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



Each page bears one impression of the block. With the exception 

 of a few pages the edging lines of the block-type are not shown. There 

 is a blank margin round the type, on all foar sides of a page, about an 

 inch, or an inch and a quarter, wide. 



The impressions in this book were taken from a different block, 

 which is shown in Plate I, figure 2. It differs from the block used in the 

 books previously described, by having a third column of text inserted 

 in the vertical blank space, and an additional line of text inserted in the 

 horizontal blank space between lines 7 and 8. The text also agrees 

 with that of book j8, in exhibiting the same varia lectio in column I, 

 line 7, letter 1, see pages 126 and 130. 



(5) Block-print c. Again one of the thirteen books, received from 

 Mr. Macartney, in October last. Its pages measure 4^ x 9f inches ; and 

 it consists of 33 forms, of one folded sheet each. I n point of cover, 

 stitching and printing it is exactly like block-print 8. 



The block used in printing this book was the same as that for 

 printing book 8. The text, accordingly, also possesses the additional 

 column and line. 



Each page bears one fall impression of the block and the minor 

 portion (lines 8 to 12) of another, inclusive of the additional line. In 

 this case the two impressions are not placed, as in book y, with their 

 foot-lines adjoining, but in regular order. The fall impression stands 

 at the bottom of the page ; and above it, is placed tlie mutilated impres- 

 sion, with its additional line, so that the whole page commences with 

 the latter line. 



All the five books, above described, are printed on paper of a coarse 

 quality and a dirty, darkish buff colour. Dr. D. Prain, the Superin- 

 tendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sibpur, who has kindly 

 examined it for me, says that it is of the same kind as the ordinary 

 Nepalese paper, made of the fibres of the Daphne plant. The colour of 

 this paper is yellow, but darkens with age. 



The edges of the books are not cut, but frayed. 



There is nothing to distinguish the beginning and end of a book ; 

 and the pages are not numbered. Nor am I certain what is the top and 

 what the bottom of a page. The figures on Plate I show what I take 

 to be the top and the bottom. I have been guided in this arrangement 

 by the curious resemblance of some of the letters to Kharosthi. 



There are evidently two versions of the text, a simpler and a 

 fuller. The former is shown in figure 1 ; the latter in figure 2. In the 

 fuller text the vertical blank space between the two columns of the 

 simpler text is filled up with additional writing, making up, in fact, a 

 third column, and the horizontal blank space is also filled up with an 

 additional line. 



