The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-05-24

tower.
discovered by a Frenchn1an.
The origin of the discovery came
from a French scientist who came
ont to India q few years ago 10
study Buddhism. He had the writings
{. these pilgrims, and from them ne
located the site of the pagoda as pc
ing under one of two mounds Wnlcn
lie about a half mile east or the clty
Of Peshawar. At that time there was
no tower in existence. 1t had fallen TO
ruins centuries ago. ana no VeStgeS
were in sight excepting these mound
The FrenchTnan's name was toucner.
Mr.. Foucher found himself unable
to make the excavations required TO
verify his theory. He presented his
evidence. however, to DR.. Spooner. Of
the archaeological department OF the
Indian government. and the latter
took UP h work. That was two years
ago. Since then the mound have been
due over and the remains of the great
tower found. The heavy foundation
was uncovered. and it was shown to
have been larger than any other
known Buddhist pagoda. 1t was
square, with massive walls OF dressed
stone, and, according to the records or
Hcuen Chwang the Chinese Buddhist
pilgrim. it was so lofty that four
towers had to be built at the corners
to hoist the coping stones into place.
The remains Of those towers have been
found.
After the dimensions of the pagoda
had been outlined, and the heavy foun-
dation uncovered, the British archeo-
iogists sank a shaft down through the
stone floor to a depth Of twenty feet,
and came to the relic chamber de-
scribed in the records. There, IN that
little stone room. which had been
buried from the sight of mar for over
2.40O years, they found a bronze cas-
l:~L - g.. Il
in diameter.
1t was round, and it had a lid, slight
~ curved at the top, made to repre-
sent q full-biOWn lotus, upon which
a small figure Of Ruddha sat. Along
the lid of the box which overhung was
. frieZe Of flying geese. and lower
down arOund the main body of the
cashet we're figures of Buddha, beau
tifulLy carved, representing him in
the different stage of his life. In the
center Of these was engraved a large
standing figure of King k~aniShka. the
great Buddhist ruler and c~onqueror
of the time the CaSket was made, and
there were also inscriptions stating
that the maker was the head engi-
neer of this king.
Upon opening the casket a lump Of
rock crystal was found within. This
had beer followed out at one end
for the reception of the relics. 1t was
originally sealed with clay, but the
moisture had detached the seal, and
this was found lying at the side of
the crystal. Coins bearing the mead
Of Kanishka were also found. The
government of India considers the
relics as beyond any doubt genuine.
A Buddhist Revival.
During my present trip around the
world l have travelled extensively
through the great lands Of the Budd-
hists- 1 first stopped in Japan, where
the more advanced followers Of this
religion are modifying their faith to
suit our modern civilization. ! saw a
temple in Kyoto which has an income
of 5000, 900 a year, and in Korea found
the missionaries of that church at
work.
The Buddhists are adopting the
same plans OF propagating their faith
as those used by us Christians. They
have Buddsist Young Mems Associa-
lions, corresponding to our Young
Mems Christian Associations, and are
now publishing tracts and distributing
all sorts Of religious documents. Dur
ing my stay in China I visited the
where the Dalai Lama, who had come
from Tibet, was stopping while en-
gagged in conference with the high
Chinese officials. While in Burma I
inspected many Of the Buddhist mon
asteries there. and talked with the
20 0iiu Alld Io~tI uUo1
the shfines of the Colder Pagoda at
Rangoon. That pagoda is built over
eight hairs which came from the
head Of h great Buddha, and it's
sanct1ty is surpassed only by that
of the temple of Handy. which con-
tains Buddha's favorite tooth.
This tooth was brought to Ceylon
more than sixteen centuries ago by a
princess, who concealed it in her cloth
ing Since then it has been fought over
and captured and re%captured during
several wars, and it Is now so holy
that 1t Is shown only with the con-
sent or the government. The tool
looks more Ike the tooth Of a croco-
ollie than that of a man. It Is a piece
of ivory about an inch in diameter
ana as ionS as my little finger. IT
reposes on a lotus flower of pure gold
uhoer a nest Of seven bells of gold
set with jewels. People come from all
parts of the Buddhist world to wor.
snip at this shrine; and it is said