Page:Report of a Tour Through the Bengal Provinces of Patna, Gaya, Mongir and Bhagalpur; The Santal Parganas, Manbhum, Singhbhum and Birbhum; Bankura, Raniganj, Bardwan and Hughli in 1872-73.djvu/110

86 imbedded within the well ring at some distance below the mouth of the well; one is dated in Samvat 1007, the legible portion giving the name "Sri Râma Dharmin," who probably dug the well. The rest is illegible, being too far worn to give even two consecutive letters entire.

Besides these inscriptions I wish to invite attention to the long rambling inscription on the flat rock, over which the present path from the north to the Báwan Gangá defile passes. Kittoe conjectured, and conjectured rightly, that the curious marks are letters. I am quite satisfied that it is a long inscription, written in the curious shell characters which have hitherto to a great extent defied the acuteness of antiquarians. The inscription is not in good order, partly from the nature of the rock on which it is cut, but chiefly from having been to a great extent rubbed away beneath the tread of passengers and cattle for a thousand years; but enough yet remains perhaps to show what it was about, and whether in its loss we are not to deplore the loss of a valuable record. The curious characters have long attracted the attention of the people of the place, who suppose them to be the marks of the hands and feet and nails of the combatants Bhima and Jarâsandha. The place is known as Ranbhûm.

There is, however, another spot equally called Ranbhûm; this is properly not Ranbhûm, but Rangbhûm, being the spoken form of "Ranga Bhûmi," "the coloured earth," from the deep red colour of the earth there found. Tradition ascribes the colour to the blood of Jarâsandha, who was killed by Bhim after having fought with him at the Ranbhûm described before. This spot is situated on the western or main branch of the Saraswati at the point where it enters the western ramparts of the inner town.

My attention was especially directed by General Cunningham to the exploration of the long defile which stretches away between the Baibhár and Sonar hills to the west of the old city. I tried to carry out my instructions, and twice attempted to penetrate the pathless jangal which literally chokes up the valley, but on both occasions without success, having in both cases returned after losing my way and wandering about to no purpose in the jangal. The importance of a thorough exploration of the valley will be evident when it is remembered that Hwen Thsang describes the existence of a great cave (natural probably) at the foot of the northern mountain, and of a tope near Jaktiban, close to a small isolated hill. Hwen Thsang's description is perfectly accurate;