22 



Asutosh Gupta — Ruins and Antiquities of Bdmpc'd. [No. 1, 



Chaitra, when it is worshipped by pilgrims from various parts of the 

 subdivision. 



The following legend explains the origin of the Gajariya tree's im- 

 mortality. It was at first in a decayed state and was used for tying 

 Ballal Sen's elephants. One morning some hermits (Riskis) presented 

 themselves before Ballal Sen's gate to confer a boou on the king as a 

 reward for his piety. They sent their message to the king by his door- 

 keeper. The man went in and returning said that the king was smoking 

 and was unable to come out that instant. After awhile he was again 

 sent in. This time he returned with the news that the king was 

 besmearing his body with oil. The door-keeper was sent in again and 

 again, but he always returned with some excuse or other for the king's 

 inability to come out and receive them. Once the man found the king 

 bathing, and again taking his noontide meal, and the third time taking 

 his siesta. He never communicated the message to the king, but only 

 went in to observe whether he had leisure to come out. Disgusted with 

 the king, the hermits left the palace, but at the time of departure they 

 blessed tho Gajariya tree aud conferred on it the boou of immortality 

 which was originally intended for the king. Instantly the tree showed 

 signs of vitality. Leaves and blossoms sprouted forth in every direction, 

 and the people were struck with awe. The king came out shortly 

 afterwards and, being apprised of the news, immediately sent for tho 

 hermits. But it was too late. The hermits had vanished. 



There is a comparatively small tank in the south-west part of 

 Rampal, which deserves a passing notice. It ia called Raja Haris 

 Chandra's DigM. It is overgrown with trees and shrubs which are 

 flooded over with water for a week once a year at tho time of the full 

 moon in the month of Magh. Before and after this period the tank is 

 dry. I have as yet received no satisfactory explanation of the pheno- 

 menon. The tank is said to have been excavated by Raja Haris Chandra, 

 probably one of the kings of the Pal dynasty. 



There is a mosque called Qazi's Masjid not far from Ba- Adam's. 

 It is an ordinary plain-looking prayer mosque, which was certainly 

 erected after that of Ba-Adam! It boasts of no inscription, but has 

 several stone idols of Hindu gods and goddesses in its verandah, which 

 the proprietors have evidently preserved as trophies of Islam. The 

 present Qdzi of the mosqne showed me a firman of the Emperor 'Al&tngfp, 

 granting lands for the benefit of the institution; but I cannot vouch For 

 its genuineness. 



There arc two roads the construction of which is attributed to 

 Ballal .Sen. The one connects the river Dhaleswari on tho north with 

 the l'adma on the south, and the other goes in a different direction from 



