1896.j N. N. Vasu—Copper-plate inscription of Nrsimha-déva If. 231 
The character of this grant may be described’ as Bengali of the 
Kutila type, of the 12th and 13th century A.D. The letters k, kh,-c, t, ps 
y, 7, l,and v, in many respects, resemble the corresponding letters in 
Vicva-ripa-séna’s copper-plate, and the letters a, a, @, g, J, d, t, th and m 
are very similar to those of the modern eg character. The system 
of writing medial vowel-forms (t, f) 1, .» 9.» % tt, tl) and com- 
pound words, resembles the method adopted in the inscriptions of the 
Séna kings and that now followed in writing Bengali. 
As regards orthography, the only points calling for remark are, 
that the (nasal) y and (dental) » are sometimes employed instead of 
anusvara, as in vayca, (Pt. I, line 10), and in sansarpad (Pt. V. ob. line 
4) ; and ¢ for s in the latter portion of the grant. 
Of all the plates the reverse of the second is most particularly 
deserving of notice. The arrangement of certain letters from the 1st 
to the 18th line in this leaf is not similar to that in any other plate. 
Every letter of this leaf forms a curve with its matra; whereas an 
acute angle is formed by the contact of the matra with each letter 
in the other plates. More especially the four letters th, n, p, mand h 
of this portion perfectly agree with the Utkala characters of the 14th or 
15th century. The letters of this portion, which bear no likeness to 
the Bengali, Nagari or Maithili characters of that time, can be taken 
as an early form of the Utkalaksara. 
‘Here I quote the remarks of Mr. Beatnds on the or igin of the Oriya 
characters :— 
‘Whether the Oriyas received the art of writing from Bengal or 
from Central India is a question still under dispute..., Assuming that they- 
got their alphabet from Central, rather than from Northern India, the 
reason of its being so round and curling bas now to be explained....The 
Oriyas and all the populations living on the coasts of the Bay of Bengal 
write on the Talapatra, or leaf of the fan-palm, or a palmyra (Borassus 
flabelliformis)....On these leaves, when dried and cut into proper lengths, 
they write with an iron style, or Lékhani, having a very fine sharp 
point. Now, it is evident that if the long, straight, horizontal matra, or 
top line of the Déva-nagari alphabet, were used, the style in forming it 
would split the leaf, because, being a palm, it has a longitudinal fibre, going 
from the stalk to the point..,.it may suffice to say in general terms, that 
the Oriya characters show signs of having arisen from a form of the 
Kutila character prevalent in Central India, and that its love of circular 
forms, common to it and the neighbouring nations, is due to the habit 
of writing on the Talapatra, Talipot, or palm-leaf, with an iron style.’! 
1 Comparative Grammar of the Modern Aryan Languages of India, Jntro. 
p. 63 ff. 
