154 Babu G. N. Dutt — Antiquities of Belwa-Sirsea. [Dec. 



J. Woodburn, Esq., C. S., Allababad, proposed by 0. H. Tawney, 

 Esq., seconded by 0. Little, Esq. 



Babu Gerindranath Dutt, Hutwa Raj, proposed by Pandit Mahes- 

 chandra Nyayaratna, seconded by 0. Little, Esq. 



H. K. W. Arnold, Esq., Calcutta (for re-election), proposed by L. 

 de Niceville, Esq., seconded by 0. Little Esq. 



H. N. Thompson, Esq., Monywa, proposed by W. L. Sclater, Esq., 

 seconded by Dr. W. King. 



The following gentleman has expressed a wish to withdraw from 



fhe Society : — 



Denzil Ibbetson, Esq., 0. S. 



Tbe following papers were read : — 



1. The Antiquities of Belwa-Sirsea^^By Gerindranath Dutt, Su- 

 perintendent OF THE Hutwa Raj. Communicated by the Philological 

 Secretary. 



Ever since my lot was cast to serve this Raj, I have been labouring 

 under the impression that this very ancient Raj is replete with objects 

 worthy of an antiquarian's research. The situation of the temple and 

 forest at Thaway and the site of the Hosseypore forts (old capital of the 

 Hutwa Maharajas), and the winter tour diary of my predecessor, the 

 former Superintendent of the Hutwa Raj, who is now the Manager, 

 framed this belief into a conviction which was strengthened by learning 

 of the Lauriya-Araraj and Lauriya-Navandgarh pillars in the neigh- 

 bouring Raj of Bettiah from Cunningham's Corpus Inscriptionum Indi- 

 carum (Vol. 1, p. 4). Only the other day I issued orders to all native 

 Thikadars and Putwaries of the villages to inform me at once if they 

 know or hear of the existence of any relic of antiquity ; and the reports 

 received from various quarters of this extensive estate made me sanguine 

 of success. The most interesting of these reports is the one received from 

 the Putwary of Belwa Bhaya, a village in lease to the Moniarah Factory, 

 about 6 miles north-west of the sub-division of Gopalgunge and 18 miles 

 from the Hutwa Palace. I could not make time to see the place through 

 press of work till the 3rd instant, when I set out for the place having 

 previously sent a sowar to catch hold of the Putwary and keep him wait- 

 ing at the Gopalgunge road to lead me to the place. 



As we neared the place the existence of very old Bar and Pipal 

 trees on the sides of the road led me to conclude that we were enterinor 

 a place of some antiquity. Our camp was pitched at some distance from 

 the spot, but without halting there for rest, notwithstanding the fatigue 

 of a drive over 18 miles of road only partly metalled, we drove direct to 



