416 THE RUINS OF ENDERE [CHAP. XXVII.
The writing is Brahmi, of the well-known Central-Asian type, while the text is in a non-Indian language, perhaps identical with that represented by various manuscript finds from Dandan-Uiliq.
As the excavation proceeded on the other sides of the cella, curious evidence came to light of the various nations from which the worshippers of this shrine were drawn. Pieces of thin paper with a few Chinese characters and small coloured drawings were found at the pedestal of several images. Far more interesting, historically, was the discovery of numerous paper leaves . with Tibetan writing. They are all written on a peculiar paper easily
TWO LEAVES IN CENTRAL-ASIAN BRAHMI, FROM PAPER ROLL (E. I. 7) FOUND IN
ENDERE TEMPLE.
(Scale one-fourth.)
distinguished by its toughness and yellowish colour, and invariably on one side. only.. Already at the time of their discovery it was easy to recognise that, with the exception of three detached sheets showing very cursive characters, which have since been proved to contain Buddhist prayers and religious poems, all Tibetan leaves and fragments had formed part of a single Pothi. The manner in which the pieces of manuscript were found deposited before the various images and on the mouldings of the central pedestal leaves no doubt that they had been distributed purposely. In order to propitiate as many divinities as possible, the pious owner on his visit to this shrine seems to have first cut up the manuscript in the
IIIF Color HighRes
