1834.] Letter from Mr. Masson on the Topes. 329 



Mr. Honigberger would only have promoted his own views, had he 

 made the Journal of the Asiatic Society a channel of publicity to his dis- 

 coveries, since it is fully probable that subsequent laborers in the same 

 field will weaken the interest of his researches, before that gentleman 

 can reach his own country (which must be considered a problem), or 

 the fruits of his exertions shall have quitted British India. These are 

 destined to enrich the Cabinet of Vienna, and we may imagine the 

 precious banquet they will afford to such eminent literary patrons as 

 Klaproth and Von Hammer. 



[We thank Dr. Gerard most cordially for his zeal on behalf of the Journal, 

 but it would indeed be presumption in us to imagine the German Doctor's coins 

 could be better disposed of here than in the hands of the eminent men he names. 

 We appeal toM. ScHLEGEL'snote on Bactrian coins too often to allow of our under- 

 valuing such high authority. We have been obliged for want of space to curtail 

 the foregoing memoir, and to omit for the present Dr. G.'s remarks on the 

 climate aud country of Kabul and Jelalabad. We have said nothing on his hypo- 

 thesis that these mounds are the sepulchres of kings ; a theory also adopted by Mr. 

 Masson, but contradicted by most other authorities, who look upon them as 

 Buddhist structures. This supposition is confirmed by the existence of similar 

 mounds in Nipal and elsewhere, and by the very nature of the relics discovered in 

 them. — Ed.] 



III. — Extracts from Mr. Masson s Letter to Dr. J. G. Gerard, on the 

 Excavation of Topes, dated Tattung, 22nd March, 1834. 

 The fourth tope I opened had in its centre a small chamber, with 

 nothing therein but a little loose dust. I excavated to the very soil 

 beneath the foundation, but nothing farther was discovered : eighteen 

 days' labor were expended here. In the central chamber was a small 

 cobweb with its tenant, a spider, apparently in good health and spirits. 

 The tope was 144 feet in circumference, and how the insect got there, 

 and contrived to live, is somewhat astonishing ; if he introduced himself 

 at the period of the erection of the tope, he must have been above 1600 

 years old. I know not whether naturalists will concede to his species 

 such extraordinary longevity. The results of three other topes will be 

 known within the three next days. Of one of them a nishdn or token 

 of there being something has been brought to light. Although by the 

 experience of the fourth tope, I find that some of these structures do 

 not contain relics, by which they may be identified, as coins, writings 

 on leaves, &c. yet from the experience of all hitherto opened, I am 

 confirmed in the opinion, that no one is without a sign or token of 

 some kind, if it be only a small recess or chamber in the centre. 

 Ultimately, a line of distinction may be formed between the topes of 

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