Page:Report of a Tour Through the Bengal Provinces of Patna, Gaya, Mongir and Bhagalpur; The Santal Parganas, Manbhum, Singhbhum and Birbhum; Bankura, Raniganj, Bardwan and Hughli in 1872-73.djvu/118

94 worthy of the members of the assembly that was to meet within its precincts. The ground was at first encircled with a fence. A fine flight of steps made wifh the utmost care led from the bottom of the hill to the spot where was built the magnificent hall. The seat of the president was placed opposite in the northern part. In the centre, but facing the east, a seat resembling a pulpit was raised; upon it was laid a beautiful fan made of ivory."

(5) Page 356:—

The words of Hwen Thsang are (I quote in second hand from J. A. S., 1872, p. 242, the original not being within my reach):—

The question to be discussed is a complex one: first, we have to ascertain the name of the cave where the assembly was held; and secondly to fix its position.

The Ceylonese records, quotations 1, 2, and 3, clearly give the name as Sattapanni or correctly as Saptaparnna cave. Mr. Alabaster, in the eighth note at page 167 of the Siamese life of Buddha, calls it the Sattapanni cave, but I am unaware of the source of his information.

But if we turn to the Barmese version, we find from 5 that the cave is named the Webhára cave and from Fa-hian we find it to be named Cheti.

But this is not all. The Ceylonese record describes the seats of the Rahans as being placed facing the south, and that of the president opposite; it is clear, therefore, that the Rahans were seated at the north end or side facing south, while the president's chair was at the south end or side facing north. The Barmese version, however, says exactly the reverse. They, however, agree in making the preaching pulpit face east. Referring then the description to this common point, and remembering that the Barmese version distinctly states that the cave was on the southern slope of the hill, we find that according to this version the president was to the left and the congregation to the right of the pulpit; but this Barmese version exactly inverts the arrangement as given in the Ceylon records. The arrangement, according to the Ceylon records, referred also to the pulpit, shows the president's chair on the right and the congregation on the left of the pulpit.