107S Note on Inscriptions from [Dec. 



I prepared a copy of my work (on a large scale) in pale ink, and 

 again returned to Khandgiri on the 18th of December ; I compared this 

 copy with the original, correcting all errors with ink of a darker shade 

 and completed such parts as had remained unfinished on the former 

 trip. This I accomplished in eight hours and returned the same day 

 via Bobaneswar to CultacJc. 



1 had again occasion to observe the great advantage of performing 

 such work towards sunrise, and more particularly about sunset. The 

 degree of light at that time being most favorable, faint letters which 

 in the glare of noonday are not perceptible become clearly so then : 

 I would observe however that I always mark such letters with dotted 

 lines, as are doubtful. 



The nature of the stone at Khandgiri, Dhauli*, and of the Bobanes- 

 war temples is such as to render it quite impossible to take off facsi- 

 miles, as will be seen by the specimens of the different rooksf. 



characters. The solution attempted by the P£re Trieffenthaler, does not seem 

 to me to meet any attention^. The natives of the district can give no explana- 

 tion whatever on the subject. The brahmins refer the inscription with shudder- 

 ing and disgust, to the Budh ka Amel, or time when the Buddhist doctrines pre- 

 vailed, and are reluctant even to speak on the subject. I have in vain also ap- 

 plied to the Jains of the district for an explanation. I cannot however divest 

 myself of the notion that the character has some connection with the ancient 

 Prakrit, and considering that it occurs in a spot for many ages consecrated to 

 the worship of Parasnath, which the brahmins are pleased to confound with the 

 Buddhist religion, and that the figure and characteristic mark which appears in 

 company with it, thus '-f* does in some sort seem to identify it with the former 

 worship % I am persuaded that a full explanation is to be looked for only from 

 some of the learned of the Jain sect." 



* We have not yet been able to insert the facsimiles of the Dhauli. 



f The rock is a coarse sandstone grit, or shingle conglomerate. — Ed. 



J He says, speaking of Feroz Shah's pillar: Apres avoir beaucoup et long 

 temps cherche" j'ai trouve" la signification de ces caracteres. Ce sont en partie des 

 signes numeriques, en partie des figures d'instrumens de guerre dont les Indiens 

 se servaient autrefois. & est le caractere du nombre huit: 8 celui du numbre 

 quatre, O designe le sceptre de Ramajointa A un globe ; N d^signe la figure d'une 

 charrue que etait autrefois un instrument de guerre chez les Indiens. X a de la 

 resemblance avec la lettre qui signifie C ou K : il est plus probable cependant 

 que cette figure de d'xx Roman ou Ch Grec designe une fleure a quatre feuilles 

 dont les gentils employent quelque fois le figure pour servir a l'interponctua- 

 tion des mots ; A triangle qui est la deesse, Bavani ; € est la caractere du nombre 

 6. E enfin designe une espece de pallebarde avec laquelle Ram couchee sur le 

 carreau un geant k mille bras. Des que ces caracteres out de la resemblance 

 avec les caracteres Grecs, quelques Europeans ont cru que cet obelisque avait 6t6 

 sieve" par Alexander le grand: mais e'est une erreur, &c. 



