Letter from Ven. W. Subhuti at Waskaduwa Vihara to William Claxton Peppé in Birdpore, in which he writes to say that he has received a parcel containing 21 relics, which he will open only in the presence of 'a large Buddhist community' to avoid suspicions over the genuineness of the relics. He thanks Peppé for his kindness and expresses gratitude on behalf of all the Buddhists in Ceylon. He has informed the King of Siam of Peppé's intention to takes the relics himself to Siam to present them to the King at the suggestion of the Prince Priest. The latter is still in Buddha Gaya and he intends to write to him to return to Ceylon. He asks Peppé to answer his earlier questions. Handwritten, 3 sides, dated 7 October 1898.

Letter from Cecil Bendall in Bombay to William Claxton Peppé in Birdpore, in which he writes that he is a friend of Vincent Smith, travelling in India for 'archaeological work (inscriptions especially) and MSS'. He hopes to visit Birdpore and Lumbini but not unless 'there is a good chance of further discovery'. He has heard from Smith that Peppé is planning to excavate further stupas and that the village of Dhamauli was 'archaeologically promising'. His Calcutta pandit, Haraprasad, is coming with him to Kathmandu and wants him to go to 'Navanagara or Nandagara, an immense mound requiring careful excavation'. He asks if Peppé could indicate on a map where these places might be.He will be in Delhi next week and starts from Segauli for Kathmandu on 18 December, so could visit in the interval. He adds that he had 'little or no practical experience in excavation'. He is travelling with his wife, and neither mind 'roughing it' but he does not want 'undue risks of fever'. Handwritten, 6 sides, dated 25 November 1898.

'Extract from a letter addressed to Col. Sykes by Captn. M. Kittoe dated Sherghatti (Sherghati), 3 December 1846' in which he writes of his exploring in 'Gaya' and finding antiquities with inscriptions which he believes relate to gifts from rich people and the building of Hindu temples. He has copied the inscriptions and hopes to interpret them.

He has only found four or five fragments of Buddhist architecture but many small sculptural stones. He has sketched one find (copy of sketch is present) and describes others. He asks Sykes to compare with his notes on the caves at Ellora. At Bodh Gaya he has found many fragments of Buddhist sculptures which he also describes and compares with others. He has also discovered another Asoka pillar at 'Bakremee', the site of an ancient city. It is broken into pieces but describes it and its connections with other excavations and objects.

'Extract of a letter from Capt. Kittoe, addressed to Colonel Sykes, dated Gya, 2 March 1848' in which he writes that he fears little will be done that year as the weather is too hot and the authorities need to give permission. He sends with the letter some copies of inscriptions he has already done. He gives some details of these inscriptions and their locations. He also writes that he has 'a beauty of a model of a Siva temple of the 8th or 9th century which I promised at Benares'. He will restore that and others before sending to Sykes. He writes that he is reading H.H. Wilson's 'Vishnu Purana' in which he finds many of his own opinions confirmed.

'Copy of a letter from Captain Kittoe, addressed to Colonel Sykes. Dated Gya, 2 March 1848' which seems to be a copy of much of RAS GOV7/19. Kittoe writes of his interaction with the local Brahmins and that he sends copies of inscriptions.

'Extract of a letter addressed to Colonel Sykes by Capt. Kittoe, dated Benares (Varanasi), 21 January 1849' in which he apologises for not writing sooner but he had delayed in the hope of sending more discoveries. In this he is disappointed but goes to Raja Griha and hopes that will change. He has for several months been examining 'a fine collection of Inscriptions from Bundelkhand and Gwalior' sent by Captain Ellis but he is finding difficulties in interpreting them. He is also working on an inscription from Sarnath. He describes what he has discovered so far. Kittoe hopes to be able to go into Nepal to look at Buddhist temples. He writes some of what he's learnt about Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples. Kittoe also hopes that when he has finished work at the College he will be able to visit the Western Caves. He is not sending his report awaiting more illustrations. Finally, he writes of the work of Captain A. Cunningham and how Kittoe thinks he is in error.

'Copy of a letter addressed to Col. Sykes by Capt. R. Gill, dated Jabneh, 29 March 1849' in which he writes of his latest series of paintings which comprise of copies of nearly all the paintings of the verandah of the caves except that which was supposed to be a representation of the zodiac, but which appeared to Gill as a representation of the states of man. Gill continues to describe the caves and their paintings, inscriptions and layout.

'Copy of a letter addressed to Col. Sykes, East India House, by Dr. Impey, dated Indore, 10 June 1849' in which Impey writes that in the same mail he has sent Sykes a paper on the colossal Jain figure on the 'Satpoonah Range'. He is unable to decide which of the Jain figures it represents. The inscriptions to be found are in Sanskrit. He compares his discovery to that of Captain Vodel's written about in the Transactions of the Society. He also writes of visiting the caves at Awkya Tankye.

'Copy of a letter addressed to Colonel Sykes by Captain Kittoe (no place or date)' in which he writes that he has just returned from a tour along the bank of the Gandak. He has spent several months examining inscriptions made by Captain R.W. Ellis, Political Assistant in Bundelkund. He is currently having them translated into English. He is becoming convinced that ancient Pali was the first written character in Central India.

Kittoe also writes about the architectural details and sculpture discoveries that he has been making of both Buddhist and Brahmanical buildings giving descriptions of them and their inscriptions. There are also some pencil sketches with the copy of the letter to further aid his descriptions. He writes of having been in Allahabad as well as Bupau, Patna and back to the Benares (Varanasi) area.

A short description of the caves written by Arthur Anderson West on the 22nd December 1861.