1898.] 
S. C. Das —■Identity of the great Tsang-po of Tibet. 
129 
looked like ink. Moreover, though no one could say what the writing 
was by mere inspection of the block; some Khamptis on seeing a print 
taken from it, declared that it was a Lama, i.e., Tibetan, writing. Yon 
will observe that the lines are similar, so that a translation of one will 
give the meaning of the whole. I should be obliged if you would send 
me a translation and also inform me what the block was used for. If 
my conjecture that it was used for printing from is wrong and the 
Khamptis have misled me, I can send you a rubbing of the block. 
“ The block is about 2| inches thick and it has no marks on the sides 
or back to show that it has ever been fastened to anything else. It is 
supposed to have been brought down the Dihong by the last flood, which 
was probably caused by the breaking through of a dam formed across 
the Dihong by a former landslip. The flood rose to a great height in 
one night in fine weather and no other river came down in flood except 
the Dihong. The piece of wood was found by an Assamese who was 
looking for firewood.” 
J. i. 17 
