Epigraphia Indica Vol 02

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

Page 15

PREFACE.
"At a depth of 17 feet, was another black stone, on the north side of the well, and, like the first, sunk a foot into the wall. It is roughly triangular in form, with rounded corners, and measures about 2 feet across, by 10 inches thick. On the top is a circle, 7 inches in diameter, raised half an inch. The under-side is smooth with a circular hollow 12 inches in diameter and half an inch deep. The circle is filled in with an inscription in 18 lines (No. iji, p. 327), while around it, are two others in two lines (Nos. iv and v, p. 328). All had the letters filled in with white. Below it was a stone, roughly rectangular, with rounded corners. In it is a circular cavity 61 inches deep, 7 inches in diameter at the top and 4 at the bottom. Round the top is a raised rim 14 inches broad; and on the upper surface, round the hole, are inscriptions in two lines (Nos. vi and vii, p 328). The characters are the same as those of the inscription first described. The letters were filled with chunam, evidently that they might show distinctly in the black stone. The cavity was nearly filled with earth and had no inner stone casket. In it was a crystal phial 18 inches in diameter by 24 inches high. Its lid is moulded like a dágaba. The top and bottom were lying separate and filled with earth. There was no sign of a relic inside. Mixed with the earth in the stone cavity were,-164 lotus leaves and buds, 2 circular flowers, a triśúla, and a three-armed figure like a svastika,--all in gold leaf; 2 gold stems for the lotus flowers-one of them attached ; 6 gold beads; and 1 small coiled gold ring. The lotus leaves (or petals) are of different sizes, having been fitted inside each other as in the flower itself. The beads represent the opening buds. These articles weigh collectively close on 1% tolas (315 grs.). Also, two pearls ; 1 garnet ; six coral beads and one bit of the same material; 1 slightly blue, flat, oval, crystal bead ; one pointed, oval, white crystal bead; and two green tinged, flat, hexagonal beryl drops : one is is and the other inch in length; a number of bits of corroded copper leaf, including lotus flowers, stems, a miniature umbrella, and one or more thin sheets of silver folded flat into about eight thicknesses. The metal of the latter is much corroded and extremely brittle: it will be impossible to unfold the sheets. One side is broken but the fragments remain. The largest piece measures 2 inches by 14 inches, and shows some letters or symbols pricked on with a metal point.
“At a depth of 18 feet another black stone lay sunk a foot into the wall on the east side of the shaft. It is an irregular circular stone measuring about 2 feet 3 inches across, by 10 inches thick. On its under surface is a circular space sunk half an inch with an inscription in eight lines (No. viii, p. 328). The letters were whitened. This stone lay on the top of another, roughly square in shape, and measuring 2 feet 5 inches by 2 feet 3 inches by 11 inches thick. On the upper side is a circular cavity 5 inches deep