200 REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 



\ t rv unfavourable to the hypothesis of those who think that the Indian 

 sages penetrated the secrets of the cosmos to find that the wisest of the 

 Indian potentates was obliged to borrow extensively from Greece, 

 Arabia and even France and England. 



Sanchi is the site of the most important of the Bhilsa topes, or 

 Buddhist relic mounds, in the State of Bhopal. These remains date 

 from the third century B.C. to the eleventh century A.D. so covering 

 almost the whole period of Indian Buddhism. The oldest stupa dates 

 from the reign of the Buddhist Constantine, Asoka, but it was sub- 

 sequently enlarged and four decorative gateways were added to it in 

 the middle of the first century B.C. There gateways or toranas, seem 

 to be the direct prototypes of the Japanese torn and Chinese pai-lou. 

 They are elaborately carved with scenes from the life of Buddha and 

 the Jatakas or legends of Buddha's previous metempsychoses. Some- 

 what as with early Christian antiquities, Buddha himself is never 

 figured, being only indicated by a symbol. 



The stupa itself was surmounted by a railing and an umbrella, the 

 latter indicating the presence of relics, and it was surrounded by a 

 processional path for the early circumambulatory ritual. 



There are many other remains of a later date, stupas (in some 

 which relics, have been found), pillars, temples and monasteries, and 

 are all well described and illustrated. The stupas show one more 

 example of the grave mound in all its variations from the simple earth 

 mound covering the coffin of primitive man in N. China to the 

 pyramids of Egypt or the hill of Chin Shih Huang Ti. 



Taxila is more elaborate and better known than Sanchi. It was 

 probably part of the Achaemenid Empire and was later occupied by a 

 Macedonian garrison. Being recaptured by Chandragupta it later 

 became the vice-regal seat of Asoka, was captured by the Graeco- 

 Bactrians and overrun successively by the Scythians and Kushans, and 

 was finally ruined by the White Huns in the 5th century. It was 

 visited by Apollonins of Tyana, St. Thomas, Fa Hsien, Sung Yiin and 

 Hsiian Tsang. It naturally shows in its art the most varied influences, 

 but the most noticeable feature is the quickening effect of the Greek 

 spirit. The remains are similar to that of Sanchi but include palaces, 

 and also coins and inscriptions. 



Jai Singh's astronomical instruments and buildings are very re- 

 markable and remind one of the Chinese instruments referred to in 

 the Shu Ching and the old equipment of the Peking observatory. 

 Mr. Kaye describes the astrolabes and other portable instruments and 

 the large masonry sundials and observation structures in great detail 

 with excellent diagrams and photographs. He gives Jai Singh's 

 literary sources and collates all the records, calibrations and memonics 



