308 On the “‘ Topes”’ and Grecian [Junz, 
IV.—On the ‘‘ Topes” and Grecian Remains in the Panjab. By Lieut. 
Alexander Burnes, Bombay Army. 
‘ [Read at the Meeting of the 29th May.] 
The ‘‘ tope” or mound of Manikyala in the Panjab, which is described 
and drawn in Mr. Expurinstone’s History of Cabz/, has long arrested 
the notice of the curious, both in India and Europe, some of whom 
take it to be a Grecian remain. We are deeply indebted to M. Ven- 
TURA, one of the Generals in Ransi't Sinen’s service, who lately laid 
open this mound at great expense, and put us in possession of much 
additional information regarding it. In my late journey through the 
Panjab 1 went to Manikydla, and was fortunate enough to find several 
coins at that site, and to visit other buildings of a similar description to 
the ‘‘tope,”” which had not yet been seen or examined by Europeans. 
I was directed to the site of these by my friends Mons. Atiarp and 
Court, who are also in Ranur’t Sinen’s service ; through the kindness 
of Mons. Auuarp, I had an opportunity when at Lahore of looking at 
the reliques found by General Ventura at Manikydla. 
There is a brief description of them published in the researches of 
the Asiatic Society, but I may here observe that they consist of three 
cylindrical boxes, of gold, of pewter, (or some mixed metal,) and of iron, 
which were found cased one within another, and placed ina chamber cut 
out ina large block of stone at the foundation of the pile, The gold box 
is about three inches long and one inch and a half in diameter ; it is 
filled with a black dirty substance like mud, half liquid and mixed up 
with small pieces of glass, or amber, which would suggest an opinion, 
of its once being cased in a glass that had been fractured and shiver- 
ed. Among this substance two coins or medals and a piece of string 
or twine were found. The smaller coin is of gold, and about the size 
of a six-pence, having a human figure, and the four pronged instrument 
which marks all the Minikyala coins. The other has two lines of rude 
characters, probably Hindu, on one side, and no writing or symbol on 
the reverse. Many other coins and reliques were found during the 
opening of the ‘‘tope,”’ and the people informed me that some human 
bones were also disinterred; but it is unnecessary to make any further 
allusion to them on the present occasion. 
On my arrival at Manikydla on the 6th of March, 1832, I had an 
opportunity of appreciating the valuable services of M. Ventura, by a 
personal inspection of the ‘“‘tope,’’ now laid open to view by his per 
severing labours. He had first endeavoured to enter the building 
from below, but failed on account of the great solidity of the structure; 
