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/128

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REPORT OF A TOUR

foot of the hills; when the storm came, it naturally blew all the paddy down the slopes into these trenches, where they lay snug until the storm had blown over, and thus was the country saved from famine through the talents of this girl, in memory of whom, the pool where her pigs used to wallow in the southern defile at the south gate of the hill-girt city, was named Báwan Gangá.

Jethian, Kurkihâr and Punâwa have been noticed by General Cunningham in his reports, by Captain Kittoe and by Mr. Broadley. As I can add nothing to their information, I refer to their writings.

HASRA.

About a mile to the south-east of Punâwa are two small isolated ranges of low hills close to each other; the valley or pass between them is known as the Kol, and the place itself is known as Hasra. It appears that there was once a village named Hasra here, though none now exists. The entire space between these hills is thickly studded with remains.

The two ranges are each only about ¼ mile long. The southern range is higher and less bare than the northern, and the valley between the toes of the ranges varies from 200 feet to 400 feet wide at the widest. The highest part of the valley is at the east end; here the hills approach closest, being only 200 feet apart, and across this gap are built two lines of massive walls of dry stone. There appear to be some springs in the vicinity. Near the walls are collected a number of fragments consisting of chaityas and remnants of Buddhist figures. At the eastern foot of the southern range is a stone 2½ feet high and 1 foot square, with a Buddha rudely carved in a niche on one side; this stone is now worshipped, and is covered with vermilion. Within the valley and to the west of the lines of walls are numerous mounds; one is 300 feet to the west of the walls.

On some stones in the vicinity are cut masons' marks of these shapes. 300 feet further back are numerous mounds;[1] F I J K appear to have been temples, as the square, or at least rectilinear forms of the structures which once existed, are yet traceable. On K is a moulding and the pedestal of a statue inscribed with the Buddhist formula "Ye Dharmma." The mound F is the largest; L is a small mound. G H are other mounds. On G is a large mutilated figure of Buddha. On the spur of the hill adjacent there appears to have been

  1. See plate.