Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/332

 288 ARCHITECTURE IN THE HIMALAYAS. BOOK II. it is curious to observe how people come independently to adopt the same forms and similar modes of decoration when using the same materials for like purposes, and under similar climatic influences. Although it may consequently be impossible to trace any influence that the people of the Himalayas could have exerted on the peoples of the north- west of Europe, it is by no means clear that in these wooden structures we may not find the germ of much that is now perplexing us with regard to the earlier forms of Hindu stone architecture. Like Buddhist architecture, there can hardly be a doubt that much of it was derived from wooden originals, and it is difficult to see any locality where wooden styles were likely to be earlier adopted and longer practised than in those valleys where the Deodar pine is abundant, and forms so excellent and so lasting a building material. An exploration of these valleys, would, no doubt, bring to light many curious monuments, which would not only be interesting in them- selves, but might throw considerable light on many now obscure points of our enquiries. One monument, for in- stance, was dis- covered by Major Godwin Austen near the foot of the Naga hills in Asam, which is unlike any other known to exist any- where else. 1 The temple if temple it may be called con- sists of a long cor- ridor, about 250 ft. in length and 2 1 ft. wide, the roof of which was supported by pillars richly carved, spaced 1 5 ft. to 2 1 ft. apart ; 1 The following particulars are taken from a paper by Major Austen in the 'Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,' vol. xliii. pt. i., 1874, pp. 1-6. 162. Monoliths at Dimapur. (From a Drawing by Major Godwin Austen.)