1840.] from Bactrianand Indo-Scythian coins. 27 1 



recurring in the name of Menandros, might denote the nasal 

 sounds in like manner as in the Indian orthography a point, viz. 

 the Anusvara, represents a nasal sound (^j Sanscrit j$j{i, 

 santah), there are two objections ; first, the point is met with in 

 situations, where a nasal sound can by no means be expected, as 

 for instance directly with the following letter in Menandros, 

 where it is placed on the left £ (As. Trans. Vol. v. PL xlvi. 

 No. 8) and secondly, after 1 (at the same place) where it could 

 only denote an a. 



The name Menandros never exhibits the second n, and for dr 

 there is but one symbol. Mr. Grotefend seems to be of opinion, 

 that the last half was omitted, and Menan only extant, but the 

 termination 6 is always found, and the name is complete accord- 

 ing to the native orthography. There must have been there- 

 fore, besides the omission of n before d, which is established 

 beyond doubt by the analogous omission before t, a further 

 alteration of the name. This may suffice for preparatory 

 observation. 



9, For X in Antimachos the figure 5 occurs (R.R. II. No. 4. 

 and As. Trans. Vol. iv. PL xxi. No. 3): at the same place upon 

 No. 4, the character being a little obliterated, is like a *L I 

 shall write kh; the fixing of this letter is due to both my 

 predecessors. 



10. \ is accounted by Mr. Prinsep as a variety of 1, though 

 he likewise was about to explain it by h.* He can adduce 

 authority for 1, only in the native word for king, which he 

 proposes to read malakao> without giving an explanation, as to 

 how this Semitic word may have crept into this place. The 

 proposition to read this word as maharao, he afterwards dis- 

 approves of. Mr. Grotefend, however, reads it thus, and he is 

 certainly right with reference to h. But in order not to be 

 hasty in deciding a point so important (for by reading h we 

 render the language decidedly Indian, and exclude the Zend) 

 let us look for a name, in which h occurs. Hermaios is most 

 proper for this end, because the h is initial ; we only have 

 to premise, that it must also exhibit the symbol of i, i being 



* As. T. iv. 331. 



