1872.] Accident from liglitning at Landour. 139 



surround it with all the mystery they can. Hence they say that ' the 

 Great God gave it to them in most ancient times.' 



" This plate, whatever be its origin, exerts a great power over the com- 

 mon people. In fact, the chief owes much of his authority over the 

 people to this plate. Also most of the revenue which comes to him from 

 the people is derived indirectly from this plate. 



" They hold the plate in great fear and reverence. The common peo- 

 ple have never seen it save on great feast days, and then but few are 

 so bold as to look upon it, as they say it will blind them by its glory. They 

 also believe that it possesses life, and assure me that it must be fed with 

 its own peculiar food, or else great suffering will come upon the people. 

 Now it happens that the food most pleasing to it is silver ; — after this, meats 

 and rice. Once in a year the whole nation assemble to feed their plate, 

 and so the chief receives quite a revenue from this custom alone. 



" It was with great difficulty that we obtained a sight of the plate, 

 so great is the fear of the chiefs. At the time, we asked for other plates, 

 which we had reason to suspect were in their hands, but they denied the 

 possession of them. But I have learned since that there is at least one 

 more, of silver, and several of ivory, which I hope to obtain by and by. 



" Hoping some one may be found who will be able to decipher this 

 character." 



7. From the Government of Madras, Revenue Department, — Copies 

 of the Survey of the site of the Eock Inscriptions at Jogada Naugam in 

 the Ganjam District, and of Mr. Grahame's transcripts of the inscriptions, 

 with a set of the papers relating to them. 



8. From the Government of India, Public Works Department, — A 

 copy of the correspondence, regarding a recent accident from Lightning at 

 Landour. 



The Secretary read the following memorandum accompanying the 

 correspondence. 



" At about 10 p. M. on the 19th instant, in the midst of a severe thun- 

 der-storm, the Orderly Room was stiuck with lightning at the ridge, and the 

 thatching was set on fire, which was extinguished with great difficulty at 

 about 11"30 ; or in an hour and a half afterwards. 



The electric fluid forced a passage down the gable of the cross wall, 

 to the top of the door, and thence in a zigzag direction, to the bottom of 

 the main wall, through which it passed underneath at the foundation, into 

 the verandah, where it exploded, upheaving a portion of the pucca terraced 

 flooring, to the depth of more than one foot, with a diameter of about two. 

 At, and adjacent to, the spot where the explosion took place, the verandah 

 had been excavated to a depth of about 2\ feet, and moist earth only 

 was found, hence it is concluded, that the charore must have been extra- 



