'1(\ Remarks on the Sequel to the [Jan. 



which he has two sorts ; four of the one sort making a crown, and 

 twelve of the other." The modern gold coin of Tipperah has on one 

 side the Singha or lion resembling at the same time the Chinese dragon. 

 The era employed is that of Salivahana, which dates 78 years later than 

 the Christian. (See Marsden's Numismata Orientalia.) Kaltis, how- 

 ever, appears to have been the coin of the lower part of Bengal in which 

 Gange regia was situated. The name of Sonargong, or Suvernagrama, 

 (the town of gold) seems to imply, that it was a place of great wealth, 

 or what is not improbable, the appellation may have been given to it, 

 from the large quantity of gold that was brought to it in the course of 

 trade. Formerly, a considerable quantity of gold was imported into the 

 eastern part of Bengal from Arracan and Pegu. Speaking of the vessel 

 in which lie sailed from the latter country to Chatigan, Ceesar Frederick 

 remarks : " save victuals and ballast they had silver and gold and no 

 other merchandize."* Gold is still brought annually from Pegu to 

 Naraingunge ; and no doubt it was one of the chief imports into Sonar- 

 gong in ancient times. Sonargong was the seat of a mint in the time 

 of the Mahomedan Kings of Bengal, as appears from coins of the 

 Sultan Shums-ooddin having the word Sonargaun marked upon them, 

 and bearing the dates 754 and 760 of the Mahomedan era.f 



Khruse, which is mentioned as situated at the mouth of the Ganges, is 

 regarded by Dr. Robertson as an imaginary island. From its being de- 

 scribed as lying directly " under the rising sun and at the extremity of 

 the world towards the east," Dr. Vincent identifies it with Sumatra, 

 which is situated on the Equator, and is celebrated for its gold and tor- 

 toise shell. Khruse, it will be observed, is twice mentioned by Arrian ; 

 .first as a continent, and secondly as an island, and in both instances, as 

 a place in the immediate vicinity of the Ganges (««t dvrbv 54 rbv irora^hv) : 

 from which, it would seem that Arracan or some island off that coast, 

 is the locality that is here referred to. Perhaps the expression " direct- 

 ly under the rising sun," applies merely to the situation of Khruse 



* Hakluyt's Voyages, Vol. II. p. 370. 



f Speaking of these coins Marsden states, " on four specimens belonging to the 

 "Societe Asiatique, M. Reinaud finds the place of coinage Sonargaun (aurificiutn urbs) 

 an ancient city on the Brahmaputra, and the dates 754 and 7G0 (Numis. Oriental. 

 Illustr.) 



