Page:Kalhana's Rajatarangini Vol 1.djvu/16

 xviii PREFACE.

some of these notes, e.g. on the terms Démara (Note G), dvara (v. 214), on the Dinnéra reckoning, and the monetary system of old Kasmir (Note I), have grown into little‘monographs. Wherever the comments on a particular subject: were too long to be conveniently printed as footnotes they have been placed in the Aprenpix found after Book viii.

The detailed study of the historical geography of KaSmir and the neighbour. ing hill-regions was from the first recognized by me as a condition of primary importance for my task, and us these resourches had also otherwise « special attraction for me I have spared no effort to make my survey of the sites und trocts which form the sceue of Kalhana’s narrative, es thorough and accurate as possible. The Memoir to be mentioned below has given me an opportunity to explain in detail the methods and means which have enabled me to identily with cortainty the vast majority of the old localities, in and about Kasmir, referred to by the Chronicler, and very often to trace also the remains of particular structures, ete.# A reference to notes like those on the Castle of Lohara (Note 11), on the re-discovery of the long-forgotten Tirtha of Bedi (Note A), on the old conilucuce of the Vitasti and Sindhu (Note I), etc., will help to realize the interest attaching to this search, as wel] as the time and trouble it has frequently cust me.

It has been a source of special yatisfaction to me thut I wes able to illustrate the results of my researches into the wucient topography of Kosinir by tho mars attached to this work. Iam indebtod for the publication of the two larger ones, of ancient Kasmir and its capital S'rinagar, to the help of the Asiatic Society, Bengal, which, through the kind offices of Drs. Grierson and Horns, very liberally agreed to bear the cost of their preparation on the wndorstunding that they would be published also sepuratdy in its Journal. ‘The plan which I followed in preparing these maps and the system by which thoy wero reprodnoed at the Offices of the Survey of India, will bo found fully explained elsewhere. The successful technical execution of the maps wus mainly due to the rewly co- operation of Major-General J, Warunnovse, lato Ausintant Survuyor-CGunerul, in charge of the Lithographic and Photogruphie Offico of tho Survoy of India. ‘The third map showing the site of Parihiswpura and tho anciant confluonco of the Vitesti and Sindhu was subsequently roproduced at the well-kuown ostublishment of Mr. W. Griggs, of Peckham.

Tam too well aware of the value of graphic reproduction as au important aid of the commentator, not to have wished that it might have boen practicublo for me to provide, apart from these maps, other illustrations that would holp to bring

® See below, Memoir, §§ 16-35 See below, Memoir, § 2.