IS 60.] Notes on Atranji Khera. 165 



tiorts and guardians after his death. The Nirnayasindhu, the Sams- 

 karakaustubha, and the Dharmasindhu declare that a widow may 

 adopt without the permission of her relations. 



The advocates of the latter opinion give, as one of their principal 

 arguments, the second half of the first verse of the Catmakasmriti, 

 where they read: ' Vandhya mritu putra vapi.' ' A woman, who is 

 childless or whose sous have died (may adopt).' If this reading were 

 correct, a widow would certainly have the right to adopt, as she 

 pleases. Bat I have already pointed out in the note appended to 

 the text, that it is wrong, and perhaps a clumsy forgery of the advo- 

 cates of the widows' rights. 



This example will suffice to show, how the recovery of the original 

 Smritis may be turned to some use for some practical purpose in the 

 discussion of points of the Hindu law, important even if their impor- 

 tance for the reconstruction of its history be left out of sight. 



Notes on Atranji Khera or Pi-lo-sha,n-na of General Cunningham 

 (vide Continuation of Report for 1862-63, No. VIII. page \5.) — By 

 C. Horne, Esq., C. 8. 



[Received 5th January, 1866.] 



This morning Dr. Tyler kindly drove me, by a country road via 

 Rah and Sirnow villages, some ten miles to the village of Achulpow, 

 nearly north of Etah, crossing, when within a mile of the said village, 

 a ravine styled the Kalee Nuddee. Just beyond this village, of which 

 it forms a part, rises the huge Khera or Mound, which, I was informed, 

 contains in its area 500* statute beegahs of land. The height varies 

 from 40 to 50 feet, and it forms a very imposing object, and is cover- 

 ed with scattered broken bricks and fragments of pottery of great 

 thickness, being likewise garnished with a few bushes and two or three 

 peepul trees. 



The circuit, as by the measurements of the Moonshee deputed by 

 General Cunningham, is as follows : — Length at base 3,250 feet with 

 a breadth of 2,550 ft. The general form, is rectangular, although it is 

 * Equal to 19Sf acres. 



22 



