Elements of South-Indian Palæography, from the Fourth to the Seventeenth Century A.D. c5.s2.t5.5

c5.s2.t5.5

Inscriptions in this character abound in all the Northern Tamiḷ country, where there is scarcely a temple of any note which has not acres of wall covered in this way. I need only mention the great temples of Conjeveram and Tanjore. It is, however, very unusual to find any with dates that can fully be identified, most being only in the year (āṇḍu) of the king’s reign (or life?), and genealogical details being very rarely given in them. As the list of the Coḷa and Pāṇḍya kings is uncertain, it is thus impossible to procure a series of palæographical standards, and I, therefore, give only three specimens¹). These will show how very little alteration and development occurred between 1073 and 1600 A. D. A very near approach to the modern Tamiḻ character must already have been reached about 1350 A. D. (cfr. Plates xiv. and xix.). The most important point is the conversion of the curve at the top of **k**, **s**, **t**, **n**, and **r** into an angular stroke, thus [Figure:], and this feature appears in an inscription of about 1200. The last letter to finally assume the modern form was **k** about 1500. The greatest development has occurred in this present century owing to the increased use of writing, and to the arbitrary alterations of the type founders²).