2834.] ancient Town discovered near Sehdranpur. 225 



been as yet found on this site is the remains of a foundation, the great- 

 er parts of which had been cleared out and broken by the canal : the 

 bricks were soft and friable. This foundation was sunk about four feet 

 in the black soil, terminating- on its surface ; the great quantity of 

 bricks however scattered in the canal bed proves distinctly that many 

 more foundations had been cleared out, and it is possible that when I 

 have time to sink wells in neighbouring points, so as to detect the 

 boundaries of these ruins, I may bring to light matters of greater inter- 

 est than those even now before us. The bricks discovered are of a 

 large size, and generally speaking, badly burned, (similar to some that 

 were found on a former occasion at Manukmow, near Seharunpur, where 

 a quantity of old foundations were discovered, consisting entirely of the 

 same sized bricks :) a number of them wedge- shaped 5 9 inches _; ac , :f 



D r i— i 6 inches S 



intended for well building, and better burned than the square ones. 

 Amongst the fragments of pots, were some which the natives recognised 

 as resembling those now used in making indigo, long elliptical vessels ! 

 the fragments of pots, bones, teeth, and articles of this description are in 

 abundance. In sinking three wells on the west of the canal near the spot, 

 the same section of soil appeared, and the same articles were discovered 

 on reaching the black stratum. I look forward with great interest to the 

 time when I can have leisure to make further excavations in the neigh- 

 bourhood, enabling me to form an idea of the extent of the discovery. 



At a spot considerably south (marked A in the map) a large pukka 

 well was also exposed in the canal channel. I had this cleared out and 

 partly removed, supposing that there was a probability of making further 

 discoveries. I send to the Society an article (either lead or pewter)* 

 which was the only thing of metal found : a great quantity of g haras or 

 water pots were taken out whole, as if they had fallen into the well and 

 sunk ; the bones also of two deer (barasinghas), the horns broken in 

 pieces, but the jaw bones and other parts tolerably perfect : from the 

 circumstance of finding so many gharras the natives seem to conclude that 

 this was a town or village well, and not that in use for irrigation. If the 

 ancient town extended to this point, it would be extensive indeed, but 

 of this there does not appear to be any probability. 



The presence of the deer's bones is easily accounted for, as a number 

 of these, as well as other wild animals, are constantly lost in galloping 

 over the jungles, and falling into deserted wells. The well in question 

 was doubtless one of this description, for a long time after either 

 the town or cultivation for which it was intended was deserted, and 

 remained long open amongst the high grass and jungle which so rapidly 

 -obtain in this part of the country when the hand of man is absent : all 



* This small disc or wheel does not bear any marks of antiquity. Ed. 



f p 



