A Tope is a structure built to contain some relic of Buddha. They were generally erected by a king, who used die following form of words in its dedication: “Thrice over do I dedicate my kingdom to the redeemer of the world, the divine teacher, the bearer of the triple canopy, the canopy of the heavenly host, the canopy of mortals, and the canopy of eternal emancipation.” The whole structure was dome-shaped, or, more exactly, canopy-shaped. The relic of Buddha--a tooth, a piece of bone, or the like--was placed in a gold casket. This was placed in the relic-chamber on a golden altar. Then the erection of the building proceeded amidst great rejoicings and with many ceremonies. At its completion the king guided a golden plow, drawn by two elephants, and marked out thus with a furrow a line all around the Tope. All within this line was considered sacred ground. The most famous Topes are those at Sanchi. These are now in ruins. The Topes themselves are all grass-grown and crumbling, and almost all of the magnificent gate-ways lie in ruins. As we have just said, the purpose of these Topes was--not for use as a temple or as a place of living for the Buddhist monks--but simply as a place in which to preserve relics of the dead Buddha. As Byron, in Childe Harold, has sung: “There is a stern round tower of other days, Firm as a fortress with its fence of stone; Such as an army’s baffled strength delays, Standing with half its battlements alone, And with two thousand years’ of ivy grown, The garland of eternity--where wave The green leaves, over all by Time o’erthrown. What was this tower of strength? Within its case What treasure lays so locked, so hid? _A hermit’s grave._” THE GREAT SANCHI TOPE.