(m) the form of ba shows no change;
(n) two forms of ma have been found in these inscriptions:—(1) ma with a circle at the lower part and a semicircle over it, as in Amoghasa[1] and (2) ma with a triangle at the lower part and a right angle over it, as in Mitrasa[2];
(o) two forms of pa also are to be found: the first form is the notched one, which is to be found on the coping inscriptions only,[3] and the second form, that with the curve below, is to be found in pillar-inscriptions[4];
(p) ra is always represented by a curved line;
(q) va shows the formation of a triangle at its base in the place of the circle;
(r) two forms of the dental sa are to be found: on one of the inscribed cross-bars, we find a slight curve to the left, attached to the lower extremity of the lower hook, cf. sa in Amoghasa; the other form is the usual older Maurya one, where in some cases, the elongation of the lower hook, marks a slight modification;
(s) ha has been found only once in the inscription recently discovered by the late Dr. Bloch, where it occurs in a ligature. The form of this letter, in the word Brahmamitra[5] is extremely cursive and shows that this hooked form is peculiar to the eastern variety of the older alphabets of Northern India;
(t) The newly discovered inscription has supplied a new letter ña which is to be found in the first word in rāño, and resembles the form in the Bhārhut and the Pabhosa alphabets with a downward elongation of the left vertical line.
