PATALPURI is a remarkable place, most probably once above ground, but on which two - united rivers have deposited their silt and formed a soil. A cave leads to a spacious square temple, about seven feet high, the roof of which is sup ported by thick walls and ranged of pillars. In its middle is a large lingam of Siva, over which water is poured by the pilgrims. Surrounding this presiding deity are other gods and goddesses Of the Hindu pantheon. Towards the left is seen dead forked tree, which with its withered trunk has stood there for several hundred years. General Cunningham's Archaeological Report states that, according to Ifiwen Thsang, Allahabad was situated at the confluence of the two rivers, but to the west of a large sandy plain. In the midst of the city there was a Brahmanical temple, to which the presentation of a single piece of money procured as much merit as that of one thousand pieces elsewhere. Before the principal room of the temple there was a large tree with wide spreading branches, which was said to be the dwelling of an anthropophagous demon. The
tree was surrounded with human bones, the remains of pilgrims who had sacrificed their lives before the temple,—a custom which had been observed from time immemorial. This tree is now situated underground at one side of a pillared court, which would appear to have been open formerly, and which is supposed to be the remains of the temple described by Hiwen Thsang. Origin ally both tree and temple must have been on the natural ground-level, but from the constant ac cumulation of rubbish they have been gradually earthed up, until the whole of the lower portion of the temple has disappeared under ground. The upper portion has long ago been removed, and the only access to the Akshay Bat now available is by a flight of steps which leads down to a square pillared courtyard.—Tr. of Hind. i. p. 313.