1048 Coins and relics from Bactria. [Dec. 



of these coins from four to six thousand, besides the contents of several 

 topes, and casts of figures of Budh, with various other remains of the 

 period antecedent to the Muhammadan invasion of Bactria and 

 Afghanistan. The whole of this collection was by order of govern- 

 ment laid upon the table of the Asiatic Society at the meeting of 

 January 1839, but the members present felt that in the absence of 

 their late Secretary, and likewise of Captain Cunningham, Mr. V. 

 Tregear, and Colonel Stacey, there were no persons in Calcutta 

 to whom the examination, arrangement, and report upon the coins 

 and relics could be committed with confidence. They came therefore 

 to the unanimous resolution to recommend their being forwarded with- 

 out delay to England, where the Honorable Court would have the 

 opportunity of submitting them to the inspection of the late Secretary 

 of the Asiatic Society, jointly with Dr. Wilson the librarian at the 

 East India House, and so the ends of science and of antiquarian 

 research would be most effectually answered. 



The care of this magnificent collection, which is large enough to 

 supply all the museums in Europe, has been kindly undertaken by Mr. 

 Cracroft, a very zealous member of the Asiatic Society, and there is 

 ground for hoping that under his superintendence a catalogue may yet 

 be made before he takes his final departure for England. The articles 

 have come round in bags without any separate lists, and in one bag 

 there are about two thousand copper coins. 



But independently of Mr. Masson's collection, another numbered 

 by thousands has been brought to Calcutta by Dr. McLeod the In- 

 spector General of hospitals to H. M.'s forces in India. This consists 

 partly of coins of all metals, but there are also several seals and gems 

 of different stones cut with a great variety of emblems and devices. 

 All these are the property of Sir A. Burnes, and have arrived for 

 deposit and custody as well as for inspection ; they are therefore still 

 available for the curious, and will continue so until Sir A. Burnes 

 shall send instructions as to their disposal. We cannot ourselves under- 

 take the particular examination of these relics so as to give the detailed 

 description they deserve. A selection from the coins had however 

 previously been made at Simla, and those deemed most curious being 

 forwarded by the dawk arrived fortunately before the departure of our 

 Editor. Amongst them is that most curious coin of Dr. Lord with 

 the head of Eucratides on one side, and of both his parents on the 

 other, a drawing of which was exhibited in plate No. XXVII. of this 

 volume. From the other selected coins thus transmitted a plate was 

 prepared by the Editor, which was intended to be illustrative of an article 



