1042 Note on Col. Syces' Inscriptions [Dec. 



animals, trees, peafowls, &c. — all of which are to be met with sculptured 

 in Baudha cave temples ; and the coins are impressed with an antique 

 form of the Devanagri which is only met with in Buddhist inscriptions 

 in Buddhist works of art. Now until we find the same symbols, mono- 

 graphs, figures, and the same antique form of the Sanskrit character 

 in Hindu works of art ; (and there is nothing of the kind whatever in 

 the numerous cave temples in Western India dedicated to Shewuh 

 (Siva) particularly there is not any inscription in the antique form of 

 the Devanagri,) we may legimately infer that Buddhists are the authors 

 in cases where these symbols are found, and that Hindus are not the 

 authors. Moreover, the use of the antique form of the Devanagari 

 indicates a priority in the use of it, over those who appear to have 

 used a modified form of it. 



I beg of you to make any use you please of this letter ; for I have 

 not any objection to my opinions being subjected to the test of public 

 criticism. Truth is my object and I am quite satisfied to be set right 

 in case I am wrong. 



Note on Col. Sykes' Inscriptions, by Jas. Prinsep, Sec. As. Soc. y %c. 



Colonel Sykes pays us no small compliment in wishing to trans- 

 fer back again to India for elucidation the numerous inscriptions he 

 so long since collected in the West of India. This is indeed revers- 

 ing the order of things ! — while we are sending to Europe all those 

 great men eminent for their knowledge of the ancient tongues of India, 

 and discouraging (if not persecuting) the study of these tongues by the 

 natives themselves ; — while the public declaration of a late presi- 

 dent (Sir Charles Grey) still rings in our ear, that the subject of 

 Indian literature and antiquity was now exhausted, and that we must 

 seek other matter of physical research to occupy the attention of the 

 members of the Asiatic Society, we are awakened and encouraged to a 

 fresh train of antiquarian investigation by an appeal from our retired 

 comrades, who had carried away with them stores of precious materials 

 to lie long neglected, or to excite fruitless curiosity in a clime uncon- 

 genial to their elucidation. 



More than one great question is certainly involved in the solution of 

 the cave inscriptions of western India. To whom is to be attributed their 

 construction ? From what period have they existed ? — In what language 

 and character are the records sculptured ? — Unknown to Colonel Sykes, 

 the whole of these questions have been already solved as regards the 

 pillar monuments on this side of India : — They are of the third or 

 fourth century anterior to our era : they are of Buddhist foundation; 



