Page:Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India Vol 20.pdf/11

PREFACE.

VII some lotus medallions on the opposite face. They were all of small size, being only 2, feet 8£ inches in height, with a breadth of 7 inches, and a thickness of 3 inches. Here I found a small independent group of two female figures, with a tree on the back of the sculpture.

At Chauraukha, there is a curious old Buddhist capital, with four females standing between four lions. Hence the name of the village, as Chau-mukha is only a corruption of Chatur-mukha, or 11four faces.” I could not find any other remains. Mr. Growse has described this sculpture as the base of a pillar. But, so far as my observation has gone, the Buddhist monoliths are invariably without bases.

In the Gurgaon District I visited Firozpur-Jhirka, Kotila, Indor, Palah, Sohna, Bhonsi, and Gurgaon. Kotila I have already noticed as one of the border places of Alwar. Fi­ rozpur-Jhirka is remarkable for its fine springs of water in a cleft of the range of hills, through which a good road has now been made leading to TejAra. These springs were visited by the Emperor BAbar. The hills and surrounding country have now been cleared of jungle, and the lands are well cultivated. But in former days, when the whole place was covered with jungle, the turbulent KhAnzAdah Chiefs of MewAt invariably retreated to Jhirka (or the 11 springs ” ), where they felt themselves to be safe from pursuit. The place was renamed as Firozpur-Jhirka by the brother of BahAdur NAher during the reign of Firoz Tughlak, when the two brothers, as I conclude, received grants of TejAra and Jhirka on becoming Musalmans.

In the Delhi District I visited several buildings that had hitherto escaped observation, as well as many others that re­ quired careful measurements. Amongst the latter I may mention the Tomb of SultAn GhAri at MahipAlpur, the Tomb of Firoz Shah Tughlak near Begampur, and the Tomb of MubArak Sayid at MubArakpur Kotila. Amongst the former are the curious Baithak and Tomb of Kabir-uddin Auliya, near Begumpur, and the Chor-MinAr, or “ Thieves-Tower,” near the same place. This Tower is circular, with rows of holes on the outside for the reception of the heads of thieves.

At Khairpur I measured the jAmi Masjid of Sikandar