Elements of South-Indian Palæography, from the Fourth to the Seventeenth Century A.D. c9.s2.21

c9.s2.21

The chief want at present felt by students of S. Indian history is of accurate copies of inscriptions. Of those on copper plates, impressions are easily made with printing ink. For those on stone, photography will often answer; but the best and safest method is by 'estampages' or impressions on moist paper. The warning against sketches or copies by hand has been so often given that it is unnecessary to repeat it here, or to say more than that most distinguished scholars have repeatedly been led into error by such copies. In a few cases where the stone is much worn, all mechanical methods of taking copies will fail; in such instances, it is, sometimes, possible to read them when the sun's rays fall slantingly on the surface of the stone, and, thus, the depressions are in shade. It was in this way that Rafn managed to read the Runic inscriptions of the Piraeus; but such readings must go for what they are worth.