1875.] L. B. B. King — On the present state of the ruins of Gaur. 93 



2. A letter from Me. L. B. B. King, Officiating Collector of Mdldah, 

 to the Government of Bengal, dated Mdldah, 29th March, 1875. 



' In reply to your No. 480, dated the 13th ultimo, I have the honor to 

 enclose some brief notes on remaining ruins of Gaur, with reference to 

 obtaining from them specimens of carved or coloured bricks, ornamental tiles, 

 and mouldings. 



' Some of the best specimens of workmanship would lose most of 

 their value, interest, and beauty, by being removed from where they stand, 

 and Government would probably not wish any avoidable injury to be done 

 to the few ancient buildings that now remain. 



' I would, therefore, propose to make a selection from fragments 

 which have become detached, or are found carried away from the buildings 

 to which they belonged, and from portions of buildings likely soou to fall 

 of themselves. 



' I would solicit any further instructions you can afford me on the 

 subject after reference to the notes enclosed on the several buildings, and 

 in particular would ask to be informed how many such specimens are re- 

 quired, and whether any inscriptions should be sent as well. 



' Ornamental bricks and tiles are not likely to be ancient. The most 

 interesting relics are stone carvings, which may have been appropriated by 

 the Muhammadans from very ancient Hindu remains.' 



Notes on the removal of relics from Gaur. 



1. The Khwajah-ki-masjid, or small golden mosque, built of stone in 

 the reign of Sultan Husain Shah, the king of Gaur, who died 927 Hijri, is 

 in good preservation. There are three large stones detached opposite the 

 northern gate, the carved tops of which might be sliced off and sent as 

 specimens of the workmanship to Calcutta. The pillar to the right of the 

 doorway will fall when an old tree which has grown into it has decayed. 

 Some stones from this pillar would have interest, and might be removed 

 without doing great injury. There are other handsome carvings on the 

 door, but I could not recommend their removal. 



2. In the neighbourhood, at the house of Nazr 'Ali Shah, a descendant 

 of a spiritual guide of Aurangzib, I saw three large stones with inscriptions ; 

 the largest beautifully carved. They are said to be 250 years old. 

 It is not known when they were brought to where they now are. They 

 should be obtained from their present possessor. 



3. The Rujbibi mosque is small, built of bricks, and did not strike me 

 as interesting; specimens of carved bricks are, however, obtainable from it. 



4. The Bar as mosque, so called from a college which stood near, is 

 a handsome brick building. An inscription now on a new mosque at English 



