III. A ROYAL GRANT OF LAND, ENGRAVED ON A COPPER-PLATE, BEARING DATE, RUINS AT MONGUEER. BY CHARLES WILKINS, Esa. PROSPERITY! H' In the Year 1781. DEB PAAL DEB*. IS wishes are accomplished. His heart is stedfast in the cause of others. He walks in the paths of virtue. May the achievements of this fortunate Prince cause innumerable bleffings to his People! By difplaying the ftrength of his genius, he hath dif covered the road to all human acquirements; for being a Soogot (1) he is Lord of the Universe. : Gopaal, King of the World, poffeffed matchlefs good Fortune he was Lord of two Brides; the Earth and her Wealth. By comparison of the learned, he was likened unto Preetoo (2,) Sogor (3,) and others, and it is credited. When his innumerable army marched, the heavens were fo filled with the duft of their feet, that the birds of the air could reft upon it. * In this translation the Sanferit names are written as they are pronounced in Bengal; but, in the following paper, the tranflator has adopted the more elegant pronunciation of Varanes and Cashmir. L 2 He He acted according to what is written in the Shastra, (1,) and obliged the different fects to conform to their proper tenets. He was bleffed with a fon, Dhormo Paal, when he became independent of his forefathers, who are in heaven. His elephants moved like walking mountains; and the earth, oppreffed by their weight, and mouldered into duft, found refuge in the peaceful heavens. He went to extirpate the wicked, and plant the good; and happily his falvation was affected at the fame time! for his fervants vifited Kedaar, (2,) and drank milk according to the law: and they offered up their vows where the Ganges joins the ocean, and at Gokornaa, (3,) and other places, (4). When he had completed his conquefts, he released all the rebellious Princes he had made captive; and each returning to his own country laden with presents, reflected upon this generous deed, and longed to fee him again; as mortals, remembering a pre-existence, wifh to return to the realms of light. This Prince took the hand of the daughter of Porobol, Raajaa of many countries, whofe name was Ronnaa Debee; and he became fettled. The people, being amazed at her beauty, formed different opinions of her. Some faid it was Lockee (5) herfelf in her fhape; others, that the earth had affumed her form; many faid it was the Raajaa's fame and reputation; and others that a household goddefs had entered his palace. And her wifdom and virtue fet her above all the ladies of the court. This virtuous and praise-worthy Princess bore a son, Deb Paal Deb, as the fhell of the ocean produces the pearl. In whofe heart there is no impurity; of few words, and gentle manners; and who peaceably inherited the kingdom of his father, as Bodheesotwo (1) fucceeded Soogot. He, who marching through many countries making conquefts, arrived with his elephants in the forests of the mountains of Beendhyo (2,) where seeing again their long loft families, they mixed their mutual tears; and who going to fubdue other Princes, his young horfes meeting their females at Komboge (3) they mutually neighed for joy. He who has opened again the road of liberality, which was firft marked out in the Kreeto Joog (4) by Bolee (5) in which Bhaargob (6) walked in the Tretaa Joog (7) which was cleanfed by Korno (8) in the Dwapor Joog (9), and was again choked up in the Kolee Joog (10) after the death of Sokodweesee (11.) He who conquered the earth from the fource of the Ganges as far as the well-known bridge which was conftructed by the enemy of Dosaasyo (12,) from the River of Luckeecool (13) as far as the ocean of the habitation of Boroon (14.) At Mood-go-gheeree (15,) where is encamped his victorious army, across whofe river a bridge of boats is conftructed for a road, which is mistaken for a chain of mountains, where immense herds of elephants, like thick black clouds, fo darken the face of day, that people think it the season of the rains; whither the Princes of the North fend fo many troops of horse, that the duft of their their hoofs fpreads darkness on all fides; whither fo many mighty Chiefs of Jumboodweep (1) refort to pay their refpects, that the earth finks beneath the weight of the feet of their attendants. There Deb Paal Deb (who, walking in the footsteps of the mighty Lord of the great Soogots, the great Commander, Raajaa of Mohua Raajas, Dhormo Paal Deb, is himself mighty Lord of the great Soogots, a great Commander, and Raajaa of Mohaa Raajaas) iffues his commands. To all the inhabitants of the town of Meseeka, fituated in Kreemeelaa, in the province of Sree Nogor (2,) which is my own property, and which is not divided by any land belonging to another; to all Raanok and Kaaje pootro; to the (3) Omaatyo, Mohaa-kaarttaa-kreeteeko, Mohaa-Dondo-Nayk, Mohaa Proteehaar, Mohaa-Saamont, MohaaDow-Saadhon-Saadhonecko, Mohaa-Koomaaraa-Matyo; to the Promaatree and Sorothongo; to the Raajostaaneeyo, Ooporecko, Daasaaporaadheeko, Chowroddhoroneeko, Daandeeko, Dondopaaseeko, Sowl-keeko, Gowlmeeko, Kyotropo, Praantopaalo, Kothtopaalo and Kaandaarokyo; to the Todaajooktoko and the Beeneejooktoko; to the keeper of the elephants, horfes, and camels; to the keeper of the mares, colts, cows, buffaloes, fheep, and goats; to the Dootoprysoneeko, Gomaa-Gomeeko, and Obheetworomaano; to the Beesoypotee, Toropotee, and Torecko. To the different tribes, Gowr, Maalob, Khoso, Hoon, Koleeko, Kornaato, Laasaato, and Bhoto; to all others of our fubjects, who are not here fpecified; and to the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages, from the Braahmon and fathers of large families, to the tribes of Medo Ondhoroko, and Chondaalo. Be it known that I have given the above-mentioned town of Meseeka, whofe limits include the fields where the cattle graze, above and below the furface, with all the lands belonging to it; together with all the Mango and Modhoo trees; all its waters, and all their banks and verdure; all its rents and tolls, with all fines for crimes, and and rewards for catching thieves. In it there fhall be no moleftation, no paffage for troops; nor fhall any one take from it the smallest part. I give likewife every thing that has been poffeffed by the fervants of the Raajaa. I give the Earth and Sky, as long as the Sun and Moon fhall last. Except, however, such lands as have been given to God, and to the Braahmons, which they have long poffeffed, and now enjoy. And that the glory of my father and mother, and my own fame, may be increafed, I have caufed this Saason (1) to be engraved, and granted unto the great Botho Beehkoraato Meesro, who has acquired all the wisdom of books, and has ftudied the Beads (2) under Oslaayono; who is defcended from Owpomonyobo; who is the fon of the learned and immaculate Botho Boraahoraato; and whofe grandfather was Botho Beesworaato, learned in the Beads, and expert in performing the Jog (3). Know all the aforefaid, that as bestowing is meritorious, fo taking away deferves punishment; wherefore leave it as I have granted it. Let all his neighbours, and those who till the land, be obedient to my commands. What you have formerly been accustomed to perform and pay, do it unto him in all things. Dated in the 33d Sombot (4,) and 21ft day of the month of Maargo. Thus fpeak the following Slokes (5) from the Dhormo Onoosaason: 1. "Ram hath required, from time to time, of all the "Raajaas that may reign, that the bridge of their bene"ficence be the fame, and that they do continually re"pair it. 2. "Lands have been granted by Sogor, and many “other Raajaas; and the fame of their deeds devolves "to their fucceffors. 3. "He |