1847.] Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, fyc. 19 



but in its immediate vicinity and in the country to some distance around 

 it, there are found at a great depth under ground, the foundations of walls 

 from which large quantities of bricks have been dug, and sent to Dacca 

 and different places in the neighbourhood. Sculptured images of Hin- 

 doo gods, pieces of timber, large slabs of stone, and various articles of 

 gold, and copper, consisting of ornaments and of vessels used in cele- 

 brating poojahs, have been excavated from these places. There is a tank 

 in the centre of Bullal-baree, in which were deposited, it is said, the 

 ashes of the Hindoo prince, who governed this part of Bengal, when it 

 was invaded by the Mahomedans. It is called " Mitha Pukar," and 

 is said by the natives to have belonged to that part of the palace which 

 was occupied by the females of the Rajah's Court. Near it is the Agni- 

 kunda, where the funeral pyre was kindled. Tradition asserts that 

 the Rajah, when he went forth to oppose the invaders of his territory, 

 took with him a carrier pigeon, whose return to the palace was to be 

 regarded by the prince's family as an intimation of his defeat, and a sig- 

 nal therefore to put themselves to death. He gained the victory, it 

 appears, but unfortunately, whilst he was stooping to drink from the 

 river after the fatigues of the day, the bird escaped from the loose folds 

 of his dress in which it was concealed, and flew to its distination. The 

 Rajah hurried homeward, but arriving too late to avert the consequences 

 of this unhappy accident, he threw himself upon the funeral pile still 

 smoking with the ashes of his family, and thus closed the reign of the 

 last dynasty of Hindoo princes in this part of India. The other objects 

 of antiquity pointed out by the natives are a large tank on the banks of 

 which the Rajah's elephants were picketted ; the remains of a road 

 leading to Sonargong on the opposite side of the river ; several small 

 mounds called Deool-baree, the sites of Hindoo temples: and a few more 

 recent structures as mosques and bridges. One of the mosques is said 

 to have been built by Pir Adam, who obtained possession of the coun- 

 try after the death of the Rajah. The natives state that there was in an- 

 cient times in Vicramapura, a mart called Lakhi bazar, which was un- 

 der the direct control of the Rajahs, and that it was so designated from 

 the circumstance of no merchant being allowed to carry on traffic in it, 

 who was not possessed of property to the amount or value of one lac of 

 rupees. This tradition, however improbable it may appear as regards 

 the origin of the name of the mart, is in other respects, in strict accord- 



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