Indian Palaeography from about B.C. 350 to about A.D. 1300 c11.s2.t3.1

c11.s2.t3.1

The Jātakas already mention the custom of wrapping up important letters in white cloth and sealing the packet.² At present, official or ceremonial letters often are sent in bags of silk or brocade. In the case of ordinary letters on palm-leaves, the proceeding is simpler; the leaves are folded, their ends are split and joined, and the whole is tied up with a thread.³ It is probable that letters on Bhūrja were treated similarly. According to Bāṇa,⁴ the postal runner (*dīrghādhvaga*, *lekhahāraka*) tied each separately to a strip of cloth and wound this round his head.