THE GRAVE-STONE OF SULTAN MANSUR SHAH. 387 
should not. But if, to avoid all this, we use SJ and say A eS AS 
the clear-cut shape of the word in the inscription does not justify 
our doing so. 
(2) ne is the plural of jul , and the word “ hope” which 
is given for the translation can only be suitable if the Arabic is in 
the singular form. Besides, Jul is pronounced with a long vowel 
on the first syllable, and thus spoil again any rhythmic agreement 
with Je of which the first syllable is short. 
(3)) Vi the torm: nec is substituted, the agreement in rhythm 
with NA is readily established, for the two would then be of the 
same form ( tiith of place) derived from roots of the same measure. 
The combination makes a perfect little rhymed-prose, with appar- 
ently punning sound—a feature so commonly prominent in short 
Arabic maxims and pithy sayings—such as would become any 
epitaph. 
(4) The meaning of o lo which is “the abode of return” 
or “The Final Abode” would just suit Wei yis which is the 
“abode of change” or “The Transient Abode”. 
(5) In aninscription where, as in any monogram, the letters 
and different parts of the words are highly imterwoven, it is not 
uncommon to find that one and the same stroke serves the double 
purpose of representing two letters of like appearance, or that two 
or more letters of more or less the same form become blended into 
one, or even die away in the meshes of loops and flourishes. In 
this light I think we are quite justified to assume that in the in- 
scription the first “1” of the word || I is partially blended in 
the final “1” of the same word. (See the first line of Plate I). 
No doubt the changes suggested here are not of much conse- 
quence. Still I hope they make for some improvement on the 
reading so far deciphered. 
in, A. Soc., No. 8G 1922. 
