1.841.] Description of some Jlncient Gems and Seals, Sfc. 147 



amidst the dense foliage of the forest, and at a loss in what direction 

 to turn, we sought an open space and searched for the Casuarina trees, 

 and in this manner were attracted to the desired spot. On the edge of the 

 crater and about the sides of the cone amidst the grass, I picked up shells? 

 (helix ?) pieces of indurated clay, quartz, and clay intersected with 

 spar. They all go to show the character of the disrupted material 

 The edge of the crater was most uniform, and its diameter was about 

 twelve feet. Its interior was filled with warm liquid mud, and on plunging 

 down a rod, it passed on for about eight feet, and then struck in a thick 

 plastic substance. After examining it in all directions, and satisfying 

 our curiosity to the utmost, we hastened to return, and at length succeeded 

 in reaching the boats, highly gratified and delighted at the success of our 

 adventure, and the interesting novelty which it had unfolded to us. 



I left Kyok Phyoo much pleased with the peculiar and many various 

 features which it presents, and returned to Calcutta after an absence of 

 three weeks, much improved in health by the excursion. 



Description of some Ancient Gems and Seals from Baciria, the 



Punjab and India, 



1. Grecian. 



Whether it is, that the collection and study of ancient gems and seals, 

 is less interesting in itself than the study of coins, or that it leads to less 

 immediate and satisfactory results, I am unable to say ; but perhaps both 

 of these reasons may have combined to render the one less attractive than 

 the other. But whether from one or from both of these causes the effect 

 has been the almost total neglect of this study in India ; although the 

 specimens scattered amongst the numerous individual collections must 

 now be valuable, as well as easily accessible. Some of these I have col- 

 lected together in the accompanying plate, in the hope that others may be 

 induced to make public what they may have stored up in their cabi- 

 nets. 



The earliest notice of an ancient gem procured in India, of which I am 

 aware, is in Vincent's Ancient Commerce, vol. 2, p. 760, where he makes 

 mention of ■ an emerald belonging to the Archbishop of York, engraved 

 with a Medusa's head, of Grecian sculpture, and brought from Benares.' 

 And in the Trans, of the Royal Asiatic Society vol. 3, page 139, there is an 

 engraving of ■ an ancient Hindu intaglio,' with a long rambling description, 

 by Colonel Tod. The gem itself is a beautiful one, representing Hercules 



