b(j Remarks on the Sequel to the [Jan. 



Asparata (the Aspacara of Ptolemy) appears to be the ancient city 

 of Pora in the district of Chardwar. Capt. Westmacott considers Pora 

 as identical with Pratappur — a splendid city which is described in the 

 ancient manuscript records of the kings of Assam, as having stood on 

 the north bank of the Brahmaputra, a little below Bishnath. The 

 ancient temples and ruins of Pora are described by him in the Journal 

 of this Society, Vol. IV. p. 185. He remarks : " From their massive 

 proportions and the carvings and ornaments being so much worn by 

 time and exposure, the fanes are evidently the work of a remote era : I 

 sought in vain for an inscription, and neither the priests of the district 

 nor the ancient families whom I consulted could assist my researches, 

 or point with an approximation to accuracy to the date of their origin." 

 He mentions the ruins of six or seven enormous structures of granite 

 broken into thousands of fragments. " Altars of gigantic proportions 

 were the most remarkable objects," one of which he describes as making 

 a square of forty-six feet and eighteen inches thick. He states : " it 

 is certain from the prodigious number of ruinous and deserted temples, 

 all of which appear to have been dedicated to Siva, being within the 

 circuit of a few miles of Pora (I discovered twelve or fifteen in as many 

 days on the hills and high lands at their feet) that this spot must have 

 been the capital of a sovereign Prince, or a principal seat of the Hindu 

 religion and enjoyed a large share of prosperity at some remote period." 



Besides the four cities mentioned by Ammianus Marcellinus there are 

 eleven others which are enumerated by Ptolemy as belonging to Serica, 

 viz. Damna, Piada, Tharrhana, (Pal. Throana) Drosache, Paliana, Abra- 

 gana, Thogara, Daxata, Orosana, Ottorocorrha, and Solana. There are 

 various places in Assam and in the neighbouring hilly tracts to which 

 the sites of these places might be referred. Ottorocorrha stood in the 

 vicinity of the hills of the same name, and was apparently one of the 

 two forts which are described by Lieut. Rowlatt. Mr. McCosh mentions 

 that there are many extensive forts scattered over the country, and par- 

 ticularises Buddea-ghur, Rajah-ghur, and Gohatti as the most remark- 

 able. Speaking of the latter place, he observes : " A small portion of its 

 former extent and grandeur now remains : its mortar and earthenware 

 constitute a large portion of the soil : its numerous spacious tanks, the 

 works of ten thousands, the pride of its princes, and the wonder of the 

 present day, are now choked up with weeds and jungle or altogether 



