History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c23.12

v1.c23.12

∗ Cunningham describes the fort of Multan minutely. There are no remains of ancient structures, for in Multan stone is not available and buildings are built only of bricks. He therefore in order to find the history of the fort sank a well until undisturbed 'mother' earth was reached about 40 feet below the surface all of which was the accumulation of ages and he has given a most interesting description of the layers of debris found. " The accumulation of debris seems to be about one and a half feet per century. Two coins were discovered at a depth of about 10 to 12 feet, the upper one of Kaikobad A. D. 1286 the lower one of Sāmanta Deva of Kabul A. D. 900 or 950. Bricks found increase in size as one goes deeper. This shows that the ancients used larger bricks, But the two interesting discoveries made in this Archaeological well were the great masses of ashes found at two different depths. The upper one was about 3 feet thick and found below 15 ft. The position of this deposit corresponds with the period of Mahamad Kasim's conquest of Multan in 712 A. D. when the fort was stormed and burnt. The other layer of ashes was found at a depth of 32 feet which corresponds nearly with the period of Alexander's capture of the capital city of the Malloi. It is possible that this layer may be the remains of some conflagration that attended the massacre of the inhabitants committed by Grecian soldiers enraged at Alexander's wound. Even below this layer of ashes were found a shoemaker's sharpening stone and a copper vessel filled with about 20 coins square in shape but unrecognisable, being entirely coroded ". The last proves that coins were current in India long before Alexander's invasion (p. 129).