204 Journal of a trip to Cuttack, [March, 



In the year of the Higera one thousand, one hundred and si>xty and 

 five, coeval with the 4th year of the reign of Ahmud Shah the victori- 

 ous king. 



Over the archway was another inscription which is in the possession 

 of the executive engineer : it was thus. 



^L**.a> Jl \J"*j*^-$\J#Q to j[) J£ **Y &jv >yb&*»&j*- 

 Cs"^**LS*^V^ U^J** jt&*to. f^* ] ' cM*! J* **^ \jfr*£s±j 



It is certainly not a very elegant composition, indeed native judges 

 pronounce it execrable and unintelligible : the following is as correct a 

 translation as I can make. 



" From the splendor and state of one named Rukhbeer ; may he ever 

 possess the revenues of foreign countries. What an excellent prince 

 was Mohun Singh Behadur*. His speech is a mine of desire and 

 beneficence. 



" When in the time of need he takes up his sword, what are Rus- 

 tum, Zal or Samee beforef him. By his order the Killadar Imam 

 Afghan (khan), occupied himself night or day with the care of put- 

 ting fort Barahbattee wholly in excellent repair, with a gateway and 

 tower to it mountain high. This fort first of iron, next a ditch filled 

 with alligators, is at once a double trap for the destruction of its ene- 

 mies. 



" The experienced daroga Allee Ruza native of Kurrd as chrono- 

 logist, employing himself to find a date asked it of the hidden sound 

 (voice) which replied, May the Rughnath gateway ever remain perma- 

 nent." 



I cannot discover who were the individuals whose praises are thus 

 recorded, unless they were some of the officers of the Mahratta govern- 

 ment; I can neither find the name of Rukhbeer nor of Mohun Singh, 

 in Stirling's work. 



* Perhaps Mohun Singh was sou of Rukhbeer ? the passage is obscure to me 

 as well as to Moonshees I have shewn the verses to. 

 T Opposed to. 



