108 Dr. Hoernle —Antiquities from Central Asia. [Extra No. 1, 
other side must have originally been blank, but is now covered with 
imprints of formulas VIII b and VIII c in a promiscuous and dis¬ 
orderly way. 
Ninth Set. (Plate XV, figs. 2 and 3, and PI. XVI.) 
This set comprises two items, a roll and a book. The latter, when 
received, was enclosed in a carved wooden box; and the former probably 
was also originally within it. The whole belongs to G. 10. It was 
received by Captain Godfrey from Leh, and is said to have been dug 
out in the Takla Makan, which, seeing that it is more or less thickly 
encrusted with the fine yellow sand of the desert, is probably correct. 
But it is a pity that the exact find-spot is not known. 
No. I. The Box. 
The box (PI. XV, fig. 2) has a height of 4§"; its diameter externally 
is 4J", and internally, 3|" ; inclusive of the projecting carved figures, its 
breadth is 4f / '. It is drilled out of one piece of wood, and is ornamented 
with six carved projections, which run, like pillars, round it parallel with 
the length of its wall, and at equal distances (about 1'') from one another, 
and consist alternately of standing human figures and inscribed boards. 
Close to one of the figures, there is a crack right through the wall of 
box, gaping asunder about J of an inch. Above the head of the next 
figure to the right, there is a large semi-circular notch cut into the rim 
(shown on Pl. XV), and there is also a smaller triangular one over the 
inscribed board which stands between those two figures. These notches 
seem to have been made intentionally. There are also two small, 
irregular holes in the wall (one shown on PI. XV), nearly opposite to 
each other, but these appear to be due to injury. There is no lid to close 
the box; nor do appearances point to its ever having had any. The 
projections go down to the bottom of the box, but do not reach quite 
to the edge of the rim, being short of it by -f of an inch. 
Of the three human figures, one is represented with his arms 
a-kimbo, his hands resting on his abdomen (shown on PI. XV), while the 
other two figures have their arms hanging down straight by their sides. 
There are some similar crude figures of copper in the collection, which 
will be described in the section on Miscellaneous Objects. All three 
figures on the box appear to be represented nude. Two of them 
(including the one with the arms a-kimbo) bear curious lines marked 
regularly across both sides of the chest and upper arms. They might 
be intended to denote a short jacket; but similar lines are used to mark 
the hair on the heads of all three figures. This hair is marked very 
regularly, long hair with a parting in the middle. One of the figures— 
