deeds. Thereupon the Sakya tribes sent their daughters superbly decorated. There were forty thousand dancing and singing girls. The princess (who was afterwards) the mother of Ráhulo, became the head queen."

In this story there is nothing about the gushing forth of the water, which must therefore be an addition of after times, between B. C. 240 and A. D. 30, when the Sánchi gateways were erected. The Chinese account also refers the shooting to the occasion of Prince Siddharta's marriage: but his brothers Thiao-tha (or Devadatta) and Nan-tho (or Nanda) are brought to compete with him in the trial of archery. "First an iron target was placed at the distance of 10 li, and so on to seven targets. The shafts of the most renowned archers went no further than the first target. Thiao-tha having drawn, shot beyond it and reached the second. Nan-tho surpassed this, and pierced through the third. The other archers being unable to shoot so far, the prince broke all the bows of those who had shot before him; not one was equal to his strength. The king then said to his attendants, My ancestors possessed a bow, which is now in the temple of the Gods; go, bring it.' They went to fetch the bow, which required two men to carry. No man in that assembly could lift it. When the prince shot with it, the twang of the string was heard forty li. The bent bow hurled the shaft so as to pass through the seven targets. He shot again, and the arrow having passed the targets, pierced the

earth, and caused a spring of water to gush forth. At the third shot he pierced the seven targets, and reached the mountains of the iron girdle. The whole assembly wondered at this unheard-of prodigy. All who had come to partake in the sports were overcome, and returned confounded." The figure shooting must be Sákya himself: the two personages seated under the tree are perhaps his two brothers, Devadatta and Nanda. The figure on horseback is the Prince returning in the very manner related in the Chinese account. "The Prince having thus obtained complete victory, the bells were rung, the drums beaten, and amidst vocal and instrumental music, he mounted his horse, and returned to the Palace."

II. Worship of Tree. -A tree with bunches of berries (perhaps a Pipal tree), with a terrace round it. To right and left Kinnaras and figures riding winged lions. In front, twelve royal or lay personages with uplifted faces and joined hands raised in adoration to the tree.

III. Worship of Tree.-Tufted tree with Kinnaras as above; but the tree is a different species, perhaps a Mango. In front nine figures with hands simply joined in adoration.

The worship of trees did not escape the notice of Alexander's followers, for Quintus Curtius* says, "They" (the Indians) "contemplate as Deities what

Q. Curtius, viii. 9.

ever their ancestors worshipped, particularly trees, to wound which is a capital crime."

IV. Lions.-Three Lions.

WESTERN GATE.

RIGHT PILLAR-INNER FACE.

I. Gateway.-Worship of Tree.-Gateway, with one architrave, slightly arched, and similar to those of the gateways themselves. Inside the gateway a tree before which male and female figures are paying adoration with uplifted hands. Horse, Ox, Elephant, and Lion.

II. Worship of Tree surmounted by Chatta.-Tree covered with garlands, and surmounted by chatta. Kinnaras with garlands-male figures paying adoration with uplifted hands.

WESTERN GATE.

LEFT PILLAR-FRONT FACE.

I. Social Scene.-Tree in middle. To left a royal couple seated on a couch, the male raising a cup to his lips, and the female holding in her hand a round looking-glass similar in shape to those found in the Etruscan tombs.† To right a second couple in social dalliance. In the middle

+ See Plate XXXIII., fig. 28, for this looking-glass.

below the tree, a couple of servants standing on a staircase, the male apparently speaking, and the female holding her right hand over her mouth.

The male servant in this scene is evidently making some allusion to the amorous dalliance of the loving couples on each side; and the female is trying to hide or silence her laughter by closing her mouth with her hand: but her bursting cheeks too plainly show that the effort is in vain.

II. Love Scene-To left a loving couple seated, the female behind with her arms thrown around the male figure. To right a second couple seated face to face. Water below.

WESTERN GATE.

LEFT PILLAR-INNER FACE.

I. Ascetic Life. Archers. Hut with roof of leaves in front a bearded ascetic (Srámana) seated in contemplation, with a band passed round his loins and knees. A second leaf-roofed hut with a female ascetic (Srámaná). Between the huts a vessel containing fire and a spoon; and in the back-ground a monkey. To the left of the huts are two royal personages, one with uplifted hands in adoration, and the other with the right hand raised, and with a gourd in the left hand. Beyond them are two male ascetics, and behind,

one female ascetic. In front of the figures there are three antelopes, and there is one antelope before the fire. In the foreground, to the right, there is a tree, beneath which are two buffaloes on the edge of a piece of water, to which a boy dressed in a kilt is approaching, with a waterpot on his shoulder. On the boy's right a royal personage is paying reverence to him with uplifted hands; and to the left of the scene are two archers, one standing with a quiver on his shoulder and a bow in his left hand, the other also standing, bow in hand, having just shot an arrow into a long-haired figure, who is struggling in the water.

I am unable to offer any explanation of this curious scene, but it may possibly have reference to some event in the early life of Sákya.

II. Festival of the Tree.-Altar, with tree sur

mounted by chatta, over which Kinnaras are hovering. To the left two females, one carrying a chaori, and the other a water-vessel: to the right a náchni, or dancing woman, and two other females, one playing a flute, and the other a sárangi, or lute. In front of the altar a male figure is seated on the ground, lotus in hand, canopied by a five-headed nága. To his left are three females, each holding a cup; and to the right are two females, each carrying a long drum. Each of these females is canopied by a nága.

Q