Indian Palaeography c16.s1.19

c16.s1.19

B. Pl. XIX. 3 is taken from the two Vevala-tanna inscriptions, and Pl. XIX. 4 is derived from Maha Ratmale, Naulpata, and Vessagiri rock inscriptions. These two groups of inscriptions make a fundamental departure from the earlier writing. Over and above the fact that these are rock engravings, except one at Vevalatanna, there is a marked improvement in the manner of engraving the letters compared with the cave writing of the earlier group. The forms are no longer crude, but speak of an experienced hand. There is no mistake in the actual drawing of the letters. But these forms do not evolve from the earlier cave writing. They belong to altogether different traditions, almost identical with the writing of the later Sātavāhanas and the early Western Kshatrapas (Pl. IX. 1, 2, 3). The Vevala-tanna inscriptions come closest to the writing seen in the records of Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi. The date 215 read in one of these inscriptions and calculated according to the Ceylonese Buddha era to be 93 B.C.³ does not appear to be correct. I do not think that the signs represent numeral figures at all. They clearly read *makasa*. In the two inscriptions from Vevala-tanna there is a stylistic difference. The cave writing here has equalized verticals, while the rock engraving still maintains unequal verticals. The letter-forms have rounded features, but the lower ends of the verticals are not curved. The medial vowels are now given regularly, as seen in the Sātavāhana records. *A* still has its two left curves meeting the right vertical separately. Both *ga* and *śa* have rounded tops. *Ta* is of the Deccani type. *Da* has its mouth open to the left. *Ra* is serpentine. *Ma* copies only the Sātavāhana form.