184/.] Periphts of the Erythrean Sea, fyc. 17 



settled in early times. A remote antiquity also attaches to it, from its 

 possessing a place called Panchomee Ghaut which, tradition asserts, 

 derived its name from the circumstance of the five sons of Pandu, viz., 

 Yudhisthera, Bhima, Arjunah, Nakula, and Sahadeva, having bathed 

 there on the occasion of the Asocashtami festival, which is held in the 

 month of March. In the historical annals of Ceylon mention is made 

 of Singababoo, who shortly before the death of Buddha, obtained the 

 throne of Bengal, then designated Wango, apparently a corruption of 

 Vanga or Banga (See Knighton's History of Ceylon). The ancient 

 Hindu capital of the kingdom of Banga, or Bengal, was situated (at a 

 later date than that above referred to) in the vicinity of Sonargong, at a 

 place called Vicramapura.* The latter now constitutes a pergunnah, 

 which comprises a considerable tract of country around Feringy-bazar 

 on the western bank of the Issamuty,f formed by the junction of the 

 Dellasery and Luckia rivers. It is said to have been originally an 

 island, and to have derived its name from Rajah Vicramaditya, who is 

 supposed to have resided here for some time. This prince was proba- 

 bly Sriman Hersha Vicramaditya, the ruler of Oojeen, "who, after 

 expelling the Mlech'chhas and destroying the Sacas, had established his 

 power and influence throughout India." Pravarasena, a king of Cash- 

 mere, who flourished in the second century of the Christian era, is said 

 to have waged war against the kingdoms of the south, and to have 

 defeated the son and successor of Vicramaditya, named Pratapa Sila 

 or Siladitya. He is represented by Bedea ad-din, a Mahomedan histo- 

 rian of Cashmere, as having invaded Bengal ; and after subduing Behar 

 Sinh, the ruler of Dacca (Sonargong), he is said to have given the 

 government to Palas Sinh, the son of Siladitya, whom he had conquered. { 

 Vicramapura was, at a subsequent period, the place of residence of 

 Adisur and Bullal-sen, whose rule, it is well known, extended over the 

 whole of Bengal. Prior to the time of Adisur, Bengal was under the 

 government of the kings of Magadha, from whose yoke he is said to 

 have delivered it. Banga was the eastern kingdom belonging to his 



* " Vicramapura in Bengal, which is Paundraka" is inscribed on the Kesava Sena 

 Plate found at Edilpore in zilla Backergunge (Vide Jour, of As. Society, No. 73, 

 for January 1838.) 



t See Rennell's Map of the environs of Dacca. 



+ As. Researches, Vol. XV. page 41. 



O 



