Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 205

JULY, 1873.)
ON COPYING INSCRIPTIONS.
185
sion of cults is of the greatest interest, and shows a perfect mould of the inscription. Paper large that modern Hinduism has been chiefly developed enough to cover most inscriptions is easily to be in South India."
had; in the case of very large ones, it is necesMr. Burnell's suggestions as to methods he sary to lap over the edges of the sheets and thus states :-"What yet remains to be done, apply a little gam and water or weak paste to is to make available to the scientific public copies whem, and also to prevent those sheets first of all existing inscriptions; and this involves a applied from falling, and thus spoiling the rest, uniform system of preparing such copies. a few poles or sticks leaning against the Scattered as inscriptions are over the whole of corners in large, or the gum used for joining, in India, it is at present chimerical to attempt to small inscriptions, will be found enough. When study them; to say nothing of the want of time
properly dried, copies made in this way in for such work experienced by all students re- French, "estampages'), may be rolled up or sident there. To make and collect copies is pat in blank books without the slightest injury, however a mechanical task, which may be easily and even will stand damp." done ; and now that a little interest is awakened "The second process is applicable to inscripregarding the ancient civilization of the many tions on plates of metal; I devised it several races of India, á few suggestions as to the best years ago and never found it fail. The plate or way of doing so may not be thought inoppor- plates should be carefully cleaned with a dry tune, especially by those who see that a work of brush, and the letters occasionally must be cleared this kind if not soon done, can perhaps never out with a blunt graver. The native process of be done at all. Inscriptions are daily being rubbing the plates with acid, and then putting destroyed during repairs of temples, and by the them in the fire to loosen the incrustations, country people taking stones from ruins. Cop- should never be resorted to, as it invariably inper sâsanas find their way to the melting-pot. jares them fatally. From the cleaned plate an The first question is - How to make the copies ? impression (reverse) is to be next taken by Many ways have been tried ; rubbings by heel passing & roller charged with ink over the plate, ball on paper, impressions on linen made by a and then printing from it as from an ordinary pad daubed with printing-ink; sketcb-drawings, copper-plate. From this impression another photographs, &c. &c. Considerable experience may be taken by means of an ordinary copperand a number of experiments have convinced plato press; and with a little practice a perfect me that all these methods are defective, and facsimile may be thus obtained, the letters being that only two ways are really trustworthy; one white, and the rest of the plate appearing a dark applicable to inseriptions on stone, and the | grey. Photozincography and many other me other to those on metal.
'thods exist by which 'estampages' and facsi"Firstly for inscriptions on stone, I recom- miles made by the last process may be multiplied mend impressions on stout unsized paper, such to any extent." as is now manufactured at Paris for the use of | The processes here suggested are most useful, Egyptologists. The inscription must first of and in experienced hands they. yield very all be quite cleared of dust or mud or other Batisfactory results. Copying by the eye, where obstructions, and this may be best done by the character and language are not familiar, and
hard clothes-brush. The paper is then to any of the letters indistinct, is most tedious and be rapidly but uniformly wetted in a tub of unsatisfactory : and as it is desirable to be able water, and applied to the inscription and forced to copy inscriptions when no printing-press and into the irregularities by repeated and forcible few appliances are available, --some other strokes with a hard brush-an ordinary clothes- methods may be noticed :brush is as good as any for the purpose. If the 1. When the surface of the stone or plate, stone be clear of dust the paper adheres, and between the letters, is perfectly smooth, as in when dry falls off, forming (if at all well done) the case of marble or polished granite, & rub.
Cf. also the remarks of Prinsep and Mill, and recently paper used, and the difficulty (or impossibility) of managing of Dr. Bhdu Dáji, as to the great alterations required by the light. improved transcripts of inscriptions long known and pub. Bat compare the lithographs of the Vallapakam SA. lished. The great objection to photography M & means of fanas, from copies made by the second process above, with reproducing inscriptions consists in the imperfections of the the facsimiles that appear elsewhere in this journal.