102 Perforated Stone Implements from Kharakpur. [June, 



Letters were read — 



1. From W. Theobald, Esq., laying before the meeting, at the request 

 of Mr. H. H. Locke, two perforated stone implements found in the bed of 

 the river Mun at Kharakpur, together with the following extract from a 

 letter from B. Lock wood, Esq., Collector of Mongher, detailing the particu- 

 lars of their discovery. 



" I am sending you two fine specimens of stone implements which I 

 heard of when I was at Kharakpur on Thursday and which I have just 

 received. You may rely on their being genuine, although the hole in 

 the smaller stone appears as fresh and smooth as if made yesterday. (Chisel 

 marks which I saw in the quarries beneath Jerusalem made by workmen in 

 the days of Solomon appear equally fresh). 



" These stones were lately found in the bed of the river Mun at Kha- 

 rakpur. 



" This river is being clammed up at a vast expense by the Darbhanga 

 estate, under the Court of Wards, and deep foundations are being made in 

 the river bed for a wall to join the two hills through which the river runs. 



" I enclose the note from Mr. Inman, Superintendent of Works, which 

 came with the stones. 



" The smaller stone was found 16 feet below the river bed. 



" Years ago this river was the resort of many wild animals. 



" The surrounding hills are metamorphic. 



Extract from Mr. Inman's letter to Mr. Lockwood— 



" I have much pleasure to send you two remarkable perforated stones 

 which I wish to present to your museum. I also send you several other 

 stones found in the same locality, some having the shape of mangoes and 

 one of an oyster, the rest are simply water worn. 



" The smallest one was found 10 feet from the coffer dam, the largest 

 close by the clam, near the bags, and within ten days of each other. They 

 were not amongst any soil, but imbedded in a complete mass of large and 

 small stones, and the largest stone must have been about the same depth as 

 the smallest, 16 feet. If any thing it was deeper by a foot, say 17 feet 

 from surface, so far as I can remember." 



Mr. Theobald writes — 



" It is not easy to say very positively to what purpose these articles were 

 put, but I think the suggestion of Dr. Oldham, to whom I showed them, is 

 the correct one, that they are portions of the upper stones of ' Querns' 

 or hand mills. The circular hole in the middle displays considerable polish 

 such as alone could have been produced by rotation on a fixed axis. Doubt- 

 less the original size of these articles was much greater ; and it is very desi- 

 rable that any other objects, even though in a fragmentary condition, should 

 be forwarded to the Geological Survey Office, where every facility exists for 



