98 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 1, 



I propose that the work be entrusted to Colonel Cunningham, 

 with the understanding that it continue during the present and the 

 following cold season, by which time a fair judgment of its utility 

 and interest may be formed. It may then be persevered in, and ex- 

 panded, or otherwise dealt with as may seem good at the time. 



Colonel Cunningham should receive Us. 450 a month with Rs. 

 250 when in the field to defray the cost of making surveys and 

 measurements and of other mechanical assistance. If something 

 more should be necessary to obtain the services of a Native subordinate 

 of the Medical or Public Works Department competent to take pho- 

 tographic views, it should be given. 



It would be premature to determine how the results of Colonel 

 Cunningham's labours should be dealt with, but whilst the Govern- 

 ment would of course retain a proprietary right in them for its own 

 purposes, I recommend that the interests of Colonel Cunningham 

 should be considered in the terms upon which they may be furnished 

 to the public. 



Memorandum oy Colonel A. Cunningham, of Engineers, regarding a 

 proposed investigation of the Archaeological remains of Upper India. 



During the one hundred years of British dominion in India, the 

 Government has done little or nothing towards the preservation of 

 its ancient monuments which, in the almost total absence of any 

 written history, form the only reliable sources of information as to 

 the early condition of the country. Some of these monuments have 

 already endured for ages, and are likely to last for ages still to come ; 

 but there are many others which are daily suffering from the effects 

 of time, and which must soon disappear altogether, unless preserved 

 by the accurate drawings and faithful descriptions of the archae- 

 ologist. 



2. All that has hitherto been done towards the illustration of 

 ancient Indian history has been due to the unaided efforts of pri- 

 vate individuals. These researches consequently have always been 

 desultory and unconnected, and frequently incomplete, owing partly 

 to the short stay which individual officers usually make at any 

 particular place, and partly to the limited leisure which could be 

 devoted to such pursuits. 



3. Hitherto the Government has been chiefly occupied with 



