2\)4 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society [Nov, 



In reply to a letter from tlie Secretary of the Society, regarding 

 inscriptions on the Monolith, Mr. Nesbitt writes as follows : — 



"In reply to yonr letter No. 533 of the 12th instant, I have 

 much pleasure in informing yon that there are many inscriptions 

 on the " Kosim Monolith," and they are almost in as many vari- 

 ous characters as there are inscriptions, the most remarkable and 

 apparently the most ancient of them being of a peculiar shell- 

 shaped pattern. 



11 I shall endeavour to procure the tl rubbings" you require as 

 soon as possible, but at present I am myself unable to get out to 

 Kosim (30 miles), owing to press of work in the station. 



" The Government having taken a favourable view of my sugges- 

 tion to explore some of the most remarkable mounds alluded to in 

 my report, I entertain hopes of making some interesting dis- 

 coveries during the ensuing cold season. I may add that whilst 

 excavating a tank a few miles from Kosim, two white marble 

 figures in good preservation were discovered. One is called by the 

 natives whom I consulted " Mahabeer," and the other " Nundhea." 

 They are now both deposited in the Allahabad Museum." 



The President then exhibited two inscriptions received from 

 Babu Eashbihari Bose, Banka. 



The first inscription is taken from Col. Franklin's ' Inquiry con- 

 cerning the site of Ancient Palibothra, Part II.' The second is a 

 Bengali Inscription taken from a Hindu Temple on the Mondar 

 Hill. 



Babu Bajendralala Mitra said, that not having Franklin's work 

 at hand, he could not say whence the first inscription had been 

 taken ; but judging from its character and subject, he was satisfied 

 that it was a Buddhist record, and commemorated the dedication of 

 a statue or a chatya. The eharacter was intermediate between the 

 Gupta and the Kutila, and had been inscribed probably in the 

 sixth century of the Christian era. The fifth letter of the third line 

 was doubtful, so were the last two letters of the last line. He read 

 the record as follows : — 



