An old record of palm leaf writing

On these palm leaves the custom is to write with an iron stile held nearly upright, and steadied by a nick cut to receive it in the thumb nail of the left hand.

The furrow made by the pressure of the steel is rendered visible by the application of charcoal ground with a fragrant oil, to the odour of which the natives ascribe the remarkable state of preservation in which their most scared books are found, its aromatic properties securing the leavesfrom destruction by white ants and other insects”

For this purpose a resin is used, called dumula by the natives, who dig it up from beneath the surface of the lands from beneath the surface of which the forest has disappeared)…

–  (Ceylon / by Sir James Emerson Tennent – Volume 1 – page 513 – London 1859 A.D)

( Sri Lanka was called Ceylon before 1972 )

Parts of the distilling apparatus of resin oil

Parts of the distilling apparatus

Hand written letters on a palm leaf

This is a part of written palm leaf contained in a completed palm leaf book. The letters are in Sinhalese language. 

Palm leaf Manuscript - Maha Piruwana Potha

This is a large palm leaf manuscript book (Maha Piruwana Potha) written by me containing about 45,000 letters with 24 suttras.
Size - 2.25 x 22 inches

Palm Leaf Writer's left Hand

You can see the angular cut on the thumb nail. It is very necessary for the writing. The writing point of the stylus is supported by this cut.

Palm Leaf Writer's hands when writing

The close up picture of the hands and the palm leaf. The angular cut on the left thumb nail can be seen.

Palm Leaf Manuscripts -- Buddha's Teachings

Advisory phrases of the Lord Buddha written on palm leaves with a painted wooden covers.
Made according to the traditional techniques of palm leaf book producing.
Nicely written letters in English and Sinhala languages according to the palm leaf writing techniques specially using both hands with the tool called 'panhinda'.