is no doubt due to the secluded and inaccessible position of the Topes, which are not large enough to attract the eye, although they can be distinctly seen when pointed out. The base of the dome, which is 35 feet 2 inches in diameter, rests on a cylindrical plinth only 4 feet in height. The terrace, 5 feet wide and 5 feet high, has a stone coping, along its outer edge, 15 inches in height, and 13 inches in thickness. This is the only instance of terrace-coping that now exists. From the style of the bas-reliefs of Topes on the Sánchi gateways, we had expected to have found some terraces surrounded by Buddhist railings, but we were disappointed, for not one of the numerous Topes excepting this has the slightest trace of a ledge of any kind. The rounded and massive coping forms an appropriate finish to the massive basement. On the west there is a double flight of steps, 4 feet 4 inches in width, which meet at a landing-place 7 feet 2 inches in length and 5 feet in breadth. Several of the steps are perfect, 13 inches broad and 10 inches high; and, as the gateway is still standing, we have here one of the most complete existing specimens of the second-rate Tope. 3. The base is enclosed by a Buddhist railing 7 feet in height, with an entrance on the west formed in the same manner as those of the Sánchi Topes. The pillars are 5 feet 8 inches in height, with a section of 14 inches face and 10 inches side. There are three railings each 18 inches broad, and 6 inches thick. The coping is the same as that of the terrace. The pillars are ornamented with fall and half medallions formed of bras and other dowers. The quadruple emblem of Dharma, which is seen on so many of the old coins, here occupies a medallion.* On one of the pillars there is a short inscription in the usual style : Diama Sincan Mitu dinam. “Git of DHARMA-SIVA's mother.” The characters, which are very neatly cut and well formed, are apparently as old as those of the great Sánchi Tope which dates in the reign of Asoka. The pillars of the entrance are carved on both sides, and the two outer ones on three sides. The principal subjects are: a wheel-pillar with a capital formed of two lions and an elephant, a holy tree surmounted by a chatta, and a Tope. There is also another scene in which several figures are seated in a circle, each on a small square couch. This may perhaps represent the meeting of one of the Buddhist Synods. The Tope is surrounded by the remains of a walled enclosure, and to the south there is one of those massive foundations which have already been described. It is nearly 70 feet long, and between 30 and 40 feet broad, but not more than 6 feet high at present. 4. A shaft was sunk down to the centre of the hemisphere, where we found a chamber 10 inches square, and 18 inches in height on one side, by 10 inches on the opposite side. Within was a round *See Plate XXXII., fig. 4, of this work. stone box, 5 inches in height, 6 bottom, and only 5 inches at top. inches broad at The chamber, which is 34 inches deep and 4 inches wide, contained nothing save a small quantity of black ashes and something like calcined nut-shells. The lid of the box is 24 inches in height, domed, and slightly hollowed beneath. See Plate XXVIII., fig. 6. Three feet beneath this deposit, and on a level with the terrace, we found a second chamber, somewhat slightly formed, containing a hemispherical red earthenware vessel 10 inches in diameter turned with the mouth downwards. Beneath this was a second vessel of red earthenware, 8 inches in diameter, containing a black earthenware bowl 7 inches in diameter and 31 inches in height. Lastly, inside the bowl there was a black earthenware vase 5 inches in diameter and 4 inches in height, with a small lid of the same material.* This vase was empty. See Plate XXVIII., fig. 7. NO. 2 TOPE.-ANDHER. 5. One hundred and twenty feet to the south-east of the last, there is a second Tope of much smaller dimensions, but in a much more perfect state than these buildings are usually met with. The base of the dome, which is 18 feet 10 inches in diameter, rests on a cylindrical plinth 4 feet in height above the terrace, which is 4 feet 4 inches broad and 6 feet The glaze of these black vessels is beautifully smooth, and of a bright metallic lustre. high. It is reached by a double flight of steps, 4 feet 8 inches broad, each step being 6 inches high and 14 inches in width. The whole height of the Tope as it now stands, is only 14 feet 7 inches.* 6. A shaft was sunk down the centre of the Tope to the depth of 33 feet, when we found the chamber 14 foot broad and 1 foot deep. The sides of this chamber were not in the meridian as usual, but bore 57 deg. and 1473 deg. E. and W. respectively. Inside we found a large box of red earthenware, 94 inches in diameter and 7 inches in height,† containing a small flat casket of red earthenware and a tall steatite casket, both inscribed. Beside the earthenware box, and mixed with the leaves and rubbish which half filled the chamber, we found a large steatite vase with the neck partly broken, but luckily with the inscription complete. This chamber had evidently been opened before by the villagers. 7. The flat earthenware casket is 3 inches in diameter, and nearly 13 inch in height. The inscription on the outside of the lid is partially obliterated, but by supplying a few letters, the sense is easily completed. Sapurisasa Váchhiputasa Gotiputa Atevásino. “(Relics) of the emancipated VÁCHHI-PUTRA (son of Vachhi), the pupil of GOTI-PUTRA." The relics of VÁCHнI himself were found in No. 2 Tope at Sánchi. * See Plate XXIX., figs. 1 and 2. + Plate XXIX., fig. 4. : Plate XXIX., fig. 5. 8. The tall steatite casket is 34 inches in diameter at bottom, and 2 inches at top, with a height of 5 inches. It is ornamented on the outside by bands of moulding, between which the whole surface is divided into triangles, alternately plain and barred. The inscription on the top of the lid is Sapurisasa Gotiputasa Kákanava Pabhásanasa Kodinyegotasa. "(Relics) of the emancipated son of GOTI, KÁKANAVA PRABHASANA, of the race of KODINI (or Kohudinya.)" In my account of the discoveries made in No. 2 Tope at Sánchi, I have already stated all that I can suggest regarding Kakanava Prabhasan, who was the donor of Váchhi Suvijayata's relics to the Sánchi fraternity. 9. The large steatite vaset is made of two pieces, which were fastened together with lac. Its ornaments are similar to those of the great vase found in No. 2 Tope at Sonári; but the Andher vase has a narrow neck and no lid, and was once furnished with a spout, for which the hole still remains. No trace of this spout could be found in the relic-chamber, but I presume that it was similar to those which are represented in the Sánchi bas-reliefs. See Plate XXXIII, figs. 20 and 21. On the upper rim of the neck there is the following inscription: Sapurisasa Mogaliputasa Gotiputu Atevásino. "(Relics) of the emancipated MOGALIPUTRA, the pupil of GOTI PUTRA." 10. Every thing that I can collect regarding this * Plate XXIX., fig. 3. + Plate XXIX., fig. 8. |