Indian Palaeography c18.s4.t4.1

c18.s4.t4.1

There are a large number of inscriptions falling in this period, some dated and others undated. There has been a great controversy as regards the era or eras to which these inscriptions are to be assigned. The chart shown in Pl. XXIII. *4*–*8*, has been made in order to draw attention to the different hands that were responsible for the varying modes of writing seen in this period. In general the inscriptions fall into two categories: (*a*) those represented in nos. 5 and 6 show a great similarity to no. 3 above, but at the same time mark a new stage in the development of the Kharoshṭhī writing, and no. 6 especially brings us to the early years of the Christian era; (*b*) no. 7 is taken from the Takht-i-Bahi inscription of the year 103, which definitely falls in about the middle of the first century A.D. No. 4 shows a late development. Its letters are much more advanced, and the characteristic use of the new letters *kh'a*, *g'a*, *t'a*, *d'a*, *dh'a*, *y'a* and *s'a*, which are formed by the addition of an oblique stroke at the right side of the lower end of the vertical, places it in line with the inscriptions of the Kushāṇa period. In no. 4 we also find the medial *u* shown by a loop and *sa* with the mouth of its head wide open. No. 8, which is taken from the Mathura lion capital inscription,¹ is difficult to date. Here the medial *u* is formed by a loop, and very rarely this loop has an open mouth, but sometimes we also meet with a simple bend. The right hook of *ka* generally slopes downwards, though occasionally we also meet with the angular form. *Kha* has no hood on the top. *Ña* is of the later type, with a crooked hook attached to the upper half of a vertical on the right. *Da* has two forms, one in which the horizontal is less marked, as in no. 6, and the other showing the older form with a significant horizontal line. The lower end of *dha* is drawn at an incline to the left—a form seen in the later period. These double forms can also be seen in *na*, *ba*, *bha*, *la* and *śa*. *Ya* is of the angular type. *Sa* again shows the mixed varieties. The most common is decidedly later, with its head having its mouth wide open. *Ha* occasionally has the lower curve straightened but more often it is awn farther, as in the Kushāṇa period. The most important new cure is the use of new letters *k'a*, *g'a*, *ḍh'a*, *t'a*, *bh'a*, *r'a*, *ś'a*, *ṣ'a* and *h'a*, all of which are not marked in the chart given. Some of the letters are very loosely drawn, showing a wave in the vertical, and the others show a gentle curve towards the left as the verticals descend. These features are strange, and are not seen in any other inscription of this period. I would therefore suggest that this inscription should not be taken into consideration while determining the style of the Scythian period, because its features remind us at once of the writing known in the inscriptions of the Kanishka group of the rulers. Therefore the genuineness of this inscription is not above suspicion.