Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/111

 CHAP. V. STAMBHAS. 83 time that elapsed, however, between the erection of the monoliths in the valley of the Nile and those in India seems to render this very doubtful, though they were certainly erected for similar purposes and occupied the same position relatively to the temples. When, however, we look at the vast difference between their designs, it is evident, even assuming a connection, that vast ages must have elapsed before the plain straight-lined forms of the obelisks could have been changed into the complicated and airy forms of the Jaina stambhas. The two are the Alpha and Omega of architectural design the older, simple and severe, beyond any other examples of purely ornamental objects ; the latter, more varied and more highly ornamented than almost any others of their class that can be named. We are hardly yet in a position to push these speculations to their legitimate issue, and must wait for further information before any satisfactory conclusion can be derived from them ; but meanwhile it may be pointed out how curiously characteristic of Indian art it is that this little remote province of Tuluva, or Kanara, should have a style of its own, differing essentially from that found in any other part of the Indian continent, but still having resemblances that suggest affinities with outlying and distant countries, with which one can hardly suspect any con- nection but for the indications suggested by their architecture. Such indications have led to the conjecture that some early connection existed between Nepal and Tibet and Kanara. 1 Yet the affinities in architectural style are explained by their natural and independent derivation in both regions from the humbler forms of the native dwellings that long experience had discovered as best suited to the special natural conditions which prevail in both the areas. That this has not been hitherto made clear is largely due to the circumstance that photographers have directed their attention to important structures only, and have entirely overlooked the humbler native huts and houses that so readily explain the origin of the styles. It is not very difficult to conjecture how early and frequent intercourse may have existed between the Persian Gulf and the western shores of India, and how the relations between these two countries may have been so intimate as to account for the amount of what we now call Armenian forms that we find in the Jaina architecture of southern India, especially in that below the Ghats. It will require, however, that the Indian branch of the subject should be much more fully and more scientifically investigated than has hitherto been the case before it is worth while to do more than indicate how rich a field lies open to reward the industry of any future explorer. 1 Ante, vol. i. p. 286.