1885.] Dr. R. Mitra — On a Gop^per Plate Inscription from Dacca. 51 



some ancient inscriptions the figure is shown with one or two spurs in 

 front, and the words preceding them show that, so altered, the symbol 

 stood for 200 or 300. As it occurs without a spur in the record under 

 notice, it must be one, and the date must be read Samvat 713, Vaisd- 

 kha 13. The year given would make the record correspond with the 

 Christian year 771, and this would not be inconsistent with the style 

 of the letters. The proposed value of the figure, however, if accepted 

 to be correct, and it is difficult to get out of the inference, would neces- 

 sitate at least a thorough re- examination and a possible recastino- of 

 much of what has been already written by antiquarians on the subject, 

 particularly with reference to the origin of Indian numerals. This was 

 however, a large and very comprehensive question, and Dr. Mitra did 

 not think it expedient to notice it in the course of casual remarks on a 

 single record. 



Transcript of a Copper-plate Inscription from Dacca. 



"O I - ^^¥JrT ^W^ m^lf^ ^flf^mT^^jf^^tfil- ^^^TT^ 



Dr. Hoernle remarked that he had not seen the copper-plate, but, 

 to judge from the figures as drawn on the black-board, there appeared 



