1847.] Translation of Inscription on a Gun at Moorshedabad. 591 



To the naturalist and the general observer the " Julian Koosha" is 

 curious from the position in which it is lying. It is grasped by two 

 trunks of a peepal tree, and supported by them about eighteen inches 

 from the ground. . Native tradition states that it was brought to the 

 spot on a carriage, and was left there as the wheels sunk into the mud 

 and could not be extricated. The tree must have sprung up under it, 

 and the trunks as they grew, grasped the gun and continued to support 

 it after the carriage had rotted away and fallen from under it. The 

 back trunnion, on the opposite side from that whence the sketch is 

 taken, is imbedded in the trunk and cannot be seen, but two stancheons 

 and a ring are visible, which evidently belonged to the carriage. The 

 front trunnion, with the iron work attached, was until lately also im- 

 bedded in the tree : but within the last six months a part of the 

 trunk has been torn away by a storm, by which it has become exposed 

 to view. The iron work on which the trunnion rested corresponds 

 with the dimensions which may be supposed to be necessary to support 

 so large a body on its carriage : and its bulk had no doubt so weakened 

 the outer portion of the trunk as to make it yield easily to any force 

 applied to it. 



There is another peculiarity which it may be proper to notice as 

 exhibiting a second phenomenon in the growth of the tree. There are 

 two trunks that support the gun, but I am inclined to think they are 

 branches of one tree. The trunk, obstructed in its growth, and pressed 

 down by the weight of the gun, had first spread out under it ; then forc- 

 ing itself up one side and still hugging the gun, it met with a new obsta- 

 cle in the trunnion, stancheons and the heavy iron work attached to 

 them, and unable to press them aside yielded to the obstruction and 

 parted and shot up in two large branches. 



I cannot conclude this without acknowledging my obligation to 

 Ensign Forster, of the 39th N. I. for the copy of the sketch I 

 forward. 



Inscription. 



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