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0333 Sand-Buried Ruins of Khotan : vol.1
Sand-Buried Ruins of Khotan : vol.1 / Page 333 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000234
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CHAPTER XVIII

EXCAVATION OF BUDDHIST SHRINES

On the morning of the 19th of December I commenced my excava-
tions by clearing the remains of a small square building immediately
to the south of my camp. Turdi knew it as a 'But-khana' or "temple
of idols," and well remembered once having searched it in his own
fashion. But the sand, though lying only two to three feet high,
had not been removed, and by laying bare the foundations and
floor I could expect to gain useful preliminary knowledge as to the
general construction and arrangement of such shrines. In this I
was not disappointed. A careful examination of the remains of
walls which were brought to light on the north and west sides
showed that there had been an inner square cella enclosed by equi-
distant outer walls twenty feet long, forming a kind of corridor or
passage on each side. Both inner and outer walls consisted of
hard plaster laid on a framework of wood and reed matting, which
itself was held in position by massive square posts fixed at regular
intervals.

Of the manner in which the upper portions of the inner cella
walls, long ago decayed, had once been decorated, I could not
remain in doubt when fragments of flat stucco relievos, which must
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