10 C. J. Rodgers — Tlie Coins of the Mahdrdjalis of Kdngra. [No. 1, 



on the old Indian Atlas, Sheet No. 78, is " Yerlabundah" (? Irala-rock). 

 The Irala are the wild folk who roam the jungle in search of forest pro- 

 duets and a free silvan life. During the rainy season some of them are said 

 to dwell in these tombs, many of which would afford them perfect dwelling- 

 houses, and the marks and relics of their recent occupation are to be seen 

 frequently and unmistakeably. 



I know of but three or four other places where these peculiar rounded 

 slabs are to be seen, but they will probably be found to be more common 

 when looked for. 



The Coins of the Mahdrdjahs of Kdngra. — By C. J. EouGERS. 

 (With a plate.) 



Kangra is the name of a fort and town situated at the junction of two 

 mountain streams which form a tributary of the Bias on its right bank ere 

 it leaves the hills. The coins in the accompanying Plate II go by the name 

 of Kangra coins now-a-days. Bnt the rajahs whose coins they are were known 

 in history by the name of the Rajahs of Trigartta, the country of the three 

 rivers, the Ravi, Bias and Sutlej. The family of these Rajahs claims its de- 

 scent from Susarma Chandra, governor of Multan at the time of the Mahabha- 

 rata. After the war was over they went to the hills for refuge and erected 

 the fort of Kangra for their protection. The district under the Rajahs of 

 Kangra seems to have been like all districts governed by such Rajahs in old 

 ■unsettled times. Kangra was their moimtain stronghold. TTie neigh- 

 bouring district of Jalandhar was subject to them, and must have furnished 

 a considerable portion of their revenue. So the Rajahs of Kangra would be 

 known at that time as Rajahs of Jalandhar. Being of the lunar race they 

 kept the title Chandra after their names. 



The Indo-Scythians conquered the fort of Kangra. When Mahmiid 

 conquered it " the genealogical roll of the Indo-Scythian princes of Kabul 

 for sixty generations was found in the fortress of Nagarkot by Mahmud's 

 soldiers"* (Kangra is known in the history of India by the name of 

 JSfagarhot). From this fact, and from the immense amount of wealth 

 taken from Kangra by Mahmiid, General Cunningham infers that " Kang- 

 ra must have belonged to the Rajahs of Kabul for several generations, and 



« General Cunningham's Arclifeological Report, Vol. V, for 1872-3, p. 155. The 

 General quotes Abu Rihan's statement as contained in Al Biruni. I may here state 

 that I am indebted to this report for nearly all my facts concerning the Maharajahs of 

 Kangra and to General Cunningham for much valuable aid generously given when I 

 began to collect the coins drawn in the plate. 



