Page:Provincial geographies of India (Volume 4).djvu/224

208 foundation, benefaction, or dedication of land, slaves, or fruit trees was generally recorded on stone." But hardly any inscriptions have been found earlier than the middle of the 11th century A.D.

Images. Some famous images have been mentioned. At Pāgăt, on the Salween, is a notable collection. Here are the famous caves where besides countless numbers at the entrance are myriads of statues within.

Another remarkable group exists at Akauktaung, on the edge of the Irrawaddy, at the extreme north of the Henzada district.

Here the right bank rises proudly to a lofty cliff, overhung with evergreen forest, and this cliff is made holy and glorious by hundreds and hundreds of images of the Buddha, each in its separate shrine, sculptured tier above tier out of the solid rock. The Buddhas sit royally enthroned, a splendid company, looking