74 BUDDHISM. 



impress of independent Indian architecture is distinctly 

 traceable. 



Late discoveries have brought to light remains of 

 Buddhist dagobas of great antiquity in many parts of 

 India, and especially in Ceylon, their construction 

 dating as far back as three or two centuries before our 

 era, and showing that the sculpture of that early age 

 had a very marked character of comparative excel- 

 lency, which the Brahmins were never able to compete 

 with successfully. I need only mention two specimens 

 of the period I speak of; namely, the tope or stuj^a 

 of Bharhut, about half-way between Jubbulpore and 

 Allahabad, discovered by Major-General Alexander 

 Cunningham in 1873, and the dagoba, " Thuparame," 

 of Anurajapura, ninety miles north of Kandy, recently 

 excavated by the Government of Ceylon. 



Buddhism originated in India in the sixth century 

 B.C., but did not attain the height of its influence until 

 three centuries later, and continued in full power until 

 the fourth or fifth century A.D., up to which period, 

 and even later, pilgrims came to India as their holy 

 land from all parts of Asia, especially from China. 

 Brahminical persecution, however, gradually drove 

 them from the great cities, and large communities of 

 Buddhists retired among the hills of the west, where 

 they constructed cave temples, many of which were 



