184 Remarks on the above by E. C. Bayley, Esq. [No. % 



Remarks on the above by E. C. Bayley, Esq., C. S. 



As the relic with which the ahove note deals has also been for 

 some time before myself, and as the conclusions to which I have 

 come do not altogether, even as to the phonetic values of the letters 

 of the inscription, concur with those above given, I presume to offer 

 a few remarks. 



I would venture in the first place, with all deference, distinctly to 

 join issue with Babu Kajendra Lai as to the language proper of the 

 Ariano-Pali inscriptions. To give the position which he assumes in 

 his own words I quote from p. 182 : — " The only Arian records of any 

 length that have yet been translated are the A'soka edicts of Kapur 

 di giri and the vase inscription from Wardak, and they are both in 

 nearly pure Pali. If they differ at all, the difference is due to their 

 bearing a closer resemblance to the Sanscrit than Pali." 



If this assertion were even to its fullest extent accurate, I would 

 point out in the first place, that the first example quoted gives no 

 support whatever to the conclusion deduced from it. The language 

 of the Asoka inscription was the language of Asoka — whose capital 

 was in Behar. It was probably issued as a quasi religious edict even, 

 and may have therefore rather adopted a sacred dialect than the 

 current vernacular of that province, but even if it were not so, it 

 proves little or nothing as to the vernacular of the countries North 

 of the Jhelum. Asoka would, in a document of the nature of that he 

 was promulgating, adopt naturally the alphabet, but not the dialect 

 of the locality, except perhaps in some very minor particulars. 



As to the Wardak inscription, it must be remembered that in the 

 first place a very considerable 'proportion has even yet not been trans- 

 lated at all. Much of this is, so far as the characters go, legible 

 enough ; for there is no dispute as to the phonetic value of the letters. 

 Had they been capable of transmutation into " pure Pali" I am 

 certain that they would hardly have so baffled Eajendra Lai himself; 

 who would long since in such a ease have solved the enigma of their 

 meaning. 



Even in the parts which he has rendered into English, there are 

 some phrases which are hardly to be taken as " pure Pali" without 

 a straining of the phonetic value of the letters, which, to say the 

 least, is of doubtful admissibility ; but passing over this point, there 



