156 D. Prain — Little Andaman and the Nicohars. [Dec. 



The villagers asserted that images, &c. are found wherever the spot 

 is dug, and on digging out a little I found three large stones, two 

 running at right angles and one horizontal, containing mutilated figures, 

 some riding on a bull, a lion and a tiger, and two other hopelessly 

 mutilated animal figures. Another slab was partially dug out, lying 

 just in front of Buddha's image, bearing some marks which may be 

 those of inscriptions. Hard by the image of Buddha, under the Pipal 

 tree, is a choked up well, which is said to contain a good many images 

 and also the severed limbs of these figures. 



We were then led a few yards further out of this jungle to a Pipal 

 tree with shrub-grown pile at its foot, under which the villagers asserted 

 the image of Sivji was buried. I only discovered a slab lying there, but 

 cannot say what could be discovered on removing the mound of earth. 



Thence we drove to the adjacent village of Sirsea to see the fort of 

 the Gheroos. Who these Gheroos were, the villagers could not tell ; but 

 on questioning the Manager of the Hutwa Raj I learnt that they were 

 the ancient (aboriginal ?) inhabitants now extinct, and that relics of their 

 time were also being found in some other parts of the Raj. We found 

 no sort of fortification at Sirsea but only a high level charida (pastural) 

 ground, of about 25 or 30 bighas, perforated with pits of porcupines. 

 We found there a number of small wells, only 3 feet square, strongly 

 built with small bricks none of which had given way, I saw one of 

 these wells still used by the villagers to water their fields by means of a 

 Dhenhulf and I was informed of the existence of one more almost choked 

 up, but they asserted there were 52 in former times. 



The villagers then spoke of the existence of some ghat where the 

 Cheroo Raja used to bathe ; but as it was too dark I had to return with- 

 out seeing it. 



2. Oil the Dindjpur Gopper Plate Inscription of Mahipdla^ — By 

 Prof. F. Kielhorn, C. I. E., Gottingen. Communicated by the Philolo- 

 gical Secretary. 



3. First Instalment of the Bower Manuscript^ transcript^ translation 

 and notesy — By. Dr. A. F. R. Hoernle. 



The papers will be published in the Journal, Part I. 



4. On a Botanical visit to Little Andaman and the Nicohars. — By 

 D. Prain. 



While awaiting the arrival of the " Investigator " at Port Blair in 

 November 1890, the writer was invited by Col. Cadell, v. c, Chief 

 Commissioner of the Andamans, to visit, in connection with the Botanical 

 Survey of India, the islands of Narcondam and Barren Island, two places 



