1897.] M. M. Chakravarti —Language and Literature of Orissa. 329 
Those which are three or four months’ old, just when the leaves are 
spreading, are preferred. They are intact, greenish-looking, longer and 
broader. According to length and breadth they are sorted, the longest 
and the broadest of the inner leaves being considered the best. 
The leaves are next given what is termed the (ball-Jcasa). 
In sand they are kept buried for a day with some water over the sand. 
This seasons the leaves ; and for ordinary purposes or for the zemindar’s 
accounts such leaves suffice. But for pothis which are intended to be 
more permanently kept, a further seasoning is necessary. This goes 
by the name of (haldi-Jcasa). The better sorts of leaves are 
sorted and then put into a solution of turmeric and sour boiled-rice 
water (dmdni). They are kept immersed for about half an hour, and 
on being taken out are found to have acquired a darker color and to 
have become more elastic. They are next dried either by exposure in the 
sun or to a current of air. When fully dried the leaves are fit for writing. 
For books a number of these leaves are taken and are bored in the 
middle by a pointed instrument named phurani and through the 
holes so made a string is passed. The thread further passes through 
a wooden cover at each end. The wooden covers serve as a guard to 
the leaves, and are often carved. The string is sufficiently long (2 to 5 
ft.) to be wound round the book over and over. The edges of the 
leaves are then cut even by some cutting instrument and next rubbed 
smooth with a stone. The book is then fit for a pbtlii , and is known as 
sanci. 
Next comes the writing instrument which is an iron stylus locally 
known as ( lekhani ). The stylus is usually plain, but is often 
ornamented. In Orissa three varieties of stylus are used, according 
to the shape of the upper end, viz. (1) either sharp-pointed, (2) or 
knife-shaped, (3) or ear-shaped. The lower-end of the is stylus sharp 
as the end of a needle, and is used to cut letters on the palm leaves. 
The sharp portion of the upper end is employed in cutting the 
palm leaves. A stylus costs from three annas to a rupee. 
The pothis are written either by the owner himself, or if able to pay, 
by some hired worker. Round about Puri the charge is about eight 
to twelve annas for a thousand 9 lokas. In Jajpur the charge is an anna 
for an adhyaya or canto. The charge is very moderate. Extra charges 
are paid for good and neat hand-writing, or in the case of Sanskrit 
works for correct copies. The rule for good hand-writing is contained 
in the following sloka :— 
Wrfa f<rcvTTf*T ^ I 
