1899 .] 
Introduction. 
XIX 
(M. 1, Set. V.) was found, enclosed in the remnants of “an iron box,” 
in a hole situated apparently on the top of a circular platform. 
According to Islam Akhun’s account, he “ saw a circular wall of baked 
bricks three feet high, and at about J5 paces from it, there was another 
wall, in which a hole plastered over with mud was discovered: in 
removing this mud, the manuscript was found, contained in the 
remnant of what once was an iron box.” This description reminds one 
of the similar erections described by Mr. Hogberg as having been seen 
by him in Aq Sapil. To judge from the latter description, which 
is much more circumstantial, it would seem that what Islam Akhun 
saw were two circular platforms about 3 feet high, the upper surfaces 
of which were hollo wed out to hold relics. 
At Kok Gumbaz were further found the manuscripts G. 3, Set III. 
and the objects comprised in M. 2, Set IV. Captain Godfrey, in a 
demi-official letter, No. 5208, dated the 15th September, 1897, and 
addressed to Sir Adelbert Talbot, Resident in Kashmir, gives the follow¬ 
ing account of the discovery of the manuscripts. They were “ enclosed 
in what seem to be the rotten remnauts of a cloth or cotton covering. 
This I have not attempted to open, since the whole should possibly be 
carefully steamed in order to prevent the brittle contents breaking up. 
This work would be best performed by trained hands. One point of 
interest in connection with it is the alleged fact that it was found along 
with another manuscript said to have been purchased by Mr. Macartney 
and transmitted to the Royal Geographical Society in Loudon. They 
were both brought to Kashghar by a treasure-seeker (apparently Islam 
Akhun), from whom the majority of the manuscripts have been pur¬ 
chased by Mr. Macartney and Munshl Ahmad Din. Both—the manus¬ 
cript above alluded to and that now sent—were wrapped in different 
bags, and were stuck fast one upon another to a human skull. The 
site of the discovery was a place called Kok Gumbaz, five days’ march 
from Khotan. ia This place is seemingly an old graveyard. A small 
mound of earth was seen there in the middle of the surrounding sand. 
The treasure-seeker examined this. The dust crumbled away at the 
touch, and two feet underneath the surface he found the manuscripts 
and the skull referred to.” On receipt of the bag, it was opened by 
me, and was found to contain two folded sheets, each inscribed on one 
side. The manuscript, mentioned by Captain Godfrey as having been 
transmitted to the Royal Geographical Society, is now deposited in the 
British Museum, as will be seen from the following extract from a 
12 In other accounts it is said to be five days’ march east of Gama. Both may 
be correct, for it will be seen from the map, that Kok Gumbaz lies roughly midway 
between Guma and Khotan, east of the former and north-west of the latter town. 
