330 On the excavation of the [July, 



sovereign princes, members of their family who did not rule, and of 

 saints, at least it so strikes me On a prima facie consideration of these 

 monuments ; but there is one misfortune, that the contents of none can 

 be judged by the mere appearance. To ascertain them it is necessary to 

 excavate ; and tokens the most useful to antiquarian or historical research 

 are often extracted from such whose appearance is least inviting, and 

 vice versa. The topes, which are well preserved, and whose outlines 

 are clear, are also excavated at less expence, than the dilapidated ones 

 whose outlines are faint or totally defaced. With the first the sanctum 

 sanctorum is reached without chance of error : with the last, the direc- 

 tion of the excavation depends more on chance, and there is the addi- 

 tional trouble of penetrating through the mass of fallen materials around. 

 The famous Nanddrd tope, 1 64 feet in circumference, was opened in 

 eight days ; a much inferior one on the level plain, from which I now 

 expect something, and which has a circumference only of 108 feet, has 

 now employed the same number of men twelve days. 



My search for coins at this place has been very unsuccessful ; I look for- 

 ward however to a glorious stock from Kabul this year, and only hope that 

 my competitors may not raise the market too high forme. I have an idea, 

 if funds permit, to send one of my men to Balkh for a couple of months, 

 for the purchase of antiques : this will moreover depend on my verifying 

 what I have heard from two or three sources, viz. that old coins are 

 readily procurable at that place and neighbourhood. Now that Bactrian 

 coins excite so much attention, you may, if you please, let Mr. Prinsep 

 know that three years since Major Taylor at Bagdad had some sixteen 

 or seventeen Bactrian silver tetradrachms, and that two gold Bactrians 

 were procured at Tabriz, both or one of them by Dr. Cormick. That 

 gentleman's coin was stolen from him. Major Taylor intended his 

 coins, with a vast number of others, for Sir John Malcolm. 



I have heard nothing farther concerning Martin. I learn that he 

 did not forward to Captain Wade the account of his operations on the 

 topes of Jeliilabdd and Kabul, which he had prepared for that purpose 

 in Persian. When I wrote the notice on the Beghram coins, I supposed 

 that he had sent it, as he even read it to me, and made the remark that 

 Captain Wade might publish it if he pleased. I observed that Captain 

 Wade was not likely to do so unless authorized by him : he therefore 

 by a letter authorized Captain Wade to make it public. Neither one or 

 the other was probably sent, and this I merely note in case I may have 

 alluded to this account in the memoir, which I presumed would have 

 been published by the Indian press. The account was simply one of 

 the operations and discoveries, without any hint or opinion as to what 

 age, &c. they had reference. 



