OS Correspondence of the Commissioners [Feb. 



the .ancient country of Bolor with the present Balti, or Little Tibet. 

 The Bolor mountains have occupied an uncertain position in our maps 

 for a considerable period, which I am now able to define with precision. 

 They are in fact that chain of mountains, hitherto called the Muzt'ak, 

 which forms the northern boundary of the district of Balti. Amongst 

 the Dards who speak the Shina language, namely, in Hasora, Gilgit, 

 Chilas, Darel, Kohli and Palas, all lying along the Indus, Balti is known 

 only by the name of Palolo. What renders this identification more 

 striking and complete is the mention by Huan Thsang in A.D. 640, 

 that the kingdom of Polulo " produced much gold :" a production for 

 which Balti or Palolo is still celebrated, and which is one of the chief 

 sources of its revenue. 



5. But the most valuable discovery which I have made since my 

 last report, dated the 20th ultimo, has been the acquisition of three 

 new Sanscrit Dramas, two of which were hitherto known to us only by 

 name ; and the third was altogether unknown. Copies of these Dramas 

 are now being made ; which, when completed, will be forwarded to 

 Government. The Dramas are the following : 



1. Anergha-Raghava, a long work, written by Murara-kavi, a Kash- 

 mirian brahman. In this piece, as its name imports, the principal 

 exploits of Rama are dramatized. It is one of the hitherto lost plays 

 of which Professor Wilson had obtained only the name. 



2. Sringara-Tilaka, a short piece written by Sri Rudra-kavi, a 

 Kashmirian brahman. This would appear to be a sort of monologue, 

 in which one actor successively describes and personates the characters 

 of various women. It is another of the hitherto lost plays of which 

 Professor Wilson had obtained only the name. 



3. Vasavadatta-cheritra, a short piece, hitherto entirely unknown, 

 written by Suban-du-kavi, a Kashmirian brahman. In the Retnavali 

 (also a Kashmirian drama) which has been translated by Professor 

 Wilson, (Hindu Theatre, vol. 2) the heroine is likewise named Vasava- 

 datta. In that play, however, she is the Rani or Queen of Vatsa, the 

 Raja of Kausanebi. All the other characters are different, as will be 

 seen by the forthcoming list of the dramatis personam of this new play : 



1. Chintamani, Raja of Kusumapura. 



2. Kandarpaketu, Son of the Raja. 



3. Sringara-sekhar, a Kshatriya, father of Vasavadatta. 



