Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/35

Rh (m) the form of ba shows no change;

(n) two forms of ma have been found in these inscriptions:—(1) ma with a circle at the lower part and a semicircle over it, as in Amoghasa and (2) ma with a triangle at the lower part and a right angle over it, as in Mitrasa ;

(o) two forms of pa also are to be found: the first form is the notched one, which is to be found on the coping inscriptions only, and the second form, that with the curve below, is to be found in pillar-inscriptions ;

(p) ra is always represented by a curved line;

(q) va shows the formation of a triangle at its base in the place of the circle;

(r) two forms of the dental sa are to be found: on one of the inscribed cross-bars, we find a slight curve to the left, attached to the lower extremity of the lower hook, cf. sa in Amoghasa; the other form is the usual older Maurya one, where in some cases, the elongation of the lower hook, marks a slight modification;

(s) ha has been found only once in the inscription recently discovered by the late Dr. Bloch, where it occurs in a ligature. The form of this letter, in the word Brahmamitra is extremely cursive and shows that this hooked form is peculiar to the eastern variety of the older alphabets of Northern India;

(t) The newly discovered inscription has supplied a new letter ña which is to be found in the first word in rāño, and resembles the form in the Bhārhut and the Pabhosa alphabets with a downward elongation of the left vertical line.