________________
DECEMBER, 1906.]
ABOHXOLOGY IN WEBTERN TIBET.
S25
ARCHÆOLOGY IN WESTERN TIBET.
KHALATSE.
BY THE RX. A. . FRANCKE.
(Continued from p. 241.) II. - INSCRIPTIONS AT SASPOLA.
A. - Alohi-mkhar Gog. N approaching Saspola from Kbalates the first object that attracts interest is the ruined
Castle of Alchi-mkbar Gog, which reminds one of that at Bala-mkhar near the latter place. It was built on one or more low rocks on the left bank of the Indus, evidently to cover an ancient bridge. According to the most acceptable native tradition, the builder was an ancient king named Bandel, probably of Dard origin, of whom, however, no written record has survived ; but from the many stong-pon insoriptions in the vicinity it would seem to have fallen into the bande of the Kings of Leh not long after 1000 A. D. From these inscriptions also, it is clear that it was not trade but military considerations that caused the castle to be constructed.
Another tradition says that a king Bahand, in place of Bandel, was the builder of the castle. One person mentioned king Nyima-rnam-rgyal in connection with the castle. This is evidently A mistake for Nyima-mgon, the first Tibetan king who conquered the country.
During a short examination of the site (vide Plate I.), two shards of ancient pottery decorated with blood-red designs, like those reproduced, ante, Vol. XXXIV., p. 208 ff., from Balo-mkhar, were discovered, and also a beautiful stone-mortar. Not much of the masonry is left, but large quantities of loose stones, which formerly formed part of the walls, are to be seen lying aboat.
The Inscriptions. The real attraction of the castle for the archæologist lies in the many inscriptions (vide Plates II. and 111.) on stones and boulders in its vicinity, which contain records of the erection of stúpas, or chailyas, by its ancient commanders.
No. 1. Tibetan Text.
Translation. 80 blon halpa
* Halpa, the officer of the spies.
No. 2. khri samgyis
By Khri-sum (erected].
No. 3. stong [a]pon rge [= dge]
The commander of a thousand called ] age.
stong [a]pon rgyalba yesheskyâs
[Erected) by the commander of a thousand,
Gyalba-yoshes. No. 8.
| Khrom (name). xo, ..
The commander of a thousand, bDung-'ajoms.
kbrom
stong [a]pon bdung 'ajoms
