Of Jain origin there are remains of many fine
temples still extant in countries south of Dharwar,
dating: from the beginning: of n o © our era to the 13th
century, on some of which Colonel Meadows Taylor,
twenty-five years ago, when Deputy Commissioner
of Shorapoor and the Raichore Doab, discovered
ancient Canarese inscriptions; the finest complete
specimen, however, is found at Gujerat, of the 11th
century. The style of construction is always twelve-
pillared, whilst that of the Hindus, when pure, is
astylar; it is also noted for the Stambhas, a graceful
column, often thirty to fifty feet high, formerly used for
bearing emblems, figures of animals or statues elaborately
adorned. The four-pillared pavilion or portico in
front of Hindu temples receives from the Jains a
fifth pillar in the centre, else there is little difference
between them. The Jain temple always covers an
image placed in a square cell, which receives its light
from the doorway only.
The bazaars of Mangalore are well supplied with
articles of native, as well as foreign, industry, amongst
the former the silver ornaments of Southern India
deserve a special notice. The “ bidree” work, with its incisions
filled up with some black composition, resembles
the well-known Byzantine “ niello” of the twelfth to
the fifteenth century, and the handsome Caucasian
niello-work of the present day. Its process is well
adapted to patterns of oriental character. Also the
embossed silver ornaments of Tanjore, on the Coromandel
coast, are extremely elegant; the relievo parts
generally representing subjects of Hindu legendry.
A steamer from Bombay being then daily expected
to touch at Mangalore on her way to Colombo, I
reluctantly paid off my servant, who in vain begged to
be allowed to accompany me, and prepared to leave
India after a somewhat lengthy but most interesting
sojourn. Previous experience in many other countries
had taught me the desirability of seeing India, not
only along well established routes, but also on less
trodden ground, and of conversing and mixing with
natives, and I readily availed myself of special circumstances
which gave me the opportunity of carrying out
that resolution ; and whatever I have related in these
pages is a simple and faithful account of all I have
witnessed.
A few words on the British rule in India will
appropriately close this portion of my journal.
In building up a great edifice or Empire, we must
commence by laying down a sound and solid foundation,
in other words raise the moral condition of the
people, and bring them to such a high state of civiliza