Sherring, Matthew A.: The sacred city of the Hindus: an account of Benares in ancient and modern times (London, 1868)

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CHAPTER XX.

Further Account of Ancient Eemains recently discovered in Benares
and its vicinity.—Meaning of the epithets ' ancient' and ' old' in
relation to Benares.—Ancient Bemains, No. I., in Raj Ghat Fort.—
Ancient Bemains, No. II., near Raj Ghat Fort.—Ancient Bemains,
No. III., Small Mosque in the Budaori Mahalla.—Ancient Mound or
Bidge.—Ancient Bemains, No. IV., Tiliya Nala and Maqdam Sahib.
—Ancient Bemains, No. V., Bat Bhairo.—Ancient Bemains, No. VI.,
Battis Khambha. — Ancient Remains, No. VII., Arhai Kangura
Mosque.—Hindu Temple of Kirtti Bishes'war.—Ancient Remains, No.
VIII., Chaukhambha Mosque.—Ancient Bemains, No. IX., Aurung-
zeb's Mosque, near Bishes'war Temple.—Ancient Bemains, No. X.,
A'd-Bisheswar Temple and neighbouring Mosque.—Ancient Bemains,
No. XI., Stone Pillar standing in Sone ka Talao.—Note.

Fully satisfied, as we believe most persons are, that
Benares is a city of extreme antiquity, we have en-
deavoured to ascertain to what portions this epithet will
apply. And by the term ' old' is meant, in this chapter,
not a few hundred years merely, although a city six or
seven hundred years old is generally regarded as an
ancient city. But it is necessary to remember that
Benares lays claim to an antiquity of several thousands
of years; and, undoubtedly, it is referred to in various
ancient Hindu and Buddhist writings. Consequently,
we are not satisfied with discovering, in it, edifices
erected half a dozen centuries ago, any more than we
should feel satisfied with discovering edifices of a