]!)8 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XIII, 



the son of Babar, in Sam vat 1591. One of the poems is attri- 

 buted to Sujo Nagarajota, a Vlthu Oarana, whereas the other is 

 anonymous. The importance of these two works is enhanced 

 by the fact that they contain an introductory part, in which 

 an account is given of the principal events in the reigns of Vlko 

 and Luna Karana, and that thev constitute the oldest docu- 

 ment we have for the history of Bikaner from the time of Vlko, 

 who founded Bikaner in Sam vat 1545, to that of Jeta Si 

 (Samvat 1591). The fact that there is only one single manu- 

 script in existence of each of the two poems is in part compensated 

 by the accuracy of the copies, and by their antiquity, both 

 being dated in the Samvat centurv 1600. 



The work which principally engaged my attention during 

 the later half of the year, was a collection of the most interest- 

 ing commemorative songs of the Rulers of Bikaner ( Vikanera ri 

 Kavita), from rava Vlko, the founder of the State, to maharaja 

 Colonel Sir Ganga Singh, the present Ruler. A small selection 

 from the songs thus collected, is given in appendix to the 

 present "Report." The songs will be published in a separate 

 volume in the ''Series of Bardic and Historical Texts," with 

 critical notes, as usual, and the translations, if time will allow, 

 may be published in another volume, with historical notes and 

 introductions. 



During the year, something has been done towards publish- 

 ing the results of the Survey, but it is not the Editor's fault if 

 none of the publications has'seen the light yet. At the end of 

 the year, there were three publications in the Press: the 

 Vacanika Rathdfa Ratana Singhaji ri Jfahesadasdta ri. Part i : 

 Dmgaja Text with Introduction, Notes and Glossary, and the 

 Descriptive Catalogue of Bardic and Historical Manuscript*. 

 Section i, part i. fasciculus i. and Section i, part h, fasci- 

 culus i. It is to be hoped that now that the Survey is placed 

 on a more permanent footing, and there are no more financial 

 or other difficulties in sight, the publishing will proceed more 

 rapidly so that works prepared may go to Pre- at once, without 

 being unnecessarily delayed. 



The exploration of the district in search for manuscripts 

 and inscriptions, was begun onlv from the 1st of October, with 

 the appointment of a travelling man. The place- explored by 

 him during the three months October to December were: 

 Hanumangadh (October 13th-17th). Desnok, danglu and neigh- 

 bouring villages (October 18th-29th). Surpura and neighbouring 

 villages (October 31st to November 11th), Napasar. Morkhana 

 wHn inirS^, 1 ** 6 Villa ^ es (November 13th -29th). Pugal (Decem- 

 V n } ' X be S an mv touring on December 3rd. and 

 visited : Desnok, Janglu. Parwa. Morkhana (December 3rd-Sth) 

 Kodamdesar (December 2! t), and Xal (December 27th). \ 

 detailed report on my touring, the monuments inspected, and 

 the inscriptions discovered, will he found belox . As a result of 



