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/86

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REPORT OF A TOUR

on the mound a fourteen-armed statue in black basalt, and a second similar one mutilated.

On the other side of the village are two statues of Devi (Parvati). There is also a mound said to have been once larger, and the remains of a temple near the road, which was dedicated to Mahâdeva; but a tree has completely enveloped the argha and lingam, and has split the stone of the pedestal.

There are a few other nondescript fragments lying about; the existing remains, except the statues, are all modern.

Utrain is a small village near Páli. To the west of the village is a small mound with lingam, and fragments of statues scattered about, there is also a fine carved black stone door-jamb.

A small mound adjarent is known as Himmat Khan’s garh. It is an inclosure on a mound of earth, and contains six graves; close to it is a small mound which contains bricks and the remains of two graves. The great mound is 25 feet above the level of the country, and is doubtless the site of an old temple; it is 300 feet long and 200 feet wide. The entrance to the dargah, if dargah it be, is on the south; the entrance has two jambs and an architrave of rough granite; the lower sill is a rough pillar set flat.

To the east of the village, near a tope of trees, is a small mound with numerous fragments; among them are several of Ganeça, Haragauri, Naudi, &c., all Saivic. In a room on the mound, whose walls have half tumbled down, and which is 14¾ feet square, is a great lingam 5 feet 9 inches in circumference, 1 foot 10 inches high to the round part, and 2 feet 3 inches high to the apex; the argha extends 1 foot 9 inches all round beyond the lingam.

The room was once roofed by a vault, as fragments of it exist on the ground to this day; the bricks used measure 11 inches × 8 inches, and 9 inches × 6 inches.

The remains doubtless represent a modern shrine built on the site of an older temple.

Sihári is a small village 8 miles to the west of Koneh; here is a comparatively modern temple and some fragments. I have not visited the place, but I believe Mr. Peppe took photographs of the remains here.

Deokut is a small village on the Dháwá, a small stream flowing from the Murhar into the Punpun. I have heard that it contains remains of statues, &c., but have not seen the place myself.

The Mándá hills are situated about 12 miles west of