7o2 Notice on the Antiquities of Rhopal. [Aug, 



third. The two in question are cut on the representations of " Topes" 

 sculptured on the southern entrance which has fallen, but which when 

 standing had the representations in question out of the reach of pil- 

 grims and visitors, The third inscription occupies a band between two 

 compartments on one of the pillars of the eastern gateway, and could 

 not readily be reached. The two longest inscriptions are cut on the 

 stone parallels or cross-bars of the inclosure, and could be removed for 

 transmission to Calcutta without injury to the monument, except such 

 as would arise from their absence. 



The temple close to the eastern entrance to which Captain Fell 

 alludes [Journal As. Soc. of Bengal. Ill, 493] is now wholly in ruins, 

 and I did not notice the Sanscrit inscription giving the date of 20 Sum- 

 but. I regret that Captain Fell's paper was not before me at the time, 

 otherwise the search I should certainly have made might have recovered 

 so valuable a record. I may here observe that Captain Fell's measure- 

 ments of the circumference and height of the monument should be 

 more accurate than mine, as it is now somewhat ruinous. I am sorry 

 however that our measurements of some details do not agree better 

 than they appear to do. 



The Topes at Peepleea-Bijolee do not appear to have been before 

 brought to notice. Three of the most conspicuous stand on the sloping 

 top or back of a low hill, and seven or eight or more, nearly in a line, 

 occupy a lower stage on the same hill. Between two of the upper 

 Topes there is a square platform of earth and rubbish 18 or 20 feet 

 high, — supported by walls of masonry, and ascended by means of a 

 ruinous flight of steps, on which stand the remains of a small temple 

 containing a statue of Boodha surrounded by numerous emblematical 

 figures, and among them, two of men wearing the thread of the twice- 

 born Hindoo classes. The largest of the Topes in question does not 

 appear to exceed 60 feet in diameter. All have a plinth or basement, 

 from which springs the Hemisphere, and all have ramps by which the 

 berm or pathway formed by the plinth may be reached. They appear 

 to have stood within square courts, but there are no remains of circular 

 inclosures of stone with the ornamented entrances which make the 

 Satcheh Tope so remarkable. All of these Topes are more or less 

 ruinous, and there are several heaps of loose stones which once proba- 

 bly formed small Topes. No inscriptions were any where observed. 



