Manasara Series (I. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture; II. Indian Architecture according to Manasara-Shilpashastra; III. Manasara on Architecture and Sculpture: Sanskrit Text; IV. Architecture of Manasara: Translation; V. Architecture of Manasara: Illustrations; VI. Hindu Architecture in India and Abroad; VII. An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture) v1.c6.s32.694

v1.c6.s32.694

(4) “ Again, Mr. Fergusson, writing on this subject, complains bitterly of the Bhilsa, and the Sarnath, and the Sanchi ‘ Topes.’ To make the confusion worse he laments—‘ Tope is also the common Anglo-Indian word for a clump of trees.’ Very true, but that hardly justifies the following—‘ In neither sense is the word ever used by natives, who associate ‘ tope ’ with something very different, that is, with cannon or artillery.’ That the natives do use the word freely in designating such monuments, I will now endeavour to show. While they called all lower mounds in this neighbourhood dehiri, the peasantry denied the existence of a Thūpī, Thūpa, Thūva, or even the common dih ; and in my enquiries being compelled to paraphrase the word for their comprehension, after trying buland-tila and other expressions in vain, I accidentally mentioned the much abused ‘ tope,’ and was much surprised to find that they understood my meaning instantly, and helped me to a minute description of the monument and its surroundings. They did not call it thūpa nor thūpi, but simply ‘ tope ’ or, more correctly, ‘ top.’ Now, it would appear from the above that the word is no mere ‘ adoption of ours,’ and that it is used by the natives of India (unless we allow the breadth of the Indus to make a fine distinction), moreover, by the commonest of those natives far and wide."