126 Dr. Hoernle — Block-Prints from Khotan. [April, 



Only two pages, towards the middle of the book, make an exception to 

 this arrangement. On these the impressions are placed the other way, 

 parallel to the narrower side of the page. In this way only two 

 impressions could be accommodated side by side ; for these there was 

 plenty of room ; and accordingly the edging lines of the block were 

 inked, and are seen on the page. On the other hand, with this 

 arrangement there was not space on the page enongh for four 

 impressions ; the space was too much for two, and too little for 

 four impressions. Hence the other alternative was adopted of accom- 

 modating only three impressions on each page, by arranging them 

 differently, and tlius utilising the whole of the available space on the 

 page. It seems natural to conclude that those two exceptional 

 pages were the first trial pages. They form together the outer side of 

 a folded sheet. The modus operandi seems to have been, to take a 

 sheet, and fold it in the middle ; then unfold it and place on it as many 

 impressions as the two halves of it would take ; then, after printing, to 

 fold it again ; and finally to bind the folded sheets into a book. 



(2) Block-print p. This book was received by me in October 

 last, together with 13 others, from Mr. Gr. Macartney. Its pages 

 measure 5 x6| inches ; and it consists of 35 forms, each made (as before 

 explained) of one folded sheet, there being altogether 70 leaves. It has 

 no special covers ; only the two outside leaves are not imprinted. It is 

 stitched with three copper nails, which are held in position by two copper 

 slips, one in front and the other at the back of the book, along its longer 

 side. These slips measure 6x f inches. 



Each page bears one impression of the block (Plate I, fig. 1). The 

 edging lines of the block are not shown, excepting occasional smudges. 

 The impression of the type just fills the whole page, leaving only narrow 

 margins on all four sides. The block must have been badly inked ; for 

 the impressions are only faintly visible. Column I, line 7, letter 1 

 exhibits a different reading; see pages 128 and 130. 



(3) Block-print y. This is also one of the thirteen books received 

 from Mr. Macartney in October last. Its pages measure 13| x 4j inches, 

 and it consists of 40 forms, each made up of one folded sheet. It has 

 no special cover : of the two terminal leaves, one is not imprinted at all, 

 while the other is only imprinted on the inner side. It is stitched, in 

 three places, along its longer side, with twists of paper. Each of these 

 three twists is passed through two adjacent holes and tied into a knot. 



Eacli page bears one full impression, and the major portion of 

 mother. Of the latter, the two first lines are wanting, for which the page 

 afforded no space. The two impressions are placed so as to turn their 

 heads to the edges of the page; their foot-lines (line 12 in fig. 1) ac- 

 cordingly meet in the middle of the page. 



