318 On the Coins and Relics discovered [July, 



On the 29th, at the depth of 64 feet, an irregular hole appeared of 

 six lines broad, in which were discovered 



Fig. 16. A copper ring, and 



Fig. 17. A couree (cyprsea moneta). 



At ten lines lower down were also found an iron ring and three more 

 Sassanian coins, in a very decayed state, Fig. 19. 



On the last day of the same month the principal discovery rewarded 

 the Chevalier's labours. 



An immense stone slab seemed here to cover the whole surface : it 

 was removed with great labour and difficulty, and underneath was per- 

 ceived with joy a small chamber or basin cut into the solid stone, a 

 foot in breadth and depth, the interior of it built up with stone and lime; 

 in the midst of this, on its careful removal, were found, thus hermetically 

 sealed, the second series of relics now to be described ( Plate xxii.) 



Fig. 19. A box of copper (supposed to be iron by M. Ventura) fill- 

 ed with a brown compound liquid. 



Fig. 20. Within this box and liquid, a brass cylindrical box, cast and 

 turned on the lathe : — the surface of the metal was in such excellent pre- 

 servation as still to retain the fresh marks of the tool, but the pinna- 

 cle on the top of the lid was broken off by corrosion, or in consequence 

 of a flaw at the neck. 



The lid having been made on the lathe also fitted perfectly tight, 

 and must have kept in, without loss by evaporation, another portion of 

 the thick brown liquid with which it was found to be filled. 



On cleaning the upper surface of the lid, it was discovered that an 

 inscription had been there punched circularly round it. The letters 

 are formed by dots, but they are perfectly well preserved, and are of 

 the first importance in making out the nature of the deposit. Fig. 20, 

 b represents a facsimile of this inscription, which is again written 

 below to facilitate its lecture. The character so strongly resembles 

 an ancient form of Nagari, such as might be used in writing, without 

 the head-lines of book-letter, that sanguine hopes may be entertained 

 of its yielding to the already successful efforts of our Vice-President 

 and Captain Troyer. The same writing has been found by Dr. 

 Martin and Mr. Masson in other topes. The latter has favored me 

 (through Dr. Gerard) with a transcript of two in which he finds the 

 same words repeated. I have placed these on the same plate for con- 

 venience of examination. 



In this brass box, 20, were five copper medals, Figs. 28, 29, 30, 31, 

 32, all differing in device, but of that kind already known to us from a 

 multitude of specimens found in Afghanistan and Upper India, by the 

 arbitrary name of " Indo-Scythic coins," and now ascribed by Mr. 

 Masson writh certainty to Kanerka, Kadphises, &c. 



