The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.77.4

v2.c16.77.4

It affords a remarkable proof of the existence, or at least of the knowledge, of made-dresses among the people of this country at an early period in their history. A counterpart of this kilt occurs on a piece of sculpture lately discovered at Bharāhat near Nagode. Commenting on it, General Cunningham says: "Here we can see the soldier with short curly hair, clad in jacket or tunic, which is tied at the waist, and a *dhuti* reaching below the knees, with long boots ornamented with a tassel in front, just like Hessians, and armed with a straight broad sword, of which the scabbard is three inches wide." This piece of sculpture is of the age of A'soka. To persons imbued with the theory of Greek origin of Indian architecture, the soldiers may be taken for Greeks; but seeing that their coats on which the inference will be based, are as unlike Greek *chitons* or *chlamyses*, as one made-dress can be to another, I cannot accept it. The question at issue being, whether the Indians knew and used made-dresses, and the sculpture being adduced as a proof, it would involve a *petitio principii* to say that it cannot be a proof, because it contains the representation of a made-dress.