Indian Palaeography c17.s3.13

c17.s3.13

(iii) This is the last group of inscriptions dealt with here. Pl. XX. 11 is taken from the Bayang inscription, dated A.D. 604 and 624, and the Vat Chakret inscription of Īśānavarman. Of these the latter shows the simplified version of the writing. Pl. XX. 12 is taken from the Ang Pou inscription of the time of Īśānavarman and the Ang Chumnik inscription, dated A.D. 628. Pl. XX. 13 is derived from the Ang Chumnik inscription of Jayavarman, dated A.D. 667. In this group the two new tendencies seen in (ii) are more clearly brought out. The northern forms of the letters all continue here. The simplification is further marked in the forms of *ka* and *la*, where all the verticals are reduced to equal height—a tendency that may also be seen in the doubling of the vertical of *ra*. A new feature seen in nos. 12 and 13 is the development of an optional loop at the left corners of the open-mouthed *ṇa*, *la* and *kha*. The extended curves are also sometimes seen, as in *a*, the medial *ā* in *jā* and *ṇā*, and the cursive *o* in *lo*. The right hook of *ña* in *jña* is extended downwards. The medial *ū* in *bhū* and *gū* is generally of the double-curved type, though the broad curve of the Pallava style is also occasionally seen. The medial *ā* in *yā* is attached to the third right vertical instead of the middle one. The medial *o* now becomes standardized with one top stroke on the right and another stroke turned downwards on the left. The curve of the medial *au* is extended downwards. On the whole the tendency towards linear simplification becomes more and more pronounced in this series of inscriptions. This tendency affects the development of the later regional scripts.