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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
a letter suggesting that enquiries be made as to the description and extent of the remains mentioned in the list, and that "lists be collected of all remains, rock temples, ancient shrines, monasteries, wells, forts, &c. &c., with such accounts of each, however fragmentary, as informants may be able to supply." A copy of Mr. Burgess' letter with the Memorandum and lists referred to, and extracts from despatches from the Secretary of State bearing on the subject have been forwarded to the Resident at Haidarabad, with a request that he will move the Nizam's Darbâr to collect and communicate such information as it may be able to obtain regarding the archæological remains in His Highness the Nizam's territory. Intimation has been received that this information has been called for from the local authorities by the Nizam's minister."
A grant of Rs. 3,000 from one per cent Incometax balances was made during the year under report for the conservation and restoration of the Muhammadan buildings at Almadabad. and the
Bengal Asiatic Society.
Ar the meeting of the Society on 5th June, Capt. W. L. Sanuells, Assistant Commissioner, Mânbhum, read a paper on the legend of Bâghesar, current among certain clans of Gonds, descended from a family of five brothers named Kúsrú, Súrí, Markám, Netia, and Sársún, that once upon a time a tiger cub was born to Kúsrú. As it grew up, the young tiger made itself very useful in keeping predatory animals from its father's crops, and in consequence the greatest affection existed between them. To Kúsrú's intense grief the cub died, but shortly afterwards his wife gave birth to a daughter who in due time became marriageable. The marriage ceremonies had been completed, and the party were about to enjoy themselves with feasting and dancing, when suddenly a frightful sound is heard proceeding from one of the company who had be come possessed with a demon. On interrogation by an exorcist the demon is recognised by Kúsrú to be the spirit of his lost tiger-son. The demoniac is appeased with the sacrifice of a live kid which he tears in pieces after the manner of a tiger, and after being presented with three cupfuls of liquor and some mouthfuls of fine ghí, disappears. The appearance is considered a most happy omen, and Kúsrú's tiger-son is thenceforth deified, and worshipped under the name of Bághesar by the five clans.
ASIATIC SOCIETIES.
To this day among the descendants of the five brothers, during their marriage ceremonies it is usual for one or two of those present, generally the officiating priest and a looker on, tu feign being pos
[AUGUST 2, 1872.
money was expended on the palace at Sarkhej: the total expenditure from first to last at Sarkhej has been Rs. 10,231. The Harim, which was half ruined and fast becoming wholly so, has been restored as far as is apparently necessary to retain the original architectural effect. Much attention has been paid to make the new portions an exact copy of the old work. All the fallen stones that could be found have been replaced in their proper position, and the new carving has been accurately copied from the old.
Since the Report was published a Translation of a List of 108 buildings in Indur, Bir, Yalgandal and Shorapur' has been received; but it contains no remains' but what are
The municipality of Bijapur have expended in the past year a sum of Rs. 480 in repairs to the following old architectural buildings of the place,-Ibráhínı Rozah, Gúli Gumbaz, Bhagi Mahal, and Taj Bavadi.
General Tremenheere, Political Resident, Aden, having reported that an Arab had brought to hini from the interior a very interesting inscribed stone, orders were given to purchase the stone for the sum of Rs. 150; and the stone has been forwarded to the British Museurn from Aden.
sessed with the soul of a tiger, and in that state to kill and tear to pieces a live kid. The demons are afterwards appeased by the bride's father with an offering of three cupfuls of liquor and a mouthful of ghí. No marriage ceremony in these five clans is considered complete without the appearance of Baghesar and the attendant rites. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Nos. 174, 175, 176, for 1872.
Nos. 174 and 175 contain the papers on Physical Science. These are:-Part IV of a Monograph of Indian Cyprinide,' by Surgeon F. Day; 'Zoology of Sikkim,' by W. T. Blanford, F.G.S., C.M.Z.S.; Notes on the Ornithology of Kas'mir,' by W. E. Brooks, C.E.; Note on various new or little known Indian Lizards,' by Dr. F. Stoliczka ; 'On the Osteology of Trianops Persicus,' by G. E. Dobson, B.A., M.B.; Third list of Birds from the Khasi and Garo Hills, by Major H. H. Godwin-Austin, F.R.G.S.; 'On Differential Galvanometirs,' by Louis Schwendler, Esq.; and Ou Birds from Sikkim,' by W. T. Blanford, Esq.
4
The first paper in No. 176 is a List of Words of the Nicobar language as spoken at Kamorta, Nankauri, Trinkutt, and Katschal,' by E. H. Man, Esq. The next is on Buddhist remains in Orissa,' by J. Beames, B.C.S., Balasor. At Chhatiâ 16 miles north of Katak, the writer says "I came to a flat surface of laterite closely resembling that at Kopari. At the foot of a small hill was a square platform, about 40 feet square, of hewn laterite stones, from which rose twelve pillars, octagonal and with
described to be "in good condition :"-genuine ruins have been carefully excluded, and it is a mere list, no descriptious of even the briefest sort are attempted.-ED.
