92 J. Wise —Notes on Sunargaon, Eastern Bengal, [No. 1, 
term applied to a building with an elongated dome roof formed of concrete, 
and with the walls pierced with numerous openings. It was formerly used 
for religious purposes. 
VIII.—In the division called Goaldih, which consists of dense and 
impenetrable jungle traversed by a few foot-paths, are two mosques. The 
first is called ’Abdul Hamid’s Masjid. It is in good preservation, being a 
comparatively modern structure. Its “ kitabah” bears the date A. H. 
1116, (A. D. 1705). 
About a hundred yards to the south is the oldest mosque in Sunargaon. 
The residents call it the purdnd, or old, Goaldih mosque. Its kitabah had 
fallen out, but had been carefully preserved in the interior. On this stone 
is inscribed the name of ’Ala-uddin Husain Shah, A. H. 925 (A. H. 1519).* 
This curious old mosque is fast going to ruin ; pipal trees are growing 
luxuriantly on the dome, which is cracked, and will soon fall in, and creepers 
are clinging to the outside walls and aiding in the destruction. 
It is built of red brick. Its exterior was formerly ornamented by 
finely carved bricks in imitation of flowers, but neglect and the lapse of 
centuries has left few uninjured. The interior is 16£ feet square. The 
square walls, as they ascend, become transformed into an octagon. At each 
corner are quarter domes or arches, and from the intermediate space or 
“ pendentive” the dome rises. As usual there are three “ mihrabs.” The 
centre one is formed of dark basaltic stones, beautifully carved and orna¬ 
mented with arabesque work. The two side ones are of brick, boldly cut 
and gracefully arranged. The bricks in the archways have been ground 
smooth by manual labour, and have not been moulded. The pillars at the 
doorways are sandstone, evidently the plunder of some Hindu shrine. 
Until twenty years ago this mosque was used for worship. The khadim, 
or servant, having died, no care was taken of the building, and the dome 
threatened to fall in, so that worshippers migrated to the modern mosque. 
As they do at all the old buildings in Sunargaon, Hindus salaam as 
they pass this Masjid. 
IX. —Beneath a “ gular,” or wild fig tree, near Sa’dipur is a mound with 
a large stone inscribed in Tughra characters. Where it came from, or to 
what it belonged, no one knew. In the inscription the name of Sultan 
Naqiruddin Nu^at Shah, A. H. 929 (A. D. 1523), is written.f 
This stone was carefully removed and deposited in a place of safety at 
Sa’dipur. 
X. —The only other memorial of former days worth mentioning is the 
large Kha$nagar tank, south of Painam. It covers 9f acres. The age 
of this reservoir is unknown. A few bricks on the west side are evidently 
* Vide J. A. S. B., 1873, Part I, p. 295. 
f Vide J. A. S. B., 1872, p. 338. 
