1889.] V. A. Smith— Inscribed Seal of Kumara Gupta II. 85 



The seal (see Plate VI) is oval in shape, slightly pointed at each 

 end, and is 5| inches long by 4| wide. The edge varies slightly in thick- 

 ness, but is generally about f ths of an inch thick. The surface is pro- 

 tected by the rim being raised above the face of the plate about J^th of 

 an inch. The metal is whitish grey, and is thought by Mr. Nicholls to 

 be base silver. The back of the plate is fitted with two solid buttons, 

 each more than half au inch in diameter, by which it could be at- 

 tached to another object. It probably was attached to an inscription 

 engraved on metal. 



The upper section of the face of the seal, being slightly less than 

 one half of the surface, is occupied by a quaint figure of the mythical 

 monster Garuda, executed in tolerably high relief. He is represented 

 standing on a base composed of two parallel lines, facing front, with 

 outspread wings. His face is that of a man, broad and full, with thick 

 lips. His hair is arranged exactly like the wig of an English Judge. 

 A snake is twined round his neck, its head projecting above his left 

 shoulder. 



A circle, intended doubtless for the discus of Vishnu, who rides on 

 Garuda, is faintly indicated in the field to the proper right of the figure, 

 and a corresponding dim mark on the proper left is probably intended 

 for the conch shell of the god. 



A space an inch in length is left blank at the bottom of the plate. 

 The interval between this space and the parallel lines on which Garuda 

 stands is occupied with eight lines of prose inscription. The alphabet 

 is that used by the Gupta kings both for coin legends and inscriptions 

 on stone in Northern India. The letters, though minute, are well and 

 clearly cut in moderately high relief, the vowel marks being fully ex- 

 pressed. Most of the inscription is easily legible, but it is damaged in 

 places, especially in the middle of the second and third linos. 



The seal was presented to Mr. Nicholls (who accepted it on behalf 

 of Government) by a member of a very old and respectable Muhammadan 

 family residing at Bhitari near Sayyidpur in the Ghazipur District, 

 N. W. P. It was found at some date previous to 1886, when the founda- 

 tions for a new building were being dug. It is certainly genuine. 



The fact that the tablet is a seal is readily proved by comparison of 

 it with similar objects. 



The only other known seal of the Early or Imperial Gupta Dynasty 

 is that which is fused on to the spurious copper plate grant from Gaya, 

 purporting to have been made by Samudragupta. That seal is of copper, 

 and is described as follows by Mr. Fleet:—" On to the proper right Mo 

 of the plato, there is fused a seal, oval in shape, about 2|" by 3f". It 

 has, in relief on a countersunk surface— at the top, Garuda, represented 



