Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/116

82 12. Dha shows the absence of the horn which characterises the modern Bengali form.

13. Na shows that the short line joining the loop to vertical line is still horizontal.

14. Pa shows the transitional form.

15. La has a peculiar form, resembling La which is still found in some cases in modern Bengali Manuscripts where la is denoted by a dot placed under na.

The development is more or less complete in the case of the following letters:—

1. A where the line joining the comma-shaped curve to the top stroke has become slanting instead of being perfectly vertical.

2. Ā is absent but we can derive it by adding a vertical straight line to the right of A.

3. In modern Bengali E shows a further elongation of the base line towards the left, than that in the Deopārā praśasti.

4. The development of O is full and complete.

5. Kha shows the modern Bengali form as found in the Bhagalpur grant. The only change needed to perfect it, is the formation of an acute angle at the bottom.

6. The development of Gha also is complete, save the elimination of the curve to the right, above the loop and the junction of the upper part of the loop to the left end of the top-stroke.