________________
248
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1895.
ha
* (init and med.)
He rightly observes that the only safe way to left, as in Greek.. Instances where the old position has compare the Brahma with Semitic signs is been preserved, are however met with, both in borrowed (1) that the comparison must be based on the
and derivative signs. oldest forms of the Indian Alphabet, and on actu. Given these principles of derivation Dr. Bühally occurring Semitic signs of one and the same ler's table is almost self-explanatory. Specially period ; (2that the comparison may include only ingenious is his suggestion that in certain cases such irregular equations, as can be supported by the substitution of a dot in a later Indian form analogies from other cases, where nations have for a circle in an older Indian one, indicates borrowed foreign alphabets; and (3) that the that the persons who invented the dotted form comparison must shew that these are fixed wrote with pen and ink. For the actual forms of principles of derivation. Applying these sound the letters in Dr. Bühler's table the student rules it soon appeared that, while the Southern must be referred to his article, but the following Semitic characters could not be considered as the gives the net result (without giving the actual origin of the Brahma Alphabet, it became poesible forms) of his inquiries in a succinct shape :to identify in the latter all the twenty-two Northern Semitic letters, and to explain the
Semitic
Brahma letters. Derivatives.
letters. formation of the numerous derivative signs, which the Indians were compelled to add. A
Aleph
a (initial) 14 (initial and medial) table is given shewing, letter by letter, the
Beth ba
bha connexion between, on the one hand, the Archaic Phænician, and the Moabite stone characters,
Gimel Iga
gha (Bhattiprolu) and, on the other hand, those of India; and, given
Daleth the principles of derivation which Dr. Bühler lays down, the resemblance between the cha
He racters leaps to the eyes. Tbe following quotation illustrates this principle in a few words, Wano and as clearly as possible. A superficial examination of the Brahma Alphabet
Zain shews the following chief characteristics:
Cheth gha (1) The letters are set up as straight as possible, and Theth tha
tha, ta they are, with few exceptions, made equal in beight.
Yod ya (2) The majority consists of vertical lines with
Kaph appendages attached mostly at the foot, occasionally at the foot and at the top, or rarely in the middle: but Lamed
2 (Bhattiproln) . there is no case where the appendage has been added to Mem ma
in (anusvâra) the top alone. (3) At the top of the characters appear mostly the ends Nun
iu na
na of vertical lines, less frequently straight horizontal lines,
Ina still more rarely curves on the points of angles opening downwards, and, quite exceptionally in the case of the
Samech sha (Bhattiprola)
sha letter ma, two lines rising upwards. In no case does the top show several angles, placed side by side, with a
re (med.), ai (init. vortical or slanting line hanging down from it, or
Ain (initial) B and med.) triangle or a circle with a perdant line.
Ili, (init. and med.) The principles, or tendencies, which produced these Phe
pa
pha characteristics, seem to be a certain pedantie formalism, a
Tsade desire to have signs well suited for the formation of
chha regular lines, and a strong aversion against all top
Qoph heavy characters. The natural result was that a Resh number of the Semitie signs had to be turned topsy. turvy or to be laid on their sides, while the triangles or double angles, occurring at the tops of others, had to be Таъо got rid of by some contrivance or other. A further change in the position of the signs had to be made, when the Hindus began to write from the left to the right.
G. A. GBIERSON. They had, of course, to be turned from the right to the Howrah, 14th May 1895.
jha
ta
Shin
In connexion with this, I may mention that coin of Abdagases has lately been described by Dr. Hoernle, in which the Kharoshthi letters run from left to right.
See Pro. A. 8. B. May 1895.
In the modern Hebrew ain is used to represente in transliterating foreign European words.
