Page:The Indian Antiquary Vol 2.djvu/270

 244 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. [September, 1873. After a stiffish climb for about 400 feet, the path passes under an arched entrance, which shows some skilful carving, into a small temple in which there is an image of Mahadeva, close to which, as it were on the very comer of the hill, there is a cleared space surrounded by a wall or breastwork, from which a magnificent view of the country to the south and south-west can be obtained. From this point there is a sheer de¬ scent of not less than 1,000 feet, and a pebble thrown over would have to travel that distance before it reached the tops of the trees in the jun¬ gle below. A further ascent of less than 50 feet by a made staircase, and the remains of another old building are reached. Here there are two old images of Durga and one of Hannman. From this the path runs along a ridge to the sum¬ mit of the hill, 100 feet higher, the elevation of which above the sea, according to the Topo¬ graphical Survey, is 3206 feet. While passing along the ridge the existence of a cap of from 60 to 70 feet of trap, resting on the sandstone, first becomes apparent. Here was an opportunity of testing a theory put forward by the late Captain Forsyth in his Central Highlands of India that a trap soil will not support Sal (Shorea rohusta) trees. There were some very fine trees growing on this trap, and I have met with not a few similar instances. On the highest point of the hill there is a very tumble-down old temple, of which however the inner wall still remains. Whether a disin¬ clination to interfere with a structure which is said to be of supernatural origin, parsimony, or want of religious zeal, is the cause of the dila¬ pidation of this unquestionably ancient building, I do not undertake to say; but, in spite of the fact that there is a mela held there every year, I am strongly inclined to believe that none of the Rajas or Zamindars care very much about the place, otherwise the wretched and overgrown condition of the approaches, and the ignorance even of the village Baigas who profess to do puja there, as to what the hill really contains, are perfectly inexplicable. Even the custodian of the temple, a fakir, who I was warned would hurl big stones at me if I attempted the ascent, had deserted the place. Still tradition asserts that some ‘ saheb’ was prevented from ascending by this fakir. Inside the temple on a sandstone stand there are images of Lakshman, Balsundri, J a n k l, and RajaJanak. They appear to be made of trap, but, owing to the thickness of the crust of dirt and ghee upon them, I could not, without being guilty of desecration in the eyes of my followers, examine them sufficiently closely to make certain of the material. Col. Dalton mentions the existence of a tank near the summit. This my guide was unable to point out, and as there was still much to be seen I was unable to spend time in searching for it. Some distance below the temple there is a spring which yields water at all' seasons. This is no doubt the source of supply of the fountain below. It must have been invaluable when the hill was used as a place of retreat. Another hill near the Main Pat was said to have been used for the same purpose. There is but one steep and difficult ascent to it, which might be easily guarded. An old tank still exists on the top. It is said that the women and treasure of the Sarguja Rajas used to be sent there during the inoursions of the Marathas, and at other times when the district was disturbed. Having enjoyed the magnificent view of the Main Pat and other surrounding plateaux and ranges, and the cool breezes which played about the top of the hill, we descended again to the fountain and then struck eastward along a spur. Passing an old gateway de¬ scribed by Col. Dalton, we continued along the path for about a mile till we reached the N.W. end of a very singular tunnel known as the Hathpor. It is situated close to the north end of the Bpur, about a mile from the village of Udaypur. Although its name implies that it is made by hand,* I sought in vain for evidence of its being artificial. I can only attribute its origin to the trickling of water through crevices in the sandstone. There is no trace, however, of any slip or dislocation of the strata, such as is a usual cause of such phenomena. The stream having found its way through an im¬ mense mass of sandstone has been at work for ages enlarging the passage, and the present re¬ sult is a tunnel 160 paces long, and, as Col. Dalton has described it, 12 high and 8 broad, but it varies in places in both dimensions. When about to enter its gloomy but cool re-
 * Is it not a corruption of Uathvpola —‘ the Elephant-gate’ ?—Ed.