________________
DECEMBER, 1893.]
NOTES ON ANTIQUITIES IN RAMANNADESA.
851
Explanation of Index Plate IV. This Plate shews the mural decoration of the Kògun Cave to consist mainly of terra-cotta tablets, faced with representations of the Buddha, seated as already described. But a few facts are brought prominently to notice in it.
Figure (1) is the recumbent Buddha of not an unusual type. Figure (2) is a seated image of the type explained below, p. 354, Plate VII.
Figures (3), (6) and (13) are representations of the Buddha preaching, a form which is very rare in modern figures, but which must have been common enough when these caves were decorated. I have photographs of a fine set of very ancient type in wood, now at the Shinbink uji Pagoda in Talôkmyo, which were taken thither from the Ditsabàn Hill at Legaing, the ancient Våņijjaguma in the Minbû District, one of the oldest sites in Upper Barmah.73 One of these is now set up (restored) at the Sûlê Pagoda in Rangoon. Figure (13) has been accidentally cut out of the Plate, but is in the original photograph.
Figure (7) represents the Buddha with his Dabók, or begging bowl.
Fignres (8), (9), (10) and (12) are interesting as shewing images of the Buddha (Shin type) with one sole only exposed. Fig. (11) shews him as Zabûbade with a septaple tiara on his head.
Figure (4) also shews the great hexagonal ornamented stalagmite, which is to be better seen on Plate VII.
Fignre (5) exhibits the damage, almost universal in pagodas found in or near the Caves, and done in order to get at the contents of the treasure chamber. See ante, p. 333.
The day when this Cave was visited happened to be that of the annual new year's feast, and a couple of boys, worn out with the fatigues of the festival, are to be seen asleep in the foreground. The human figures in the photograph are useful to sbew the proportions of the varions objects shewn.
Figure (14) is an inscription in modern Burmese characters on plaster, which has partly peeled off. The figures 2157 can be made out on the original photograph through a magnifier. Given that this refers to the Year of Religion," or Anno Buddhæ, it yields the date 1613 A. D. At any rate the inscription is worth looking into, for there should be no difficulty in reading it. Its situation is marked in the sketch plan, ante, p. 336.
Plate V. This shews a pagoda which has been twice dug into in search for treasure.73
Of the mural decoration the objects of chief interest are a prominent figure of the Buddha preaching, and the small alabaster figures placed in hollows and on ledges in the upper part of the rock.
The boys in the foreground are some of those, who had come to be present at the new year festival noted in describing the last plate.
Plate VI. This plate gives a view, shewing the way into the Main Hall from the Entrance Hall, and shews that the decoration of roof and walls by means of plastering them with terra-cotta tablets extends eyen to the recesses of the Main Hall. It also shews usefully the extraordinary richness of the remains and the confusion into which they have now fallen.
12 See ante, Vol. XXI. p. 121; Vol. XXII. p. 6.
15 This is the pagoda which appears in Plate Ia. Alerander, Travele, 1827, p. 18, says that about Rangoon, good deal of this kind of damage was due to the European troops in the First War.
