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168
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JULY, 1878.
Band, -ji, J&ma, -ji, Thákardá, Ko.; Bechar, Ko. Kan. W. Dada, Desgi, -bhai, Kan.; Dev-karan, Bå.; Gopal, Lr.; Kálidas, Kan.; Kuber, Bhan.; Mulu, -ji, Gr.; Nâhâlâ, BA.; Natha, Bhan. ; Nathu, Kan. Ko.; Paswa, Bhoï (this is a diminttive of Parsotam); Raiji, Bå. ; Râmå, Bhan. Ko.; Wakhtâ, -chand, W.; Wasa, -ji, Gr.; Wasrâm, Bhoï; Wasta, Bhoï; Leju, a Koli woman.
Experience justifies the following notes and hints :
Of affixes, lai, chand, rám, dds, are high-caste; ji is universal, bhái and sing are chiefly used by the Râjpût Grâsias ; aspiring Kolis also use sing, or sang as it is locally pronounced. The diminutives lá, da, iya are usually appended to the names of Kolis, Dheds, Waghris, and the like, by members of other castes; ká is used for boys.
Only such Musulman names are given as are plainly Hindu. These are found very numerously among the Molesalâm Gråsiâs, and point to the imperfect character of their Muhammad. anism.
In many cases final o is represented by a in these lists; it often disappears before an aflix.
Such uncomplimentary names as Gânda and Juthân may be given to denote the qualities of their bearers. In one instance I had a name before me which was certainly due to such a cause,-a deaf and dumb Bharwad boy was called Muga.
By Rajput all through, as opposed to Gräsiâ, is meant the non-land-owning Rajputs-mere cultivators, servants, and hangers-on.
Does not the affix-sur, which is used only by Kathis and by the Chârans of Kathiâwâd proper, point to sun-worship?
The Käthis always prefer the forms Bhim, Bhoj, Ram, Bhân, c. to Bhima, Bhoji, Râma, Bhånå. Nor do they ever use affixes such as -sing, -bhái, -ji, but are always spoken of with the name of their tribe, as Alê Khachar, Bhoj Khachar, Bhân Khảchar; Jivá Dhandhal, or 'dhal ; Rukhad Khawad.
A correspondent of the Bombay Gazette took exception to -sing on the Dehli banners of some chiefs, saying it should be -sinh or -singh. Doubtless, but the Gujaratis at least always write it sing, or even, as it is often pronounced, -sang.
Sawa is sometimes pronounced Sawa, and with the diminutive Sivla. Is then Sawa a form of Siv, and another instance of Gujarati fondness for changing i into a ?
The following, which have been given above as independent names, would seem to be, in origin at least, diminutives :
Jaså for Jasmat - Jaswant; Kall for Kalyan; Lakha for Lakshman; Bhaga and Bhagu for Bhagwân; and Gopå for Gopal.
CHERA OR GANGA GRANTS OF A.D. 350 AND 481.
BY LEWIS, RICE, BANGALOR. Two more important inscriptions have come are strong together on a metal ring, secured to hand relating to what have been denominated by the figure of an elephant, about an inch the Chera kings, but whom it seems more cor- long, the ring passing between the four legs, rect to call the Ganga kings,-a designation which are closed together below. The most given to them in all the inscriptions yet dis- remarkable feature about this inscription is the covered, not one of which contains any mention singular admixture of characters in which it is of the title Chera.
written. There are certainly two, if not three, The first of these inscriptions was produced alphabets used; the chief one, which appears to at Harihara before Major Cole, Superinten- me of much importance, a very primitive form dent of the Inâm Settlement, in support of an of Hale Kannada; another a slightly later form, alleged endowment by Bukka Raya of but only used in a few letters; the third a form Vijayanagar (!),-a sufficient evidence of Devanagari. that its possessor had not the remotest The date of this inscription, it is calculated, notion of its contents, for they purport to be must be A.D. 350. It is therefore 116 years a thousand years older than Bukka Raya, older than the Merkara plates, and-with the and relate to a part of Maisur diametrically exception of one, mentioned by Prof. Eggeling opposite to Harihara. The grant is en- as contained in Sir Walter Elliot's collectiongraved on three copper plates (64 in. by 24 in.), the oldest yet discovered of this line. which are in a fair state of preservation. They! The second grant was found among the old
The accompanying facsimile plate will best exhibit the characters in which these plates are inscribed.--ED.
