1838.] Facsimiles of Ancient Inscriptions. 35 



confirmed to the full extent by replies to questions put to other men 

 who had known the column from a period long anterior to that assigned 

 to the destructive tempest. 



An attempt has been made to cut this column into two pieces at the 

 elevation at which the inscription occurs ; the perpetrators of the mischief, 

 however, have begun their work in a quarter in which there are no letters : 

 the writing is on the eastern aspect, the cutting has been commenced 

 on the west side. The greater dilapidation of this column compared 

 with that at Kuhaori may perhaps be accounted for by Bhdgalpur 

 being a public ferry on the Gogra river, and by such an object conse- 

 quently being mOre obnoxious to injury from the rude hands of bigotted 

 strangers here than at the other more retired locality* 



The bairagi stated that the pillar had been created in honour of five 

 brothers, and pretended to read the first two lines thus in Sanskrit as he 

 alleged, though the last words are plain Hindui. 



Bheem Lukoa Aujien Sahdeo Deodustul sadee pitnchnia....i.$owa 

 Lakh roopeea khurj luga hy 



The five Bheems whose names are here given our cicerone told us 

 had come from Delhi and conquered Nipal. He mentioned the Bettiah 

 Lat as connected with this and the one at Kuhcton, but he said there 

 were no other in the Gorakhpur district, and this assertion is confirmed 

 by answers to inquiries made of other intelligent natives who know the 

 district well. 



III. At Serga a village in pergunnah Sidowa Jobena, about three 

 miles north of Samour (a stage on the road from Chupra to Gorakh- 

 pur, and where the traveller first enters zillah Gorakhpur J are some 

 stone images nearly the size of life ; they have been disfigured in a simi- 

 lar manner to that of Mata Konr at Kusseea of which I sent a notice 

 t® the Journal some months ago, though a representation of a group of 

 dancers of small proportions has escaped nearly untouched. 



The most remarkable of the idols is one of Bhoivanee or Durga. 

 This has been sadly mutilated ; what formed the nose has, I suppose, 

 been originally let into the stone out of which the image is cut, and this 

 has been removed, giving the figure the appearance of a person in an 

 advanced stage of a loathsome disease. Little respect is paid to this 

 statue, owing it may be to this revolting appearance ; the brahman of the 

 neighbouring village is, however, called on occasionally to officiate at 

 the shrine when a rare votary makes his or her appearance. 



The figure which is rather well carved is that of a young girl who 

 has hardly arrived at puberty. There are or have been eight arms some 

 of which have been removed, but it is not said that the goddess has had 

 f'2 



