eXVill Archeological Survey Report. 
a similar consistency with the bricks themselves. In short, all exist- 
ing indications lead to a a necessary inference that the destruction of 
the building, by whomsoever caused, was effected by fire applied by 
the hand of an exterminating adversary, rather than by any ordinary 
accidental conflagration.” 
274, This opinion was expressed by Mr. Thomas in 1854, before 
the whole of the monastery had been exhumed. A later account has 
since been published by Dr. Butter in 1856, who states his opinion 
that “ the burnt grain and masses of half fused iron discovered by Mr, 
Hall corroborate the conclusions drawn by previous explorers, that 
the monastery had been destroyed by fire.” 
275. During my stay at Benares I examined the collection of 
articles found by Professor Hall in the various excavations which he 
conducted at Sarnath, and which are now deposited in the museum 
of the college. The only article requiring special notice is No. 18, 
an impression in burnt clay, of a seal, 15 inch in diameter, with two 
lines of Sanskrit, surmounted by a lozenge-shaped device, with two 
recumbent deer as supporters. The device of the two deer is significant, 
as it no doubt shows that the seal must have belonged to some _per- 
son or establishment attached to the monastery of the Deer Park. 
The end of the upper line and the whole of the lower line of the 
inscription are too much injured to be made out satisfactorily. The 
inscription begins with the word Srz Saddharmma, “ the auspicious 
true Dharmma,” and the letters at the end of the first line look very 
like vrakshita the ‘“ preserver.” This would be a man’s name Sri 
Saddharmma Rakshita, “ the cherisher of the true Dharmma,” a title 
not uncommon amongst the Buddhists. Of the lower line I am 
unable to suggest any probable rendering. 
276. In the absence of any general plan of the ruins, showing the 
extent of the explorations carried on by Major Kittoe and his suc- 
cessors, I do not think it would be advisable to undertake any further 
excavations at Sarnath, Benares: I have already suggested that the 
ground immediately around the great tower should be levelled for the 
purpose of affording easy access to visitors. In carrying out this 
operation, every fragment of sculpture should be carefully preserved, 
as I think it very probable that some portions of the statues, which 
once adorned the eight niches of the great tower, may be discovered 
in the masses of rubbish now lying in heaps at its foot. It might 
