Indian Antiquary Vol 11

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 14

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1882.
XII.-A brick on which the following inscription was scratched rudely :
the modern small burnt bricks, whilst a few fraginents of the stones from the old temple adorn most of them.
Extract from an account of his discoveries at Vijnt by Fred. E. Robertson, dated 7th July
سلطان سکندر با شاء هي شان ميف | سم بالا
2014
-
کا رابورارا طا
کاریگر را قلم عد صرر شد بس
1873.
About 150,000 cubic feet of brick bats have been collected from the ruins of Vinjrote (Vijnôt) for the purpose of ballasting the Indus Valley State Railway.
The workmen employed stole all the valuables found and decamped. “One man was caught with 28 tolas weight (= 11-5 oz.) of gold of which some parts of the ingots were missing." "The gold was in rough ingots without any mark."
"The other is of much greater interest, and I think a temple of some importance. In one corner of the excavation more than 50 large stones were dug up imbedded on their ends, just as if they had fallen from a height."
A list of the objects of interest follows:
1.-Several silver coins, smaller than a twoanna bit, which I have been informed are probably coins of the earlier Arab Kalifs, and have an inscription in Kufic letters.
II.-A. Ganesa with a piece of a pilaster stone).
III.-A slab about 2 feet high, with Mahadeva and Pârvati in basso rilievo, unfinisbed; the chisel-marks as sharp as if made yesterday, so evidently not damaged.
IV.-A companion slab with the figure only rough hewn, so cannot be identified.
V.-Two-thirds of a gemicircular arch, 4 feet in diameter, carred on both sides in alto rilievo in the most spirited manner, with a procession of figuros about 5 inches high. The soffit is also well carved with conventional foliage.
VI.-Some carved stones apparently jambs of the door of which No. V. was the head. One stone has a lion, & woman, and an elephant.
VII.-A lion in red sandstone about 1 foot high, head missing and off foreleg, burnt.
VIII.-An intaglio in brick very finely carved, apparently a mould to cast little leaden gode
XIII.-A little stone trough about 6 inches square, apparently unfinished.
Other sites mentioned by Mr. Robertson in the neighbourhood of Vijnôt are "Ther" (? Térbi), "Serwabi" and Pattan Minar.
Mr. Robertson states that on excavating the largest mound in the place, an immense quantity of broken crockery was met with ; and at first sight the numberless pieces of pottery ware seemed to support the statement. But the greatest part of what looks like pottery ware consists of the flaky fragments of the disintegrating bricks, and the lips, shoulders and thicker parts of ordinary earthenware pots, and innumerable pieces of broken saucers. These last are the commonest fragments found on all the old sites in this part of the country. They usually have a flat knob for a handle in the middle of the inside, and were not used as saucers, so much as for the lids or covers of the common waterpots and jars. Of crockeryware or glazed pottery there is scarcely a piece to be seen; but an occasional fragment of the blueglazed pottery was found.
The patterns impressed upon the larger pots are curious and interesting, inasmuch as they are not now in vogue, and they are precisely the same as those found on the pottery of the other ancient sites in the vicinity. They consist for the most part of a single row of circular marks, half or quarter circles, the latter such as might have been made by the finger nail in the soft clay. Others were made apparently by spreading lumps of clay on the pot, and then marking them with a succession of streaky impressions, as if done with repeated scrapes of a rough comb, producing an effect something like a shaggy beard. The circles are very clearly marked, and have a centre. | The best pattern noticed was somewhat like a Catharine Wheel, formed of 9 spokes, radiating from a small central circle, and having their outer ends turned round to the left and back, hooklike.
A few instances occurred of streaks and blotches stained of a very dark colour, such as is common now-a-days. The pottery generally is of the most ordinary kind, well burnt to a
in.
IX:--A piece in alto rilievo, well carved, representing a man on a horse with a cup (P) in his hand and a chobddr (macebearer) behind him.
X:- Many fragments of images admirably carved, appear to have been broken by accident, and not wilfully mutilated-some marked by fire.
XI.-Fragments of cornices, some rather rude, but others of good design and neat execution.