CONTAINING SANSCRIT INSCRIPTIONS. 401 



from inscriptions in ancient or unusual character, dis- 

 courages me from placing implicit confidence in their 

 transcripts: and the originals are at present beyond 

 reach of reference, having been conveyed to Europe to 

 be there buried in some publick museum or private col- 

 lection. 



The only amends, which could be now made for the 

 removal of those interesting monuments, would be the 

 publication of copies correctly made in fac simile. From 

 such transcripts, provided they be executed with great 

 care, the text may be decyphered and translated. An 

 exact copy of the Sanscrit inscription on the stone at 

 C'mira in Portugal, enabled Mr. Wilkins to ascertain 

 the date and scope of that inscription ; as well as the 

 names, which it contains *. Similar copies of other 

 inscriptions would in like manner furnish oriental scho- 

 lars with the means of ascertaining tlieir purport ; and 

 the publication of fac similes may, for this purpose, be 

 recommended to those who arc in possession of the ori-r 

 ginals. 



I NOW proceed to describe, and, so far as I have 

 succeeded in decyphering them, to explain, the several 

 inscriptions on ancient monuments in stone and copper, 

 M'hich have been lately presented tQ the Asiatick Society . 



I. Imcriptions on a Plate of Copper fctmJ in the diilria 



o/TiPUUA. 



Towards the end of 1803, a plate of copper wa^ 

 discovered iii digging earth for the repair of the high 



• Mukphy's Tru'cls ia P<?r/«^^'/, p. 277 

 Vol. IX. ^ tt 



