68 



Proceedings of the Asiatic Societ 



[No. 1, 



some of the specimens on the table were procured, there stood an 

 old ruined pagoda on the surface, evidencing that, at least at the time 

 of ics construction, that surface was a permanent one. This bed of 

 gravel was in many places exposed on the surface and had been parti- 

 ally denuded ; and it was in such localities where these implements 

 had been washed out of the bed and lay strewed on the surface that 

 they were found most plentifully. 



Mr. Oldham remarked on the great interest attaching to such 

 a discovery, and on the probable age of the deposit in which they 

 occurred. Another point of interest connected with the history 

 of such implements was the remarkable fact that, while scattered 

 in abundance over the districts where they occurred, were noble 

 remains of what would by many be called Druidical character-circles 

 of large standing stones, cromlechs, kistvaens, often of large size 

 and well preserved, all of which were traditionally referred to 

 the Karumbers, a race of which there still existed traces in the 

 hills ; still all the weapons and implements of every kind found in 

 these stone structures were invariably of iron. No information what- 

 ever regarding these stone implements could be obtained from the 

 peasantry, who had been quite unaware of their existence. 



Thanks were unanimously accorded to Mr. Oldham for his interest- 

 ing remarks on the stone implements. 



For January, 1864. 



The annual general meeting of the Asiatic Society was held on the 

 13th instant. 



E. C. Bayley, Esq., President, in the chair. 



The Secretary read the following Annual Eeport for 1863 : — 



AOTITAL REPORT. 



The Council of the Asiatic Society have much satisfaction in 

 announcing that the marked prosperity of the Society during the past 

 year has been fully equal to that of the previous years, indicating an 

 ever-increasing interest in the objects of the Society on the part of 

 the public, which augurs well for the future progress of Indian science. 



It is, however, with feelings of deep regret that the Council have 

 to record the decease of the Society's patron, the Eight Hon'ble the 

 Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, whose cordial sympathy with the 



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