Indian Palaeography c13.s2.t1.16

c13.s2.t1.16

Series II includes the relic casket inscriptions of Stūpa II, illustrated by Marshall in pl. CXL, the railing inscriptions of Stūpa II, illustrated on pls. CXXXVI and CXXXVII, and those on the northern gateway of Stūpa I. The casket inscriptions are a class by themselves and show unity of hand, while the railing inscriptions are very varied. The angularity is clearly marked in most of the letters. The casket inscriptions have reduced verticals. The medial *o* is a single horizontal line, while medial *u* in letters such as *pu*, *su*, and *hu* is given by prolonging the right vertical downwards. Though these inscriptions do not show the use of the new technique, they illustrate to a slight degree the influence of the new style of writing. Hence they may be safely dated in the second half of the first century B.C.