The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c5.5

v1.c5.5

In the course of compiling this work I have derived assistance from several gentlemen, to whom I wish to avail myself of the present opportunity publicly to tender my thanks. H. H. Locke, Esq., Principal of the Calcutta School of Art, has helped me most materially in a variety of ways. When I was proceeding on my tour, he placed at my disposal the services of one of his best pupils, Annadāprasād Bāgcī, who accompanied me to Orissa, and took sketches and plans of a large number of interesting objects. On the return of the mission from Orissa, Mr. Locke caused drawings to be prepared of all the casts that had been brought to Calcutta, and allowed me free access to them. Most of the lithographic illustrations of this work have been prepared by his pupils, and the labour and trouble he has undergone in superintending their execution have been immense. Some of the illustrations could not be satisfactorily executed from the drawings and plans which I had brought, and he had, therefore, to get models prepared by his pupils, and finish the illustrations from photographs taken from those models. He also placed at my disposal a series of ground plans of Udayagiri caves which he had prepared for his own use, and allowed me access to his splendid collection of photographs of Orissan antiquities. He has been, moreover, in frequent correspondence with me regarding the text, the greater part of which he has read in proof with a view fully to discuss the several questions raised in it. The suggestions and hints which he has afforded me in course of this correspondence, have enabled me to avoid many errors and mistakes which would have otherwise disfigured the pages of this work. The assistance was rendered often under very trying circumstances—while labouring under ill-health, or overwhelmed with official work; and I feel deeply grateful to him for the same. In justice to him, and to prevent misconception, I must add, however, that though I have freely consulted him in all matters in which I had doubts, and derived much benefit from his advice, the opinions expressed in this work are entirely my own, and it is possible that he may differ from at least some of them.