1840.] from Bactrian and Indo- Scythian coins. 273 



must be also placed after h, as the word is maha ; the 

 Semitic word malakao is indeed a very doubtful interpretation, 

 while, as the second letter is an h, not an 1, and the third not 

 a k, every shadow of identity with it disappears. 



If then 3. is not d, it must be a consonant, and this cannot 

 be but g, (dj. 5f) The word therefore is mahara-g'6, viz. Great 

 king. Against Mr. Prinsep^s* first opinion, that 3. did never 

 occur as an initial, it has been proved by a later discovery f, 

 that the native translation of the word vucarup commences with 

 a il, the two first symbols are A3., and because a is j, we 

 must read g'aja 9 viz. victory, Sanscrit «T3T, and if there should 

 remain any doubt, I beg to add, that viKtifopoq is also trans- 

 lated by the same native word, as upon the Archelaos coins 

 (As. Jour. v. pi. xxxv. No. 1.) 



Let us here only take up the new word, Maharag'6. Ra as 

 well as ha have in the Indian language a long vowel ; but to 

 denote this there is no symbol extant in the legend on the 

 coins. Upon some copies, as above mentioned, we meet 

 with a point below the h, as upon the Menandros coins (As. 

 Jour. v. pi. xlvi. No. 6. and No. 8;) but m has there also 

 such a point, and even the name Menandros at the last letter 

 before o. In no case can it be taken for a. The point 

 must have another meaning. 



Hence it follows, that the inscription on the coins, does 

 not distinguish between a long and short a, as I have 

 already noticed, when observing on the letter i. This pro- 

 position is of highest consequence for the reading of indigenous 

 appellatives. 



I therefore read mahdrdg'o. If it be even granted, that this 

 royal title might be introduced from contiguous India, and in 

 consequence of this not sufficient to decide of itself the rela- 

 tionship of the language upon the coins, yet, it serves as an 

 indication of the mode we are to follow in interpreting the other 

 titles. 



13. The last syllable in Hermaios is Ta (As. Trans. Vol. iv. 

 PL xxiv. No. 1 ;.) upon No. 3, and No. 4, the 6 occurs in an un- 



* As. Trans, iv. 332. 



t As. Trans, v. pi. xlvi. No. 1. 



