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/152

128 pp. 51–59, vol. I. A little rivulet, which is now almost dry, is said to have been the channel up which the raft with the maidens was floated to near the hermit's residence; it is believed by the people that pilgrims who go to the shrine there with firm faith are not molested en route by wild beasts, while others are. To west of the temple, which is Saivic, is the site of the Tapasya of Dastratha (?), and the remains of a natural cave; to the east of the temple is a sculptured slab, evidently a sati pillar. The sculpture is in thee compartments: the first represents a lingam, showing the religion of the man; the second has two elephants—he was, therefore, probably a great man who rode an elephant in the fight; the last compartment shews three women, being probably the number of his wives who were burnt with him.

There are three inscribed statues or fragments near the temple, one known as Hara Gauri, one of a four-armed female, and one a fragment; all three inscriptions contain merely the Buddhist creed Ye Dharmma, &c., in Kutila characters; they evidently date to the later days of Buddhism, judging from the characters.   The hill at Kherhi, 10 miles south-west of Bhagalpur, contains numerous remains; these are to be found both on the hill and in the village below; in the latter, all that now remains are brickbats and low mounds. I saw three of these, but found nothing of interest; perhaps excavation will yield interesting remains. Numerous low mounds also occur at the foot of the hill, along the northern foot of which an old road appears once to have existed; there are also numerous low mounds further west; over most of these the plough has been driven for a long time, and their artificial character is inferred solely from the numerous fragments of brick which have been, and still are, constantly being turned up by the plough.

The principal existing object of interest is, however, the fort on the hill. This is an irregular enclosure, of rough large blocks of stone laid on each other without cement, occupying the whole of the tolerably level top of the eastmost hill, which, though only one of a long series of hills, is quite isolated, being connected with the western range by a low pass. The hill is saddle-backed, the highest portion being an elevated piece of table-land at the extreme west end; this portion was formed into a citadel opening into the fort by one gate and steps, and having a small postern opening outwards, but 