78

BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.

Book I.

Tope at Bimenn. (From a Drawing by Sir. Masson,
in Wilson's 1 Ariana Antiqua.')

It shows, however, a very considerable change in style to find it
elevated so far up the monument as it here is, and so completely changed
from its original purpose.

Generally speaking, the dome or roof rises immediately above this,
but no example in this group retains its termination in a perfect state.

Some appear to have
had hemispherical
roofs, some more
nearly conical, of
greater or less
steepness of pitch ;
and sonic (like that
represented in Wood-
cut No. 18) were
probably Hat, or
with only a slight
elevation in the
centre. It seems
probable there may
have been some con-
nection between the

shape of tin' roof and the purpose fur which the tope was raised. But
we have no evidence to lead us to any decision of this point.

One interesting peculiarity was brought to light by Mr. Masson
in his excavation of the tope at Sultanpore, and is shown in the

annexed section (Woodcut No.
19). It is proved that the monu-
ment originally consisted of a
small tope on a large square
base, with the relic placed on its
Summit. This was afterwards
increased in size by a second
tope being built over it.

Besides those already men-
tioned there are about twenty
or thirty topes in the neigh-
bourhood of Cabul but all much
ruined, and feu of any striking appearance. So at least we are led
to infer from Mr. Masson's very brief notice of them. No doubt many
others still remain in spots hitherto unvisited by Europeans.

In the immediate vicinity of all these topes are found caves and
tumuli, the former being the residences of priests, the latter for the
most part burying-plaees, perhaps in some instances smaller relic-
shrines. Their exact destination cannot be ascertained without a
careful investigation by persons thoroughly conversant with the

19. Tope, Sultanpore. (Froi
Masson, in Wilson's 'Ar