Innermost Asia : vol.2 / Page 436 (Color Image)

0436	Innermost Asia : vol.2

Turkestān. A single fall of rain, such as Sīstān regularly experiences on one or two occasions
during the winter months, would suffice to destroy these interesting relics of pre-Muhammadan
mural paintings, the first, I believe, ever brought to light in Īrān. Removal was obviously the only
means of preserving what could be saved of them. The technical difficulties of this task were
considerable, owing to the very friable condition of the mud plaster and the ease with which flakes
of the painted surface detached themselves. After the necessary implements and materials had been
improvised from such resources as the Consulate could offer, the removal in twelve panels of all
that remained on this wall was systematically carried out by Afrāz-gul and myself on the lines
successfully followed by us at Turkestān sites. But I was well aware that the packing and long
transit to India was bound to cause some further deterioration, while it was improbable that without
expert help the paintings could be adequately reproduced on the spot. Hence I prepared notes of
the paintings as they presented themselves on the wall, and their record here may prove useful even
for those who may after reading them be able to examine the originals at New Delhi, as set up by
Mr. Andrews' skilful and experienced hands. [Additions and modifications, as now suggested by
Mr. Andrews from a careful examination of the panels, are inserted within brackets.]

Remains of
figures in
upper
frieze. The extant portion of the upper frieze is about 3 feet high and reaches to a height of about
8 feet above what appears to have been the floor level. Apart from the fragmentary indication of
a dark red-brown tunic on the extreme left it shows five variously dressed male figures facing to
front and preserved approximately up to their waists.² The first from the left wears a wide purple
tunic decorated with yellow circlets, obviously marking a figured (silk ?) textile of the usual
'Sasanian' spot pattern. From the middle of the waist there descends [from a narrow white
girdle] an angular piece of white fabric, wider below than above, closely corresponding to the
triangular pleats seen in the same place in the dress of the Dvārapāla statues of the Rawak Stūpa
court,³ and to the flap hanging from the girdle of a mailed warrior figurine from the Ming-oi of
Shōrchuk.³ᵃ [There are traces of loose white trousers below the tunic and of a white cloak (?) on
each side.] All the rest is lost. The second figure is dressed in a red tunic. The legs are cased in
high white boots or perhaps felt mocassins over which laces of red and yellow cord are diagonally
passed down to the ankles and apparently fastened to sandals. Behind the tunic there is seen part
of an animal's yellow skin [with the white of the fur showing next the tunic and at the edges],
and a paw showing white claws dangles on the right. The dress of the third figure consists of
a light red tunic with contours of ample folds drawn in white, and below this of baggy yellow
trousers or Dhōtī-like leg covering tucked into white boots. [There seems to be a light green cloak
showing on the right.] The portion below the knees is badly effaced. The fourth figure shows
traces of a dark brown or pink coat above a white tunic. On the tunic is shown a pattern of yellow
spots, curiously resembling the flowers represented as floating in the air in the wall-paintings from
a cave-shrine at Bezeklik.⁴ [Dark red trousers spotted with the same pattern appear below, tucked
into yellow top-boots.] Of a badly damaged fifth figure on the extreme right only the yellow tunic

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

Citation Information

OCR Text

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books