1854.] Literary Intelligence. 391 



and consistent history of Buddhism in India. The work is illus- 

 trated by plans of the topes, and of the architectural remains found 

 in and around them, and by drawings of some of the sculptures 

 from the Sanchi gateway. All archaeologists will not concur in the 

 author's deductions from, nor perhaps in his readings of, the in- 

 scriptions of which fac-similes are published, but all will admit the 

 skill with which he has constructed his history and appreciate the 

 ability with which he has applied the varied knowledge of his sub- 

 ject which he has acquired. The work, it is hoped will be done 

 justice to in Germany, and it will derive additional interest from the 

 publication, shortly expected, of Lieut. Maisey's official report with 

 its illustrations, to the fidelity of which Major 0. here bears testi- 

 mony. 



The conjecture given in the chapter on Chronology as to the 

 cause of the discrepancy of 66 years in the dates assigned by the 

 Buddhist and Brahmanical annals to the inauguration of Asoka is 

 at least a plausible one and receives support from the opinion 

 quoted of Mr. Tumour. Major C. thinks that Asoka' s conversion 

 may have been taken by the Buddhist, as the date of the true foun- 

 dation of the Maury an dynasty. He then proceeds to notice Pro- 

 fessor "Wilson's objections to the identification of the Priyadarsi of 

 the edicts with Asoka, which in our opinion he successfully refutes, 

 and which may perhaps be now withdrawn, for it cannot be denied 

 that the discovery, in No. 2, Tope at Sanchi, of the relics of the 

 Hemawunta missionaries in the same casket stamps authenticity 

 on the narrative continued in the Mahawanso and Dipawanso. 



The chapter on the Gupta dynasty will be read with great inter- 

 est by Mr. Thomas, who will have, Major C. thinks, to revise his 

 chronology of the Sah kings of Gujrat. The true Gupta sera as 

 derived from all sources is here stated to begin with 319 A. D. The 

 earlier date assigned to it by Mr. Thomas is attributed to the erro- 

 neous translation by M. Reinaud of a passage from Aboo Eihan. 



The Buddhist origin of the festival of Jugunnath has already 

 been more than once mentioned as probable. Dr. Stevenson, Col. 

 Sykes and Mr. Laidlay have, with more or less reserve, expressed 

 opinions in favour of the supposition, and Major C. now cites the 

 evidence afforded by ' the absolute identity in form of the modern 



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