Indian Palaeography c14.24

c14.24

the right of the vertical, first bends its vertical, and later as the hook is drawn in one and the same action, a loop develops at the junction of the vertical and the hook. The original round-backed *da*, which had its mouth open to the left, first has its upper and lower appendages inclined, and then, after the head-mark becomes the general fashion, the lower appendage vanishes. The cursive form again receives a rounded back, but with the mouth open to the right. The letter *na* first bends its base, and, finally, a loop develops at the junction of the vertical and the base. The original stepped *da* first slants its middle bar, then curves its angles with the elongation of the lower stroke, and finally develops a round-backed form in the Deccan. In the letter *ṇa* the upper stroke plays a predominant role, though the base also bends as in the case of *na*, and rarely develops a loop (not shown in the figure). The upper stroke bifurcates on either side of the vertical and gradually tears asunder the vertical, leading to the shape of 𑀡. The two curves separate farther and stand on the original base. This is the open-mouthed *ṇa*. The triangular base of the letter *ma* is changed. First it flattens out and then the triangle is placed on one side. In one case the base of the triangle merges with the longer arm, producing a tailed *ma*. In the other case the apex of the triangle opens and we get an open-mouthed *ma*. In the case of *sa* the left hook becomes a part of the left stroke, and when they are drawn in a single action with the remaining limbs the looped *sa* is produced. Both the letters *la* and *ha* play upon their originally insignificant tick, which gradually becomes rounded and ultimately finishes off the original bar to produce the hooked *la* and *ha*. Another significant change is seen in the subscript *ya*, which in the Mathura inscriptions develops a looped variety until finally this loop absorbs the base and the remaining verticals, resulting in the hooked variety of the subscript *ya*.