LIST OF PLATES. I. Sketch map of the country around Bhilsa. II. Comparison of Druidical and Buddhist monuments. III. Various specimens of Topes. IV. Group of Topes-Sanchi. V. Groups of Topes-Sonári, Satdhára, and Andher. VI. Group of Topes-Bhojpur. VII. View of the great Sánchi Tope, No. 1. VIII. Plan and elevation of ditto. IX. Elevation and section of colonnade. X. Sánchi pillars. XI. Boat scene-eastern gateway. XII. Relic scene-southern gateway. XIII. Tope scene-northern gateway. XIV. Female dancer-west gate. XV. Kitchen scene-leaf-roofed house and gateway. XVI. Inscriptions from No. 1 Tope. XX. Plan and elevation of No. 2 Tope, Sánchi. XXI. Inscriptions from No. 2 Tope. XXII. Plan and elevation of No. 3 Tope, Sanchi. 1. THE Buddhist religion has long been extinct in India, but it still flourishes in Nepál and Tibet, in Ava, Ceylon, and China, and amongst the IndoChinese nations of Anam, Siam, and Japan, Its votaries far outnumber those of all other creeds, except the Christian, and they form one-fourth of the whole human race.* The valley of the Ganges was the cradle of Buddhism; which, from its rise in the sixth century before Christ, gradually spread over the whole of India. It was extended by Asoka to Kashmir and Kâbul shortly after Alexander's invasion; and it was introduced into China about The Christians number about 270 millions; the Buddhists about 222 millions, who are distributed as follows:-China, 170 millions; Japan, 25; Anam, 14; Siam, 3; Ava, 8; Nepál, 1; and Ceylon, 1: total, 222 millions. B the beginning of our era by five hundred Kashmirian missionaries. In A. D. 400, when Fa Hian visited India, Buddhism was still the dominant religion; but the Vaishnavas were already rising into consequence. In the middle of the seventh century, although the pilgrim Hwán Thsang found numerous temples of the Saivas, whose doctrines had been embraced by Skanda Gupta and the later princes of Pátaliputra, yet Buddhism was still the prevailing religion of the people. But the progress of religion is like the existence of a tree; which, after the first symptoms of decay, can neither be strengthened nor renewed. The faith of Sákya was evidently on the decline; and though it still lingered about the holy cities of Benares and Gaya for two or three centuries later, it was no longer the honoured religion of kings and princes, protected by the strong arm of power, but the persecuted heresy of a weaker party, who were forced to hide their images under ground, and were ultimately expelled from their monasteries by fire.* 2. Buddhism had in fact become an old and worn-out creed, whose mendicant monks no longer begged their bread, but were supported by lands In 1835 I excavated numerous Buddhist images at Sárnáth, near Benares, all of which had evidently been purposely hidden. underground. I found quantities of ashes also; and there could be no doubt that the buildings had been destroyed by fire. Major Kittoe, who has made further excavations during the present year, is of the same opinion. |