36 W. Irvine — Reply on Guru Gobind Siqgh and Bandah. [FeE, 
As I am always searching for novelties in Sikh coins and must see 
some thousands every year, I do not think it possible that any coins were 
here struck by Banda. 
The earliest Sikh coins in existence are the rupees of Lahore, 
struck in 1822, Samvat, or 1765 A.D. But you may have some authority 
for your statement which I have not seen. I distrust all native author¬ 
ities on coins, as they write without seeing a rupee or mohar. 
Page 123. I notice also that the position of Banur is given as some 
ten to twelve miles north-east of Sirhind. It is E. by S. of Sirhind, 
about 20 miles. 
I have been all over this part of the Punjab, and at Banur, Sirhind, 
and Sadhaura (not Sadhaura). 
I am, 
Yours sincerely, 
C. J. Rodgers* 
(2) Mr. Irvine’s reply. 
My Dear Rodgers, 12 th December 1894* 
I am very much obliged, indeed, to you for your letter of the 
19th November. Such comments founded on local knowledge are quite 
invaluable. My own endeavour is to secure absolute accuracy, but, as 
I daresay you know by experience, it is almost impossible to attain it. 
I have nd personal knowledge of the Punjab, and have to depend on 
others, on books, and on maps, and I need hardly tell you what hard 
work it is to identify the names of men, or the situation of places. I was 
introduced to one of the faqir family at Lahore, a retired Extra As¬ 
sistant Commissioner, and he wrote once giving me help in Lahore 
topography, but he did not continue as he began, for he never answered 
my second letter, and I have heard that he died not long ago. I wish I 
had thought of yon. I have still a lot of matter into which Lahore 
and the Punjab enter. If lever address you a question or two, I hope 
yOu will not think it too great a trespass on your time. I will just make 
a remark or two on the points you raise. 
First —As TO THE TOPOGRAPHY. The truth is, I left this for revision, 
from end to end of my work until I had finished; intending when I 
printed (alas ! wlien ? ) to use the Imperial Gazetteer, the Indian Atlas, 
Cunningham, and the Provincial Gazetteer, as I thought if I took up 
the Subject separately I should be less likely to overlook anything* 
When I wrote out this extract for the Press, I worked up the geography 
piece-meal, and did not give it a final revision. 
Amritsar .—Distances taken by measurement from a small-scale 
tiiap arc likely to be out* That is how I got 40 miles instead of 32 
