1847.] Queries on the Archaeology of India. 285 



I was informed by the zemindars at the mines of a curious circum- 

 stance connected with this ore, which is, that the ore never looses its qua- 

 lities of yielding the sulphate, though washed and rewashed year after 

 year, during the process of extracting the salt ; like the Soda lands in 

 Behar, it appears to have the power of re-producing what, to all ap- 

 pearance, had been expended.* 



Potstone. — Large quantities of this useful stone are found associated 

 with the alum ore ; also in spots where the alum does not exist. At 

 the village of Pitteean, on the northern face of the hills, a very fine 

 potstone of a dark blue colour is quarried and exported to Benares for the 

 manufacture of Linggas, images, pestles, mortals, bowls, &c. It underlies 

 the sandstone, and extends for about two hundred yards along the base 

 of the hills. In the valley of Doorgawtee I picked up a considerable 

 quantity of dark black stones used by goldsmiths as touch-stones 

 in testing gold. 



Queries on the Archaeology of India. — By the Rev. James Long. 



In my occasional researches into the Archaeology of this country, 

 the following subjects have frequently presented themselves as requir- 

 ing elucidation — perhaps through the medium of this Journal light 

 may be thrown on them by correspondents in various parts of the 

 country — some of them may afford a very useful theme for Essays. 



1 . What are the grounds for believing that the aborigines who now 

 occupy the Hills of Birbhum, Rajmahal, Shergatty, &c. ever lived in 

 the plains of Bengal ? 



2. Any historical documents giving a description of the cities, popu- 

 lation, &c. formerly in the S underbuilds. 



3. When was the temple of Kali Ghat built ? What circumstances 

 led to its being established in that particular locality ? 



4. What accounts are there of the condition of Dacca in the time of 

 the Romans ? 



* This admits of easy explanation. The one is a sulphuret of iron, which by ex 

 posure to air and moisture, gradually absorbs oxygen and is partially converted 

 into the sulphate. On washing out the latter, the remaining insoluble sulphuret, 

 exposed to the same influence, will continue to yield repeated supplies of the sul- 

 phate till the whole be exhausted. — Eds. 



2 Q 



