1841.] On the Topes of Darounta, and Caves of Bahrabad. 383 



an idea of the place, I am sorry I have not time to make a more elaborate 

 drawing, but must forward it rough, just as it was sketched." 



*The death of the writer of the above, by the premature explosion of a 

 fuse, which he had with equal coolness, and gallantry laid to the gate of a 

 fort in the Bajowur territory, during the recent employment there of 

 Col. Shelton's brigade, has destroyed all hope of the recovery of even the 

 slab. The presence on it, however, of the most unequivocal of Boodhist 

 emblems, obviates all doubt as to the nature of the caves, were there not 

 ample reason for coming to the same conclusion on other grounds. I 

 alluded (As. Soc. Journ. No. 109, p. 97) to the Darounta and Bahrabad 

 discoveries, with reference to those recently made at Kanari by Dr. Bird ; 

 the caves of Kanari we know, from the most authentic sources (Travels of 

 the " Chinese Boodhist Priest Ea— Hian." A. D. 399. M. Remusat's 

 Translation) to have been a favorite place of Boodhist pilgrimage ; the 

 Boodhist character of those at Bahrabad, is proved by the presence in 

 them of emblem peculiar to Bnodh ; the topes at Kanari yield an inscribed 

 plate which records the dedication of the place ' in honor of the most 

 powerful, very wise, and superior Bhagavana Sakya Muni' while ' copper 

 urns, a ruby, a pearl, small pieces of gold, and a small gold box, a 

 silver box, and some ashes' were also found there : at Bahrabad no 

 inscription is discovered, but ' the copper coins, and the rock crystal' 

 (types of the wealth of a poorer people) the ■ small gold box in which 

 were placed several pearls with holes drilled through the centre, and 

 some small pieces of what appeared to be bone,' all go to prove that the 

 races, which at points so far apart, have left these traces of their usages, 

 and their religion were equally Boodhist, although the constructors of 

 the Darounta tope would appear to be the ruder, and less wealthy of 

 the two. They are able it is true to deposit gold, but more sparingly ; 

 ruby is replaced by common crystal ; a stone vase, is used in place of 

 the copper urn, and copper coins supply the bullion of the Kanari tope. 

 The mausolea are evidently those of persons of inferior means, although 

 in the character, and nature of the deposits, we trace an intimate con- 

 nection with the more gorgeous relics of Manikyala. Mr. Piddington 

 has obliged me, with the following notice of the Darounta vases, and 

 their contents. 



' Both the vases are turned out of a fine-grained potstone, and have 

 the marks of the tool (particularly inside) as fresh upon them as if 

 . 



- * Three of my correspondents and contributors in Afghanistan, and anion? theru, 

 1 not the least valued, Captain E. Conoliy, P. B., Lord and Lt. Piguu, were killed iu 

 action within the short space of 8 mouths. 



