1900]. A. F. R. Hoernle — Epigmphical Note on Palm-leaf, etc. 121 
supersede palm-leaf as a material for writing books. The drop in the 
number of j^alni-leaf manuscripts between the third and fourth periods 
is very noticeable ; and from the fourth period onwards there is a 
steady and marked rise in the number of paper manuscripts. 
In Western India the supersession of palm-leaf was far more 
thorough than in Eastern India. About the middle of the 15th 
century, — so far as the evidence at present available goes, — the use of 
palm-leaf entirely ceases in Western India. The three latest palm- 
leaf manuscripts are dated, one in A.D. 1449 (Sam. 1505), and two in 
A.D. 1400 (Sam. 1456) : see Kielhorn’s Report, p. v, and Peterson’s 
Fifth Report, p. 51. During the same period (1400-1449) we have 
41 paper manuscripts. The earliest paper manuscript is dated A.D, 
1320 (Sam. 1376) : see Bhandarkar’s Report, p. 51. Then follow 14 
paper manuscripts, dated between A.D. 1360 and 1395. This total 
cessation of the use of palm-leaf at this period is nothing new : it has 
already been pointed out by Professor Bhandarkar in his Report, pp. 
51 and 52. 
In Eastern India the use of palm-leaf continued more or less 
by the side of paper. The Table shows a steady and marked rise 
in the number of paper manuscripts, while the number of palm-leaf 
manuscripts remains practically stationary, ending with a marked drop 
in the last period. This, of course, really implies a steady decrease in 
the use of palm-leaf, ending with a practically total cessation, in the 
present day.^® In Orissa alone its use continuous to some extent. The 
two latest recorded palm-leaf manuscripts (both not on Corypha, but 
Borassus leaves) are dated A.D. 1815 (paka 1737 ; “ Notices,” No. 1607, 
Table I, No. 87) and A.D. 1836 (Laks. 731, “ Notices,” No. 1764, Table 
III, No. I4I). The earliest paper manuscript is dated A.D. 1354 (Sam. 
1410), and is a Behar (Maithili) manuscript. No. 1999 in the “Notices.” 
The oldest Bengal paper manuscript is dated A.D. 1404 (paka 1326), 
being No. 2082 in the “ Notices.” These are two exceptional cases : 
the real use of paper in Eastern India only commences about A.D. 
1450, that is about one century later than in Western India. 
But the earliest paper manuscript of all, examined by me, is one 
in the Sanskrit College in Calcutta. It is No. 582 in Volume I of its 
Library Catalogue, and is dated A.D. 1231 (Sam. 1288). *7 The oldest 
16 Exceptionally, and for a very limited class of certain religious books, palm- 
leaf is said to be still used in Bengal. 
n The Calcutta Sanskrit College, in its Library Catalogue, professes to 
possess extraordinarily old paper manuscripts. No. 553 in Vol. I is said to be 
dated in 1017 A.D. or Sam. 1073; No. 371 in 1059 A.D. or Sam. 3115, No. 122 
in Vol. II. in 1178 A.D. or Sam. 1234 ; No. 582 in Vol. I. in 1212 A.D. or Sam. 
