none have yet been published. These inscriptions are chiefly valuable for the light that they throw on the changes which had gradually taken place in the language. The most remarkable of these is the substitution of Bhikhu for Bhichhu. With five exceptions, the latter is the only spelling used throughout the numerous inscriptions of Asoka's age on the colonnade of the Great Tope at Sánchi; while the former is the only spelling used in all the gateway inscriptions of the age of Sátakarni. But on the colonnade of this Tope we have both spellings; bhikhu being used ten times, and bhichhu five times. From this fact we may conclude that the colonnade was certainly erected at some period between the ages of Asoka and Sri Sátakarni. This is borne out by the forms of the alphabetical characters, which, though generally like those of Asoka's time, yet present some differences which undoubtedly point to a later date. The principal change is seen in the manner of attaching the vowel u at the foot of the kh. In the Asoka inscriptions, this is done by the intervention of a dot, or point; but in those of the present Tope, the dot is replaced by a small circle. CHAPTER XIX. INSCRIPTIONS.-NO. 2 TOPE.—SÁNCHI. Pl. XXI., No. 1.-Nágilási dánam Ayasa-atevasino. No. 2.-Dhama Rakhitasa sejhasaka. "(Gift) of DHARMA RAKSHITA No. 3.-Pádukulákáyagámasa dánam. "Gift of ÁRYYAGRAMA, of the Pándu race.” The celebrated name of the Pandus is here met with, for the first time, on a genuine ancient monument. The use of the cerebral d, and the affix of the term kula, "race or tribe," prove that I am right in attributing this gift to one of the race of Pandu. See also No. 8, for another inscription of a Pandu. No. 4.-Budhilasa-bhogavarhanakasa dánam. "Gift of BUDHILA, the increaser of enjoyment." No. 5.- . ma-devaya dánam Mitamajheya Antevásini(ya). "Gift of (DHAR)MA DEVÁ, the pupil of MITRA MADHYA." No. 6.-Isilasa bhikhuno dánam. "Gift of ISILA, the mendicant monk." No. 7.-Sagha Mitasa bhikhuno danam. "Gift of SANGHA MITRA, the mendicant monk." No. 8.-Budha Palitasa Sethino Padukuliniyase dánam. "Gift of BUDHA PÁLITA, the Sreshti (or master of a trade*) of the race of Pándu." "Gift of VIDYA, the mendicant monk." No. 12.-Yakhilasa bhichhuno dánam. "Gift of YAKSHILA, the mendicant monk." No. 13.-Nagapayasa Achhava(da)sa Sethisa dánam. "Gift of NÁGAPAYA ACHHAVADA, the Sreshti." See Nos. 182 and 192 of No. 1 Tope, which both give the name of Nágapáya (or priya) Achhavada, but the persons cannot be the same, as there is a difference in the dates of the inscriptions of the two Topes of about two centuries. The two donors must, however, have been of the same family. No. 14.-. sapakiya Soraya dánam bhikhuniya. "Gift of (KÁ)SYAPAKI SORÁ, the mendicant nun." No. 15.—Válayá Korariye bhikhunaye dánam. "Gift of VALÁ KORÁRI (the weaver?), a mendicant nun." No. 16.-Dhama Sanaya Korariya dúnambhi . . "Gift of DHARMA SENA, Korâri, the mendicant nun." The meaning of this term has been given before; but it may De as well to repeat here, that Sreshti is the head of a guild, and is equivalent to the modern Chaodri. No. 17.-Naga Palitaya dánam thabho. No. 18.-Phaguláya bhikhuniya dánam. "Gift of PHAGULÁ, the mendicant nun." No. 19.-Balakasa Ayasa Arapa Gutasa sásá (nan)dakasa atevasino dánam. "Gift of BALAKA ARYYA, the pupil of ARAPAGUPTA, the (delighter) in Scripture." Balaka may mean simply a boy, and Balaka Ayasa will signify only the child ARYYA. My copy reads Arapa; but I believe the true name to be Araha. No. 20.-Yama Rakhitáya bhikhuniya dánam. "Gift of YAMA RAKSHITA, the mendicant nun." No. 21.-Muláya dánam-thabho Yadaya Atevasiniya. "Pillar-gift of MULA, the pupil of YADÁ." No. 22.-Sagha Rakhitaya mata bhichhuniya dánam. daka Isidasiya No. 23.-Yasa Budha Rakhitasa Pokhareyakasa dánam. "Gift of YASA BUDHA RAKSHITÁ, of Pokhareyaka." No. 24.-Vinákáye Vádyuvahanikáye dánam. "Gift of the lute-player, VADYUVAHANIKÁ.” This inscription is carved on the bas-relief of a wheel pillar of the western entrance. There has been an attempt to render some double letter, and I am not satisfied that I have read the middle part of the inscription correctly. correctly. If we might read ready or vadhu, instead of vadyu, which seems perfectly allowable, the translation would be simply "Gift of VINÁKÁ, the daughter-in-law (son's wife) of VA HANIKÁ." No. 25.-Pedaya bhikhuniya thabho dánam. "Pillar-gift of PENDA, the mendicant nun." No. 26.-Isadakaditisisasa dánam. "Gift of ISADAKADITYA (?) (or Isadakanditi).” No. 27.-Isádekadiyá dánam. "Gift of ISADEKANDI." No. 28.-(1)sadákadiya Patolaya dánam. "Gift of ISADAKANDI, of Pratolá." No. 29.—Budha Pá(lita)sakodiya dánam. "Gift of BUDHA PALITA This inscription is much mutilated; but I believe it to be the same as No. 8. No. 30.-Sagha Mitasa Sonadakasá dánam. No. 31.-Budha (Miti)sedakadiya dánam. "Gift of BUDHA MITRA No. 32.-Abha(ti)sá dánam adha-porikasa. “Half-gateway gift of ABHRATI (the brotherless)." Adha-porikasa I have taken for arddha-paurikasya, "of half an entrance," which is not an unlikely gift to have been made to the Tope. Plate, No. 33.-Yasogirino dánam bhichhuno. "Gift of YASOGIRI, the mendicant monk." No. 34.-Arahakasa bhichhuno chanakaya dánam. This inscription will admit of several readings, such as |