viii INTRODUCTION

and coincidences respectively occur in the presentation of the same

facts by a number of documents which for the most part are either

copied one from the other or traceable to a single source. One not

only learns something of the accuracy or inaccuracy of the particular

facts stated—a small matter as a rule—but is also enabled to gauge more confidently the degree of reliability which is likely to attach to

native manuscripts in general when circumstances do not admit of

the application of the comparative test.

H. A. M.

5 October, 1921