Elements of South-Indian Palæography, from the Fourth to the Seventeenth Century A.D. c6.s1.5

c6.s1.5

[^1): In considering this question it will be well to recollect what Comte says: “The fortunate custom of hieroglyphic writing....... led to the permanent adoption of hieroglyphics in the case of numbers.” He also remarks that the decimal notation (with value by position) could not have come from alphabetic writing. (“Pos. Polity” English tr. iii., 182.) Now in India there is no trace of indigenous hieroglyphs. [^2): *Bombay Journal*, viii., pp. 225-232; and *Journal of the R. A. S.* New Series, V. pp. 182 ffg. [^3): A good facsimile of these very important plates is given in the first volume of the *Indian Antiquary*. The explanation, however, needs much amendment.