Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/296

 ARCHITECTURE IN THE HIMALAYAS BOOK II. in India. They have besides this a certain classical element, which can hardly be mistaken, and is sufficient in itself to attract the attention of Europeans who are interested in detect- ing their own familiar forms in this remote valley in the Himalayas. The earliest of the modern investigators of the subject were Messrs. Moorcroft and Trebeck, who visited the valley in iSip-iSas. 1 They were both acute and intelligent observers, but having no special knowledge of the subject, their observations on the architecture of the valley do not add much to our know- ledge of its history. They were followed by G. T. Vigne in 1833, who being an artist drew the buildings with wonderful correctness, so as to bring out the peculiarities of the style, and also to approximate their history with very tolerable exactness. 2 About the same time Baron Hugel gave his impressions on the subject to the public, but in a manner much less critical than his predecessors. 3 In 1848, Captain (afterwards General Sir) A. Cunningham published in the ' Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society,' an essay on what he called the " Aryan Order of Architecture," but which was wholly devoted to that of Kashmir.* It was illustrated by seventeen folding plates, containing map, plans, elevations, and views, and in fact all that was required for settling the history of the style, and, but for one or two unfortunate mistakes, would have left little to be done by his successors in this field of enquiry. In 1866, the Rev. W. C. Cowie published in the same journal an essay on the same subject, as a supplement to General Cunningham's paper, describing several temples he had not visited, and adding considerably to our knowledge of those he had described. This paper was also extensively illustrated. 6 In consequence of all this wealth of literature, very little remained to be done, when in 1868 Lieutenant Cole, R.E., obtained an appointment as superintendent in the Archaeological Survey of India, and proceeded to Kashmir with a staff quite sufficient to settle all the remaining outstanding questions. 6 Unfortunately, however, Lieutenant Cole had no previous know- 1 ' Travels in the Himalayan Provinces and in Ladakh and Kashmir,' London, Murray, 1841. 2 ' Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, etc., 'two vols. 8vo., London, Colburn, 1842 ; 2nd ed. 1844. 3 ' Travels in Kashmir and the Punjab.' Translated by Major Jervis, London, 1845. 4 Loc. cit. vol. xvii. part ii. pp. 241- 3 2 7- s< Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society, vol. xxxv. pp. 91-123. 6 ' Illustrations of the Ancient Build- ings in Kashmir, etc., prepared, under the authority of the Secretary of State for India in Council,' by Lieut. H. II. Cole, R.E., quarto, London, 1869.