Oct. 1844.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. cxi 



mens of petrified bone, probably part of the Femur of the great fossil 

 elephant or mastodon, and a carved monumental marble slab which 

 had formed the head-stone of a Mussulman grave. This specimen is a 

 good one of its kind, the sculpture being elegantly executed, and the stone 

 furnishing interesting evidences of a practice formerly common, but now 

 extinct among the Mussulmans of India, the placing head-stones, namely, 

 in memory of deceased persons. 



Read the following letter from Captain Macleod, Assistant Commis- 

 sioner, Moulmein : — 



My dear Torrens,— About two years ago I sent you two images like the present 

 from the Mekkhara Prince at Amaropoora, they were found at Rangoon; no notice 

 having been taken of them, his Highness has sent down two more. He has likewise sent 

 me to be forwarded to you a coin (silver) found at a place called Raleng. It is Hindoo 

 no doubt, there being no coin in Burmah. He likewise has sent a box, containing 

 some black and yellow earths, a parcel of stones, a bottle of water, which is labelled, 

 " Cure for Itch," or something to that purport, " Falling on both sides of the Kband 

 Ywa hills." I believe the specimens are from the hills near the Arracan frontier, 

 but I have written to ask; they are nothing I believe but limestone. He likewise 

 presents the Society with a medical work of great repute in Burmah and Siam. 



He wishes me to send him some books, and asks particularly for a work on Chemistry, 

 one on Hindoo Astronomy, one on Comets and one on Electricity. He can read Eng- 

 lish with the assistance of a dictionary. Would you kindly allow me to take the liberty 

 of asking you to get Mr. Piddington to fill up the blanks in the enclosed note, and send 

 it to Messrs. Ostell and Co. Mr. Piddington will know better than I do what elemen- 

 tary works on the subjects I have mentioned, would be most useful to the prince. 



Moulmein, 3rd August, 1844. 



The models, which are of coarse earthenware and of an ovoid form about 



» 

 six inches by four, are simply figures of Budh (Guatama,) surrounded by 



his usual attributes, but with a Deva Nagree inscription below the figure ! 



which is probably what has excited, and very naturally, the curiosity of the 



Prince.* 



The Secretary was instructed to meet the Prince's wishes in every way 

 in his power. 



N.B. A paper has intermediately been published upon the silver coin 

 above noted by Lieut. Latter. 



The Sub-Secretary stated, that he had forwarded to Captain Macleod, 

 the following works ; viz. 



• In the Society's collection we have the converse to this. A figure of Krishna, about three feet 

 high, carved in common sandstone, but in good preservation, with medal of Buddh, (Guatama,) on 

 his forehead like a lady's ferroniere !— Eds. 



