S6 Dr. Hoernle— Antiquities f rom Central Asia. [Extra No. 1, 
tlie guards being large pieces of a broken-up plaque (see Plate IV, fig. J). 
In almost perfect preservation. Paper, varieties III b and IIIc mixed. 
Text printed in the three columns on each page ; each column 
consisting of nine impressions of the formula, which accordingly is 
repeated 27 times on every page, or 3,726 times in the whole book 
(i.e., 27x138 printed pages). The columns run parallel with the longer 
side of the book, 'and stand regularly upright and reversed on alternate 
pages; that is, upright on pages 4, 6, 8, etc., and reversed on pages 
5, 7, 9, etc. The pages 4, 6, 8, etc., of course, are left-hand pages; and. 
when the book is turned right round, in order to bring the reversed 
formulas into the upright position to read them, the pages 5, 7, 9, etc. 
now become left-hand pages. It follows, therefore, that on reading 
this book, all the left-hand pages must be read first, and afterwards all 
the right-hand pages,—w T hich latter pages, of course, on turning the 
book round to read them, also become left-hand pages. Accordingly 
whichever way the book is placed for the purpose of reading, it is 
always the left-hand pages that must be read. 
This book is distinguished from all others, in having a finely executed 
sketch of a head on the fourth page of the 15th form ; see Plate XVII. 
The sketch is placed horizontally across the page, so that the bottom of 
it is turned towards the inner margin of the page. From the fact that 
the columns of the print curve round the sketch, it is clear that, it was 
drawn on the page, before the latter was printed on. The head seems 
to me to show Arian features, and is sketched with much artistic skill. 
No. II. Book. 
Belongs to M. 7. Found at Aq Tala Tuz. Size, 15§xllf". 
Number of forms, 17. Bound with three twists of paper. Well pre¬ 
served ; a few slight burns and stains. Paper, variety III5. Printing 
not quite distinct. It commences, as usual on the 4th page, but ends on 
the penultimate page ( i.e ., on the 3rd page of the last form). 
Text printed in three columns on each page; each column consist¬ 
ing, as a rule, of six impressions of the formula, which accordingly is 
repeated 18 times on every page. On two pages there are 6| impres¬ 
sions, and on one page only 5J. The columns stand regularly upright 
and reversed on alternate pages ; that is, upright on the right-hand 
pages 5, 7, 9, etc., and reversed on the left-hand pages 4, 6, 8, etc. 
Accordingly this book must be read differently from book No. I; that 
is, in whichever way it is placed for reading, its right-hand pages must 
be read. There are only five pages which do not conform to the 
regular order; these are p. 4 of form 3; pp. 1 and 4 of form 10, and 
p. 2 of form 15; and these, clearly, are mere lapses of the printer. 
