The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.75

v2.c16.75

¹¹ Long after the ms. of this chapter had been sent to press, I had an opportunity of reading the 2nd edition of Mr. Fergusson's *Tree and Serpent Worship*, in which he devoted a few pages to the Udayagiri Caves. His remarks have not necessitated any change in my text; and as he admits at the close of his remarks that the account of the caves "is from the circumstances of the case necessarily incomplete, and liable to modification on more detailed information being obtained" (p. 174); it would not have been necessary under ordinary circumstances to notice them; but the high position which he holds in Indian archaeology, the great weight which his opinions carry, and his prophetic criticism with which he has honoured me, saying, not without justification that I am in no way sufficiently grounded either as an architect or archaeologist to settle many questions, "which" he would like to see "scientifically discussed," and that my researches are not likely "to be worth much more than the value of the paper on which they may be written," render it expedient that I should point out where I differ from him and the reasons why I do so, in order that my readers my be in a position easily to determine which of my opinions may be accepted as concurring with those of Mr. Fergusson, and which may be rejected as dissenting from them.