1834.] Discovery of an Ancient Town near Behut. 43 



VIII. — Discovery of an Ancient Town near Behut, in the Dodb. By Capt. 

 P. T. Cautley, Sujit. Doab Canal. 

 [Extract of a letter read at the Meeting of the 30th instant.] 



" I have this day despatched by dak banghy, for the museum, a num- 

 ber of coins, of very great interest, from their having been found in the 

 site of an ancient (apparently Hindu town,) which site is now seventeen 

 feet below the present surface of the country, and upwards of twenty- 

 five below that of a modern town near it. I will confine myself in this 

 mere notice at present, to stating, that in consequence of the clearing 

 out of the canal bed south of the Belka falls, near the town of Behut, 

 north of Seharunpoor, the exposure took place ; and on the canal being 

 laid dry shortly after, the coin, &c. were found amongst the shingle in the 

 bed of the canal. I may mention that this line is altogether distinct 

 from that which is said to be the ancient canal, and therefore even were 

 there not distinct marks to the contrary, there can be no quibbling on 

 the articles having been transported, which is a favorite argument of the 

 day. In the present case, the section is thus ; the surface of the country 

 at that point being much lower than that on which the town of Behut 

 stands : — 



Grass jungle with cultivation on the surface of the country. River sand, 4| feet. 



A seam of sand with traces of shingle. 



Reddish clay mixed with sand, 12| feet. 



A A, site of ancient town, A A 



Black soil full of pots, bones, &c. in which the coin and other articles have 



been discovered, 6 feet. 



Bed of canal, 23 feet below surface. 



The line marked above " site of ancient town A A A A" is distinct in 

 section for about a quarter of a mile, and were it not for the breaking 

 down of banks, &c. it would be seen much further ; the soil upon which 

 the town appears to have stood is very black, and full of bones and pieces 

 of pots of different description : bricks of a large size, and of unusual shape, 

 appearing as if they had been made to suit the circular form of wells : pieces 

 of the slag of iron-smelting furnaces, (such a thing as smelting iron at Be- 

 hat was never heard of,) arrow heads, rings, ornaments and beads of dif- 

 ferent descriptions; in short, an Oriental Herculaneum, for there appears 

 every chance of the discoveries being extended hereafter. The appear- 

 ance of small pieces of kankar (amongst the shingle), of which I also 

 send one or two specimens, is an extraordinary feature, as kankar is not 

 known in this part of the country." 



Note. The probable date of Lieut. Cautley's subterranean city, to 

 whatever cause its inhumation may be attributed, can be pretty well placed 

 f 2 



