1888.] S. C. Das —The Sacred and Ornamental Characters of Tibet. 45 
pretend to find Svayamblm characters on rocks, caverns, Iranian skulls, 
&c. (see Plate V, li). 
In Plate Y, c are specimens of the S'a-ckhen. ( i. e., corpulent 
or fleshy) form of a second kind of ornamental sacred writing, probably 
introduced k in Tibet during the Sakya hierarchy. There is a form of 
the U-chan characters, called Khon sen or the ‘ lion-hearted J character, 
so called on account of their inside being very narrow. This, too, was 
invented by some of the Sakyapa hierarchs (see Plate Y, b). 
The specimen in Plate Y, e, called the Sfintu JoY-pa or the 
‘ finished or well described ’ characters, with the vowel o inherent in 
them, were probably introduced both in Tibet and Mongolia by some 
of the early Sakya hierarchs. These resemble the Yugur (Oigyur) 
characters, called the t Gryaser yige ’ by the Tibetans. This form is 
found in almost all the old seals of Tibet. I am unable to name the 
letters individually, but I have obtained a transliteration of the sentences 
with their translation in Tibetan. I here attach both, with the English 
translation of the Tibetan version written in Sfintu Jod-pa characters. 
not to feel somewhat eager to visit it. At the foot of the mountain on which the 
Lamasery stands, and not far from the principal Buddhist temple, is a great sqtiare 
enclosure, formed by brick walls. Upon entering this we were able to examine at 
leisure the marvellous tree, some of the branches of which had already manifested 
themselves above the wall. Our eyes were first directed with earnest curiosity to 
the leaves, and we were filled with absolute consternation of astonishment at finding 
that, in point of fact, there were upon each of the leaves well-formed Tibetan 
characters, all of a green colour, some darker, some lighter, than the leaf itself. Our 
first impression was suspicion of fraud on the part of the Lamas ; but, after a 
minute examination of every detail, we could not discover the least deception, the 
characters all appeared to us portions of the leaf itself, equally with its veins and 
nerves, the position was not the same in all; in one leaf they would be at the top of 
the leaf; in another, in the middle ; in a third, at the base, or at the side ; the 
younger leaves represented the characters only in a partial state of formation. The 
bark of the tree and its branches, which resemble that of the plane tree, are also 
covered with these characters. When you remove a piece of old bark, the young- 
bark under it exhibits the indistinct outlines of characters in a germinating state, 
and, what is very singular, these new characters are not unfrequently different from 
those which they replace. We examined everything with the closest attention, in 
order to detect some trace of trickery, but we could discern nothing of the sort, and 
the perspiration absolutely trickled down our faces under the influence of the sensa¬ 
tions which this most amazing spectacle created. 
“ More profound intellects than ours may, perhaps, be able to supply a satisfac¬ 
tory explanation of the mysteries of this singular tree ; but as to us, we altogether 
give it up. Our readers possibly may smile at our ignorance ; but we care not so 
that the sincerity and truth of our statement be not suspected.'’ 
Abbe Hue’s travels in Tartary, Thibet and China, Yol. II, page 63. 
