Page:Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 29.djvu/373

1860.] however, is now nearly worn away by the weather. Entering this door-way, you pass at once into the vestibule or outer room, which is about 30 by 25 feet. From this you enter the main enclosure or central court of the monastery, more than 40 feet square, and into which open the principal surrounding cells, which were for the use of the monks. At the west end of this court, and directly fronting the main entrance, is an elevated domed tower, once surmounted by a graduated steeple now in ruins. Within the domed tower, at a height of about fifteen feet above the ground, was a palleng or raised throne, for an image of Gautama. This must ordinarily have been worshipped from below. There are no existing steps up to the tower, which probably was reached from the hall by a ladder when necessary. Beneath this throne was a vault below the level of the ground. A small opening and descending passage led down to it. In the vault also were places for images. This represented the cave which Buddhists love to construct, to remind them of places for retirement and devotion. The walls for the interior cells or apartments of the monastery are now not more than 10 or 12 feet high, and this appears to have been their original elevation. The interior walls have not been plastered. No portion of a roof anywhere remains. Each cell has a separate entrance door and window about 18 inches square. These are all formed with flat arches and no timber appears in any part of the building. It is not clear how the cells have been roofed or with what material, but probably with planks. Not a vestige of a tile was visible. The outer wall of the building is pierced to receive stone pipes to carry off the rain water from the roof. These are seen obtruding through the top of the outer wall below the parapet. The great centre room or court of the monastery has also been roofed but probably only with boards laid horizontally. The two dotted lines in the plan show where, from marks at the top of the inner walls of the side cells, two beams had probably rested. In a climate where it seldom rains, planks laid on rafters supported by these, would afford sufficient protection from the weather. This apartment was evidently the great hall of the monastery where the religious discourses and instruction would be conducted. The outer room would be that for the reception of strangers and probably for teaching the scholars, who daily attended for that purpose, as is now