17 
1898.] M. A. Stein — New inscriptions discovered by Major Deane. 
eventually information as to hidden treasures, etc., a business of con¬ 
siderable risk even for such people. Major Deane, therefore, thought 
it best to initiate his occasional visitors into the art of taking impres¬ 
sions on paper or cloth and to provide them with the necessary 
materials in order to secure through them impressions of stones not 
otherwise obtainable. Some of them incited by the hope of a small re¬ 
muneration have actually carried out Major Deane’s wishes, and the 
impressions now published (together with a considerable number of 
others subsequently received) represent the result of their efforts. 
It would in no case be reasonable to expect from agents of this 
peculiar type such work as we are accustomed to from trained assistants 
of archiBogical surveyors in other parts of India. But indeed the awk¬ 
ward conditions under which generally these impressions have to be 
secured, would render the taking of really good impressions impossible 
even if Mullas and Talibs could be got to learn systematically all the 
niceties of the art. In order to avoid detection and the consequent 
risks, Major Deane’s agents have been obliged to take their impressions 
in the manner which is easiest and quickest. The orthodox method of 
taking an impression from the stone by means of wetted paper and with 
the use of brush and ink, would no doubt have given far better results. 
Yet by following this lengthy process the operator might more than 
once have exposed himself to the chance of being shot at by a suspicious 
tribesman while he watched his paper drying. In two or three cases 
Major Deane’s agents have in fact been fired at even while using the 
quicker process. 
It is therefore scarcely surprising to find that Major Deane’s agents 
have in most cases contented themselves with a simpler if less effective 
process. After roughly inking the raised surface of the stone a piece of 
cloth or paper was pressed against it. On this the inscribed parts ought 
to appear in white. In some instances (see, e.g ., Nos. 27, 33) very fair 
impressions were thus obtained. In others, however, the evident hurry 
with which the stone was inked or the cloth (paper) removed, has led 
to the impression becoming blurred and accordingly very difficult to re¬ 
produce (see, e.g., Nos. 30, 32). In those few cases where the operator 
tried to obtain a sunk paper-impression by the use of a brush (see Nos. 
29, 35) his achievement has scarcely been more satisfactory. 
A short visit which I had the good fortune to pay to the Lower 
Swat Valley last Christmas under Major Deane’s auspices, enabled 
me to examine personally the rock-carved inscriptions reproduced in 
Nos. 55-60 of Plate VII. These were the only ones among the inscrip¬ 
tions here published from impressions which were then accessible for 
inspection. I found the two rocks exhibiting them exactly in the posi- 
