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26
INDIAN ANTIQUARY, VOL. XXXIII, 1904; APPENDIX.
(611, B & O.
(11) The greatly mutilated ma (29, I) is more common than the forms with remnants of the old pendant (compare above, $ 9, A, No. 12). It appears invariably in connection with vowel signs and owes its existence to such combinations.
(12) La with a curve on the left, as in the later inscriptions (32, VIII), is rare in the Aboka edicts, but occurs in Mansehra edict VI, 1. 29.
(13) The cursively rounded ba of 34, III, is rare; but once, in Shāh bāzgarhi odict XIII, 1. 1, appears a ta hardly distinguishable from ya. -(14) The sa with a triangular head (36, II), and that with a rounded head (36, I, III, IV), are cursive developments from the old polygonal form (86, V). The vertical stroke of sa is occasionally omitted, as in Mansehra [27] edict VI, 1. 27.
(15) The common forms of ha with a curve (37, I, IV) or a short hook (37, III, V) at the foot, are cursive developments of the ha of 37, II; see above, $ 9, A, No. 5.
B. - Medial vowels and Anusvāra. (1) The x-stroke goes regularly across the left side of the horizontal strokes of the conBonants (6, III; 7, III; 15, II, III; &c.); in letters with two horizontal or slanting top-strokes, it passes through both (14, III; 16, III; 38, III, VI; &c.), likewise through both the top-strokes of na (19, X). In I (2, I), di (22, II), and ni, it stands just below the head, and in yi (30, II) it hangs in the left side.
(2) The e-stroke corresponds in form and position to the upper half of the i-stroke (4, I; 6, IV ; 12, II; 19, III; &c.); in E (4, II) it may also stand straight above the head of A.
(3) The 0-stroke mostly corresponds in its position to the lower half of the i-stroko (5, I; 12, IV; 14, IV; &c.), but it stands further to the right in the angle, formed by the upper part of the letters, in go, gho (9, II) and so (38, IV).
(4) The u-stroke stands regularly at the left lower end of the consonant (3,1; 8, III; 10, IV; 12, III; &c.), but a little higher up if the foot of the consonant is carved to the loft (U, 3, IT), or to the right (dre, 22, IV), or has & hook on the right (pru, 25, V; hu, 37, IV). In mu it stands to the left of the top of ma (see mru, 29, V).
(5) The Anusvira has the full form of ma (see above, $ 9, B, 4) only occasionally in man (29, IV). More commonly it is represented cursively by a straight stroke as in mamn (88, XI), or by two hooks at the sides of ma as in man (38, X). In combination with other consonants ending in a single slanting or vertical line, the Anusvāra is marked by an angle, opening upwards, which the foot of the consonant bisects (8, IV; 11, IV; 17, V; 19, V; &c.), or, rarely in Shahbāzgarhi, oftener in Mansehra, by a straight line, a substitute for the curve of ma, as in tham (21, V). If the foot of the consonant has some other appendage, the Anusvára is attached higher up to the vertical, as in riain (14,V); dam (18, V); vran (83, V); hain (37, V). The angular Anasvāra is always divided in yan (80, V) and in sam, and the one half is added to the right end of the matka, and the other to the left. This may also be done in kam and in bhain (28, IV).
0. Ligatures. (1) Bhye (38, IX), mma (38, XII) and mya (88, XII, b) show no changes or only very slight ones in the combined letters. In other cases, one or the other is usually mutilated.
(2) For ra, which must be pronounced sometimes before and sometimes after its mätykā (exception in rta in Mansehra edict V, 1. 24), appears, besides slightly mutilated forms (in rti, 38, IV, and rva, 39, 1), (a) a slanting line, with or without a bend, which goes through the middle of the vertical of the combined consonant (as in gra, 38, I; rfa, 38, II; ri, 38, III); (b) also a curved or straight stroke at the foot of the combined sign (ri, 38, V; kra, 6, V; gra, 8, V; tra, 20, V; dhra, 23, V; 38, VIII, pru, 25, V; bra, 27, V; vram, 33, V; éru, 84, V; stri, 39,