mmerc20 Posted March 4, 2013 Share #1 Posted March 4, 2013 This has to be the most intriguing, mystery filled bringback I have and I have to wonder if anyone can top it! I won't try to describe it, but let the note written by the veteran tell the story: We were in Assam, India, participating in air supply dropping operations over Burma. One day I found an accordion-like writing on my desk. The company commander and I decided that one of the men had picked it up somewhere and his conscience wouldn’t let him keep it. If it was religious writing it should definitely go back where it came from. I talked to dozens of Indian people but didn’t get very far. One man said it was nothing. Several gave me dirty looks and walked away. I met one man who could speak English. I asked him if he could read it and he said no, it was a writing in the ancient language. I showed him the drawing, in the book, and pointed out the six fingers the man had on each hand. I told him I had see a fine looking man in Dibrugarh with six fingers on each hand and did he think there could be a connection. He assured me there could be no connection, but it didn’t matter I never had a chance to return there. Eventually, I arrived home with it. About two years ago my doctor sent me to a specialist. The specialist and his assistant were from India. I showed the writing to them. The doctor wasn’t interested but the assistant was. I asked if they thought the writing could be Sanskrit. The doctor said no and the assistant said maybe. The assistant said he believed he could learn about the book because he had some friends in New York who had studied the foundation of languages. He asked me to leave the book with him so he could make copies of several pages. He wondered why some pages had what appeared to be a Chinese character in red, and why it looked as if some writing had been added more recently in a different language with a pencil. He was also very interested in some of the Illustrations, especially the one inside one cover with the knife. The next time I was there, I didn’t see the assistant. The receptionist handed me the book and told me he was gone. I wondered if the book had anything to do with his leaving. She said he and the doctor had an argument over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted March 4, 2013 unfolded, it actually measures nearly 10 feet long. Sorry, this pic is blurry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted March 4, 2013 some of the text Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted March 4, 2013 the infamous six fingered man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted March 4, 2013 one last pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted March 4, 2013 Share #6 Posted March 4, 2013 Pretty unusual. Did he bring back any militaria? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted March 4, 2013 It's possible, but this is all I have of his. He was a 1SG over there by the way, that's why he mentions finding this on his desk. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strawberry 9 Posted March 4, 2013 Share #8 Posted March 4, 2013 What the heck is it?! There has to be some way of finding out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted March 4, 2013 Well I do know the writing is Burmese, possibly mid 19th century, but these types of books are known to exist as early as the 11th century. I have to wonder what it is actually about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted March 4, 2013 Share #10 Posted March 4, 2013 I think you need to refer this to either museums or rare book dealers. Here is a start... the Facebook page for the Rare Book Society of India https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rare-Book-Society-of-India/196174216674 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge8 Posted March 8, 2013 Share #11 Posted March 8, 2013 The writing almost looks like the script used on the spines of some Kukhri's I got from IMA from the stuff they got from Nepal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww2relichunter Posted March 8, 2013 Share #12 Posted March 8, 2013 Very unique find i will be interested to hear what this actaully is about when you figure out what exactly it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgawne Posted March 9, 2013 Share #13 Posted March 9, 2013 If we have learned nothing from Indiana Jones, this must contain powerful bad juju and be treated gently! But you need to find a specialist in books of that area. Otherwise it is like bringing an obscure DI to a generic antique store and asking them what unit it is. You can always try sending a copy to the Indian or Burmese Ambassador and ask if they can help you locate an expert in the field. I helped a GI once return a very old document he picked up in Germany that turned out to have great significance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1SG_1st_Cav Posted March 10, 2013 Share #14 Posted March 10, 2013 If the First Sergeant had it, it must have been important. I could have been the list of his Indian or Burmese GFs. Come guys, lighten-up, it's Saturday night! Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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