[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Indian Epigraphy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965) › c9.t3.7 # Indian Epigraphy c9.t3.7 Indian Epigraphy c9.t3.7 - **Language:** English ### [c9.t3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t3.7) About the last quarter of the 4th century B.C., Nearchus seems to have noted that the Indians used to write letters on well-beaten cotton cloth.⁴ According to the \*Life of Hiuen Tsiang\* by Hwui Li, king Harṣa 'wrote some letters on fine white cotton stuff and sealed them with red wax (or a composition)' and they were handed over to the official guides (called \*Mahattaras\*) of the Chinese pilgrim for presenting them to the authorities of the countries through which the pilgrim would pass.⁵ The \*Harṣacarita\* (Ucchvāsa V) mentions a \*lekha\* or letter brought to Harṣa by a person, which is stated to have been 'tied in his forehead-wrap of rags of deep indigo blue', i.e. in his blue turban. - [Previous: c9.t3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t3.6) - [Next: c9.t3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t3.8) - [Up: c9.t3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t3) ## Cites (1) - [Harṣacarita](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.historical.aryavarta.harsacarita) — Bāṇabhaṭṭa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t3.7) · Pramāṇa