396 AN ANTIQUE RUBBISH HEAP [CHAP. xxv.
over both tablets and secured below the seal effectually prevented any unauthorised opening and reading of the document written on the inner sides of the two tablets. The accompanying plate (p. 395) shows such a double tablet which was found with the string broken but otherwise intact, both before and after its opening. " Envelopes " of oblong double tablets, the corresponding under-tablets of which have not been found or identified, are seen on p. 394. There also a wooden seal-socket found detached, with its clay seal-impression still intact, has been reproduced.
I cannot attempt, from want of space and of adequate illustrations, even briefly to indicate here all the curious discoveries made in connection with this ancient stationery in wood. But some notice
SEAL-IMPRESSIONS IN CLAY FROM KHAROSHTHI TABLETS.
must be accorded to that remarkable series of clay seal-impressions which were found still intact on a number of tablets and some of which can be presented here from well-executed drawings of my friend Mr. F. H. Andrews (see below and p. 385) . From an historical point of view they claim exceptional interest, for they have furnished convincing evidence of the way in which the influence of classical Western art asserted itself even in distant Khotan. It was ra delightful surprise when, on cleaning the first intact seal impression that turned up, I recognised in it the figure of Pallas Athene, with ægis and thunder-bolt, treated in an archaic fashion. This particular seal (seen though not so distinctly as elsewhere on the covering tablet reproduced on p. 395) was found there-
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