[From an official report by Taw Sein Ko on Burmese epigraphy]

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Epigraphy.

The most important event of the year in the Epigraphical

Branch is the sanction accorded by the Government of India
to the publication of Gr.Blagdens translation of the Talaing
inscriptions found in Burma, and the payment to him of an
honorarium of £ 100 for each of the five parts,which it is
expected the work will comprise. The translation will be
published in the Epigraphia Indica, and Mr. Blagden is expected
to complete all the five parts within a space of 3 years from
keptember 1914.

Era used in by u epigraphs.

It is an open question as to the nature of the era used
in the Pyu inscriptions, r.blagden has,however, adopted the one,
which began in 638 A.D.,on palaeographical grounds. He considers
that both the Vikrama era,which began in 98 B.C.,and the Saka
era,which began in 78 A.15., are out of the question.

Pyu Inscription at Halingyi.

This epigraph was discovered by me,in 1904,at Halingyi
in the Shwebo District, and was transferred to the Pagan Museum,
for safe custody. During the year, Mr. Blagden, and Mr. Sastri,
Assistant Archaeological Superintendent,southern Circle,were
engaged in deciphering and translating this inscription as well
as another called Hmawza E. The following inferences may be
drawn from the interesting correspondence I had with these two

learned scholars:

(a) That both epigraphs can be deciphered, but, in the absence
of a reliable dictionary or vocabulary, they cannot yet
be translated.

(b) That on palaeographioal grounds, the Halingyi inscription
may be referred to the 4th.century A.D., or earlier.

(c) That Hmawssa E may similarly be referred to the 9th century

A.2).

(d) That the script of both epigraphs is based on i&e bouth-

(e)

Indian characters.


(e) That the characters of lines 2 and 5 on the Halingyi
inscription "are clearly Brahmi,and not ornamental, as
Mr. Blagden seems to think".

(f) That characters in the Brahmi script have Been discovered,
for the first time in Burma, in the Halingyi inscription.

Affinity of Pyu to Tibeto-Burman languages.

In dealing with Pyu epigraphs,the great difficulty,which

has not yet been overcome, is the absence of a reliable vocabu-
lary, or dictionary,and the problem for solution is to find
living representatives of this language,which probably became
extinct in the 13th century A.D. Kadu is said to be related
to Pyu. So far, it has been found that only one Kadu word,namely,
he, "to die,has some resemblance to hi, having the same signifi-cation, in Pyu. Through the Deputy Commissioner, Katha, a
collection is being made of the Kadu equivalents of some of
the words occurring in the Pyu text of the Myasedi inscriptions
Similar collections of Lahu and Yawyin words are being made
through the good offices of the Assistant Superintendent,
Kengtung, and of the Assistant Superintendent,Kachin Hills, Sadon
The cooperation of His Britannic Majestys Consul at Tengyueh
has also been enlisted in securing vocabularies of the Lo-lo
and Li-so languages,to which Pyu appears to display strong
affinities. Wen sufficient data have been acquired, it is hoped
that the secrets of these ancient and mysterious records,
which deal with the prehistoric period of Burmese history,will

be unlocked.

PAGE 1

T h moat im ort n t event of the Jear in the i1'p.igr.aphiou.l Branch is the al;tnc tion accorded by the i.Xovernment of india to the publication of ;\ r ." lagclen s translation of the 1 :alain. 1nscri-ptione found in f.tnd the payment . tq h1m of n honorarium of 100 for .each of the five )arts, \fhioh it is expected the work comprise. '!'he translation ill bo publia. e i t to aoraplete all .tl e ve parts -i thin a spac:e of 3 from Geptembe. r 1 J 14 It is an o en question to. the nature of the era used in the Pyu evertadopted the one, hich begun in 638 .D. :11 grounds. I e 1 that both the Vikrame.-erb.. hi eh in :;e c and tlH3 Saka er began in 78 A D ara out of .the question. ThiB igraph ,, as discovered by e in 1904, at in th. e Shwebo ietriot, and ae t.ranaferr d to the agan A uaeum. for eafe cuetody. uring the year . fi.r .. J:l gd n, :n.. d.:w!.r astri, ssiatant J rohaeologicnl -uperintendent. bouthern ircle, ere engaged 1n decipherin. tranalati g thl inscri tipn as well aa another oal+ed Hma. vz he follo, ing infereno s ay be from the interesting correspondence learned scholars: had these tvo ( ) fhat >oth epigxa )hs oan be deciphered. but, in the absence of a reliable dicrtiot1ary or vooa.bula .. ry, they cannot yet be tr alated. {b) 4rha,t on palaeogra_ hi oo.l ground the la.lingyi ins cri pti on may be r ferred to the 4th.oentury D or earlier. ( o) 11hat Hma za E may similarly-be referred. to the 5th century d) .&.hat the scri t o;f both e igraphs is based on \ outhIndian (e)

PAGE 2

(e) the charv.cters of linea 2 o.nd 5 on the Halingyi inscription "are clearly l ra.hmi, and not orna 1ental, as JrtBlagden seems to think". (f) That characters in the Brahmi have been di.soovered, :for the first time in Burma, in the He.lingyi inscription t Affiri,i tz.P .. LJ>.Yl-\ to In dealing wt th Pyu epigraphs 1 the great difficulty, .b.i eh has not been is the abs.ence of. a liable voca.bula.ry,or problem'for solution is to find living. representatives of this language* whi eh probably extinct in the 13tb century A.D. Kadu is said to be related to Pyu. So far, it has been foun d that only one Kadu namely, h.! "to die", has sorne resemblance" to .h.l. he..Ving same .. in Pyu. ri'hrough the De uty Commissioner,Jratha, a collection is beirig made of 'the .. adu equivalente of some of v -lo:rds o ocurring in the Pyu. text of the li:,t ya. .ze di Inscriptions Similar of Lahu. and Yawyin 11/ord.s are being made through' the good officef of the Assistant Superintendent, Kengtung, and of the Assistan t Superintendent.Kaohin Hills.Sadonthe cooperation of His Britannic Consul a't has also bean enlisted in vocabularies of. the Lo-lo and Li-so which Pyu appears to-display strong affi.ni ties. lJhen suffi.cient data have been acquired, it is hoped that the secrets or thes. e anoj. ent and 1aysteri ons re cords, r iliich.deal the prehistoric period of Burmese history,will be unlocked.