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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1893.
apparently all were originally ornamented. This may give a clue to the age of the ornamentation on further investigation, by determining whether the unornamented stalactites and stalagmites are posterior to those covered with ornaments, and how long it must have taken them to form. Some of them again are now only partially ornamented, and it is possible that the unornamented parts may have been formed since the ornament was put on.
The accompanying sketch plan gives an idea of this Cave.
- hole in roof apparently leading to upper cave
.
-plarked-in hole in the roof
20
North
... Triscription
Entrance from
Village
Jungle foot part
Tank - Single-plairk bridge
Small train
Sketch Plan of the D'ammada Cave The general design in the interior seems to have been to build up a pagoda or chaitya at both the east and west entrances, and to fill in the centre of the hall or cave with images and smaller pagodas. These are raised on platforms. Along the sides is a great mass of images on platforms, such as are shewn in the sketch plan. A general idea of the style of ornamentation and design can be seen from the interior view of the B'inji Cave given on Plate II.
The ornamentation of the roof, sides and stalactites consists of images of Gautama Buddhs and Yahans, of all sizes, from four inches in height to about life-size. These images are of brick and coloured plaster, chiefly red (hindapada!), and of terra cotta fastened on by a cement. There are also signs of glazed ware having been employed in places, and abundant signs of a general gildings of the figures.in days gone by. When new, and brightly colored and gilt, the effect of the ornamentation must have been very fine. (See Plates VI. and VII.) Great numbers of small earthen lamps, of the usual Indian chirágh form, are to be found. These must have been used, as now, for illuminating the images on feast days. Much broken pottery also lies about'; the remains no doubt of water-pots and of pots for votive flowers, used on similar occasions.
All the platforms, the pagodas, and the large images down the centre of the Cave, are of
14This word is spelt hamaapada Skr. 'goose-foot,' and is the name of a mineral (red oxide of mercury) prodacing the peculiar rich red used in Burms for ornamenting baildings. It is particularly well suited as a ground for gold, black, white or gray ornament.
18 The gilding was not always of good quality, as in many instances the images that remain are now simply covered with verdigris,
