337 
3861.] Translation of a Hadrian Inscription. 
Translation of a Hadrian Inscription from Wardalc in Afghanistan. 
■ — Hy Habit Rajendealala Mitea. 
In Mr. Edward Thomas’s excellent edition of James Prinsep’s 
Essays on Indian Antiquities (Yol. I. p. 163) occurs the facsimile of a 
Bactrian inscription found in one of the topes of Kohat in the district 
of W ardak. Mr. Masson, who discovered it, states with reference to the 
locality where it was found, that the topes are “ situated on the course of 
the river, which, having its source in the Hazrajat, flows through 
Loghar into the plain east of Kabul, where it unites with the stream 
passing through the city. They are distant about thirty miles west of 
Kabul. There are five or six topes, strictly so called, with numerous 
tumuli I found that three or four of these 
structures had been opened at some unknown period In 
the principal tope an internal cupola was enclosed, oi rather had 
been ; and one of those unexplained tunnels or passages led from it 
towards the circumference. I directed certain operations to be pursued, 
even with the opened topes, and pointed out a number of tumuli 
which I wished to be examined, as they were very substantially 
constructed : the results proved successful, in a great measure, and 
comprised seven vases of metal and steatite, with other and various 
deposits.”* The inscription itself was found punched on one of 
the brass vases which, from the circumstance of having been thickly 
gilt, was in an excellent state of preservation, and shewed the dotted 
legend with great distinctness. In shape the vase was very similar 
to the ordinary Indian lotas or water vessels of the present day. 
Adverting to the perfect legibility of the record, Mr. Thomas 
remarks : “ Though it offers this immense advantage over the parallel 
inscription on the Manikydla stone, it has its corresponding draw- 
backs in the new and unknown forms of many of its letters, and the 
little care that has been taken to mark the nicer shades of diversity 
of outline which, in many cases, constitute the only essential differ- 
ence between characters of but little varying form. As it shares 
the present reproach of being unintelligible in its language, we are of 
course deprived of any data whereupon to found conjectures as to 
the values of the unknown characters, and, with very limited excep- 
tions, we are equally denied any aid towards supplying, by the tenor 
* Ariana Antiquay pp, 117 — 118. 
