18. M. How do you know that these MSS. are as ancient as you say they are? What
proof have you that they were not written in quite recent times? How could paper last all
these centuries?
C. All these old MSS. are written on parchment, not on paper, and their great age
is evident at a glance. This also accounts for the loss of some pages from some of them.
They are written in very old 1 Greek characters, as different 2 from
later Greek writing as is the modern Arabic character from Cufic, which we find on old
coins. Learned men have made a special study of this; and it is well known that the modern
Greek writing itself, which is far more recent, came into use before Muhammad's time
3. All men of learning, believers and unbelievers alike, are agreed as to the fact
that these MSS. were written not later than the dates which I have mentioned (in
the text or notes), though it is acknowledged that some of