Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/139

 CHAP. IV. RAIL AT BHARAUT. 105 about 68 ft. in diameter, had entirely disappeared, having been utilised by the natives to build their villages ; but about one- half of the rail, which was partly thrown down and buried in the rubbish, had been preserved. Originally it was 88 ft. in diameter, and consequently some 277 ft. in length. It was divided into four quadrants by the four entrances, each of which was guarded by statues 4^ ft. high, of Yakshas and Yakshinis, and Nagarajas carved in relief on the corner pillars. The eastern gateway only is known to have been adorned with a Toran or, as the Chinese would call it, a " P'ai-lu " like those at Sanchi. One pillar of it is shown in the woodcut (No. 32) on next page, and sufficient fragments were found in the excavations to enable General Cunningham to restore it with considerable certainty. From his restoration it appears to have been 22 ft. 6 in. in height from the ground to the top of the chakra, or wheel, which was the central emblem on the top of all, supported by a honeysuckle ornament of great beauty. The beams had no human figures on them, like those at Sanchi. The lower had a procession of elephants, bringing offerings to a tree ; the middle beam, of lions similarly employed ; the upper beam has not been recovered, but the beam-ends are ornamented with conventional crocodiles or makaras, and show man on his knees before an altar worshipping a tree, while a flying figure brings a garland to adorn it. The other represents a relic casket, over which a seven- 30. Tree Worship ; Bodh-Gaya Rail. 31. Relic Casket : Bodh-Gaya Rail. headed Naga spreads his hood, and over him an umbrella of state. There are, besides, two trees in a sacred enclosure, and another casket with three umbrellas (Woodcuts No. 30, 31).