(M38) The Cappadocian tablets are still somewhat of a problem. The first notice of them was given by Dr. T. G. Pinches.(49) According to the dealer’s account one acquired by the British Museum had come from Cappadocia. The script was then quite unfamiliar and it was thought that they were written in a language neither Semitic nor Akkadian. Various attempts, which are best forgotten, were made to transcribe and translate them under complete misapprehension of the readings of the characters. But in 1891 Golénischeff published twenty-four tablets of the same stamp, which he had acquired at Kaisarieh. His copies were splendidly done for one who could make out very little meaning. But he showed that many words were Assyrian and read many names. Professor Delitzsch(50) made a most valuable study of them, and laid the foundation for their thorough understanding. Professor P. Jensen(51) added greatly to our knowledge of their reading and interpretation. Dr. F. E. Peiser then(52) gave a transcription and translation of nine texts of contracts. They are now recognized to be purely Semitic. They must have been written in some place where Assyrian influence was all-powerful. There are many names compounded of Ashur. They are dated by eponyms as in Assyria. The discovery of many more of them at Boghaz Keui, Kara Eyuk, and elsewhere published by Professor V. Scheil in the _Mémoires de la Mission en Cappadoce par Ernest Chantre_, and commented on by M. Boissier,(53) make it certain that they are from this region. If subject to Assyria, their date may be before the earliest eponyms whose date is known from the Canon lists. They may be contemporary with the very earliest kings of Assyria. But it is not impossible that the eponyms referred to were local only and not Assyrian in origin. Dr. Peiser put them after the First Dynasty of Babylon, but before the Third Dynasty. They are full of unusual forms of words and have a phraseology of their own. They cannot as yet be translated with any confidence. In general they are very similar to the contracts, money-loans, and letters of the First Dynasty of Babylon. As far as they can be understood, they offer no new features of interest. The obscure phrases and words give rise to many speculations which will be found in the above-mentioned works. These are of great interest, but need further data for elucidation. They are too questionable to be profitably embodied here. (M39) The Elamite contract-tablets were found at Susa and are published by Professor V. Scheil in Tome IV. of the _Mémoires de la Délégation en Perse_.(54)