1881.] Adhar Lai Sen — On the Shrines of Sitdkund. 51 



a wave of irruption took place from the hills. The Isakhil Niazis were di* 

 placed by the present Marwatis. The former ejected the Awans from Isa- 

 khil and Mianvali and drove them into the hills compelling them in turn 

 to expel the Jods and Janjuas. The head man of Kalabagh is still 

 Mullah Muzaffar Khan, the Chief of the Awans." 



The following papers were read — 



1. A short note on the Shrines of Sitdhund in Chittagong. — By Adhar 

 Lal Sen, Deputy Collector of Jessore, lately of Chittagong. 

 (Abstract.) 



After describing the geographical situation of Sita Khund, the author 

 of this paper, explains the derivation of its name " from a hot spring conse- 

 crated to Sita, the deified heroine of the Ramayana," and relates the 

 various traditions regarding the disappearance of the hot spring which no 

 longer exists in that locality. It is said to have been filled up in conse- 

 quence of a dispute between the followers of Vishnu and S'iva. An attempt 

 was made by the present Mahant of the place to again open up the spring, 

 but without success ; and it is supposed that there never really was any 

 hob spring in that locality, on account of its being " devoid of all trace of 

 bitumen, which is invariably discovered in the adjacent hot springs." The 

 author then proceeds to quote large extracts from various Puranas, relating 

 the connection of Rama and Sita with the Sitakhund, and shows the un- 

 trustworthiness of these Puranic relations b/ comparing them with the 

 accounts in Valmiki's Ramayana according to which Rama and Sita can 

 never have been in the regions where the Sitakhund is situfted. Finally 

 the author traces the pilgrim's journey as he passes from one shrine to 

 another, giving various interesting details of each locality. 



Mr. Ball remarked that though it may be true that there never was a 

 hot spring in the locality mentioned, the absence of any trace of bitumen 

 was no proof of its non-existence. 



Extracts from this paper will be published in the Journal, Part I. 



2. A list of Earthquakes recorded in Assam during the year 1880. Com- 



municated by the Meteorological Reporter to the Government of 

 Bengal. 

 The list will appear in the Journal, Part II. 



3. On the coins ofCharibael, king of the Homerites and Sabceans. — By 



Majoe W. F. Peideaux, F. R. G. S., Bombay Stuff Corps. 

 (Abstract.) 

 This paper gives a description of two Himyaritic coins, which were 

 received by the author from Aden in 1880, and attributed by him to Chari- 



