1847] Ruins of Ranode. 1079 



Memorandum regarding the recently discovered ruins of Ranode , in 

 ScindeafCs Dominions; by Henry Cope, Secretary Archaeological 

 Society of Dehli.* 



The Right Honorable the Governor General having most liberally 

 sanctioned, by a late order, the appointment of Lieut. F. Maisey, of the 

 6 7th Regt. N. I., to investigate the ruins of Ranode, in compliance 

 with the suggestion of the Archaeological Society of Dehli, it may be 

 considered desirable to publish the principal inscription on those ruins, 

 with the view of eliciting information contemporary with the researches 

 of Lieut. Maisey ; and I have the honor to submit a brief account of 

 the place, drawn up from the Memoranda supplied to the Society by 

 Capt. R. R. Ellis of Shansee, when the inscription was originally tor- 

 warded by him. 



Ranode is situate in the Chandoree district of Scindeeah's dominions, 

 about 35 miles nearly due South of the famous fort of Nurwur, and at no 

 great distance (apparently 6 or 7 miles) east of the high road from 

 Agra to Bombay. Although marked in the maps, as a place of some 

 consequence, it is not mentioned in Hamilton's Gazetteer, and I find 

 no account of it elsewhere. It is close on the banks of the Airawati, 

 a small stream which takes its rise at Indore (not the capital of Hol- 

 kar's dominions) three kos from Ranode, and where there is a stone 

 image of Bhim Sen, one of the Pandu princes, and also the remains 

 of ancient buildings. 



The edifice in which the inscription, forwarded to the Society by 

 Capt. Ellis, was found, was first brought to light by Capt. A. Dewar, 

 commanding the 1st Calvary of Scindeah's contingent, and is known 

 in the neighbourhood as the " Kokai Mahal." It is built of gigantic 

 masses of hard freestone, without any ornamental sculpture, beautifully 

 fitted together without a particle of cement. 



From the rough sketches drawn apparently by a native, and which 

 accompanied the inscription, it is clear that this edifice is one of consi- 

 derable extent ; the inscription is cut on an erect tablet, situate at the 

 end of one of the varandahs of the Palace. 



* Communicated with the inscription and translation, by the Archaeological Society 

 of Dehli,- Eds. 



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