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/217

Rh century, but from that time to the time of Rájá Mân Singh not a single temple or sculpture appears to have been executed; the Banjâra’s record is, indeed, the very earliest record of the revival of trade in the country. Coupling this with the fact that the fertile country of King Çaçangka appears to have been occupied by the votaries of Brahmanical or Jaina or other Aryan deities, but is now occupied by non-Aryan tribes who reject Brahmanical as well as Jaina deities, the conclusion seems irresistible, that the sudden collapse of all trade and industry was due to the irruption of the Kolarian tribes at some period between the eleventh and the sixteenth centuries. On this point, for further observations, facts and legends, I refer to Colonel Dalton’s great work.  

Twenty miles north-east of Barâ Bâzâr, and a mile east of Ponchá, is the small village of Pákbirrá; here are numerous temples and sculptures, principally Jain; the principal ones are collected within a long shed, which occupies the site of a large temple, of which the foundations still exist; the principal object of attention here is a colossal naked figure, with the lotus as symbol on the pedestal; the figure is 7½ feet high; near it, and along the walls, are ranged numerous others, two small ones with the bull symbol, one smaller with the lotus, a votive chaitya sculptured on four sides, the symbols of the figures on the four sides being a lion, an antelope, a bull, and what appears to be a lamb; over each principal human figure on the chaitya is represented a duck or a goose, holding a garland; there is, besides this, a second votive chaitya, and there may be others within that I could not see; the temple, which enshrined the colossal figure, must have faced west; it was very large, containing the full complement of preliminary chambers and hall in front of the sanctum.

The colossal figure has a natural crack or flaw diagonally across the thighs and feet, said to have been inflicted by the swords of Muhammadan conquerors of the country when it was first taken! Close to it, I excavated a mound of ruins; the yield consisted of five Buddhist sculptures of a late age; the most remarkable of these is a male and a female figure seated under a tree, which may be meant for a date palm; it has been photographed; the temple where these statues were, was of brick; it faced north; it had a mandapa in  Rh