serve their ancient name, Jet. The Greek kingdom of Nysa may have sprung up on the subversion of that of Bactria, or, may have been coeval with its latter existence; be this as it may, we are warranted in the belief, that, it flourished for a long subsequent period and it is only after its extinction that we can consider the coins of KANHPKOΣ chronologically, as we cannot suppose sovereigns reigning synchronously at Nysa, or Jelalabad, and Kábul. The type and general appearance of these coins favor all these suppositions, and while we identify them as belonging to a dynasty whose metropolis was at Kábul, we may conclude it to have succeeded the Greek one of Nysa. Whether the Nysæan government was subverted by KANISHKA I cannot determine, but if so, his era must have been considerably later than about 130 B. C.

The king on these coins appears in the double character of king and priest. My acquaintance with Buddha literature is too slight to enable me to affirm that such was the character of their princes. The altar we can by no means allow to be a fire altar, that is, as connected with the worship of MITHRA; it is simply an altar, to which indeed fire is a general accompaniment, or at least when incense is to be offered, in the act of which the king here appears to be employed. This altar very fortunately occurs, as it permits us to connect at least five distinct varieties of coins without the possibility of error.

Series No. 2. Coins of KAAPICHC, &c.

The exact coincidence of the costume and position of the king, with the presence of the incense altar on these coins, can leave no doubt of their connection with those of KANHPKOΣ, and establishes the fact of the sovereigns belonging to the same dynasty. A tope opened at Kábul by M. M. HONIGSBERGER proved to be the sepulchral monument of KAA÷ICHC and from it was extracted a basin of factitious metal, with a gold coin, the legend on which was BACIAETC KAAPICHC-OOH (a representation of this coin is given as a supplementary one). This discovery is of eminent importance, as fixing the capital of the sovereigns of this dynasty beyond doubt. The copper medals of KAAPICHC, are of very fair execution; the legends on the obverses corrupted, but very legible Greek. They ally with the gold medal, have the same monogram OOH, which may be of much asistance. I incline to place the series of KAA÷ICHC before that of KANHPKOΣ in a chronological point of view.

Series No. 3.

This series may very safely be placed in succession to the two former, while the absence of the altar proves them distinct. I have not leisure to offer many remarks, which these coins suggest; but as the legends are evidently Greek, or intended for such, I trust that eventually we shall be able to appropriate them with certainty.

The princes, whose coins constitute the two grand classes, just noted, excluding those of the recorded Bactrian monarchs, may, I conclude, be supposed to fill up by their reigns the period between the overthrow of the Bactrian empire and the subjugation of the provinces west of the Indus by ARSACES MITHRIdates. The former event occurred about 130 years A. C. and the latter without means of reference I cannot determine*. The coins of Beghram are by no means exhausted, and fresh collections will doubtlessly put us in possession of many new ones; indeed, I have now a few unintelligible coins, both Greek and Indo-Scythic, whose types although unrecognizable are certainly different from those described. The princes whose coins are found on any known spots or site, may fairly be held to have reigned there. In the first or Grecian class, the Beghram collection yields us two princes of Series No. 2, two at least of Series No. 3, eight at least of Series No. 4, or the Nysæan princes, and two at least of the unarranged coins-making a total of fourteen Greek kings. The Indo-Scythic class yields us at least nine princes; if the reigns of the whole of these princes be averaged at fifteen years each, the total gives a period of a hundred and forty-five years, which would bring us to about 25 A. D. New discoveries will certainly carry us to a much later period.

I shall now close these brief and general remarks on the Greek and Indo-Scythic coins of Beghram, which I had intended to have made public, at a future period, and in a more formal manner, in England, had I not been apprized of the intense interest excited by recent discoveries in this species of antiquities. I write from a country particularly interesting, and the neighbouring regions are perhaps as much so, at least to the antiquarian and historian, as any in the world. The Hindoo Kúsh alone intervenes between us and Badakshán, where if we may not be so sanguine as to allow its princes even the honor of a bastard descent from ALEXANDER the GREAT, we may be gratified in beholding the posterity of OxARTES, his father-in-law, and of SISYMITHRES, his benefactor and friend, or of those who govern in their seats; also of solving the geographical, problem as to the source of the Oxus, by ascertaining whether it issue from a glacier as represented to Mr. ELPHINSTONE, or whether it emanate from a lake as recorded by PLINY.

For the last six or seven years, I have directed my attention to the antiquities of Central Asia, particularly to the vestiges of its Grecian conquerors and rulers. In spite of conflicting circumstances, I have made many discoveries, which one day, by the favor of the Almighty, I shall make public. I shall not remit my labors: notwithstanding * VAILLANT places this event in the year 144 A. C. and the final subjugation of Bactria by the Scythians in 126 A. C.-ED.

the inevitable casualties of time, notwithstanding the defect of historical records, notwithstanding the merciless and destructive ravages of Muhammedan conquerors, I think, I trust, we have sufficient evidences and indications still remaining, to enable us to decide with certainty, or to arrive at plausible conjectures on, most of the interesting points connected with these countries, from the period of the Macedonian conquests to the introduction of the Islam faith.

P. S.

Remark on the Etymology of Manikyala.

General VENTURA proposed as the etymology of Manikyala, “ the City of the White Horse." Mr. WILSON, very properly dissatisfied with this explanation, substituted that of " the City of Rubies." I beg to propose another which appears to me to be the correct one, and peculiarly appropriate to the building being a Buddhist monument. We find the term Manya or Lord and King, applied to Sakya and other Buddhist princes; thus Sakya Manya, "our Lord Sakya ;" Abhi-Manya, our Lord Abhi. Kyala, signifying a place," that is of any kind, why should we not read Manikyala," the place or grave of our Lord or King," that is "the King's Grave;" a simple etymology, coinciding with the purpose of the monument, truly Buddhist*, and which will prevent us from bestowing on a city, a name, I suspect, it never had. It is singular and deserving of notice, that of all the topes so numerously found in various parts of these countries, that of Manikyala alone should have preserved its original Buddhist name.

Enumeration of Coins collected from Beghram, by C. M. Class Grecian-Series 1. Recorded Kings of Bactria:

* On Mr. BURNES and myself visiting Manikyala, his Munshi or surveyor instantly remarked the similarity of the structure to that of Buddha monuments in Bombay.-J. G. Gerard.

Unintelligible and useless, chiefly Indo-Scythic, as Figs. 3, 4, & 5, of

Series, No. 2,

Grand Total, Copper,

Gold and Silver, Cufic, &c...

161

34

122

1490

375

1865

14

1879

Analysis of the Beghram Greek Coins with reference to Plates. Plate VIII. Series 1st-Recorded Kings of Bactria.

MENANDER.

Fig. 1. Obverse. A helmed head with Greek legend BAXIAEN ENTHPOE ME

ΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ.

Reverse. A figure of victory standing to the left, the right-hand stretched holds a wreath, the left-hand depends by the side, and holds a palm branch, legend Pehlevi.-Monogram

B.

This is one of fifteen quadrangular coins in my possession. I selected it for a specimen, both on account of its superior preservation, and of the youthful appearance of the king. They all essentially agree, excepting that on the others the figure of victory is standing to the right. The monograms vary, HE and HX. On these coins the features of the celebrated Menander display the various transitions from youth to manhood.

Fig. 2, Obverse. Head of elephant, with legend as preceding.

Reverse. A lengthened figure (fish?) legend Pehlevi-Monogram H A. Fig. 3, Obverse and reverse as preceding-Monogram appears to be A P.

Fig. 1, is one of twenty-one copper quadrangular coins in my possession, with the same monogram, although struck at various times and with different dies. -Fig 2 is given on account of the variance, in the form of the elephant's head, and of the monogram; it is the only one of the coinage I have met with.

Fig. 4, Obverse. A helmed head with usual Greek legend.

Reverse. Figure of owl-legend Pehlevi-monogram

This is an unique specimen-a beautiful coin. The owl, it is well known, was an emblem of Minerva, and, figuratively, of Wisdom.

APOLLODOTUS.

Fig. 5, Obverse. Figure of Apollo, standing to the left, his right-band holding a dart or arrow; left resting on a bow-the legend BAXIAENE

ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΟΤΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ.

Reverse. Emblem with two supports, in an oblong square, defined by dots or points-legend Pehlevi-on the right of the emblem is an ambiguous character, which may be the monogram.

Fig. 6, Reverse. Emblem with three supports. (Oracular tripod of Apollo at Delphos ?)-legend Pehlevi-monogram to the left of the emblem

Fig. 7, Obverse.
Reverse.

and ambiguous. The obverse of this coin resembles the preceding, therefore not given.

Figure of Apollo standing, facing the front-legend the usual one. The same tripodical emblem, differently designed-legend Pehlevi -monogram H.

These are three from nineteen copper quadrangular coins in my possession, and will shew the various types of the coins of Apollodotus. Figures 5 and 7 are single specimens. The omission of the prince's bust will be here noticed, and the substitution of the deity Apollo, to whom he was probably consecrated on his birth, whence his name Apollodotus, or the gift of Apollo.

Fig. 8, Obverse.
Reverse.

Fig. 9, Obverse.

EUCRADITES.

Helmed head-Greek legend BAZIAENE METAAOT ETKPATIAOT.
Two horsemen in charge, with spears couchant, and palm branches
-legend Pehlevi-monogram .
As preceding.

Reverse. As preceding-monogram

E.

There are two specimens from sixty-six copper quadrangular coins in my possession. They are all of excellent workmanship, and the figures in spirited relief :— the features of the king are so clearly and strongly delineated as to impress us with the conviction of the fidelity of the portrait, and we recognize therein, a sovereign worthy of his epithet "The Great." The monograms vary from the two noted above, to H, H, and to; the most prevalent is H. Fig. 10. Obverse. Helmed head-legend BAXIAEQ................ .ΕΥΚΙ...

Reverse. Two conical emblems with palm branches-legend Pehlevi. This is one of two copper quadrangular coins in my possession. The letters ETKP being indubitably distinct, can only refer to a prince of the name Eukratides, while the epithet MEFAAOY obliterated on this specimen, being legible on the other, we may safely appropriate them. The conical emblems resembling bee-hives are here first noticed, which is to be remembered, as they are also adopted on the coins of a prince to be next noticed.

Fig. 11, Obverse. Helmed head with usual Greek legend.

Reverse. Female deity sitting, with turretted crown like Cybele; to the