IDS ESSAY ON" 



throned, but did not put to death, was Ameu-viciia, 

 In his giant, found lately at Benares, he called 

 liiniself 'Sri-Carn'n'a-De'va, king of 7'ri-Caluiga, 

 or India. 



A few years ago (in 1801) this grant was found at 

 the bottom of an old well filled with rubbish, in the 

 old fort of Benares. It is engraven upon two brass 

 plates, joined by a ring, to which is affixed the im- 

 perial seal. It is of the same size nearly, and in 

 the same shape with that found at ]\Iong'ir. The 

 writing is also the same, or at least without any 

 material deviation. The imperial seal is about three 

 inches broad : on it, in bas-reUe>vo, is Pa'ryati, with 

 four arms, sitting, with her legs crossed : two ele- 

 phants are represented, one on each side of her, with 

 their trunks uplifted. Iklovv is the bull, Nandi, 

 in a reclining posture, and before him is a basket. 

 Between Pa'rvati and the bull is written Siii- 

 Caiin'n'a-DeVa. The grant is dated the second 

 year of his new era, and also of his reign, answer- 

 ing to the Christian year \^9>. According to the 

 Piiran'as, he reigned twenty-three years, and was 

 succeeded by his brother Crisiina, who reigned 

 eighteen; and his son was ^SrI-'Sat-Cark'i, or 'Sri- 

 'Sat-Carn'a, who reigned 56 years. This surely 

 could not be his name, as it signifies the prosperous 

 seven Carn'is. 



The ancestors of Sri-Carn'n'a-De'va, mentioned 

 in the grant, were, first, his father Ga'nge'ya- 

 De'va, with the title of Vuaya-Cantaca : he died 

 in a loathsome dungeon. He was the son of Co- 

 calla-De'va, whose father was Lacshmana-Raja'- 

 De'va. Maha'-Carni, according to tradition, re- 

 sided at a jilace called Jangira/i, near Sultangunj, 

 and about half way between Mongir and Bhaglepoor. 

 There some remains were shewn to me of his palace, 



