Epigraphia Indica Vol 02

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 12

PREFACE.
AS remarked in the Preface to the former volume, this is properly to be A regarded as one of the series of the Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, and practically may stand as the fifth volume of that publication : indeed, but that I had hoped the series of the Corpus would be resumed at an early date, these two "supplementary " volumes would also have borne the title chosen by the late General Sir A. Cunningham.
This volume completes what I had undertaken and closes my work in connexion with Indian Epigraphy. Among other papers, it contains a new and corrected edition of the Harsha inscription, first published by the Rev. Dr. Mill nearly sixty years ago, now edited by Professor Kielhorn from excellent impressions obtained for me by Colonel S. S. Jacob, C.I.E. The Badal pillar inscription first published by Sir Charles Wilkins in 1788 has also been anew translated by the same scholar, from Mr. H. B. W. Garrick's fresh impressions. The Pillar and Rock Edicts of Asoka have been finally revised by Professor Bühler, who has also continued the very important series of short epigraphs discovered by Dr. Führer at Mathura, along with the extensive collection of votive inscriptions made by the same scholar at Sânchi.
The very early Bauddha inscriptions discovered by Alex, Rea, Esq., of the Madras Archæological Survey, in the brick remains of a Stûpa at Bhattiprolu in the Kộishņâ district, have also been edited by the same abie scholar. This important discovery was reported to the Madras Government by Mr. Rea on 22nd February, 1892, and his letter was printed in G. O. of 22nd April 1892, No. 270. It will be interesting in connexion with the epigraphs to give some details of the discovery here. Mr. R. Sewell (Lists of Antiquarian Remains in Madras Presidency, p. 77) states that this Stapa “was greatly demolished a few years ago " (i.e. before 1882) for the "purpose of making a road; and some of the marble sculptures were utilized in building a sluice on the Krishņà canal close by, where the road to Vellatūru crosses the canal. I have it direct from the officer chiefly concerned in the demolition that the mound was between 30 and 40 feet high, of a circular shape like a dome, but ruined at the top; that there was a marble pillar standing erect, and sculpture here and there in marble ... He found inside the dome a casket made of six small slabs of stone dove-tailed into one another measuring about 2 feet by 14 feet by 1 foot. Inside this was a common clay chatti, and inside the chátti a neat casket made of soap-stone,' which contained a crystal phial. In the phial was a pearl, a few bits of gold-leaf and some ashes. Wishing to remove his discoveries, the stone casket was accidentally broken and the remains were left at Bhattiprolu. The chátti was also broken. The