1854.] Coins of Indian Buddhist Satraps. 707 



precious things, either of metals and gems, or of gems only. The 

 simple fact of the discovery of these precious things in the topes of 

 Cabul and India is, in my opinion, a sufficient proof of the Buddhist 

 faith of the founders. But there is other evidence on this point 

 still more conclusive and satisfactory to be found in the inscriptions 

 which are engraved upon the relic boxes. I need not n fer to those 

 of the Bhilsa topes, which I have already published,* and about 

 which there can be no doubt, but to the three inscriptions which 

 Masson obtained from the Kabul topes. The principal of these was 

 engraved on a steatite vase extracted from No. 2 tope at Bimaran, 

 on the plain of Darunta near Jelalabad. 



This important inscription consists of two lines ; the upper line, 

 which is engraved on the lid, being only an abbreviation of the 

 longer one on the body of the vase. Both of these inscriptions 

 open with the wordsf 



Bhagavdna Sarirahi 

 that is " (stupa) containing relics of Bhagfwa'n," oy Buddha. Now 

 the word Sarira is the very term that was used by the ancient 

 Buddhists to designate the relics or mortal remains of the founder 

 of their religion, or of some of his principal followers. This peculiar 

 word, under the form of sha-li-le, is still used by the Chinese Bud- 

 dhists, and with the same signification. Lastly, it is correctly spelt 

 with the palatal sibilant "sx, and not with the common s, if. The re- 

 maining words that are common to both lines of the inscription con- 

 tain the names of the builder of the tope and of his father. Unfor- 

 tunately some of the letters of these names are of unusual form, 

 but the concluding word putrasa proves that the preceding letters 

 must contain two names. I read this part of the inscriptions as 

 follows : 



Sri Tab'acliitrasa Khamaspada putrasa, 

 " (Gift) of Sri Tabachitra, the son of Khamaspada." J 



The date of this tope may, I believe be safely ascribed to the close 



* See «« Bhilsa Topes," p. 298 



f See Ariana Antiqua, PI. II. of antiquities. 



X The shorter inscription ends with four letters of which the first two appear to 

 be d and n, for dan, a gift. The other two letters are doubtful. I read this 

 inscription as follows : 



