May 1861.] Architectural Remains, 



103 



XIL— Reports on Ancient Architectural Remains in the Madras 



Presidency. 



From Captain E. H. Harington, Acting District Engineer, 

 Ganjam, to the Deputy Chief Engineer, Northern Circle, dated 

 Camp at Chicacole, llth July 1859, No. 82. 

 With reference to Chief Engineer's Circular, No. CX1V. dated 

 27th September 1858, I have the honor to offer the following in- 

 formation regarding a very curious old inscription on 

 n lquihes. ^ mQ fa near the village of Naugam in the Pubbakonda 

 taluq of the Ganjam District, about three miles from the taluq 

 station of Pursatpur, near the Rushkulia river. 



2. The rock stands in a quadrangular space, enclosed by high 

 enbankments, indicating ancient fortifications. This place is called 

 Jonghar or Lac Fort. It is marked by dotted lines in most Maps. 



3. I believe the inscription has been very carefully copied in 

 1850, by direction of the Honorable Mr. W. Elliot. In December 

 1858, four photographs of it were taken by Mr. Minchin, who sent 

 them to Mr. Elliot. Mr. Minchin has kindly showed me Mr. 

 Elliot's letter to him on the subject, in which that gentleman states 

 that, " the inscriptions no doubt contain another version of Asoka's 

 " Buddhist Edicts, which have been translated by Prinsep and 

 ** Professor Wilson, and revised by Mr, Norris, the Secretary to 

 " the Royal Asiatic Society, London ; that the letters are of an 

 " Alphabet, the earliest used in India, and the parent of all those 

 " now in use, however, dissimilar they may now appear ; that it 

 " has been proved that the Nagari, Bengali, Guzirati, Mahratta, 

 " Telugu, Canarese, Tamil, &c. are all derived from this common 

 " source, namely, the Lat. Alphabet, so called from its earliest use 

 " on Rocks and Pillars." He adds that the " letters show the in- 

 " scrip tion to have been carved in the third century before Christ, 

 " or upwards of 2,000 years ago." 



4. Asoka is stated in history to have been the third descendant 

 of the Greek conqueror Sandracottus, who has been identified 

 with the Chandra Gupta of Hindu poetry and legend. 



5 I have received from Captain Philipps, Executive Engineer, 

 two photographs of the inscriptions, given to him by Mr. Minchin, 

 and as they will be interesting, forward them with this letter. 



