1838.] Account of an ancient temple at Hissar. 429 



Falling of a block of Ice, 

 " We are afraid that, like the person who favored us with the account, 

 we shall be accused of telling a traveller's story, but the fact is too well 

 verified to us to admit of our questioning the statement which we make. 

 At Nowloor, in the neighbourhood of, and about two miles from, Dhar- 

 war, there fell a few days since a block of ice or a body of hailstones in 

 one mass, which measured 19 feet 10 inches. This extraordinary 

 mass fell on a Sunday night, and on the Wednesday succeeding, a ser- 

 vant, who was sent for the purpose of bringing away a pailful of the 

 bulk, reported that the mass then still remaining was as large as three 

 palanquins. We think such a fall as this must have astonished those 

 who resided in the neighbourhood, who may thank their good fortunes 

 that the mass broke not upon any devoted head. This phenomenon is 

 to be attributed to the electrical state of the atmosphere, thunder storms 

 have been very frequent of late in the neighbourhood of Dharwar, and 

 but a short time since a tree in the fort of Belgaum was shattered to 

 pieces by the electrical fluid, which fell only thirteen yards distance 

 from the powder magazine. Much as we should have relished a portion 

 of the frozen bulk (and we fancy in this climate the occurrence even 

 of a hailstorm would not be unaccompanied with pleasure), we have no 

 relish to have the missiles of the elements of such devastating dimen- 

 sions as that which we now record." — Bombay Courier, May 15, 1838. 



VI. — Account of an ancient temple at Hissar, and of the ship model 

 at that place. By Capt. Wm. Brown. 



Having visited Feroz Shah's pillar in the fort here, it immediately 

 struck me that the base part of the column was one of the ancient Baudh 

 monuments, corresponding with those at Allahabad and Delhi. The 

 stone appears of the same description, but has suffered much from ex- 

 posure to the climate ; it has also the appearance of having been partially 

 worked by Feroz 's orders, and probably some inscription was cut upon 

 it by his workmen, but of which there is now no trace owing to the 

 peeling off of the exterior surface. I however observed, near the upper 

 part of the stone, some of the ancient letters, which apparently have 

 been saved by accident, and having procured a ladder, I copied them as 

 correctly as possible, and few and indistinct as they are, I think it is 

 likely they will satisfy you that this is one of the lats erected by 

 Piyadasi. Hissar is on the road to Cabul, and has always form- 

 ed one of the serais or resting places on that route, common with 

 Mehim, Hansi, Sersa } &c. ; and it is not improbable other l£ts may 

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