1856.] Exploration of the ruins of Sarnath. 395 



Correspondence relating to the Exploration of the ruins of Sarnath. 

 — Communicated by the Government of the N. W. P. 



To E. C. Oldeield, Esquire, 

 Assistant Secretary to Government N. W. P. Agra. 



Benares, the 28th June, 1856. 

 Sir, — In reply to your letter No. 3227, dated 19th instant, calling 

 for report on the further exploration of the ruins of Sarnath, I have 

 the honor to submit a letter No. 1, of 25th idem, and its annexures 

 from Dr. Butter, superintending Surgeon of the Division, on the 

 subject. 



I have called upon the Executive Officer, Captain Eigby, to 

 report what is possible to be done to preserve the tope, and the 

 approximate expense. A large portion of the carved stone facing* 

 is quite detached from the brickwork body of the building, and is 

 so much bulged out, that it must come down, 



I have, &c. 

 (Signed) H, Tucker, Commissioner. 

 (No. 1). 

 To H. C. Tuckeb, Esquire, Commissioner, 5th Division. 



Benares, 25th June, 1856. 

 Sir, — "With reference to your docket, No. 61, dated yesterday, 

 on a copy of letter No. 3227, dated the 9th instant, from the 

 Assistant Secretary to Government, to your address, inquiring what 

 had been done since the issue of the orders of 12th December last, 

 No. 255 A., relative to the further exploration of the ruins of 

 Sarnath, I have the honor to submit the following report. 



I believe that Professor Hall reported generally regarding the 

 nature of the constructions laid open by the prisoners working 

 under his orders. The buildings appeared to me to possess very 

 little interest, being characterized, in some parts, only by a singular 

 disregard of the use of the plummet, square and level. These walls 

 are built neither perpendicularly nor horizontally straight, nor at 

 accurate right angles. 



One of the structures laid open had been more carefully raised ; 

 a series of rectangular cells, without any lateral ^opening, possibly 



