1871.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 245 
at it, and hope soon to perfect and bring it into practical use in the 
Surveyor General’s office for the reproduction of fine delicate draw- 
ings in line or brush shading, which are not susceptible of being 
reproduced by photography, and also to replace the costly and te- 
dious process of silver printing for ordinary photographs. 
The experience I have already gained has shewn me that the 
process is perfectly practical, and also exceedingly economical both 
in time and in material. It is true the preparation of the plates 
takes a long time, but once the plate is prepared, copies may be 
pulled from it at the rate of from 100 to 200 copies a day, and as 
the plates may be kept ready prepared, the time taken in their pre- 
paration is really of little consequence. As regards the cost of 
materials, I find that the preparation of a square foot of surface 
costs about 4 annas and 6 pie. This is a mere trifle, when the 
great advantages of the process are considered: Ist, in being able 
to copy drawings or other subjects in line with a sharpness and 
delicacy equal to the finest lithography or copper plate engraving, 
and 2ndly, in being able to print copies of shaded drawings or ordi- 
nary photographs, which shall be permanent and perfectly repro- 
duce all the gradations of the original, and I need not point out 
how immensely valuable it will be for the reproduction and cheap 
circulation of photographs illustrating various branches of science. 
I would only further add that I do not put this forward as an 
original process of my own, as I must acknowledge my obligations 
to former workers in the same direction. I can only claim to be 
the first to have worked out a practical process suitable for use in 
this country, and hope that the subject may be taken up by some 
of our Indian photographers. 
II.—WNote on three Arabic Inscriptions by early Muhammadan Kings of 
Bengal, received from A. Broavuzy, Esa, C. 8., Brutar.— By 
H. Brocumann Esa., M. A., Caleutta Madrasah. 
The three Arabic inscriptions which I have the pleasure to lay 
before the meeting, were sent to me, among others, by Mr. A. 
Broadley, C.8., Bihar. Mr. Broadley has taken rubbings of a 
large number of inscriptions, which he found on ruined buildings 
and shrines in the town of Bihar, a town, which in the early 
