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/90

66  Hilsá is a considerable village on the banks of the Kathar, or principal branch of the Lilâjan or Phalgu river. It is at the point where the old road from Gya to Fatuhá and the roads from Râjgir to Patna cross the river, and it must naturally have early risen to importance. The principal object of interest here is the masjid. This is avowedly built on the site of a Hindu temple, and under the great flooring slabs in the centre of the central arch is buried, so says tradition, the mighty Hilsa Deo, sealed down with the sacred seal of a local saint. Hilsá Deo was a powerful magician, and was overcome with difficulty. It is possible that the principal statue of the temple is buried here to be "trodden daily under foot by the faithful," but of course it is quite out of the question to try and ascertain this by actual excavation. There are a few statues in various parts of the city, but nothing else of any importance or interest.

  Gaya has already been so carefully described by General Cunningham, and by various other writers, that I need add nothing to the information already given by them. I note, however, the existence of rude stone circles near the foot of the Pretsila hill; these are traditionally ascribed to Kols.

Râm Gaya and Mora Pahâr have been noticed in General Cunningham’s reports, and I need only refer to them.

Buddha Gaya has been dwelt upon at some length by General Cunningham in his reports, and has also found mention in the writings of numerous observers and incidentally in this report also, but it appears desirable to notice various points which appear not to have been fully noticed before.

The vault over the sanctum of the great temple, so far as can now be judged from the coating of plaster that covers it, but which, having fallen off in places, discloses the bricks inside, is composed entirely of radiating bricks, set edge to edge, and not bed to bed as usual in the present day. All the bricks appear cut to shape, and there is no appearance of mortar having been used between the bricks; the cementing material appears to be mud. I have already pointed out that under the peculiar condition of a tunnel vault 