Page:Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India Vol 5.pdf/126

114 ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT, 1872-73. For projecting ornaments the most common form is that of a large leaf, or of two or three smaller leaves on the same brick. String mouldings were also formed of a continuous row of leaves, Plain surfaces were ornamented with various. diaper patterns. One of the most common specimens is a series of small squares, each alternate square being sunk with a slope.

Many of the specimens found at Bavanni and Shorkot were vitrified, and were therefore certainly moulded before burning. ‘The Shorkot bricks with mason’s marks must also have been inseribed in the moist state, as the edges of all the letters more or less turned up.

The ancient fortress of Multan is situated four miles from the left bank of the Chendb River, and 52 miles to the south- west of Tulamba. Originally it stood on an island in the Ravi, but several centuries ago this river changed its course from Sarai Siddhu, two miles to the westward of Tulamba, and continuing its westerly direction joined the Chendb 32 miles above Multin. During the high floods the waters of the Ravi still flow down their old bed; and I have twice seen the ditches of Multin filled by the annual overflow of the river. The dotails of the campaign of Chach Raja of Sindh show that the Ravi still continued to flow under its walls in the middle of the seventh century. They show also that the Biis River then flowed in an independent channel to the cast and south of Multin. In approaching from Sindh Chach had to cross both the Sutlej and the Bids rivers before hie reached the bank of the Ravi at Sikka, ata short distance to the castward of Multin. Sikka was deserted by its gar- rison, wlio joined Raja Bajhra in opposing Chach on the bank of the Ravi. Aftcr asharp fight Raja Bajhra was driven back into Multin, which was only surrendered after a long siege. This took place about A. D, 650, in the early part of Chach’'s reign.

{In the Chach Nima the two names of Sikka and Multan are always joined together as Sikka-Multin. Tn one place Sikia is called “the fort of Sikka opposite Multin.” In another place, it is called a large fort on the south bank of the Ravi." From these statements 1 infer that the name of

‘ Chach Nama, ia Down's Edition of Six LL itv f,, pyr 1 — sues.