86 Description of Ancient Buddhist Remains. [No. 2, 



entire absence of any bond fide Hindu remains in the present city of 

 Benares, dating from even the Buddhist period, not to speak of the 

 pre-Buddhist epoch, when we know from historical records that 

 Benares was in existence, the ancient city of the pre-Buddhist and 

 early Buddhist eras must have occupied this site. Beyond the north- 

 ern extremity of the remains of the ancient city is a series of mounds 

 also covered with debris, tending in a north-westerly direction, where 

 formerly forts or towns existed. I think it not unlikely that in a far 

 distant age the connexion of the ancient city of Benares with Sarnath 

 was along the course of these mounds. Sarnath is spoken of in the 

 Ceylon records as though it may have been a city of itself ; and there 

 is no doubt that it is referred to in ancient documents as a part of 

 Benares. Now, modern Benares is at least one-thud of a mile to the 

 south of the Burna, whereas Sarnath is out in the country about three 

 miles to the north of that stream. If we suppose, however, that 

 Benares, in its most ancient period, was mainly on the north side of 

 the Burna likewise, and if such supposition is corroborated by exten- 

 sive remains of ancient buildings in the shape of brick and stone 

 debris stretching over several miles of country, as already shown, and 

 terminating in mounds lying in the direction of Sarnath, the proof 

 approaches to demonstration that in that early epoch a union, more or 

 less intimate, existed between Sarnath and Benares, as stated by histo- 

 rical records. I had no opportunity to examine thoroughly the coun- 

 try lying between these remains and Sarnath, but I feel satisfied that 

 at some point in these remains a line of debris would be found con- 

 necting the two spots, with only a few breaks in its course, the debris 

 indicating the former existence of solid buildings and being the 

 broken remains of the same. This point must not be searched for at 

 the southern extremity of the ancient city, but at the northern extre- 

 mity ; and perhaps the line of junction may be the line of the mounds 

 just now referred to ; but of this I am not able to speak positively. 



If these observations respecting the site of the early city be correct, 

 it would follow that the derivation of the word Benares, as the city 

 lying between the Burna and the Assi, is utterly absurd, as applied to 

 the most ancient city. That it is a correct derivation of the word, as 

 denoting the city of modern times even as far back as the Gupta 

 dynasty, and perhaps somewhat further, I have not the smallest 



