1848.] in the vicinity of Suddyah, Upper Assam. 4/1 



about ; it is evident therefore that a bridge crossed the ditch at that 

 point. 



None of the natives who accompanied us had seen these remains, 

 and of course had no knowledge as to the extent of country enclosed by 

 this rampart ; but as it is some 18 feet high, with fine timber growing 

 upon it, it is quite possible to trace it to the point where it again per- 

 haps touches on the Dikrung. The tanks we found are all inside this 

 rampart, and as others are reported to be in existence, we may conclude 

 that it enclosed the site of a large town or inhabited tract of country. 

 In fact, from the accounts of different people who prowl about these 

 jungles elephant-shooting, and who describe various works of brick 

 and stone, — high earthen mounds, with tracts of cultivatable land 

 intermixed, I am inclined to think that the country from the Dibong 

 to the Koondil river, a distance of 10 or 12 miles, with the hill forti- 

 fication known as Bishmook Nngger, and Sisoopal Nugger,* belonged 

 to one people and dynasty. It is indeed quite obvious that the mason- 

 ry either of brick or stone, which we examined, is the work of the same 

 people, and that the sandstone is the produce of one quarry, apparent- 

 ly of the old red sandstone formation, which we might expect to be in 

 existence on the southern edge of the neighbouring mountains. 



Our researches on the Dikrung ended with the discovery of the carved 

 block of sandstone, represented in PI. XXXI. This stone, 1\ feet long 

 by 18 inches broad, and 10 inches thick, was found inside a substantial 

 brick enclosure 96 by 84 feet, built without lime or morter, but of the 

 finest bricks I have ever seen ; some of them in the doorway (situated 

 in a buttress in the west face) 18 inches by 1 foot, and 3^ inches 

 thick, the wall A\ feet in thickness, and upwards of 6 feet high, the 

 coping of entire bricks included. 



In one corner of the enclosure was a well, made with the tile rings 

 used in Bengal, and close to the eastern wall was a brick terrace, upon 

 which the stone was placed parallel to this face. The inner side 

 (which was uppermost), was divided by a ledge \\ inches high, into 3 



* I am at a loss to know why this place, which was visited by Lieut- Rowlatt, is so 

 called. Sispal, or Sisupal, who was Rajah of Chanderi in Bundlekund, may have accom- 

 panied his cousin Krishna in his wandering's ; but he could have had no connection with 

 the country of Bishmook beyond this, if we may except the story of his having- been be- 

 trothed to Rukhmini, the daughter of Bishmook, and if we can believe that the Bedhurb 

 of the Hindoos is the modern Suddyah, and the Koondilpoor of the Prem Sagur. 



