Presented with the following lattice to the Asiatic Society of Bengal by Captain E. C. Burton, 5th March 1881.

Bi. 2. Another lattice carved in a Vindhyan clay slate of a dark almost black colour. It measures 12" 75 x 10". The frame is 2" 10 broad and 0" 60 thick. The open carving consists of a representation of a low broad vase from the middle of which springs a richly foliated plant above which is a scalloped arch with a foliaged border. A bird with an upwardly curved tail stands on either side of the vase. The inscription is in ivory let into the stone in the same way as in the previous specimen.

ADDENDUM TO GENERAL ARCHEOLOGY.

APPENDIX C.

MIDNAPUR.

A copper object of the same form as those described at page 392 of this Catalogue, but differing from them in being highly finished, and in having a sharp cutting edge below the shouldered portion, the weapon thus presenting all the characters of a battle-axe.

The shape would appear to be a modification of the shouldered celt, and it is worthy of note that stone celts of the latter type, although highly characteristic of Burma, have as yet only been found in India in the same district with this shouldered axe, a fact which has its parallel in the distribution of Testudo elongata, the distinctive land tortoise of Burma, but which occurs also in Sargujā.

This axe measures 7" 10 long and 6" 40 in breadth with a maximum thickness of 0" 63.

It weighs 4 lbs. 12 oz.

Mr. F. A. Perroux, to whom the Museum is indebted for this axe, informs me that "it was found at the foot of the hill system of Manbhum, beyond Sildah, in the parganna of Jhatibani,"

in the Midnapur District. "A village called Tama-Juri is not far from the site where the copper axe was found. It was discovered by some villagers who were digging a pit for some domestic purpose."

Presented by F. A. Perroux, Esq., 11th December 1883.

PROME.

The urns described at page 436 of this Catalogue, I am informed by the Rev. E. O. Stevens, were "discovered in a mound situated about 25 miles south of Prome, at Koo-gyee (Ku-gi) near the village of Ta-goon-daing in the Engma township of the Prome district. They contain the burnt bones and ashes of Pyoos (Pyus1), a race which once inhabited that part of the Prome district which lies east of the Irrawaddy.

"A great many of these low tumuli once existed in the Engma township; but they have been mostly destroyed in the hope of finding treasure. The most valuable thing ever brought to light by breaking to pieces these urns, so far as I have seen or heard, was a small brass or copper box which, when first opened, was said to contain a very fine powder or dust of some kind.

"At one time, I nearly dispaired of being able to get any urns in as good condition as those I sent you; but the offer of money on my part stimulated search, and the result is that they have been unearthed in four localities which I could name south of Prome."

1 Sir Arthur Phayre, in his History of Burma, p. 5, remarks that "The Indian settlers no doubt in a few generations became merged in the mass of Mongoloid tribes whom they found in the country. Only three names have been handed down as borne by original tribes, or the first conjunction of such tribes, that is, Kânrân, Pyû or Prû, and Sâk or Thek."

APPENDIX D.

Note on the examination of nine ancient Weapons, &c., found in certain Districts of India and of one Bracelet from Baluchistan by C. J. H. Warden, Professor of Chemistry, Medical College, and Chemical Examiner to Government.

In the examination of these articles my attention was specially directed to ascertain whether or not they contained tin in sufficient quantity to entitle them to be classed as bronze. The method of analysis adopted was briefly as follows. After a fragment of metal had been obtained it was momentarily immersed in nitric acid to free the surface from incrustation. The specific gravity was then determined in the usual way. An accurately weighed portion was then dissolved in concentrated nitric acid, free from hydrochloric acid, and the solution evaporated to dryness. Nitric acid was again added, and the liquid diluted with distilled water, heated, and filtered, and the residue on the filter repeatedly washed. The filter with residue was then incinerated, moistened with nitric acid, re-ignited, and weighed. The filter papers employed were first digested in hot dilute nitric acid, and the average amount of ash deduced by incinerating five of them. In column 2 the amount of metal dissolved in nitric acid is given; and in column 3, the amount of residue insoluble in nitric acid. The filter ash in all cases having been deducted. In column 4 the percentage of residue

calculated on the metal used is entered.

It will be observed that only five out of the ten samples examined yielded residues which were sufficient in amount to be weighed. These residues contained, in addition to oxide of tin, silicious matter, and, in certain cases, minute black particles the nature of which was not determined. Stannic oxide contains 78.66 per cent. of tin, so that even assuming that the whole of the residues consisted of that substance, the percentage of tin present, in all but the last object, would in no case reach more than 05 per cent, an amount so small that its presence can only be looked upon as accidental, and certainly not sufficient to entitle these articles to be classed as "bronze."