RECENT DISCOVERIES OF BUDDHIST RUINS IN INDIA. 385 
The archeological surveyor of India having carefully collected 
these, found on them records of some importance. They were 
evidently of the age nearest to Asoka (B.c. 250). They were 
descriptive of sculptures principally relating to the Jatakas, or 
former births of Buddha (Sakya Buddha). Among these was the 
Jataka of Janaka and Sivalidevi; there was also an account of the 
worship of Elapitra Naga paid to Buddha. The inscription is as 
follows: ‘‘ Erapaito Nagaraja Bhagavato vandate;” 7e. Erapatra 
the Nagaraja worships Bhagavat. But Mr. Childers has pointed 
out that ‘‘vandate” must govern an accusative case (Bhagavantam) ; 
and therefore, if the inscription is correctly copied, there must be 
an omission of some such word as ‘‘ Bodhim.” (Mr. Childers has 
since withdrawn this hypothesis.) But it seems to me (the 
lecturer) that the surveyor has possibly mistaken ‘‘vandate” for 
‘“‘namate;’? and, as this last verb governs a dative case, that 
‘‘Bhagavatv” may after all be correct. Nothing but further 
and trustworthy emendations of the inscriptions can settle the 
question. 
The other inscriptions on-these ruins are of a highly-interesting 
character. There is one in which the chief minister of Jeta is 
engaged in covering the site of the Jetavana Vihara with gold- 
pieces (masurans), the price of the plat of ground. Here we have 
an illustration of the phrase ‘suvarnasiitrachtapada nibaddham,”’ 
which occurs in the ‘‘ Lotus of the Good Law,” f. 38, b. It is 
evident that the ‘‘ Friend of the Orphans”’ is covering a space 
divided as a draught-board with pieces of money, and so purchasing 
the site for the future monastery. Mr. Fergusson’s theory, that 
the two persons depicted are engaged in a game of ‘panchari,” or 
draughts, appears wholly untenable. 
There is another suggestive group, in which the two srdmeipal 
figures are represented as ‘‘ whistling” in joy by placing their 
thumb and forefinger in the mouth, and so producing a soft and 
melodious sound in token of their joy. ‘This group also has been 
interpreted by Mr. Fergusson as ‘“ persons engaged in worship by 
holding their tongues between the thumb and forefinger’’—an 
interpretation, as it seems, very forced and unnatural. Many 
other groups are of much interest, but cannot be entered on here. 
We are glad to find from the latest reports that the archeological 
surveyor has succeeded in discovering the site of Kapilavastu, the 
scene of Buddha’s birth and early history. 
