96 A. F. R. Hoernle — EpigrapTiical Note on F aim-leaf, etc. [Nc. 2, 
The half-segment (that is a segment divided longitudinally along 
the central rib) of a Borassus leaf, at the point of its greatest width, 
may measure 2 inches, but it usually measures less. It tapers off 
very rapidly towards both ends ; hence it is not possible to cut out 
from it a piece of practically uniform width of more than \\ inches. 
A strip of about 16 X If inches is the largest that can be obtained. 
If a greater length is desired, consistent with uniform width, the latter 
will be smaller. From the usual size of the natural segment, however, 
only prepared strips of a smaller width than If inches can be obtained. 
Occasionally the point of uniform width is neglected, and thus leaves 
are obtained measuring in length up to 20 inches, with a maximum 
width of If inches. Examples are IIos. 77 and 87 in Table I, the width 
of which grows (as noted in the Table) from 1 or If inches at the ends 
to If inches in the middle of the leaf. As a rule, however, a prepared 
leaf, measuring a length of more than 16 inches, with a width of If 
inches, is more likely to be a Corypha leaf. 
The half-segment of a Corypha leaf, at its widest point, may 
measure three inches. I measured one leaf of this great size in the 
Sibpur Royal Botanic Gardens ; but it is not improbable that leaves of 
this size may occur more commonly in Ceylon and Malahar, where 
the tree grows wild. A Corypha segment is much longer than a 
Borassus segment, and it tapers off far more gently, than the latter, 
from its widest point to its ends. Hence it is possible to cut much 
longer and wider strips from a Corypha segment. The largest manu- 
scripts that I have measured are Hos. 30 and 34 in Table I, which 
measure 32| x 2f and 33 x 2f inches respectively. The length, however, 
may extend to 3 feet and more, and the width to 3 inches. The largest 
manuscript of which I know is No. 2068 in the Notices of Sanskrit MSS. 
It is said to measure 40x2 inches (see Table III, No. 138, and footnote 
11). The next largest are Nos. 262 and 289 (in Professor Peterson’s 
Report for 1884-86, pp. 109 and 142; see also Table III, No. 72). They 
are said to measure 37f x2f and 37 x2f inches respectively. From the 
particular half segment which I measured to be 3 inches wide^ strips 
measuring about 2f x 22, or 2f x 25, or 2 X 30 inches might have been cut. 
On the other hand, I have also measured narrow specimens of natural 
Corypha segments which would only yield strips measuring 16 x If 
inches or even less. Examples of manuscripts of this kind are Nos. 48, 
57, 67 in Table I and Nos. 4, 5, 8, 12 in Table II. Of course when 
strips of the great width of 3 inches were desired, one would usually 
3 The complete natural segment, of course, measured 6 inches across. Simi- 
larly the widest complete Borassus segment measures 4 inches across the widest 
point. 
