Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/94

62 II. Consonants:—

1. In many cases there is no trace of an acute angle at the lower part of Ka. The letter consists of a top-stroke, a vertical straight line with curving end drawn at right angles to the former, and a curve attached to the left side of the vertical, the upper part of which projects out on the right side and is then turned straight downwards.

2. The base of Kha still consists of a triangle but the base line is not horizontal. The upper part of the letter which consisted formerly of a curve with a wedge or short straight line at its end now consists of a curve with another much smaller one as its extremity.

3. In Ga the curve has a second one attached to its lower extremity and there is a slight tendency of projecting the vertical straight line upwards, beyond the point of its junction with the curve.

4. There is a distinct tendency towards shortage in the breadth of the upper part of Gha. The other changes are the introduction of the top-stroke, the raising of the left curve above the level of the right one, the disappearance of the acute angle and the presence of the slightly curved downward stroke at the bottom.

5. Ca has not changed.

6. In Ja we find a much later form. The vertical straight line has now become a curve while the central bar or horizontal line has become transformed into a long slanting downward stroke. The top-bar has long ago been converted into a wedge.

7. Ña is found in ligatures. In one case we find that it resembles the modern Bengali form. ''Cf. ñca in Kiñcit'' (L. 23).

8. We find two forms of Ta:—

(a) The form met with for the first time in Khālimpur grant in which there is a top-stroke, a right limb