204 H. P. Shastri — 3Iap of Ancient Arydvarta. [Aug. 



The new method opened np a large number of veiy interesting collateral 

 questions which would take some time to investigate. 



Pandit Haraprasad S'astri exhibited a Map of ancient A'ryavarta 

 prepared by Nagendra Nath Basu, and said — • 



It contains much valuable information about the geography of 

 India from a number of Puranas, among which the Vamana, the Brah- 

 manda, the Matsya, the Markandeya Puranas may be mentioned, besides 

 those contained in European works on the ancient geography of India. 

 The writer has embodied in it the results of the most recent researches 

 in the fields of Indian Archaeology. I will not take up much of your 

 time by going into the details of the map, but will content myself by 

 pointing out the route taken by the Cloud Messenger of Kalidasa's 

 well-known work the Megha Duta. 



The Cloud commenced his journey from Ram-giri, which being in the 

 Deccan does not fall within the scope of this map. From thence it 

 came to Amra Kuta, which is the Amara Kantuk of the present day. It 

 crosses over the Nai^buda, then comes over to Vidisha, the present Vilsa 

 of the naaps. The hills and rivers about Vidisha have been faithfully 

 put down. Then comes Ujjayini the great capital of the Kshatri- 

 yas of Malava. The next place of importance is Dasapura which has 

 been completely identified by Mr. Fleet in his excellent work the Corpus 

 Inscriptum Indicaruvi, Vol. Ill, with Mandasar of the present day. 

 The Cloud then goes to Kurukshetra which has been put down at its 

 proper place. Kanakhal is the last place in the plains mentioned in 

 Megha Duta, after which the Cloud enters the heights of the Himalayas, 

 in which Hansadvara and Kailasa have been marked with care. The 

 Cloud's passage is now complete, and can be gathered at a glance on 

 the map. It is a valuable contribution to the geography of ancient 

 India, and will help much in understanding the position of places cele- 

 brated in Indian antiquity. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Description de Gurculionides et de Brenthides, inedits faisant partie 

 des collections du Musee Indien, Ire partie, par M. T. Desbrochers des 

 JjOG^s.— Communicated by J. Wood-Mason, Esq. 



2. Note on Poritia harterti, Doherty. By Ernst Hartert — Communi- 

 cated hy J. Wood-Mason, Esq. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Wood-Mason and of my fellow travel- 

 ler in Upper Assam, Mr. Doherty, I have received two copies of the latter's 

 '* Notes on Assam Butterflies ", published in the Journal of the Asiatic 

 Society, Vol. LVIII, Pt. 2, p. 118. Though more of aa ornithologist than 



