Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/89

Rh The following characteristics of the alphabet used in the Ghosrāwā inscription may be noted:

1. In A the top stroke has not yet fully developed. There are two distinct wedges on the top of each of the limbs. In addition to these there is a long narrow wedge at the lower extremity of the right limb.

2. In the case of Ā also the top stroke has not yet fully developed.

3. The initial short I consists of two circles or dots at the top, and a scroll like curve below.

4. E has become a right angled triangle in form.

5. Kha still shows a wedge at the bottom of the left limb.

6. Ca shows an increase in the breadth.

7. Ja shows an archaic form in which the central horizontal bar is slightly slanting downwards and lower horizontal bar shows a small curve at the end

8. In Ṭa the right limb is not shown and is archaic in form consisting of a semi-circle with a wedge at the upper end.

9. In Ṇa the base line has entirely disappeared.

10. Tha shows a broadening of the upper part and consists of a loop and a curve with an acute angle at the bottom formed by a side of the curve and the right vertical straight line.

11. Da shows a slanting downward stroke at its lower extremity.

12. Dha also shows this stroke.

13. Na shows the transitional form between the looped one of the early Gupta period and the Nāgarī or Bengali one. The loop has separated from the main body of the letter.