1839.] above the Kothoutiya gate of the Fort Rohtas. 695 



rendering the seventh stanza, ventured to construe the concluding part 

 as alluding to the use of artillery, by the modern name of top. The 

 words admit of a different version, and we are not satisfied that we are 

 justified in the liberty taken. Mana Sahi, the father of the great- 

 grandfather of Vira Singh, was the lord of Gopachala, indicating 

 probably a neighbouring hill fort. If any gentleman near Rohtas would 

 institute an inquiry as to whether any of the Tomara family there still 

 exists, and if their family traditions or records in any way square 

 with the particulars of the inscription, — an important service would be 

 rendered. 



We learn from the 12th verse, that Jalaluddin ever designated 

 Mitra Sen and his brother as * the unique heroes.' Jalaluddin was 

 the name of Akbar, who died in 1605 a. d. The style of these verses 

 is modern, and their merit is rather mediocre. 



Sher Khan is stated by Buchanan to have taken the fortress of 

 Rohtas by surprise. He mentions that the tradition is, that it was 

 wrested in 1534 a. d., from the last Hindu Emperor of Hindustan, a 

 descendant of Pratapa Devala,* to whose family the fort belonged. 

 On what authority Buchanan has elevated the descendant of the 

 chieftain of Japila into the last Hindu emperor, does not appear. 

 In closing this article, we would remark that the Rohtas slab gives a 

 useful lesson of caution to distrust panegyrical inscriptions. 



The removal of slabs from ancient buildings and temples has been 

 condemned by the good sense of the Asiatic Society, and we suggest 

 that the Rohtas slab should be restored to its proper place. 



fTWFW II 





* See our May No. 



