File:Ruins of desert Cathay - personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China (1912) (14780017161).jpg

Identifier: ruinsofdesertcat01stei (find matches)
Title: Ruins of desert Cathay : personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Stein, Aurel, Sir, 1862-1943 Archaeological Survey of India
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Macmillan
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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by the introductory formula foundinvariably at the commencement: Mahanuava maharayalihatiy His Excellency the Maharaja orders in writing.Since then the researches of Professor Rapson and his col-laborators have brought out the fact that the wedge-shapeddouble tablets were generally, if not always, intended forthe conveyance of brief orders which concerned the bearer,or in the execution of which the bearer was to co-operate.Thus all the fully translated tablets of this class prove tocontain directions about the supply of transport and escortto official messengers, about aid to be given to them incertain enquiries, or for the apprehension of fugitives, etc. It thus becomes highly probable that these wedgesrepresent warrants issued for the purpose of accreditingpersons charged with the execution of administrative orders,and of securing for them the needful assistance of the localauthority. The clay impression from the seal of thesuperior officer sufficed to attest the order which his 03
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^r. 4-. t^- H H-1 ?.1 < C/1 ■^ ^r H J= & = aO 3 rt G ^ -s ^ 1 Sf m rr ^ bfj ii Q ■? 3 Q S ^ ^ ^ ^ o .-^ ^ ■n P5 1 o W ^ M l_) ?f u cH. XXIV FASTENING OF ENVELOPES 289 messenger or agent would be expected to set forth verballywith all requisite details. Perhaps we may take it as asign of the superior importance attached to these verballytransmitted orders that several of the double wedge tabletswere discovered unopened. In the case of a well-knownofficial messenger presenting his warrant with its sealintact, examination of the brief and formal mention of hisbusiness within the document might well have appearedsuperfluous. Of the rectangular double tablets I have already hadoccasion to discuss the probable purport. The fact of somany of them having been found unopened and with sealsintact in that hidden deposit of the ruin N. xxiv. issignificant, as also is the frequency of double and trebleseals impressed upon them. If such tablets were usedordinarily for agreements, contr

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