1834.] or ancient Tumuli at Mdnikyala. 563 



of the inscription alluded to in his remarks. The original drawings 

 being destined for Paris, I have, with permission, had fac similes litho- 

 graphed of the whole, as they are of the highest importance towards 

 the elucidation of the history of the ancient monuments at Mani- 

 kyala. 



Plate XXXIV. figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, are the four coins found on the top 

 of the large stone which served as a cover to the niche, containing 

 the principal deposit. These coins are already well known to us, the 

 first being the common copper coin of Kadphises (in this instance 

 written KAA*ICTC) : the other three being of KANHPKI. The reverses 

 on the latter coins are however different from those described in my 

 paper on the subject (page 449) : the running or dancing figure of 

 fig. 2, has occurred but rarely, among the coins heretofore collected, 

 in comparison with the more common device of Mithra or Nanaia ; and 

 where it does, the name is less distinct. The reverse of figs. 3 and 4, 

 is evidently the same personage as is represented on Gen. Ventura's 

 gold coin, standing in lieu of being seated ; and my conjecture, that 

 this figure had four arms, is now substantially confirmed. 



The name is distinctly composed of the four letters OKPO ( which I 

 imagine may be the corresponding word in Zend for the Sanskrit ^f^f 

 Arka, a common appellation of Surya, or the sun. The Hindu image 

 of this deity is in fact represented with four arms, and is often accom- 

 panied with a moon rising behind the shoulders, just as was depicted 

 on the Ventura gold coin*. We can have little doubt, therefore, that in 

 this device we behold the substitution of the Hindu form of the solar 

 divinity for the Persian effigy of Mithra. 



Plate XXXIII. Fig. 5, is stated by M. Court to be a precise copy 

 of the inscription found on the lower surface of the large slab of stone. 

 This is doubtless the most valuable and important of his discoveries ; 

 for it will inform us of the precise nature and object of the monument 

 in question. Although my progress in decyphering the character in 

 which it is written, of which I hope shortly to render an account, does 

 not yet enable me to transcribe the whole, still I see very distinctly in 

 the second line the word Malikdo, king, in the very same characters 

 that occur on the reverse of so many of the Bactrian coins. This so 

 far throws light upon the subject, that it connects the monument with 

 royalty, and prepares us to lean more favourably to the hypothesis 

 advanced by all those who have been engaged in opening the topes, and 

 supported by all the traditions of the country, that they are the sepul- 

 chral monuments of kings. I shall have to recur to this question 

 presently in speaking of the liquid contents of the metal cylinders. 

 * See Plate LXXXIX. of Moor's Pantheon. 

 3 c 2 



