Indian Palaeography c9.s4: Direction of Writing

c9.s4.1

On the analogy of the Egyptian hieroglyphs, as well as from the fact that the animals mostly face right, it has been suggested that the direction of writing is from right to left, i.e. it begins from the side of the animal's head and goes to its tail. Another argument adduced is from the symbol, Pl. II*b* XII. 3, which has four strokes in the first row and three in the second beginning from the right. But the symbol, Pl. II*b*. XII. 2, suggests just the reverse. Further evidence is taken from the seal given in reading no. 7, where it is suggested that the writing begins from the right but owing to shortage of space some symbols are put on the left below the line. On the other hand, Marshall argues that the writing which begins from the right is actually *boustrophedon*. He cites the evidence of the seals, readings nos. 2 and 3, and points out that the second line possibly begins from the left; reading no. 6, as he says, shows the reverse of the last three symbols in no. 5. But a careful examination of the readings 2 and 3 in the original seals shows that the presence of the animal's head with horn resulted in the second line being placed on the left half. The proof can be seen in reading no. 4, where the second line is in the middle. Therefore the arguments produced are not sufficient to confirm either suggestion. However, if pictographs are predominant in this writing, and if it has any resemblance to the Sumerian pictographic and Egyptian hieroglyphic scripts, the writing may be *boustrophedon*.