Indian Palaeography c17.s2.3.1

c17.s2.3.1

evidence comes from Oc-èo in Southern Cambodia, where a number of inscribed stone seals have been found. One such seal is also known from Malaya.¹ These seals were apparently not manufactured locally, but were probably imported from India, as was also the case with other types of seals found in this place. From what part of India could these seals come? The only evidence to decide this question is palaeographical. In Fig. 18 the letter-forms are divided into four groups. (A) This has only two letters, reading *deva*. Both letters have line head-marks. *Da* shows the double-curved form, but the lower curve is rather squat. *Va* is triangular. The medial *e* is a top slant. These features were known only in North India and are also to be seen in the later inscriptions of the Western Kshatrapas of Gujarat and Malwa. In terms of the palaeography of this latter region a date in the third to fourth century A.D. will not be far amiss. But on the basis of only two letters it is wrong to be dogmatic. (B) This group of inscriptions is characterized by notched head-marks. Only two medial vowels are used: the long *ā* has a downward tick attached to the end of its horizontal stroke, and the *anusvāra* is marked by a line.