1853.1 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 205 



" I am working at the Kotuch Kings, but find the Bansavalis so 

 manifestly fictitious, or at least so incorrect, that it will take me much 

 time and trouble to reconcile discrepancies ; meanwhile, I have from 

 coins the following names, Rupchand, Prithichand, Harichand, Srin- 

 garchand, Trilokchand, Avatarchand, and at least two others not yet 

 quite decyphered. 



" I am not quite certain yet as to their actual period, but they 

 range from 1100 to 1400 or 1450, A. D. I think ; — probably from 

 1200 or 1250 to 1400. 



" From Dhurmchand, who was contemporary with Akbar, the 

 native histories are pretty accurate and detailed, but they admit 

 every thing earlier to be uncertain. Even the present representa- 

 tive of the Kotuch race told me, I probably knew more than he 

 did, but pointed out one old purohit who, he thought, might know 

 something if he could be persuaded to shew his documents. 



" The history of the Pathania Rajpoot, the family of the Noorpoor 

 Rajahs, is also curious, and I will endeavour a sketch of it with that 

 of the Kotuches. They claim descent from the old Tuars of Delhi, 

 and are said to have got their present appellation because three of 

 their kings in succession were employed by the Mogul emperors in 

 subduing the " Pathans" of Affghanistan. Of one of these I have 

 contemporary Hindu history. By the way, his death is said to have 

 given rise to the name of the ' Hindu kosh.' I don't know if the story 

 has been published before ; if not, it may be worth the Society's 

 notice. 



" It is said this Rajah was ordered to march in winter by some 

 very dangerous pass in the range to effect a surprise of some enemy 

 on the other side. 



" On entering the pass with his army (of his own Rajpoot clans) he 

 was told that there is such danger of avalanches, that it was abso- 

 lutely necessary to enjoin strict silence throughout his ranks. 



" He is said to have replied to the effect that he was a Rajpoot 

 and himself a deota, and would shew fear of neither man nor spirit, and 

 so far from enjoining silence on his men, directed that they should 

 march with every trumpet sounding and every drum beating. 



" They proceeded accordingly, and as the sun rose the avalanches 

 descended, and overwhelmed the Rajah and five thousand of his devot- 

 ed host. 



