482 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [July, 1907. 



p 



tions/' (Biihler, Indian Palseogra'pliyy 78)- That lu India a 

 new set of symbols came into existence witli the new notation 

 and that the old ones were discarded is remarkable. Of course, 

 of the old symbols ten only would be required for the new system, 

 but when it is pretty plain that, at the most, only two of the old 

 figui^es were employed (and these are extremely doubtful) in 

 the new notation, it points to no uncertain conclusion. But how- 

 ever interesting the derivation of the forms of the symbols may 

 be, it is apart from my subject. The only conclusions yet 

 arrived at by the investigation of the forms are extremely fanciful 

 probabilities at their best. 



As regards the introduction of the new notation, i.e,^ a nota- 

 tion in which the idea of ' place value ' is utilized, the earliest 

 Indian epigraphical instances are contained in the following list 

 which has been compiled from those given by Fleet (Corp, Inscript. 

 Ind., 209 n.), Kielhorn (Epigr. Ind. iv and vii) and others. This list 

 contains many examples of no value, as will be shown in the 

 sequel ; but, as most of these worthless examples have been used 



pro 



necessary 



Cir. 

 A.D. 



(1) 339 £ 



.., Ind. Antiq. xviii., 311. 



I) 594 C. 346 Gurj ara grant from San- 

 kheda 



Ind. Antiq. xxiv., 11- 



646 



... Epigr. Ind. ii, 20. 

 Journ. Asiatiaue, 



(4) 674 V.731 Kanheri inscription ... ib. p. 392. 



(5) 683 G.365KairaplatesofSiladityaIII Journ. Asiatic Soc 



Bengal, vii., 969. 

 Antiq. xii., 155. 



Antiq. xi., llOf. 



(8) 804 S. 726 Baijnath inscription ... Epigr. Ind. i., 112. 



(9) 813 S. 735 Torkhede copper-plates... Epigr. Ind, iii., 54. 



(10) 843 S, 765 Kanheri inscription, A.... Ind. Antiq. xiii., 136. 



(11) 853 S. 775 Kanheri inscription, B.... Ind. Antiq. xiii., 134. 



(6) 736 V. 794 Dhiniki copper-plates of 

 Jaikadeva 



(7) 754 S. 675 Samangad grant of Dan- 

 tidurga 



Ambamath t 



(13) 862 S. 784 Deogadh Jaina inscription Epigr, 

 V.919 ' Arch 



(14) 876 V. 933 Gwalior inscription of 



xvii., 94. 

 Ind. iv., 31( 

 Survey, x. 



Bhojadeva. 



Epigr 



Bagumra inscription ... Ind. Antiq. xii., 181;. 



131; 



(I5a) 867 S. 789 Gujarat inscription 



xviii., 56. 



(TV 



(16) 877 S. 799 Kanheri inscription, C ... Ind. Antiq. xiii., 135. 



882 H. 276 Pehevi inscription of 

 Bhojadeva ... Epigr. Ind. i., 186. 



