No. 35, — 1887.] notes on jAtakas. 



177 



interest, as it gives us what is probably a faithful representa- 

 tion of the famous tree at Buddhagaya, an off-shoot of 

 which still flourishes in Ceylon." 



It appears from the correspondence published in the 

 Academy that the reading proposed by Mr. Childers has 

 been controverted by Messrs. Beal and Fergusson, and on 

 other than grammatical grounds. The former contends that 

 the worship of the Naga Raja was directed to Buddha and 

 not to the tree, and the latter says : — 



" I am afraid the materials do not yet exist in this country 

 for any satisfactory discussion regarding General Cunning- 

 ham's wonderful discoveries at Bharahut. 



" I feel convinced the Professor must be mistaken in his 

 alteration ; in the first place because that part of the inscrip- 

 tion which is visible in the photographs (one-half is in 

 shadow) is so clear and distinct — the letters so deeply and 

 sharply cut that it seems inconceivable that one so long 

 familiar with this simplest of alphabets could have made 

 such a mistake. A more important point, which any one 

 looking at the photograph can decide for himself, is that the 

 tree which E'rapatra is worshipping is not the Bodhi tree of 

 the last Buddha at all, but one of a totally different species. 

 Fortunately, in the same photograph, there is another bas- 

 relief from another pillar, representing a tree which two men 

 are worshipping — in a rather eccentric manner, it must be 

 confessed, by holding their tongues between their fingers 

 and thumbs. Above, flying figures (Gandharvas) are bring- 

 ing wreaths as offerings, and below is a perfectly distinct 

 inscription, which General Cunningham reads : — ' Bhagavato 

 Sakamunino Bodhi'' ('the Bo tree of Sakya Muni '). Now it 

 requires only a very slight knowledge of botany, and still 

 slighter familiarity with the sculptures at Sanchi, to see 

 at once, even without the inscription, that this sculpture 

 is intended to represent the Peepul tree (Ficus religiosa), 

 which is, and always was, the Bo tree of the last Buddha, 

 and which, or whose lineal descendants, still grows at 

 Buddhagaya and Anuradhapura. On the other hand, the 



