1835.] Extracts from Correspondence. 713 



trouver une. Dans tous les autres Edifices a Juanpnr se trouvent des fragmens 

 de monuniens Buddhistes. Quel etait l'ancien nom de cette ville ? 



3. Note on the occurrence of the Bauddha Formula. 



Turning by accident to the copy of the inscription on an image of Buddha, 

 found along with two urns in the excavations at Sarnath, made in the year 1798, 

 and described by J. Duncan in the 2nd volume of the Asiatic Researches, I 

 was much pleased to discover the identical sentence " ye dharmma hetu prabhava, 

 ^■c." about which so much discussion has lately taken place, occupying the two 

 bottom lines of the page. They are disguised by several very gross errors of the 

 copyist, and it is therefore not surprising that no attempt should have been made 

 by Wilford, who alludes several times in his essay to the other part of the 

 inscription, or by other Sanscrit scholars, to read it ; the lines are thus given : 



By comparing this with the version given in page 137, its real accordance 

 will be at once perceived through the disguise of numerous blunders. — J. P. 



4. Extracts from a Journal of a Residence, and during several Journeys, in the 



Province of Behar, in the years 18.31 to 1834. Ry Mr. J. Stephenson. 



Lunar Iris. 



I had the pleasure of observing this beautiful phenomenon two miles to the 

 east of Singhea in Tirhut, at 5 a. m. on the 4th of August, 1831. It appeared 

 in the eastern part of the sky, the moon being in her last quarter, and only a 

 few degrees about the western horizon. The prismatic colours were distinctly 

 developed, and the arch perfect, though not so intense as those geuerally seen 

 in the solar iris. The radius of the arch appeared also less than tlie one formed 

 by the sun. It remained distinctly visible for the space of 15 minutes ; after 

 which it gradually lost its radiancy, and disappeared. The morning was cloudy, 

 with light showers of rain, and the temperature 85° of Fahrenheit. 



I have reason to observe that this phenomenon is not of frequent occurrence ; 

 for this is only the second one I have seen during my life-time. 

 Frost Rind, January 16th, 1832. 



The native thatched huts in the village of Singhea in Tirhut were this morn- 

 ing covered white with a frost rind, although the thermometer did not indicate 

 a lower temperature than 46° of Fahrenheit, with light airs of wind from the 

 west. 



Beautiful Meteor observed near Singhea, Tirhut, April llth, 1832. 



At four hours 45 minutes A. m., and at day-break, observed a meteor in the 

 form of a globular ball of fire, which passed through the air, from west to east, 

 in a horizontal direction, and with a motion moderately rapid. Its size appear- 

 ed to be about a foot in diameter, having a fiery train of the most splendid 

 brilliancy, apparently many yards long. It illuminated the couutry as far as the 

 eye could reach, and remained visible for five seconds, after which it exploded 

 like a rocket throwing off numerous corruscations of intense light; but without 

 any report or noise of any kind. Its apparent elevation inconsiderable. 

 Another beautiful Meteor observed at the same village on the 20th of May, 1832. 



At 6 hours 40 minutes p. m. a large pear-shaped meteor was observed shoot- 

 ing very rapid in a horizontal position, and in a direction from N. to S. 

 Nothing could exceed the brilliant mixture of green, tinged with blue colours, 

 exhibited during its rapid progress. It left a luminous train of great length 

 behind, and remained visible about three seconls, then disappeared in the south- 

 ern horizon, without exhibiting any signs of exploding. 



Remarkable Phenomenon seen opposite Singhea, in Tirhut, July \hth, 1833. 



This evening, during a thin shower of rain, I observed on the opposite side of 

 the great river Gandak, at the distance of two miles, the phenomenon called by 

 the natives " RAja Harchand ka Pzcra." An aerial city appeared, with its 



