B36 Examination of the Inscriptions fApiutr,, 



immense range of low country extending in all directions, and toward 

 the west, reaching to the sea. There is much jangal on the lower hills \ 

 and cultivation, from the want of water, is not very extensive in the 

 low country. Villages appear scattered only here and there. 



" I made as quick a descent of the mountain as possible, that I 

 might reach, before the darkness of night settled upon me, the block of 

 granite near Jimdgad, which contains the ancient inscriptions which, 

 though never deciphered, have attracted much attention. I was able to 

 accomplish the object which I had in view. After examining the block 

 for a little, and comparing the letters with several ancient Sanskrita 

 alphabets in my possession, I found myself able, to my great joy, and 

 that of the brahmans who were with me, to make out several words, 

 and to decide as to the probable possibility of making out the whole. 

 The taking a copy of the inscriptions I found, from their extent, to be 

 a hopeless task ; but as Captain Lang (of the Katiawdd Political 

 Agency), had kindly promised to procure a transcript of the whole for 

 me, I did not regret the circumstance. ,...," 



" I suggested to Captain Lang, a plan for taking a facsimile of the 

 inscriptions. I recommended him to cover the rock with native paper 

 slightly moistened, and to trace with ink the depressions corresponding 

 with the forms of the letters. The idea of using cloth, instead of paper 

 was entirely his own ; and to that able officer, and his native assistants, 

 are we indebted for the very correct facsimile, which he presented to 

 me, and which I forwarded to you some months ago for your inspection 

 and use. Inuring the time that it was in Bombay, it was mostly with 

 Mr. Wa then, who got prepared for yourself, the reduced transcript, 

 and with a native, who at the request of our Asiatic Society, and with 

 my permission, prepared a copy for M. Jacquet of Paris. I had 

 commenced the deciphering of it, when you kindly communicated to me 

 the discovery of your alphabet ; and I at once determined that you, as 

 was most justly due. should have the undivided honour of first promulgat- 

 ing its mysteries. Any little progress which I had made in the attempt 

 to forge a key, was from the assistance which I had received from the 

 alphabets formerly published in your trans cendantly able work, Mr. 

 Elliot's Canarese alphabets, and the rigid deductions of Vishnu Shas- 

 tri, my quondam pandit to whom Mr. Wathen has expressed his obli- 

 gations in his paper on some ancient copper-plate grants lately sent by 

 him to England. Vishnu's palaeographical studies, I may mention, com- 

 menced with Dr. Babington's paper, which I showed to him some years 

 ago; and they were matured under Mr. Wathen. I mention these 

 facts from my desire to act according to the maxim, Suum cuique tribue. 



