904 



Notice of Amulets in use hy the Trans- Himalayan Boodhists. — By 

 W. E. Carte, Esq. 



Note. — The kindness of W. E. Carte, Esq. (Surgeon 69tli Regiment N. T.) 

 enables me to lay before my readers the accompanying lithographs, with 

 a note of explanation by our Librarian. Mr. Carte's ingenious interpreta- 

 tion of the effigies on the scrolls, was necessarily limited by his not having 

 the means of interpreting the writing which accompanied them : I have 

 therefore omitted it. I owe to his contribution a singular discovery 

 connected with the rings, to which Mr. Carte alludes. The reference made 

 by him, induced me to examine them more closely with reference to 

 their relation to emblems in use with Tartar nations, and the result goes 

 I think to establish fair grounds for believing that they are no other 

 than specimens of an ancient Chinese currency, brought doubtless by 

 the Boodhist pilgrims from China into Afghanistan. I hope to submit a 

 further paper shortly on the gems and antiques from the late Capt. Conelly's 

 collection, when I shall be able to state my impressions more at length. 



ft 



** Almora, 3 1st August, 1840. 



*' The accompanying scrolls were obtained by me at Rampoor (near 

 Kotghur) in 1838, from some of the nomadic Tartars who visit that 

 place for the purpose of traffic. The scrolls were enclosed in small 

 copper cylindrical cases, with rings attached, and by means of a string 

 worn round the neck, perhaps as amulets. I have in vain endeavour- 

 ed to have the printed, or written parts, decyphered. The Brahmins at 

 this place avre, that they are in the Sanscrit language, though Tibetan 

 character; and as Boodic mysteries, were regarded by them with so 

 much superstitious aversion, not to say horror, that they would not 

 assist in expounding such heterodox symbols. 



" I am now induced to forward them to you, from the similarity which 

 some of the figures delineated in them bear to those on the copper 

 ring, described in No. 14, Plate 2, Fig. 17, of the Journal Asiatic 

 Society, as you will I think immediately perceive on comparison. The 

 hand in Fig. 10, Plate 1, is also conspicuous, and perhaps further 

 coincidences may occur to a more experienced eye than mine." 



