814 ON OM3SA PROPER 



to the Creek on, sigraa, lambda, chi, delta, epsiion, and a something closely 

 resembling the figure of the digamma. With regard to the second, any 

 reader who will take the trouble of comparing the Khandgiri inscription 

 with that on Firoz Sli< h's Lat at Delhi,, on the column at Allahabad, on the 

 Lat of Bhim Sen, in Sarun, a part of the Elephanta, and a part of the 

 Ellora inscriptions, will find that the characters are identically the same. 



A portion of the Ellore and Salsette inscription written in the above cha- 

 racter, has been decyphered by the learning and ingenuity of Major Wil- 

 ford, aided by the discovery of a key to the unravelling of ancient inscrip- 

 tions in the possession of a learned brahmin, vide the eleventh article of 

 vol. v.. Asiatic Researches ; and it is to be regretted that the sane has not 

 been further applied to deciphering the Delhi and other characters. Th© 

 solution attempted by the Pere Trieffenthaler, does not seem to me to merit 

 any attention.* The natives of the district can give no explanation what- 

 ever on the subject. The brahmins refer the inscription with shuddering 

 and disgust, to the Budh Ka Amel, or time when the Buddhist doctrines 

 prevailed, and are reluctant even to speak on the subject. I have in vain 

 also applied to the Jains of the district for an explanation. I cannot how- 

 ever divest myself of the notion that the character has some connection 

 with the ancient Pracrit, and considering that it occurs in a spot for many 

 ages consecrated to the worship of Parasnath, which the brahmins are pleas- 

 ed to confound with the Buddhist religion, and that the figure or character- 



* He says, speaking of Firoz Shah's pillar ; Apres avoir beaueoup et long temps cherche jai trouve 

 la signification de ces caracleres. Ce sont en partie des signes numeriques, en partie des figures d'in- 

 strumens de guerre dontes Iudiens se servoient autrefois. A est le caracter de nombre huit : & celui 

 du nombre quatre; O designe le sceptre de Rama joint A unglobc. N designe le figure d'unecharrue 

 qui etoit autrefois un instrument de guerre chezles Iudiens. X a dela ressemblance avee la lettrequi 

 signifie C on K: il est plus probable cependant que cette figure dedix Roman on Ch grec designe une 

 fleur a quatre fetiiiles dont les gentils empioyent quelque fois la figure pour servir al' interponctuatian 

 des mots; A triangle qui est la Deesse, Bavani ; £ estlacharactere du nombre 6. E enfin designe une 

 espeee de hallebarde avec laquelle Ram coucha sur le oarreau un geant a mi'le bra?. De ce que ces- 

 caracteres out de la ressemblance avee les characteres grecs quelques Europeens out era que cet obe- 

 lisque avcit ete eleve par Alexandre la grand : mais e'est une erreur, ,&o. 



