860 Asiatic Society, [No. 104. 



was disturbed by Dost Mahomed, Poor Edward Conollv too, had commenced 

 work upon the great Khybar Tope, which is said to be the most magnificent in India, by 

 those who never went two miles out of their road to see the great Benares Tope, 

 which is 110 feet high. 



" If 1 was at Patna, I would have the topes across the Ganges opened in two months. 

 I can hear of nothing near this place. I hope however to be able to pay a visit to 

 Faizabad, near which I hear, that there is a pillar. 



" I have a short inscription of the time of Govinda Chundra Deva, of Kanouj, 

 the predecessor of Vijaya Chundra Deva, the prince mentioned in the long in- 

 scription of which Colonel Caulfield has sent you a copy. My short inscription 

 mentions, Gasala Debee as the wife of Govinda Chundra." 



Read a further letter from the same officer, with reference to which the Officiating 

 Secretary earnestly begged, that notice might be taken by any member of the So- 

 ciety, or indeed any individual whose position and inclinations might enable him 

 to serve the cause of Antiquarian research in Behar, alluded to in the latter portion 

 of the letter, which was then read as follows — 



** I am now lithographing a large drawing of a beautiful silver patera of a Sassanian 

 king on horseback, killing a lion — 2nd Shahpore ? It has an inscription which I am 

 to get shortly. 



•' I have heard of no new genuine coins, but the forged coins are becoming plentiful, 

 and I think I have discovered the forger. The fellow has not much character to lose, 

 but, I think an exposure will put others on their guard against purchasing coins from 

 him. 



" The country north of Patna is full of topes, none of which have been opened : — 



" 1. The Kesariah mound, 20 miles N. of Bokhra, in sight of the Gunduk. 



" 2. A mound of solid brickwork, about 40 feet high, near Bassar. 



" 3. At Bokhra (not the Azimgurh Bokhra) 13 kos north of Patna, and 6 kos north of 

 Singhea— a pillar and tope of solid brickwork ; a horizontal excavation was made by 

 a doctor of MozuiFerpore 35 years ago, (therefore the first excavator of a tope), but 

 nothing was found. 



" Could you not manage to have an excavation made from the top to the foundation, 

 in a perpendicular direction ? Some one at Patna, or Mozufferpore, might superintend 

 the work. The pillar also should have an inscription, which is probably under 

 ground." 



The Officiating Secretary submitted to the Meeting the reply from Major Rawlin- 

 soN of Candahar, to a communication which he had addressed to that able Antiquarian, 

 in which he had begged him to undertake the duties of Corresponding Secretary in 

 Afifghanistan. The Society, the Officiating Secretary observed, would not fail to 

 regret exceedingly the difficulties which interfere with Major Rawlinson's accepting 

 this office, and which he had requested him to undertake in common with the late 

 Capt. CoNOLLY, who working in a different part of the country, might have devoted his 

 energetic endeavours to the furtherance of some of the main objects of the Society. 



