1898.] M. A: Stein — New inscriptions discovered by Major Deane. 11 
Banda and Khrappa in Boner. The characters which they exhibit, 
differ so strikingly in form and arrangement from those found on any 
of the inscriptions hitherto mentioned, that I cannot hesitate to recog¬ 
nize in them a fourth independent type. As both Zangi Khan Banda 
and Khrappa fall within the tract occupied by the clan of the Nurizai , 
I should suggest provisionally for these inscriptions the name of Nurizai 
group. The first named locality from which four of the stones have been 
obtained, lies according to the map close to the range of the hills which 
forms the southern boundary of Boner towards British territory, circ. 
72° 25'E. Long., 34° 26'N. Lat. Khrappa is marked as Krapa on the 
map, some 7 miles in a direct line to the north-west of Zangi Khan 
Banda and not far from El*ai. 
The inscriptions of the ne\V group are already outwardly distin¬ 
guished from the rest by the peculiar shape of the stones on which they 
are engraved. These are all longisli pieces of a slatey material 
which as the dowel on No. 47 and the socket on No. 48 show, were 
evidently intended to be placed upright, i.e. with one of the narrower 
sides topmost. Another distinguishing feature is the engraved frame 
of straight lines which encloses all inscriptions except No. 49. On 
the reverse of No. 51 and in part of No. 47 the characters are actually 
attached to these lines. 
The characters themselves which seem to consist of a series of 
curves, angles and simple strokes either separate or combined, do not 
show (except perhaps in part of No. 47), any approach to a linear 
arrangement such as we have found in the inscriptions of the other 
groups. If the information recorded regarding Nos. 48-50 is correct in 
describing their find-spots as a buried Stupa, we could have little doubt 
as to the votive character of these small monuments which is suggested 
already by their shape. 
The only reason for grouping together in the list and plates the 
series of impressions shown in Nos. 52-60, is that the stones from which 
they were taken are all situated in Swat territory or in its immediate 
vicinity. Leaving aside Nos. 55-60 in which some marks are perhaps 
mere symbols, we find that the characters of the other three inscrip¬ 
tions differ markedly from those found in the four groups above 
described, without yet showing any distinct affinity amongst themselves. 
No. 52 comes, perhaps, nearest to the type of the Mahaban group, but 
exhibits yet peculiarities which make it inadvisable for the present 
to range it under that head. In No. 53 again, which like the lust- 
named inscription is engraved on a rock near Odiyram (some ten miles 
north-east of Thana on the Swat river), we have characters of a peculiar 
rounded shape which bear no resemblance whatever to those of the 
third group. 
