126 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society . [April, 



The President felt sure that the Society would give hearty en- 

 couragement to Mr. Blochmann in his efforts of collecting the 

 scattered traditions of the country. The stores must be rich, for no 

 other form of history obtained among the people, and that the 

 necessary faculty exists in full development is shown by the ex- 

 traordinary performances of those pandits whose business it is to 

 recite the sacred books. 



Babu E-ajendralala Mitra, after a few remarks on the 

 paucity of historical records among the Hindus, said that when the 

 Society undertook the compilation of the Muhammadan historical 

 series in the Bibliotheca Indica, it was expected that a flood of new 

 light would be thrown on the mediaeval history of India. 



The works selected, were mostly the writings of eye-witnesses, 

 of men who either took part in the occurrences they described, or 

 were so favorably situated as to be familiar with, or able to collect 

 the most authentic records of their times. Their works too were full 

 of the minutest details and held in the highest estimation by the peo- 

 ple of this country. Owing, however, to shortcomings on the part of 

 the editors, and some other causes, those materials had not been 

 sufficiently utilized. He was glad, therefore, to notice that Mr. 

 Blochmann had taken up the task, and the interesting paper 

 that had been read to the meeting, shewed what valuable use may be 

 made of them. There were many nooks and corners in Bengal — 

 many monuments of old — the history of which was completely 

 enveloped in darkness, and which can be only brought to light by a 

 diligent study of the records. The tower of Panduah had attracted 

 the notice of every traveller by the East Indian Eailway, but none 

 could get any information about it from the people of the country. 

 ■I v. Blochmann' s paper will now unveil the mystery that hung 

 over it. The Babu, in conclusion, expressed a hope that Mr. B. 

 would do for other districts of Bengal what he had so ably done 

 for Hooghly and Burdwan. 



The Rev. J.Long observed that he had obtained from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Panduah two Budhist coins which are about thirteen 

 hundred years old, and indicate that Budhism must have been at 

 that time flourishing in those districts. 





