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XI. Inscriptions upon Rocks, in South Bihar, described by Dr. 

 Buchanan Hamilton, and ej:plc-ined by Henry Thomas Colebrooke, Esd' 

 Director. 



Read December 4, 1824. 



Dr. Buchanan Hamilton, while engaged in statistical researches in the 

 provinces subject to the government of Bengal, gave attention to the anti- 

 quities of the country, as to other scientific objects, which he had the op- 

 portunity of investigating. His reports, comprising the result of his in- 

 quiries, are deposited in the Library and Museum of the East India Company: 

 and, at his instance, the Court of Directors have sanctioned a liberal com- 

 munication of the information contained in them, to this Society. Among 

 the antiquities collected by him, there are many Jac similes of inscriptions. 

 I purpose submitting to the Society explanations of such among them, as are 

 interesting : and I now present the translation of one, which appears 

 curious. 



It is an inscription upon a rock, denominated, from an idol delineated on it, 

 Turdchandi, in the vicinity of Sahasravt, in South Bihar ; and contains the 

 protest of a chieftain, named Pratapa dhavala deva, bearing the title of 

 Ndyaca, and that of Rqja of Japila, against an usurpation of two villages, by 

 certain Brdhmanas in his neighbourhood, under colour of a grant, surrepti- 

 tiously obtained througli corruption of his officers, from the Rcyd of Gddki- 

 nagara or Canyaculya (Cannj) who was the celebrated Vijaya Chandra 

 (Jaya-Chand). Its date is 1229, Samvat, corresponding to A.D. liyS. 



In Dr. Buchanan Hamilton's collection, there are copies of two other 

 inscriptions upon rocks, in the neighbourhood, exhibiting the name of the 

 same chieftain, in conjunction with many of his kindred in the one ; and 

 followed by a long series of his successors in the other. I observe little else 

 interesting in them, besides the names and the dates. 



The site of the principal inscription is thus described by Dr. Buchanan 

 Hamilton. " In a narrow passage, which separates the northern end of the 

 hills from the great mass, and through which the road leads from Sahasram 

 to Rautdsghar, is a place where Tdrdchdndi is worshipped. The image is 



