1870.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 293 



compelled to suspend work till the ensuing cold weather or until 

 the receipt of further orders. 



" The Monolith, as now exposed, measures from top to "base 34 

 feet having a circumference of 7' 10" feet at top, and ten feet at 

 bottom, which taken together with the two pieces lying in its vici- 

 nity gives a total length of 40' 9", and this in my opinion does not 

 fully represent the full height of the original column, as the top 

 portion exhibits a broken suface without a trace of the capital or 

 any means of connecting it with the Monolith, had it ever existed 

 even in a separate piece. 



" Colonel Cunningham in his report is of opinion that the column 

 retains its original position although overturned ; the result of 

 the excavations prove the contrary, as the lower portion of it was 

 found imbedded in pure clay without a particle of brick or stone 

 intermixed. I naturally expected to find some traces of a base- 

 ment of some description, but all vestiges of brick and stone dis- 

 appeared at the depth of 16 feet from the surface, the base of the 

 Monolith resting in dark stiff clay ; it is therefore my opinion .that 

 it has never been erected on the site it now occupies, and its origi- 

 nal position will more likely be found amongst some one of the 

 many very remarkable mounds surrounding it. On some of these 

 the foundations of immense palatial buildings can be distinctly 

 traced, and I would beg to suggest for the consideration of Gov- 

 ernment whether it might not be in the interest of Archeological 

 science to have the more remarkable of them thoroughly examined 

 during the next cold season. 



u During the excavations no object of interest beyond the remark- 

 ably large bricks described by Col. Cunningham was discovered. 



u In conclusion I may add that the cost of removing the Monolith 

 into Allahabad will most probably fall very little short of Rs. 

 10,000. There being no road of any description between " Kosim" 

 and lt Serai Akil" (9 miles), a smooth track will have to be made over 

 this portion, and from the latter place to Allahabad, several nullahs 

 will have to be temporarily filled in, and the immense size of the 

 column will require special contrivances for moving a weight of 1 5 

 tons (about) across country." 



(Signed) H. K, Nesbitt, Civil Engineer. 



