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- ASIATIC RESEARCHES;
OR,
TRANSACTION S-

THE SOCIETY INSTITUTED IN BENGAL,

FOR INQUIRING INTO

THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES,
THE ARTS, SCIENCES, AND LITERATURE...

OF

ASIA,

VOLUME THE FOURTH.
————————

7

Printed verbatim from the Calcutta Edition, in Quarts.

London >
PRINTED FOR YERNOR AND HOOD,;-IN THE POULTRY.

1799.

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From Exehange MAY 14. \99¢

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE unfortunate death of Sir William Fones,
on the 27th of April, 1794, having deprived
the Society of their Founder and President, a
meeting of the Members was convened on the
ist of May following, when it was unani-
mously agreed to appoint a Committee, consist-
ing of Sir Robert Chambers, Mr. Justice Hyde,
Colonel ohn Murray, Fobn Briston, and Thomas
Graham, Esquires, to wait on Sir ohn Shore,
and, in the Name of the Society, request his ac-
ceptance of the office of their President. With
this request he, in terms highly flattering to
the Society, agreed to comply; and on the
22d of May, 1794, took his seat as President,
and delivered the Discoursé, No. 12, of this »

Volume. —

EDMUND MORRIS, Sceretary.

DIRECTIONS TO BINDERS.

~Fillage of Nancowry + - page 132

eSlow-paced Lemur, and Yak of Tartary - 137
“No. XI. Durva Agrostis of Dr. Kenig - 2 52
Ground Plan of the Cuttub Minar, with Delineation “ 3
©Cuttub Minar in April 1 ea -
«Description of the Jonesia e Yee flat fic Mae :
View of the Volcano on Barren Island + |
é Elephanta Cave ~ =" - . 424
ee Plan of _ « A ae
Spikenard of the Antients, and ibe ks Aculeata
Kanig 4 - > 455

Wid.

VU.

CONTENTS
OF

THE FOURTH VOLUME.

ISCOURSE the Tenth.—On Asiatic His-
tory, civil and natural -
On three natural productions of Sumatra page 1
On the plant Morinda, and its uses - 20
On the inhabitants of the hills near Rajamahall 31
Additional remarks on the Shikenard of the
Antients - - = 108

~ On the Dhanesa, or Tedion Bucerts » _ 120

On the Islands Nencowry and Comarty’ = 132
On the Loris, or Slow-paced Lemur . 137
Astronomical observations made in the upper
| part of Hindtistan, and on a journey thence
to Oujein - - SE Rate 143
Questions and Remarks on the Astronomy of
the Hindus - - . 159
aa , | XIi Dis-

Vill CONTENTS.

XI. Discourse the Eleventh. On the philosophy

of the Asiatics - - page 165
XII. Discourse delivered by Sir Fohn Shore, Bart. >

President ar? - el Sad 185
XIII. Treatise on the Barometer ~ 201

XIV. On the duties of a faithful Hinde Widow 215
XV. On the traces of the Hindu language and lite-
rature extant amongst the Malays ~ 226
XVI. A catalogue of Jndzan plants > 234.
XVII. Botanical observations on select Jndian plants 238
XVITE A description of the Cuttub Minar ‘ 323
XIX. Astronomical observations made on a voyage
to the dudaman and Nicobar Islands 328
XX. Astronomical observations made on a survey
thro’ the Carnatic and A/ysore country 333

AXI.. ‘Table of latitudes and longitudes of some

principal places in India - - 338
XXIL On some extraordinary facts, customs, and

practices of the Hindus | - ie 343
XXII. Description of the Yak of Tartary - 363
XXIV. A description of the Yonesia | - 368
XXV. Astronomical observations in Hindustan 372
XXVI. A dissertation on Semiramis, &c. from the

Hindu sacred book - ~ 376
XXVH_. On the 4idaman Islands ee 40

XXVUULOn Barren Island, andits Volcano ~~ - 412

XXIX. Extract from a diary of a journey over the
| Great Desart, from Alefifia to Bussora ~ 416
XXX,

CONTENTS, ix

XXX. Onthe Tshamie of the Hindus page 420
XXXI. Some account of the Cave in the Island of
Elehhanta - - - 424

XXXII An account of the present state of De/hi 434
XXXIIL.Botanical observations on the Shikenard of
| the Antients * Bs x 453

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I.

THE sTEN HH

ANNIVERSARY DISCOURSE,

DELIVERED 28 FEBRUARY, 1793,
BY. THE PRESIDENT.
SecA ot A T LO BIS TORY:

CIVIL AND NATURAL.

EFORE our entrance, Gentlemen, into the Dis-

quisition promised at the close of my ninth An-
nual Discourse, on the particular advantages which
may be derived from our concurrent researches in
Asia, it seems necessary to fix, with precision, the
sense in which we mean to'speak of advantage or uti-
lity, ‘Now, as we have described the five Asiatic
regions on their largest scale, and have expanded our
conceptions in proportion to the magnitude of that
wide field, we should use those words, which com-
prehend the fruit of all our inquiries, in their most
extensive acceptation ; including not only the solid
conveniences and comforts of social life, but its ele-
_ gances and innocent pleasures, and even the gratifi-
cation

ea ON ASIATIC HISTORY,

cation of anatural and laudable curiosity ; for, though
labour be clearly the lot of man in this world, yet, in
the midst of his most active exertions, he cannot but
feel the substantial benefit of every liberal amusement
which may lull his passions to rest, and afford him a
sort of repose without the pain of total inaction, and
the real usefulness of every pursuit which may enlarge
and diversify his ideas, without interfering with the
principal objects of his civil station or ceconomical
duties ; nor should we wholly exclude even the trivial
and worldly sense of zz/ity, which too many consider
as merely synonimous with /ucre, but should reckon
among useful objects those practical, and by no means
illiberal arts, which may eventually conduce both to
national and to private emolument. With a view
then to edvantages thus explained, let us examine eve-
ry point in the whole circle of arts and sciences, ac-"
cordingto the received order of their dependence on
the faculties of the mind, their mutual connexion,
and the different subjects with which they are conver-
sant: our inquiries indeed, of which Nature and Man.
are the primary objects, must of course be chiefly
Historical; but since we propose to investigate the
actions of the several A4satic nations, together with
their respective progress in science and art, we may
arrange our investigations under the same three heads
to which our Exurepeam analysts have ingeniously re-
duced all the branches of human knowledge; and my
present address to the Society shall be confined to
history, civil and natural, or the observation and re-

membrance

aar

CIVIL AND NATURAL. Xi

membrance of mere facts, independently of ratioci-
nation, which belongs to philosophy ; or of dztations
and substitutions, which are the province of art.
WERE a superior created intelligence to delineate
a map of general knowledge (exclusively of that sub-
lime and stupendous theology, which himself could
only hope humbly to know by an infinite approxima-
tion) he would probably begin by tracing with New-
ton the system of the universe, in which he would as-
sign the true place to our little globe; and, having
enumerated its various inhabitants, contents, and
productions, would proceed to man in his natural sta-
tion among animals, exhibiting a detail of all the
knowledge attained or attainable by the human race;
and thus observing perhaps, the same order in which
he had before described other beings in other inha-
bited worlds; but though Bacon seems to have had a
similar reason for placing the history of Nature before
that of Man, or the whole before one of its parts, yet,
consistently with our chief object already mentioned,
we may properly begin with the ctvi/ history of the
five Asiatic nations, which necessarily comprises their
Geography, or a deseription of the places where they
have acted, and their Astronomy, which may enable
as to ix with some accuracy the fe of their actions;
we shall thence be led to the history of such other
animals, of such minerals, and of such vegetables as
they may be supposed to have found in their several
migrations and settlements, and shall end with the
uses to which they have applied, or may apply, the

rich assemblage of natural substances.
]. In

“tna,

XiV ON ASIATIC HISTORY,

I. In the first place, we cannot surely deem it an
inconsiderableadvantage, that all our historical research-
es have confirmed the Mosaic accounts of the primi-
tive world; and our testimony on that subject ought
to have the greater weight, because, if the result of
our observations had been totally different, we should
nevertheless have published them, not indeed with
equal pleasure, but with equal confidence ; for Truth
is mighty, and, whatever be its consequences, must al-
ways prevail: but, independently of our interest in
corroborating the multiplied evidences of revealed
religion, we could scarce gratify our minds witha
more useful and rational entertainment than the con-
templation of those wonderful revolutions in king-
doms and states, which have happened within little
more than four thousand years; revolutions almost :
as fully demonsirative of an all-ruling Providence as -
the structure of the universe, and the final causes
which are discernible in its whole extent, and even in
its minutest parts. Figure to your imaginations a
moving picture of that eventful period, or rather a
succession of crowded scenes rapidly changed. Three
families migrate in different courses from one re-
gion, and, in about four centuries, establish very
distant governments and various modes of society :
Egyptians, Indians, Goths, Phenicians, Celts, Greeks,
Latians, Chinese, Peruvians, Mexicans, all sprung
from the same immediate stem, appear to start nearly
at one time, and occupy at length those countries, to
which they have given, or from which they have de-

rived,

CIVIL AND NATURAL. xv

rived, their names. In twelve or thirteen hundred
years more, the Greeks overrun the land of their fore-
fathers, invade India, conquer Egypt, and aim at uni-
versal dominion ; but the Romans appropriate to them-
selves the whole empire of Greece, and carry their
arms into Britain, ot which they speak with haughty
contempt. The Goths, in the fulness of time, break
to pieces the unwieldly Colossus of Roman power, and
seize on the whole of Britain, except its wild moun-
tains; but even those wilds become subject to other
invaders of the same Gothic lineage. During all those
transactions the rads possess both coasts of the Red
Sea, subdue the old seat of their first progenitors, and
extend their conquests, on one side, through Africa, -
into Europe itself; on another, beyond the borders of
India, part of which they annex to their flourishing
empire. In the same interval the Turtars, widely dif-
fused over the rest of the-globe, swarm in the north-
east, whence they rush to complete the reduction of
Constantime’s beautiful domains, to subjugate China,
to raise in these Indian realms a dynasty splendid and
powerful, and to ravage, like the two other families,
the devoted regions of Iran. By this time the Mexi-
cans and Peruvians, with many races of adventurers
variously intermixed, have peopled the continent and
isles of America, which the Spaniards, having restor-
‘ed their old government in Europe, discover and in
part overcome: but a colony from Britain, of which
Cicero ignorantly declared, that 7# contained nothing
valuable, obtain the possession, and finally the so-

| vereign

-

x¥I GN ASIATIC HISTORY,

vereign dominion of extensive American districts;
whilst other British subjects acquire a subordinate em-
pire in the finest provinces of India, which the victo-
rious troops of -d/exander were unwilling to attack,
This outline of human transactions, as far as it in-
cludes the limits of 452, we can only hope to fill up
to strengthen, and to colour by the help of Asiazie li-
terature ; for in history, asin law, we must not follow
streams when we may investigate fountains, nor admit
any secondary proof where primary evidence is attain-
able: I should, nevertheless, make a bad return for
your indulgent attention, were I to repeat a dry list of
all the Muselman historians whose works are preserved
in Arabic, Perstan, and Turkish, or expatiate on the
histories and medals of China and Japan, which may
in time be accessible to members of our Society, and
from which alone we can expect information concern-
ing the ancient state of the Turtars ; but on the histo-
ry ot India, which we naturally consider as the centre
of our enquiries, it may not be superfluous to. present —
you with a few particular observations.

Our knowledge of civil -4siatic history (1 always
except that of the Hebrews) exhibits a short evening
twilight im the venerable introduction to the first book
of Moses, followed by a gloomy night, in which dif-
ferent watches are faintly discernible, and at length we
see a dawn succeeded by asun-rise more cr less early
according to the diversity of regions. That no Hindu
nation, but the Cashmirians, have left us regular histo-

Ties in their ancient language, we must ever lament;
e ; ri

: CIVIL AND NATURAL. XVIL

but from the Sanserit literature, which our country has
the honour of having unveiled, we may still collect
some rays of historical truth, though time, and a se-
ries of revolutions, have obscured that light which we
might reasonably have expected from so diligent and
ingenious a people. The numerous Puranas and [ii-
hasas, or poems mythological and heroic, are com-
pletely in our power; and from them we may recover
some disfigured but valuable pictures of ancient man-
ners and governments ; while the popular /a/es of the
Findus, in prose and in verse, contain fragments of
history; and even in their dramas we may find as
many real characters and events as a future age might
find in our own plays, if all histories of England were,
like those of Jndia, to be irrecoverably lost.. For ex-
ample, a most beautiful poem by Somadeva, compris-
ing a very long chain of instructive and agreeable sto-
ries, begins with the famed revolution at Pataliputras
by the, murder of king Naxda with his eight sons, and
the usurpation of Chandr ragupta ; and the same revo-
lution is the subject of a tragedy in Sanscrit, entitled
the Coronation of Chandra, the abbreviated name of ~
that. able and adventurous usurper, From these once
concealed, but now accessible compositions, we are
enabled to exhibit a more accurate sketch of old In-
dian history than the world has yet seen, especially with
the aid of well-attested observations on the places of
the colures. It is now clearly proved, that the first
Purana contains an account of the deluge ; between
which and the WM haanireodin conquests t the history of

_ Vou. i ER b | genuine

XV ON ASIATIC HISTORY,

genuine Hindu government must of course be coms,
prehended; but we know from an arrangement of the.
seasons in the astronomical work of Parasara, that the
war of the Pandavas could not have happened earlier
than the clofe of the twelfth century before Christ; and
Seleucus must, therefore, have reigned about nine
centuries after that war. Now the age of Vicramadt-
tya is given ; and, if we can fix on an Indian prince
contemporary with Seleucus, we shall have three given
points in the line of time between Kama, or the first”
ndian colony, and Chandrabiya, the last Hindu mo-
narch, who reigned in Behar; so that only eight
hundred ora thousand years will remain almost wholly
dark ; and they must have been employed in raising
empires or states, in framing laws, improving lan-
guages and arts, and in observing the apparent mo-
tions of the celestial bodies. A Sanscrit history of
the celebrated Vicramaditya was inspected at Benares
by a Pandit, who would not have deceived me, and
could not himself have been deceived; but the owner —
of the book is dead, and his family dispersed; nor
have my friends in that city been able, with al] their
exertions, to procure a copy of it. As to the Mogul
conquests, with which modern Jndian history begins,
we have ample accounts of them in Persian, from Ali
of Yezd, and the translations of Turkish books com-
posed even by some of the conquerors, to Ghulam
Husain, whom many of us personally know, and
whose impartiality deserves the highest applause,
though his unrewarded merit will give no encourage-
: ment

CIVIL AND NATURAL. XiX

ment to other contemporary historians, who, to use his
own phrase ina letter to myself, may, like him, con-
sider plain truth as the beauty of historical composition.
From all these materials, and from these alone, a
perfect history of India (if a mere compilation, how-
ever elegant, could deserve such a title) might be
collected by any studious man who had a competent
knowledge of Sanscrit, Persian, and Arabic; but even
in the work of a writer so qualified, we could only
give absolute credence to the general outline; for,
while the abstract sciences are all truth, and the fine
arts all fiction, we cannot but own, that, in the defaj/s
of history, truth and fiction are sa blended as to be
scarce distinguishable.

Tue practical use of history, in affording particu-
lar examples of civil and military wisdom, has been
greatly exaggerated ; but principles of action may cer-
tainly be*collected from it; and even the narrative of
wars and revolutions may serve as a lesson to nations,
and an adimonition to sovereigns. A desire, indeed,
of knowing past events, while the future cannot be
known, and a view of the presenty gives often more
pain than delight, seems natural to the human mind ;
and a happy propensity would it be, if every wade
of history would open his eyes to some very important
corollaries, which flow from the whole extent of it.
He could not but remark the constant effect of despo-
tism in benumbing and debasing all those faculties
which distinguish men from the herd that grazes ; and
to that cause he would irapuite the decided inferiority

| Ye ene aa

|

Sk ON ASIATIC. HISTORY,
of most Asiatic nations, ancient and modern, ta those
in Europe who are blest with happier governments 5 hig

would see the drabs rising to glory, while they ad-

hered to the free maxims of their bold ancestors, and |
sinking to misery from the moment when those max-
ims were pbaneened On the other hand, he would

observe with regret, that such republican governments
as tend to feces virtue and happiness, cannot in their
nature be permanent, but are generally succeeded: by
cligarciies, which no good man would wish to. be dur-
able. He.would, then, like the king of Lydia; xe

member Solon, the wisest, bravest, and most accomp-

lished of men, who asserts in four nervous lines, that
‘© as hail and snow, which mar the labours of husband-
‘© men, procecd from elevated clouds, and, as the de-
‘“ structive thunderbolt foltows the brillant flash, thus
‘“* 73 a free state ruined by men exalted in power and
«« splendid inwealth, while the people, from gross ignos
“© rance, chuse rather to become the slaves of one tyrant,
that they may escape from the domination of many,
than to preserve themselves from tyranny ofany kind
‘‘ by their union and their virtues.” Since, therefore, —
no unmixed form of government could both deserve
permanence and enjoy it, and since changes, even from
the worst to the best, are always attended with much
temporary mischief, he would fix on our British con-
stitution (1 mean our public law, not the actual state
of things in any given period) as the best form ever
established, though we can only make distant approach-
es to its theoretical perfection: In these Jndian-terri-
tories,

“

€¢

€¢

CIVIL AND NATURAL. xxi
‘toties, which Providence has thrown into the arms of
Britain for their protection and welfare, the religton,
manners, and laws of the natives preclude even the idea
of political freedom ; but their histories may possibly
‘suggest hints for their prosperity, while our country
‘derives essential benefit from the diligence of a placid
‘and submissive people, who multiply with stich in-
crease, even after the ravages of famine, that in one
collectorship out of fventy-four, and that by no means
the largest or best cultivated (1 mean Chrishna-nagar)
there have lately been found, by an actual enumeration,
‘a million and three hundred thousand native inhabitants ;
‘whence it should seem, that in all Jvdia there cannot
be fewer than thirty millions of black British sub-
jects.

Let us proceed to geography and chronology, with-
out which history would be no certain guide, but
would resemble a kindled vapour without either a set-

‘tled place or a steady light. For a reason before inti-
mated, I shall not name the various cosmographical

‘bocks which-are extant in Arabic and Persian, nor
“give an account of those which the Turks have bedu-
tifully printed in their own improved language, but
shall expatiate a little on the geography and astronomy

of India; having first observed gene rally, that all the
Asiatic nations must be far better acquainted with their

several countries than mere European scholars and tra-

vellers; that, consequently, we must learn their ee0-

graphy from their own writings ; and that, by collating

many copies of the same work, we may correct di

D 3 blunders

Seat ON ASIATIC HISTORY,

blunders of transcribers in tables, names, and deserip-
tions.

GEOGRAPHY, astronomy, and chronology have; in
this part of Asiz, shared the fate of authentic history 5
and, liké that, have been so masked and bedecked in
the fantastic robes of mythology and metaphor, that
the real system of Indian philosophers and mathemati-
cians can scarce be distinguished : an accurate know-
ledge of Sanscrit and a confidential intercourse with
ee Brahinens, are the only means of separating
truth from fable ; and we may expect the most import-
ant discoveties from two of our members; concerning
whom it may be safely asserted, that if our Society
should have produced no other advantage than the in-
vitation given to them for the public display of their
talents, we should have a claim to the thanks of out
éountry and.of all Exrope. Lieutenant Wilford has
exhibited an interesting specimen of the geographical
knowledge deducible from the Puranas, and will in time
present you with so complete a treatise on the ancient
world known to the Hindus, that the light acquired
by the Greeks will appear but a glimmering in com-
parison of that which he will diffuse ; while Mr. Davis,
who has given us a distinct idea of Jvdian computations
and cycles, and ascertained the place of the cohures at
a time of great importance in history, will hereafter dis-
close the systems of Hind astronomers, from Nared and
Parasar to Meya, Varahamihir, and Bhascar ; and will
soon, I trust, lay before you a perfect delineation of all
the Jndian asterisms in both hemispheres,where you will _

perceive

CIVIL. AND NATURAL. XXL

perceive so strong a general resemblance to the constel-
lations of the Greeks, as to prove that the two systems
were originally one and the same, yet with such a di-
versity in parts, as to show incontestably, that neither
system was copied from the other ;. whence it will fol-

low, that they must have had some common source.
THe jurisprudence of the Hindus and Arabs being
the field which I have chosen for my peculiar toil, you
cannot expect that I should greatly enlarge your col-
lection of historical knowledge; but I may be able to
offer you some occasional tribute; and I cannot help
mentioning a discovery which accident threw in my
way, though my proofs must be reserved for an essay
which I have destined for the fourth volume of your
Transactions. To fix the situation of that Palibothra
(for there may have been several of the name) which
was visited and described by Megasthenes, had always
appeared a very difficult problem ; for though it could
not have been Prayaga, where no’ancient metropolis
ever stood, nor Canyucubja, which has no epithet at all
resembling the word used by the Greeks ; nor Gaur,
otherwise called Lacshmanavati, which all know to be
a town comparatively modern, yet we could not confi-
dently decide that it was Pataliputra, though names
and most circumstances nearly correspond, because
that renowned capital extended from the confluence
of the Sone and the Ganges to the scite of Patna, while
Palibothra stood at the junction of the Ganges and
Erannoboas, which the accurate M. D’Anville had
pronounced to be the Yamuna ; but this only difficulty
b4 was

Xxiv ON ASIATIC HISTORY,
was removed, when I found in a ern Sanérit book,

ear 2000 years old, that Mvranyabahu, or golden-arm-
ed, which the Greeks changed into Erannobo.s, or the
river with a lovely murmur, was in fact another name
for the Sona itself; though Méegasthenes, from igno-
rance or inattention, has named them separately. This
discovery led to another of greater moment ; for Chan-
drapupta, who, from a military adventurer, became,
like Sandracottus, the sovereign of Upper Hindustan,
actually fixed the seat of his empire at seth sie:
whete he received ambassadors from foreign princes ;
and was no other than that véry Sandracottus who con-
Aluded a treaty with Se/encus Nicator ; so that we have
solved another problem, towhich we before alluded, and
nay in round numbers consider the twelve and three
hutdredth years before Christ, as two certain epochs
between Rama, who conquered Silan a few centuries
After the flood, and Vicramaditya, who died a Ujjayimt
fifty-seven years before the beginning of our era. |

if. Srnce these discussions would lead us too far, I
proceed to the history of Nature, distinguished, for our
present purpose, froin that of Man ; and divided into
that of other. animals who inhabit this globe, of the
wiveral sabstances which it contains, and of the vege=
tables which so luxuriantly and so beautifully adorn it.
“3. Coutp the figure, instincts, and qualities of
birds, beasts, insects, reptiles, and fish be ascertained,
éitlict on the plan of Buffon, or on that of Linneus,
without giving pain to the objects of our examination,
few studies would afford us more solid instruction, or
% more

CIVIL AND NATURAL. X&¥
tnore exquisite delight; but I never could learn by what
right, nor conceive with what feelings a naturalist can
occasion the misery of an innocent bird, and leave its
young, perhaps, to perish ina cold nest, because ithas
gay plumage, and has never been accurately delineat-
ed; or deprive even a butterfly of its natural enjoy-
ments, because it has the misfortune to be rare or
beautiful ; nor shall I ever forgot the couplet of Fir-
dausi, for which Sadi, who cites it with applause, pours
blessings on his departed spirit :~—

Ah! spare yon emmet, rich in hoarded grain 3
~ He lives with pleasure, and he dies with pain. -

This may be only a confession of weakness, and it
certainly is not meant as a boast of peculiar sensibili-
ty; but whatever name may be given to my opinion,
it has stich an effect on my conduct, that I never would
suffer the Cocila, whose wild native Wwood-notes an-
hounce the approach of : spring, to be caught in my
garden, for the sake of comparing it with Buffon’s de-
scription; though I have often examined the domestic
and engaging Mayana, which bids us good-morrow at
our windows, and expects, as its reward, little more
than security : even when a fine young Manis or Pan-
golin was brought me, against my wish, from the
mountains, I solicited his restoration to his beloved
rocks, because Gah impossible to preserve him
in Comfort at a distance from them. _ There are seye-
fal treatises of aninials in Arabic, and very particular
accounts of them in Chiziese, with elegant outlines of

a

their

XXVI ON ASIATIC HISTORY,

their external appearance ; but 1 have met with nos
thing valuable concerning them in Persian, except
what may be gleaned from the medical dictionaries ; Z
nor have I yet seen a book in Sanscrit that expressly
treats of them. On the whole, though rare animals
may be found i in all Asia, yet I can only recommend,
ar examination of them with this condition, that they
be left, as much as possible, i in @ state of natural free-
dom ; or made as happy as possible, if it be necessary
to keep them confined: ,

2. Tue history of Minerals, to which no such ob-
jection can be made, is extremely simple and éasy, if
we merely consider their exterior look and configura-
tion, and their visible texture; but the analysis of their
internal properties belongs particularly to the sublime
researches of Chemistry, on which we may hope to find
useful disquisitions in Sauscrit, since the old Hindus
unquestionably applied themselves to that enchanting
study ; and even from their treaties on alchemy we
may possibly collect the results of actual experiment,
as their ancient astrological works have preserved
many valuable facts relating to the Jndian sphere and
the precession of the equinox. Both in Persian and
Sanscrtt, there ate books on metals and minerals, par-
ticularly on gems which the Hindu _ philosophers con-
sidered (with an exception of the diamond) as varieties

fone crystalline substance, either simple or compound:
but we must not expect from the chymists of Asia
those beautiful examples of analysis which have but

lately been disp!ayed in the laboratories of Europe. .
3. We

CIVIL AND NATURAL. XXVU

s. We now come to Botany, the loveliest and most
copious division in the history of nature; and all dis-
putes on the comparative merit of systems being at
length, | hope, condemned to one perpetual night of
undisturbed slumber,we cannot employ our leisure more
delightfully than in describing all new szatic plants
in the Linnean style and method, or in correcting the
descriptions of those already known, but of which dry
specimens only, or drawings, can have been seén by
most /uropean botanists. In this part of natural his-
tory we havean ample field yet unexplored ; for, tho’
many plants of 4rabia have been made known by Gar-
cias, Prosper Alpimus, and Forskoel ; of Persia, by Gar-
cia; of Turtary, by Gmelin and Pallas; of China and
Japan, by Kampfer, Osbeck,and Thunberg ; of India, by
Riheede and Rumphius, the two Burmans, and the much
lamented Koenig, yet none of those naturalists were
deeply versed in the literature of the several countries
from which their vegetable treasures had been pro-
cured ; and the numerous works in Sazseri¢ on medi-
cal substances, and chiefly on plants, have never been
inspected, or never at least understood, .by any Eurs-
pean attached to the study of nature. Until the gar-
den of the India Company shall be fully stored (as 4
will be, no-doubt, in due time) with Arabian, Persian,
and Chinese plants, we may well be satisfied with exa-
mining the native flowers of our own provinces; but
unless we can discover the Sanscrit names of all cele-
brated vegetables, we shall neither comprehend the al-
lusions which Jxdian Poets perpetually make to them,

nor

Xxvili ON ASIATIC HisTorY,

nor (what is far worse) be able to find accounts of their
tried virtues in the writings of Jdian physicians; and
(what is worst of all) we shall miss an opportunity,
which never again may present itself; for the Pandits
themselves have almost wholly forgotten their ancient
appellations of particular plants; ‘and, with all my
pains, I have not yet ascertained ‘more than feo Aud=
red out of twice that number, which are named in their
medical or poetical compositions. Yt is inuch to be
deplored, that the illustrious Vax Rheede had no ac-
quaintance with Sanscrit, which even his three Braf-
mens, Who composed the short preface engraved’ in
that language, appear to have understood very imper-
fectly, and certainly wrote with disgraceful inaccuracy,
In all his twelve volumes I recollect only Panarnavay
in which the Negeri letters are tolerably right; the
findu words in Arabian characters are shamefully in-
correct ; and the Ma/abar, 1 am credibly informed, i$
as bad as the rest. His delineations, indeed, are in
general excellent ; and though Limnzus himself could
hot extract from his written descriptions the natural
character of every plant in the collection, yet we shall
be able, I hope, to describe them all from the life, and
to add a confiderable number of new species, if not of
new genera, which Rheede, with all his noble exertions
could never procure. Such of our learned members
as profess medicine, will, no doubt, cheerfully assist in
these researches, either by their own observations, when
they have leisure to make any, or by communications

from other observers among their acquaintance, who
her m ay

CIVIL AND NATURAL. XX1X

may reside in different parts of the country: and the
mention of their art leads me to the various uses of na-
tural substances, in the three kingdoms or classes to
which they are generally reduced. ;
lit. You cannot but have remarked, that almost all
the sciences, as the French callthem, which are distin-
guished by Greek names and arranged under the head
of philosophy, belong for the most part to history;
such as philology, chemistry, physic, anatomy, and
even metaphysics, when we barely relate the phenome-
na of the human mind; for, in all branches of know-
ledge, we are only historians when we announce facts,
and philosophers only when we reason on them: the,
same may. be confidently said of law and of medicine,
the first of which belongs principally to civil, and the
second chiefly to natural history. Here, therefore, I
speak of medicine, as far only as it is grounded on ex-
periment; and, without believing implicitly what
Arabs, Persians, Chinese, or Hindus may have written,
onthe virtues of medicinal subjects, we may, surely,
hope to find in their writings what our own experiments
may confirm or disprove, and what might never have

occurred to us without such intimations.
EvuroPEANS enumerate more than two hundred and
jifty mechanical arts, by which the productions of na-
ture may be variously prepared for the convenience and:
ornament of life; and, though the Sy/pasastra reduce
them to sixty-four, yet Abulfazl had been assured that
the Hindus reckoned three hundred arts.and sciences »
vat their sciences being comparatively few, we may.
conclude

XXX ON ASIATIC HISTORY,

conclude that they anciently practised at least as many
useful artsas ourselves. Several Pandits have inform-
ed me, that the treatises on art, which they call Upave-
das, and believe to have been inspired, are not so en-
tirely lost but that considerable fragments of them may
be found at Benares ; and they certainly possess many
popular, but ancient works on that interesting subject.
The manufactures of sugar and indigo have been well
known in these provinces for more than two thousand
years; and we cannot entertain a doubt that their Sn-
scrit books on dying and metallurgy, contain very cu-
tious facts, which might, indeed, be discovered by
accident, in a Jong course of years, but which we may,
soon bring to light, by the help of Jzdian literature,
for the benefit of manufacturers and artists, and conse-
cuently of our nation, who are interested in their pros-
perity. Discoveries of the same kind might be collect-
ed from-the writings of other Asiatic nations, especi-
ally of the Chinese; but, though Persian, Arabic, Turk-
ish, and Sanscrit are languages now so accefible, that,
in order to attain a sufficient knowledge of them, little
more seems required than a strong inclination to learn |
them, yet the supposed number and intticacy of the
Chinese characters have deterred our moft diligent stu-
dents from attempting to find their way through so vaft
alabyrinth. It is certain, however, that the difficulty
has been magnified beyond the truth ; for the perspi-
cuous grammar by M. Fourmont, together with a copi-
ous dictionary, which I possess, in Chinese and Latin,
would enable any man who pleafed, to compare the

original

CIVIL AND NATURAL. XKxi

original works of Confucius, which are eafily procured,
with the literal translation of them by Coupler; and
having made that first step with attention, he would
probably find, that he had traversed at leaft half of his
career. But I should be led beyond the limits assigned
to.me on this occasion, if I were to expatiate farther on
the historical division of the knowledge comprised in
the literature of Asia; and I mutt postpone till next
year my remarks on Asiatic Philosophy, and on thofe
arts which depend on imagination; promising you
with confidence, that in the course of the present year
your inquiries into the civil and natural history of this
eastern world, will be greatly promoted by the learned
labours of many among our associates and correspond-
ents.

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ASIATIC RESEARCHES,

CN
THREE NATURAL PRODUCTIONS

OF

SUMATRA,

BY JOHN MACDONALD, Esq,

ON THE CAMPHOR OF SUMATRA.

N answer to some questions put to me by the Pre-

sident of the Asiatic Society respecting camphor-
oil, Ihave the pleasure of giving the solution con-
tained in the following short account :—Camphor-oil,
one of the essential oils, is actually camphor, before
the operations of nature on it have reduced it to the
concrete form in which it is found in thetree. When
Mr. Marspen composed his justly-admired history
of Sumatra, the prevalent opinien on this subject
was, that the oil and the concreted camphor were
never found in the same tree. 1 have the authority
of a gentleman, Lieutenant Lewrs, well informed
on this subject, froma residence of many years in
the country producing the camphor, to differ from
‘that generally accurate author, by saying, that he
has seen a tree three quarters of a mile from the sea :

Vol, IV. B near

2 ON THE CAMPHOR

near Tappanooly, from which three cafties (above
three pounds) of camphor, and at the same time,
near two gallons of oil had been procured. Ifa tree
be old, and yield oil plentifully, the natives esteem
these two circumstances sure indications of its con-
taining a considerable quantity of camphor. Mr.
Macaver, in his chemical dictionary, has remarked,
that the nitrous acid dissolves camphor without come
motion, that the solution is clear and limped, and
that it 1s called camphor-orl. This affords a proof
that the formed camphor is produced from the oil by
a natural operation of composition, the decomposition -
by means of the above solvent reducing the substance
to its primary state, previous to concretion. The
Achinese ate reckoned the best judges of camphor ;
and the oil they collect undergoes a process by dis-
tillation, leaving a residuum of inferior camphor.
Trees of a certain age only yield camphor. It would
seem that a certain time is requisite for maturing the
_ oil to that state, when,its. contained camphor becomes
fit for being concréted by the heat of the sun acting
on the tree and soil. The camphor-tree is one of the
Enneandria Monogynia. of Lixx mus, and differs ina
small variation in the form of the leaf from the Arbor
Camphorifera Japonica, folus laurinis, fructu parvo,
calyce brevissimo. Tle tree very much resembles the
Bay in leaves. The trunk <is thick ; the bark of.a
brownish appearance; and. the ramification strong,
close, and extended. It is fond of a rich red loam,
tending to a blackish clay, mixed witha crumbling
stone of the colour of marl. It grows. principally

on

OF SUMATRA, 3

on the N. W. side of Sumatra, from the line 3° N;
nearly. The wood is useful for domestic purposes;
being soft and easily worked. It,is by many imagin-
ed, that camphor is produced by a chemical process.
This is a mistaken idea, farther than regards the in-
ferior kind arising from the distillation of the oil. J
shall give a brief account of the mode of obtaining and
preparing it, as practised by the natives of Sumatra,
from the time of the establishment of the English on
the island. The Swmatrans, previous to their setting
out in guest of camphor, assemble on the confines of
the country they intend exploring, and discharge a
variety of religious duties and ceremonies, calculated
_ in their opinion, to promote the future success of their
undertaking. They enter the woods, and, from ex-
perience, soon distinguish such trees as contain cam-
phor. They pierce them; and if they yield oil plen-
tifully, it 1s presumed they contain conereted cam-
phor, which is found in small whitish flakes, situated
perpendicularly, in irregular veins, in and near the
centres of the trees. The trée is cut down, divided
into junks, and carefully divested of its camphor.
When the oil has been drawn off from young trees;
the camphor, which they afterwards afford, is of a
Jess valuable nature, and is termed Je//y or foot cam-
phor, in proportion to the degree of affinity it bears
to head, or the best, sort... When brought for sale, it
is repeatedly soaked and washed in soapy water, tose-
parate from it all heterogeneous and sandy particles
that may have adhered to it. When clean, it will
sink in water, and be of a white, glossy, smooth ap-

B2 pearance,

4 ON THE CAMPHOR

pearance, tending to transparency. After it has been
washed, it is passed through three sieves of differing
textures, so as to be divided into head, belly, and foot
camphor: certain proportions of each compose the
chests made up for the China market, where they are
sold for 3501. sterling, nearly. The capoor* (a word
of Arabic origin) matee, or dead camphor, is carefully
separated from the three divisions, by an acuteness of
distinction, acquired by the eye and hand from habit
and attention, and, being mixed with the imperfect
kind mentioned above, is pounded in a mortar and
distributed among proportional quantities of foot cam-
phor. This capoor-matee is sometimes procured by
boiling down the thickest part of the oil, or by taking
the sediment of the best oil, after it has settled at
Jeast twenty-four hours. Camphor-oil is found to be
a sovereign remedy for strains, bruises, and other ex-
‘ternal pains, from its penetrating quality in entering
the pores, and gently agitating the affected parts,
so as to quicken the stagnated circulation. The tn-
ternal, anodyne and diaphoretic, and the external,
antispasmodic and sedative virtues of camphor are
well known. The oil is found to possess these in a
certain degree, and to be useful in removing the
painful spasms of the nerves and tendons, by dissipar-
ing the surrounding acrid humours. When the oil is
used, it must be formed into a liniment, as it would
alone occasion pain from its strength. ‘Fhe oil ap-
plied to sores op horses has beea found very bene-
ficial. In this case it ought to be mixed with the

* Ca/far im Arabic, and Carpéra in Sanserit.
juice

OF SUMATRA. | 5

juice of the tobacco. Sumatra affords annually from
fifteen to twenty pecu/s (of 1334 pounds each) of cam-
phor, and more oil than there is at present a demand
for. The Chimese purchase it; and it is not clearly
ascertained whether they use it all in China, or make
a factitious species of it, by admixture of Japanese
camphor, for the Europe market: the latter is ge-
nerally supposed. It is highly probable, that the
price of camphor will, in process of time, rise to an
enormous degree, as one tree in three hundred is not
found to contain camphor, and, when found, is im-
mediately cut down; in consequence of which, the
plant must soon become scarce, and the produce pro-
portionably dear. It is to be hoped that the oil will,
in this event, be found by the faculty to possess all the
useful qualities of this valuable medicine. Ihave the
satisfaction of accompanying this paper with a speci-
men, though a small one, of the camphor-wood, with
a small quantity of the substance in it, the rest having
evaporated from length of time. If this account
should afford any information to the President and
Members of the Asiatic Society, my intention will be
fully answered,

ony
oO
Neget?

ON
} TELE saa
OF

SUMATRA.

{F this paper should be deemed worthy of a place in
the Transactions of the 4siatic Society, the inser-
tion I must still consider as an indulgence, and my
attempt, a proof that ] am more anxious than able, te
encrease the general stock of Eastern natural know-
ledge, recorded in the useful annals of the Society.
Specimens of coral, for your acceptance, and for the
illustration of this subject, are now forwarded.

THE appearance of Sumatran coral does not alto-
gether correspond with the descriptions of the plant
hitherto given *, This induces me to describe such |
parts as are imperfectly represented. The plant, to
which the various species of coral belong, is one of
the Cryptogamia of Linw us, and may be reckoned
one of the Herbe Marine of Tournefort ; ofthe Herbe
imperfecta of Mr. Ray. It may be reduced to three
colours, red, black, and whitish-yellow: the last is
the most common in the Fastern seas. It is of a
fungous texture, equally hard out of and in its natu-
ral element ; and its pores are charged with a juice of

* See the remark at the end of this paper. :
7 a milky

OF SUMATRA. | A

a milky appearance, in some degree acrid. The
bark covers every part of the tree, and contains a
number of perforated papil/e terminating in tubes,
having two or more holes in each, intended, I ima-
gine, for the admission of the matter affording nutri-
ment to the plant. The internal projections of the
papille adhere to the particles of sand and stone on
which the coral grows, and are the only appearance
ef roots it exhibits. On examining the internal ex-
tremities of these papi//le by means of glasses, some
very {mall ramifications are Cea Pie These are
very easily observed in the papil/le, which are attach-
ed to the bark of the root. The tree is said to grow
to the height of two feet: I have seen some as high as
ten feet. From these and other differences im appear-
ance, 1 am apt to think that some European and ln-
dian corals are not the same, but species of the same
genus. From the very rapid growth of coral on the
west coast of Sxmatra, and in the Eustern seas in ge-
neral, as will be shown in this paper, there can
subsist but little doubt that it is a vegetable sub-
stance; though there have not been wanting some,
who havé supposed it a fossil formed like crystals and
spars; and others, eminent naturalists, who have
ranked it among the animal tribes. Boccone disco-
vered that this plant encloses.a nutritious juice under
its bark: and Count Marsiex1 remarked and obser-
ved its flowers and seeds. I shall here insert Mar-
SIGLI’s accurate experiment, which affords the dec-
sion of almost absolute demonstration in favour of coral
being a vegetating plant. “ Having steeped some

B4 corals

§ ON THE CORAL

coral, fresh-gathered in sea-water, he perceived, ina
short time, that the little ruddy tubercles which ap-
peared on the surface of the bark, began gradually to
unfold, and at length opened into white flowers:
in the form of stars, with eight points which were
sustained by a little calyx, divided, in like manner,
into eight parts. Upon taking the coral out of the
water, the flowers immediately closed, and returned
into red tubercles as before; which tubercles, being
closely squeezed, yielded a sort of milky juice: and
upon returning the coral into the water as before, the —
tubercles, in an hour’s time, opened, or flowered
afresh; and this was continued for fix or eight days,
when the buds, or tubercles, ceased to blow any
more. Inten or twelve days they became detached
from the coral, and sunk to the bottom, in form of
‘little yellow balls. These tubercles then, according
to the analogy of plants, should be the flowers of
coral; and the milky viscid juice contained therein,
the pollen, Accordingly it is held, that when this
juice falls on a properly-disposed body or nidus, a
new coral arises therefrom; and the analysis of coral
answers precisely to that of other sea-plants, all of
them affording a volatile urinous salt, and a thick
blackish fetid oil.”---Elementa Chemie of Bozr-
HAAVE, page 134, Note, vol. 1. & Mem, de l’Acad.
An. 1708. }
Wuertuer, after all, the striated papilie, which
are of a stellar figure, and the two or more apertures
of which are divided, generally, into twelve parts,
contain an animal whose labour produces the growth

of

; OF SUMATRA gS

of the coral, or who inhabits the coral for its own im-
mediate satisfaction, is a question that has been much
agitated, without affording any certain conclusions.
Monsieur DE PeyssonneEL, after having inquired into
and discussed the various arguments for and against
coral’s being a petrification or a congelation, con-
cludes that it is the work of an insect, which he de-
nominates an Urtica, Purpura, or Polype, that con-
tracts in air, expands in water, and is sensible to the
touch, or the action of an acid. From Marsicti’s
experiment, as recited above, I think we may safely
conclude, that Ph yssoNNEL mistook the matter, and
supposed a flower an insect; for it is well known
that many flowers, on being plunged into an acid, will
exhibit signs of contraction and movement. We ob-
serve many growing substances, which are inhabited
by animals, or insects, merely for their convenience,
and not to promote the growth of such substances,
which they very frequently, on the contrary, retard.
if an animal can be supposed to produce such im-
mense bodies of this substance, as I shall have occa-
sion to mention, whence does it derive the prodigious
degree of nutriment requisite for the purpose, as it is
not found that it quits the centre of its striated habi-
tation? why do not these vermiculi marini leave cells
behind them, as they advance the growth of the
coral? We find none, but, on the contrary, the
surface uniformly smooth and even. As for the ex-
ternal cells, they are the channels that convey nou-
sishment, and correspond to the fibres of plants. It
Maust remain, however, in some degree, a doubr,

whether

10 ON THE CORAL

whether these marine productions are zoophytes,
produced by the labour of animals, or whether
they are produced on a vegetating principle. It
will be difficult to bring this matter to’ the test of
modern natural philosophy, viz. experiment: but till
such can be made, opinions must be various, though
the majority, and apparently (from Marsicti1’s ex-
periment) the best founded, incline to the belief of
corals being produced by vegetation. Having slight-
ly reviewed both sides of this curious question, and
having hazarded my own opinion, which can be of
little weight, I come now to the intention of trou-|
bling the Asiatic Society with these remarks, im-
perfect as they must appear.

The production of islands, on the west coast of
Sumatra, by the very rapid increase of this wonderful
plant, is a remarkable effect of the operations of —
nature, hitherto unrecorded in the annals of natural
philosophy. Mr. DAtrympLe alone has alleged
a fact, to which this account will add the weight of
convincing testimony. Inthe year 1784, I was di-
rected to survey the coast of the Dutch districts on
the west side of the island of Sumatra. During the
course of this survey, 1 had occasion to lay down on
my charts several shoals, consisting of branched
coral, sand, and such heterogeneous matter as they
will resist and incorporate with themselves, when
impelled against them by the action of the seas,
winds, tide, or currents. Thesurfaces of these shoals
were at various depths, from one foot to three or
more fathoms. They are of a conical form, the

base,

/

r OF SUMATRA. rf

base, in proportion to the axis, being small. The
shape gives them, in general, the appearance of
trees of that figure, such as the poplar, &c. One
of the shoals I visited, to the southwest of Pools
Pinang, near Padang, was at that time covered
by two feet and an half of water, and could not be
distinguished by vessels passing at some distance, but
at such times as the winds produced a swell or agita-
tion on it. J passed along this part of the coast in
February 1789, very close to this shoal, just four
years and seven months after the period at which the
survey had been taken ; and was not a little astonished
to observe a small sandy island, about ten yards in
diameter, having a few bushes growing on it, formed
on the top of the shoal, which lies nearly in thirty-
seven fathoms of water. I could not mistake this
shoal, as there was no other contiguous to it, and as
my chart, by which I suggested the safest course to
run in, then lay beforeme. In May and September
1789, L had an opportunity, in going to and zeturning
from Tappanosly-harbour (which I had been directed
to survey) to be again on several of the shoals includ-
ed in my chart of the coasts of the Dutch-districts,
and, according to my expectations, found the depth
of the water on them considerably diminished since
the survey had been taken. In March 1790, I was
sent for by a gentleman at Furt Marlborough, whose
house commanded a view of the fea, to observe the
water breaking on two shoals in the roads. This
gentleman had resided on the coast near fifteen years,
and frequently in this house, without having observ-

ed

12 ON.THE CORAL

ed these shoals, which, had they appeared at any’
former period, must have been remarked, their situ-
ation being clearly and distinctly exposed to the daily
and immediate observation of the settlement. At
the distance of seven miles from Fort Marlborough,
nearly in a south-west direction, there is a small
island, having a few cocoa-nut trees in it. ‘Thirty
miles (or it may be twenty-five) distant from this
island, one of the northern pepper settlements, is situat-
ed on arising ground. The gentleman residing there
has informed me, that he has always been able to
distinguish the masts of vessels lying at anchor near
this island, and that he lately twice distinctly, in the
proper bearing, observed the trees of the island: but
that, afterwards, from hazy weather, or some other
affection of the atmosphere, he could not perceive the
island, or rather the trees on it. Former residents
of. Laye, the place of observation, have, in vain,
when using the best glasses, locked for this island,
invisible till lately. Such are the stubborn facts
which may be adduced in proof, not only of the very
rapid growth of coral, but also of the formation of
jslands from it, as a necessary, and observed, con-
sequence. ‘The growth of coral alone may not pro-
duce this effect: other aiding circumstances may in-
tervene. Boccone and Marsicui have remarked,
that, when coral meets with stones, coarse sand, or
any other substances, it seizes them firmly, and
speedily includes them within a strong extension of
its close ramifications, These collections in seas,
subject to frequent storms and agitations, must be con-
siderable,

OF SUMATRA. 13
siderable, and promote, in no small deoree, the ele-
vation of islands. Earthquakes are very frequently
felt on this island, and on the contiguous ones. Se-
veral shocks are sometimes experienced during the
course of a month. It is observable that this tremendous
phenomenon, in its progress, undulates the spate it
moves, or travels, under; and that the concave parts
of these undulations open into fissires when’ the
motion is violent. It is not improbahle but that
such openings take place under shoals, o1 immediate-
ly contiguous to them. In this case, to preserve the
equilibrium, it seems reasonable to suppose that the
surrounding sand and substances will rush in, hurried
along by the general movement, in a greater quan-
tity, from the degree of momentum impelling them,
than what occupied the space of the fissure when at
rest. These hiatus take place tonly on the side of
the undulation, from which the earthquake proceeds;
and the sand on that side, now inclining to rest, after
having experienced the shock, but still possessing a
tendency to move in the direction of the earthquake,
will naturally fall into the hiatus opened for its re-
ception, before the undulation can reverberate into
its original position. Hence the shoal, or island,
will be in some degree raised, by an effect similar to
that of a lever, though by different. means. These
islands and shoals, being further removed than other
parts exposed to the shock, from the subterraneous
or submarine crannies or channels in which the earth-
quake acts, will, of course, resist its action more
than. parts possessing less incumbent weight. The

undulations

tA 7 ON THE CORAL “

undulations will, therefore, meet with more resists
ance, and deposit a greater quantity of sand than in
situations resisting less. In the formation of islands,
from coral and sand, as soon as the sand appears
above the surface of the water; birds carry roots and
various seeds attached to them, for the,construction
of nests: hence the speedy appearance ni bushes and
trees. Instead of supposing with some, that the
numerous islands on this coast have been formed by
the violent commotions of nature, occasioned by
earthquakes, which separated them from. the coa-
tinent on the above principles, it 1s more reasonable to
suppose their formation on “5 above principles, and
chiefly by coral: more especially, when we consider that

é

the depth of water between many of these islands and

7
ryt

Sumatra is unfathomable. The numerous clusters of
islands in the eastern seas, ‘ee 36 to 16 degrees east
longitude, are all supported. by bases of coral, and
surrounded by shoals emergi ng from the surface, or
pushing their conical frusta into a new clemeat.
Experience has ascertained the formation of islands
from coral: it is not altogether conjecture to suppose
that various groups of islands, in the great eastern
Archipelago, will, in process of time, become con-
tinents, or insular tracks or spaces of Iand. On the
coast of Coromazdel, in the immediate front of Madras,
exposed anchorage has produced, and produces an-
nually, lamentable accidents, attended with much
public detriment. he. position of a sheltering
island in that situation would be an object of nati-
onal, benefit and private safety and advantage. To

attempt

OF SUMATRA. 15

attempt to effect this, a considerable quantity of

coral might be transported from this coast, at no

great expence, and sunk, with stones and other sub-
stances, in seven, eight, or eleven fathoms of water.
In the course, probably, of forty or fifty years, an
island might be formed by the growth of this sub-
stance. ‘This is a long period to look forward. to for
the benefit of futurity ; but from what 1 have, from
my own observation, inserted in this paper, I am
convinced of the practicability and success of a
scheme, which many will treat as chimerical and vi-
sionaty, while others, more thinking, will see the
utility of the design and probability of success; but
will be deterred by the difficulty and tediousness
which would attend the execution.

REMARK BY THE PRESIDENT.

It seems at length to be settled among. naturalists,
that corals and corallines are the cretaceous habita-
tions of animals, and one of the links in the great
chain of nature. The idea of making islands for
the protection of ships at anchor, is very sublime;
‘but it might be feared, that very dangerous reefs of'
coral would be formed, before an isle could appear
above the water: an artificial embankment of coral
might, perhaps, on some coasts, be a powerful barrier
against an encroachment of the sea,

ON

ON

- THE COPPER OF SUMATRA.

HAVE the satisfaction of laying before the
Asiatic Society a specimen of copper-ore, the
production of the island of Swmatra. It 1s found on
and in the hills of Mucchy near the sea, between
Annalaboo and Scossoo, to the north of our extreme
English settlement of Teppanooly, The soil, which
generates the ore, is a mixed loam, consisting of
elay, small stones, and red sand, founded on an under-
soil of soft rock, intersected with veins of this useful
substance. The space affording the ore is consider-
able; extending above a degree in length, and
further east, or into the country, than has been yer
ascertained. A considerable quantity of ore is an-
nually collected on the suriace of the hills; to which
the indolence of ignorance of the inhabitants, at
present, confines their search. Its being found on
the surface, may probably be ascribed to the efforts
of earthquakes, which are very prevalent on this
coast, and over the island in general. ‘The natives,
from inexperience, are incapable of conducting a
mine, and pursuing a metallic vein. They are
content

OF SUMATRA. 17

content with excavating the ore, till their labour is
interrupted by the flowing of the water, which soon
takes place in a country subject to heavy rains
throughout the year. As many of these veins
widen as far as they have yet been traced, it is more
than probable that these hills contain inexhaustible
mines of this metal. The ore, by repeated smelt-
ings, and other operations to free it from its sulphur,
has been reduced to a metal, and then found to in-
clude a considerable proportion of gold. As no‘part
of the world contains a greater quantity of this
latter metal than Sumatra, in proportion to the area
it occupies on the globe, it is probable that the dis-
covery of gold mines would attend the establish-
ment of copper ones in the hills of unalaboo. This
is so much the more probable, as metalline stones, of
various kinds, and which the Malays regard as sure
indications of a soil affording gold, are found on
these hills; independently of the consideration, that
gold-dust is collected in the immediate neighbour-
hood, and in the interior country, contiguous to the
hills yielding the copper-ore. It is singular, that the
same method of rough smelting, which is practised
at Goslaw in Germany, should be in use among the
uncivilized inhabitants of Sumatra. The Sumatran
method possesses more ingenuity, and is, at the same
time, more simple. An undemonstrated knowledge
of the plainest and most obvious principles of
science, is congenial to the most rude as well as to
the most civilized conceptions; and the advantages
~ which the talents of dorm genius have conferred on
meVot, LV. G Europe,

18 ON THE COPPER

Europe, are by no means a conclusive proof of
the inferiority of intellect which the fortunate in-
habitants of Europe liberally bestow on their less
enlightened brethren of the East and West. That
‘© time and chance happen unto all things under the

?

sun,” is-a truth that amounts to a voluminous dis-
quisition on this subject. But to return. The ore-
eatherers chuse a level spot of hard clay, which
they divide into equidistant points, by lines inter-
secting each other, and laid off equally on two sides
of a square. These points, included in the square
space, they surround with circles, of ‘which the.
points are the centres. ‘The circles are inverted
bases of cones, excavated to receive the fuzed
metal. The smelting space is now covered with
wood, charcoal, and other combustible matters,
and the ore is distributed among these admixtures.
The melted ore is received into the formed holes,
leaving the scoriz or recrerment above. ‘The metal,
still requiring many smeltings to render it fit for
use, or perfectly malleable and ductile, is taken
out “in the form of pointed cakes, and sold for
twenty Spanish dollars per pecu/, or five pounds ster-
ling for 133} pounds avoirdupois weight. The na-
tives are particularly careful in preventing acci-
dents; for, previously to fusing the ore, they heat
the ground to a great degree, in order that all the
water near the surface may be absorbed, or made
to exhale; having experienced, I imagine, ‘that
copper when in a state of fusion, meeting the
smallest quantity of water, will fly in all directions,

with -

OF SUMATRA. iQ.

with a force destructive of every vulnerable sub-
stance within the sphere of its action. I have been
informed, that the metal has been eliquated at
Madras \ately, and found to contain very little ap-
pearance of any other but of gold. The usual sol-
vents, aquafortis, aqua regia, and spirit of salts,
readily dissolve the Sumatran copper. A deep green
solution is produced, in a very short time, by the
action of the weaker acids on the rough ore. The
above method of smelting will separate all coafse,
mineral, and heterogeneous substances from the
metal, but will still leave it strongly impregnated
-with its peculiar mineral earth. The detaching of
this mineral earth is the most difficult and expensive
operation attending the refinement and purification
of copper; it being frequently necessary to add
a proportion of ‘another metal to effect it. This
consideration — will, probably, prevent a private
company from applying for public permission to
work these mines; and, therefore, they must remain
in their present state, unless the East India Company
will order the experiment to be made, from the reports
and opinions of such as may be qualified to give them
on so interesting a subject.. By submitting this short
account to the gentlemen of our Society, whose useful
researches, will, I hope, produce permanent national
benefit, by advancing the knowledge of nature, of sci-
ence, and of literature, opinions properly weighed,
will be diffused among the public, of the advantages
that may result from an establishment for working

“copper-mines on the west coast of Swmatra.
| Ora . On

_ON
THE PLANT MORINDA,
AND
FRSAUSE S.

BY WILLIAM HUNTER, ESQ.

ae the plant, which is the sulyject of
this essay, be not a new species, yet, as it is
cultivated to a great extent in Ma/ava, and forms an
important branch of the commerce of that province, I
hope’a particular description of it, with some account
of its culture and. use, will not be unacceptable to the

Asiatic Society. |
Ir is the Morinda of Linn mus: It belongs to the
order Pentandria Monogynia in his system, and is re-
ferred by him to the natural order of Aggregate.
Here (though it may seem a digression from the
subject) 1 cannot help observing, that- Linn avs is
not altogether consistent in the distinction, which he
endeavours to establish, between the aggregate (pro-
perly so called) and the compound flowers. In his
Philosophia, Botanica, § 116. he defines a compound
flower: to be ‘* that which has a broad entire re-
‘‘ceptacle, and sessile florets ;” and. an aggregate
flower, “‘ that which has a broad receptacle. and
florets supported on peduncles.’ According to these.
definitions, the Morinda ought to be placed among the
compound flowers; but in the following section, Lin-
. NUS ;

ON THE PLANT MORINDA. a

w.zus makes the essential character of the compound
flowers to consist in having all the anthers united:
thus restricting it to his class of Syngenesia.. This
not only excludes the Morinda, but ought perhaps. t
have, strictly speaking, excluded the Auhua, fva, and
Ambrosia: and even, allowing the approximated an-
thers in these genera to come within the meaning of
the definition, it seems unaccountable that the Nau-
clea ( a _), which appears so well entitled to a place in
one of these orders, should be excluded from both.
Tue Aal is a tree of middling size; the roo¢
branchy; the fru columnar, erect, covered with
a scabrous bark.
Branches from the upper. part of the trunk, scattered;
of the structure of the trunk.
Leaves (seminal) oval, obtuse, entire.
: (mature) opposite, decussated, ovate, pointed
at both ends, smooth, with very short
’ petioles.
Stipules lanced very small, withering. 3
Peduncles, from the axils of the leaves, . solitary,
bearing an ageregate flower. Calyx: common re-
ceptacle roundish, collecting the sessile flowers into
an irregular head.
Perianth most entire, scarce observable above.
Coral, one-petaled, funnel-form; Tube cylindric;
Border five cleft ; the divisions lanced.
Stamen: Filaments five, thread-form, arising from
: the tube, and adhering to it through two thirds
of their length, a little shorter than the tube.

(a) The Cadam of the Hindoos.
C 3 Anthers

22 ON THE PLANT MORINDA,

Anthers \inear, erect.

Pistil: Germ beneath*. Style thread-form, longer
than the stamens. Stigma two-cleft, thickish.

Pericarp : common, irregular, divided on the surface
into irregular angular spaces; composed of berries
pyramidal, compressed on all sides by the Bh 00m
ones, and concreted with them, lopped, containing
towards the base, a fleshy pulp.

Seeds in each berry four, towards the point ie,
externally convex, internally angular.

Tue species here described 1s called by Linnzzus
Morinda arborea peduncults solitarius ; and he gives it
the trivial name of citrifola; but the form of the
leaves, in all the specimens I have seen, does not exhi-
bit this similitude, as will appear by the inspection of |
the accompanying figure, which was drawn from na-
ture. There are figures of it given by Rumpuivus
(Herb, Amboin, vol. 3. tab. gg) who calls it Bancu-
dus latifolia, and by Rueepe (Hort. Malab. vol. 1,
tab. 52) who calls it Cada-pilava. In Malava it is
called .4u/, and in Oude it has the name of Afchy.

Tue plant grows best in a black rich soil, free from
stones, in situations moderately moist, not too high,
yet sufficiently elevated to prevent the water of the
rains from stagnating ; and where there is near at
hand a supply of water for the dry months. It is
sown about the middle or end of June, after the rain
has begun to fall. The ground requires no manure;

* The Germ is four-cellsd, and contains the rudiments of four
seeds. | ,

C4 Pe it

AND IFS USES. ° 23

it is ploughed twice, or, if tough and hard, three
times. The feed is sown, either broad-cast, or in
drills, according to the fancy of the cultivator, The
ground is then ploughed over again, and harroweds
In one deegah* of ground are sown, from if to 24
muns + of seed. In fifteen or twenty days the young
plants spring up. Thefield is then carefully weed-
ed, and the grounds stirred with an iron instrument.
This operation is repeated, at proper intervals, during
the first year; and in the dry months of: that year
(that is, from January till June) the ground is three or
four times laid under water. After the first year, it
requires no fatther care. In a year the plant grows to
the height of one or two feet, according to the quali-
ty of the soil. In the third year, sometimes in the se-
cond, it bears flowers and fruit. The flowers appear
in June, and the fruit ripens in September or October :
but the fruit of those young trees is not used for seed,
as it is said not to produce vigorous plants. In the
months of February and March following the third
year, the plants are dug up. They dig, to the depth
of three or four feet; the root, which is the only
valuable part, extending so far into the ground,
The wood of the plant is only used for fuel.. Somes
times the neceflities of the husbandman oblige him to
dig the crop in the second, or even at the end of the

* A meafure of one hundred cubits square.
t+ The mun of this country is sixteen seers, of eighty rupees
weight each,

: first

24 ON THE PLANT MORINDA,

first year; but the root is obtained in much smaller.
quantity, and less rich in colouring matter than if it
had remained the regular time. The crop is not
much affected by the excess or defect of the periodi-
calrains. When itis dug at the end of the third year,
one beegah yields from four to six maunies* of the root
in awet state. These are spread on cloths, and dried
in the sun, for three or four days; at the end of ©
which time there remains of dried root, one third or
one fourth part of the original weight.

As the colouring matter resides chiefly in the bark
of the root, the small twigs, which contain little
wood, bear a higher price than the larger pieces.
Therefore the roots, when dug up, are separated into
three kinds, coarse, medium, and fine. The coarse
sells for one rupee per mun, the medium two or three
rupees, and the fine four rupees per mun, or four seers
for a rupee. :

In particular fields they leave trees for seed at the
distance of four, five, or six cubits. In six years
they yield fertile and vigorous seeds. The trees,
when of that age, are about six inches in diameter,
and twelve feet high (branches included) ; but they
continue fruitful for many years, and are said to grow
to a size not much inferior to that of a Mango-tree.
When the fruit is ripe, it is gathered, laid in heaps on
the ground, and covered up with straw, or other
rubbish, for fifteen or twenty days, in which time the
pulp rots, and is consumed. It is then put into a
basket, and washed, by repeated effusions of water, to

* The manny contains twelve mwas of this country’s weight.

separate

AND ITS USES. 25

separate the seeds, and free them from the remains
of the pulpy matter. The husbandman, who culti-
‘vates this plant, generally takes care to have on his
ground a sufficient number of trees for seed. If he
is unprovided with those, he may purchase the seed,
immediately after it is prepared, for four or five rupees
the mun; but if he neglects to purchase till the season
of sowing arrives, he may be obliged to pay at the
tate of two seers per rupee.

In the ground on which 4a/ has grown, they sow
wheat, or other grain, for five or six years; and, it is
observed, that the grain sown on this ground thrives
remarkably: and while the trees left for seed con-
tinue small, grain of any kind may be sown in their
interstices; but 4a/ would not thrive there.

THe expence to the cultivator varies considerably
in different villages.. In one, where the plant is cul-
tivated to considerable extent *, the pateil, or zemin-
dar, gave me the following account’ of the expence
.attending the cultivation of one deegah. |

To the Collector of the District RSOVE TS

‘-- "To the Pateil, - - I
To Writers, &c, Servants of the Pateil, 0 10

To digging up the Root* 2%
Toral, 26 10

Now supposing, agreeably to the foregoing ac-

* Khelana, 74 miles from Oujein.
+ For digging 2 space 16 cubits long, and 3% cubits broad, the
labourers are paia 43 pice, at fifty to the rupee,
| count,

26 ON THE PLANT MORINDA,

count, that a good crop is six, and a bad one four,
maunies; that each mauny yields, when dried, 34
wiuns, and that in this dried root, the coarse at one
rupee, the medium at two, and the fine at four, are
in equal quantities; then, the value of the good
crop will be forty-nine’ rupees, and that of the bad
one 32, 10, 8. The first of these leaves Rupees
22, 6, the other Rs. 6, 0, 8, from each deegah.
The medium, Rupees 14, 3, 4, we may estimate as
the profit of the husbandman, out of which. he is to
maintain himself and his cattle for three years. In
this aceount I have not included the expence of
seed, as the cultivator is generally supplied with it
from his own trees. Had he been obliged to pur-
chase it, we must have added eight rupees to the
expence of cultivation: but, as the crop sustains no
damage by remaining in the ground, the cultivator
can dig it up at his leisure; and therefore he gene-
rally saves by his own labour great part of the expence
above stated for digging.

I~ another village *, the cultivator has the land
on much easier terms; only paying three rupees for
the crop, or one rupee yearly, to the collector,
Therefore, the other expences being supposed the
same, the crop only costs him Rs. 19, 10, besides
his own maintenance and that of his cattle.

Brsipes the consumption of the root in the manu-
factures of this province, large quantities of it are ex-
ported to Guzerat and the northern part of Himdostan.
I have not been able to learn the exact value of this

* Rindwasa, about the fame distance from Ouxjeiz as the former.
expor-

AND ITS USES. a

exportation, but have reason to believe that it
amounts, annually, to some lacs of rupees. The
dealers, who come from those places ( especially
Guzerat) to purchase, advance money to tie culti-
vator, and, when the crop is ready, buy it, either
on the ground, or after it is dug up. In the first
case, they dig a small portion of the field, and, accord-
ing to the quantity it yields, form a judgment on the
value of the whole.

Tue method of dying with this root is as follows:
The cloth to be dyed is thoroughly washed and
scoured, with an extemporaneous kind of soap-lie,
made by mixing the oil of sesamum with the fossil
alkali. Then, supposing the cloth (which is generally
of a thin texture) to be twenty-six cubits long, and
one cubit broad, the quantities of ingredients will be
as follow.

Take of large Her * in powder, three ounces.
Mix it well with four pounds of water. In this the
cloth is to be thoroughly wetted, so that the absorp-
tion of fer may be as equal as possible It is then
to be squeezed, and spread in the sun for about -
forty-eight minutes, to dry, taking care that no drop
of water fall upon it. The cloth, when dried, is of
acream-colour. It is kept in this state for four or
five days, that the particles of the Myroba/an may be
more firmly attached.

THEN take of powdered allum, two ounces ; dis-
solve it in lb 4 of water. Wet the cloth thoroughly

* The Chebule; Myrobalani maxima, oblonge, angulose. C. B.
and

28 ON THE PLANT MORINDA,
and equally in this solution. Wring it, and strike
gently on a smooth’ stone, then spread it, for.
twenty-four minutes, in the sun, to dry. When
dried, it is of a pea-green colour. When perfectly
dry, it is kept for four days, and then washed in cold
water. To the manner and degree of washing, we
‘ are told, great attention is to be paid ; as an error,
either in excess or defect, would spoil the colour.
Vhen washed, it is dried in the sun,

Tne cloth thus prepared, ts ready’ to receive thie
colour, which is prepared in the following manner.
Put 3% gallons of water into an uncovered copper-
vessél, and set-it ona gentle fire. When it is some-
thing more than lukewarm, put in the cloth, along with
‘the colouring ingredients, which ‘have previously
been thus prepared. Take of da/, from one to two”
seers, according to its quality, powder it, and rub it
with two ounces of oil of Sesamum to each seer. Add
of the flowers of D,hawry,* one-eighth. of a seer

to

* A shrub, which grows wild on the hills, and on the banks of
the rivulete, where they are formed ofa grassy sod. The flowers
are of a beautiful red colour, and are gathered both for the use of
the dyers and of the apothecaries, who give an infusion of them
as a cooling medicine. They lose their colour in drying, and only
yield a slight brownish tincture to water; so that the benefit deri-
ved from them in dying with 4al, seems to depend merely on
their action as an astringent; which is confirmed by the substitu-
tion of Purwés, a strong astringent, as an equivalent to D,sawry.
The natural character of the D,bawry is as follows :

Cav. Perianth one-leaved, persistent ; : Tube, bellied ; Fn
six cleft; the divisions lanced, erect.

Cor. Petals six, lanced, acute, erect; a little longer than the

calyx,

AND ITS USES. 29

to each seer of .4a/; or, instead of D,hawry, one
ounce and a half of Purwds*, in powder.

Tue cloth and colouring ingredients are continued
on the fire, with a gentle heat, gradually increased,
for about three hours. Towards the end, the water
is made to boil strongly. By taking up a little of
the water, and examining its colour, as it is dropped
in the vessel, they judge of the success of the pro-
cess. It ought to be of a clay-colour, or a little
deeper. If it proves very red, the colour would

calyx, arising from the edge of the rude, between the divisions of
the calyx. '

Stam. Filaments twelve (in some ten or eleven) awled, erect,
longer than the calyx, and arising from it. dutbers kidney form,
incumbent.

Pist. Germ oblong, two-furrowed. Style awled, ascending,
the length of the stamina. Stigma obtuse.

Peric. Capsule, ovate, acute, two-furrowed, two-celled, four-
valved.

SEEDS numerous, very small: receptacle oblong.

Leaves opposite, lanced.

Here the oblong shape of the capsule and its two cells agree with
the Lythrum; the divisions of the calyx with the Ginora. Line
wa&us (Ph. Bot. § 177, 182, 183.) alleges that the calyx is more
to be depended on than the Pericarpium in ascertaining the gene-
ra of plants. Therefore, agreeabiy to these aphorisms, I should
be inclined to refer the D,sawry to the genius Ginora; but it may
perhaps be considered asa new genus to be placed in the system
between the Lythrum and Ginora..

* Akind of gall-nut, containing the exuviz ofa small insect,
found on a species of the Mimosa. In Mélava itis called Purwés,
in Maravar, Succour, and in the country about Mongheer, Purwdn.
This being a stronger astringent, we are told that an exact atten-
tion to the proportion of it is more necessary than to that of the
D,hawy.

be

ee «

30 ON THE PLANT MORINDA,

be spoiled; and the remedy is, to add a larger pro-
portion of D,fawry. During this process, the cloth
is continually moved, by lifting part of it with a stick
out of a vessel, beginning at one end and proceeding
tothe other. It is now taken out, wrung, and dried.
After which, being washed in river-water. the red
colour is complete. No. 1 is a specimen of this
colour, which is valued more for its durability than
its beauty. |

(
To make a Dark Purple, or Chocolate Colour.

Take of martial vitriol one ounte, dissolve it in
two pounds of water, and clear the solution by de-
cantation. Mix, with a quantity of the above-de-
scribed colouring. decoction, sufficient to wet the
cloth, such a proportion of this martial solution as
will give the tint required. This is judged by in-
spection, as the cloth will be of the same colour with
the mixture. The cloth being taken out of the co-
louring decoction and wrung, is to be dipped inte
this mixture, and thoroughly wetted, so as to absorb
the colour equally and completely. Then, being
dyed and washed, its appearance resembles that of
the specimens No. 2 and 3; but the tints admit ofa
great variety, according to the proportions of the
martial solution. Both these colours are very dur-
able, being little affected by washing. One of the
quarters of Oujeim, named Jeysingpoorah, is inhabited
by dyers, who consume great quantities of this root.
Their printed and stained cloths, besides supplying
the ddmestic consumption, are exported to Guzerat,

and other provinces.
On

ON
THE INHABITANTS
OF

THE HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL.

BY LIEUTENANT THOMAS SHAW

ee = ce Et

SLIGHT knowledge of the language of the

natives of the hills, in the districts of Bhagai-
pur and Rajamahall, having brought to my observa-
tion that their customs and manners, as well as their
language, differed from those of the inhabitants of
the neighbouring “plains, IT have, for some time, en-
deavoured to acquire a good account of them, from
the belief that, notwithstanding their connexion with
‘and dependence on our government, they have been
little known beyond the limits of the hills. The fol-
lowing description does not contain much more than
a bare translation of what was written by the best in-
formed mountaineer whom I have met with. I|
have spared no pains to render it faithful; for there
alone it can have any merit. My information has
been derived through a Soubadar of the Rangers .
(whom the late Mr. CLEvELaND had instructed in
writing Nagree) as far as relates to the inhabitants of
the hills in the three Fuppahs of Mudjeway, Ghurry,
ehh and

32 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

and Munnudry. he first isto the south-west of, Rz-
jamahall, extending as far as Sicrigully ; the second is
thence in a westerly direction, as far as Shawhabad ;
and the third lies to the south of Ghurry, from whose

® people those on the borders of Bheerboom, and south-
east of Rajamahall, differ in many respects. What-
ever was material in these latter Zuppahs, was relat-
ed by a Soubadar from that quarter to the one who
can write; and both attended me in translating them.
The zuppahs of Mudbun, Pyer, Chitoleah, Barcope,
Putsundaw, Jumnee, Hurnah Par, Dumsai, Kuneeallah,
and others, have customs also peculiar to themselves.
These I shall endeavour to ascertain.

Tue following relates immediately to the Tuppahs
of Mudgeway, Ghurry, and Mausnuary, from which
may be collected what ideas the inhabitants have of
one Supreme Being, of a future state, and of trans-
migration.. It is true they worship many gods, but
these are considered inferior to, and the medium of
adoration of, one all powerful and omniscient Being ;
whom they call Brivo GossaiH, or the Great God.
‘Their opinions on the metempsychosis, it is probable,
have been borrowed from the /imdus, though they
profess no particular veneration for the cow, or any
other animal; for they believe it a punishment when
God erdains a human soul to transmigrate into any of
the brute creation; and it is also a received opinion,
that for certain crimes in this life, souls are condemned
to the vegetable world.

The natives of the huls in these Tuppahs, having
no knowledge of BASES or of any character, have a.

fra-

HILLS NEAR. RAJAMAHALL. 33.

traditional story, brought down from father to son
(but in what age it was received, is now not known)
that the Bepo Gossain made heavenand earth, and
- all that is therein. To people the latter, seven bro-
thers were sent from Heaven. At first they remained
together ; when the eldest brother was sick, the six
younger collected all manner of eatables, which they
agreed to divide, and to separate, to go into different
countries ; one, a Hindu, got fish and goat’s flesh in a
new dish, for his share ; a second, a Mussulman, was
allotted fish, fowl, and-every sort of flesh, except
hogs, for his portion, in a new dish also; a third,
Kirwary; a fourth, Keerrateer, got hog’s flesh also
in a new dish; a fifth, Kawdeer, got all sorts of flesh,
fish, and fowl, in a new dish; a sixth, who was
destined for a foreign country, got some of every
sort -of food, in a new dish; and after his-departure,
it was not known what had become of him, till
Europeans made their appearance, when, from their
manner of living, it was concluded that they were
the descendants of the sixth brother; the seventh,
Mullare, who was the oldest, and sick brother, got
some of every kind of food, but put them in an old
dish, for which he.was considered. an outcast, and
ordered to inhabit these hills, where, finding neither
clothes nor. subsistence, he and his descendants ne-
cessarily became thieves, in which practice they
continued, till such time as Mr. CveveLanp wisely
conciliated their attachment to the English govern-
ment, by a liberal generosity and munificence, while
he entered their hills unattended, putting the utmost

- Vou. LV. con-

34 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

confidence in their faith; and made engagements
to settle on their chiefs an inconsiderable monthly
sum, im consideration of their good and peaceable
behaviour and obedience, to which they have rigid-
ly adhered ; and this, it is related, put an end. to
their predatory incursions and marauding. The
Kirwary cast crossed the Ganges and lived in tents, -
having no settled habitation. The Aimdu and Mus-
sulman remained in this country. The Kawdeer went
to the south ; and this remained doubtful, tilla party
of them came to dig a tank for Mr. CLevELanp.
The Kirrateer went to the north hills of the Ganges.
IT cannot learn what names the brothers had, nor

how they were provided with wives, to increase and —
multiply ; the creation of women does not: bear
any part in this defective account, which proceeds to
relate, that Gop the Creator directed certain wombs
to be fruitful. His commandments are, that men
should give to such as will receive ; and that, in
like manner, others would give to them. By la-
bour men must live; for this their hands were made ;
eyes were given to see with, the mouth to speak
good and bad, as well as to eat sweet and sour, and
the feet to walk. Abuse nobody without cause;
neither kill nor punish, without a crime, or Gop
will destroy you. These commands being sent, cer-
tain wombs were fruitful. But some men forgetting
these divine ordinances, abused, beat, and oppres-
sed each other without cause; when, the measure
of their crimes being full, he- summons them to his
presence; the messenger carries sickness and death:
On the sinner’s appearing before Gop, being charg-

ed

+

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 35

ed with forgetting his commandments, he is bound
and caft into pits of maggots, or pits of fire, where
he isto remain eternally.

Wuoerver keeps Gop’s commandments, behaves
well in all respects: he will neither injure, abufe,
beat, nor kill, any person, nor seize their effects,
nor plunder them, nor waste their grain, nor their
money, nor their clothes, nor quarrel with any one;
but praises Gop morning and evening; which last,
the women also do. He will be charitable, clothe
and feed the poor, and observe the festivals in
Gop’s name, with the proper expence of grain,
money, and clothes. Gop, for the juft disposal of
the goods he had granted, for keeping his com-
mandments, and praying, summons the righteous
person into his presence, on his having enjoyed this
world long enough. On his appearance, he is asked
how he dealt with men, and how they behaved to
him. Having rendered his account, as well of what
he bestowed and received as of what he ate; that
he injured nobody, but praised Gop morning and
evening,—Gop anfwers, ** I saw that you behaved
well, and kept my commandments; I will exalt
you; in the mean time remain with me.” After a
short sojourn, he is fent to earth, to be born of wo-
man again, andto bea Raja, Dewan, or Cutwaill, with
abundance of worldly goods and territory, Qhould
he forget to praise Gop in his exaltation, and give
not meat to the hungry, but oppress the poor, Gop,
in his. wrath, will destroy him, snatch him away,
and accuse him of negleéting his commandments,

D2 and

‘36 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

and forgetting to praise him. He will then cast him
anto a pit of fire, where, should not his punishment
be external, he will not allow him to be born again
of woman, but to be regenerated in the shape of a
dog or a cat.

WHoEver offends in the presence of God, is dis-
missed’to this earth, to be born of women, either
-blind, lame, or in .poverty, never to have house,
clothes,or victuals, nor any thing but what is
begged. from door to door. Should a person pos-
sessed of rank, grain, clothes, land, and every thing
the could want, forget Gop’s commandments, seize
‘and plunder from others,—Gop, in his wrath for the
abuse of the good things which he hadybestowed,
will make him poor and a beggar ; and having de-
‘creed that he shall remain a certain time on earth
‘for his punishment, this being fulfilled, death snatches
him away, and he appears in the presence of Gop.
Gop orders a man to kill another, and he kills him,
‘yet lives. happily and content; but no one must,
from his own will and pleasure, destroy a fellow-
‘creature, or Gop will destroy him. Gop orders a
‘man to beat another, and he beats him; but who-
ever punishes a fellow-creature, without divine
‘commands, the Supreme Being will dire& a third
‘person to punish the offender. No person shall
abuse another without Gop’s commands: whoever
“disobeys, will in like manner be abused bya third
person.

WHOEVER without God’s commands injures his
neighbour, may expect divine retaliation. Should

a man,

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAUADLS 39
a man, seeing his neighbour’s preperty, -plunder. or
steal it, the Bepo Gossata will either order him to
be punished in like manner, or some of his family
to die. Should you see a man lame, mock not -at
his misfortune, lest God should make you lame, or
punish you in some other manner. Laugh not at a
man who has the misfortune to be blind, or Gop
will afflict you in like manner, or some other
way. It has pleased Providence that a man should
have his back broken; whoever laughs at or mocks
him, will be afflicted in like manner ; Gop will make
kim blind, or lame, or poor; therefore mock not the
unfortunate. If Gop had made the lame, the blind,
the broken-backed or poor, to be laughed at, he
would have pardoned such as mocked them; but as
their defects are punishments, those who are perfect
should not deride their misfortunes. Those on whom
Gop bestows grain, riches, land, and power, ought
to be charitable, and to cherish the unfortunate,
_ should they, notwithstanding their wealth, be un-
charitable, Providence will punish them, by ren-
dering them poor, and reducing them to. the neces-
sity of working for their bread. When great men are
charitable, Gon will protect them.

Gop directs the poor to the rich man’s door to
beg; should the latter uncharitably refuse to relieve .
their wants, Providence will be displeased at the
abuse of the good things which he had bestowed,
and will render the rich man poor, helpless, and
destroy his family, Ged can exalt the poor man.
‘Sueh are the dispensations and power. of Providence.

D 3 A man

38 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

A man fobs and kills another, and casts the body
away to conceal the murder from the relations of
the deceased, who conceive their kinsman to have
been killed by a snake or a tiger ; but God cannot be
deceived: vengeance will fall on the murderer, or
his relations; he, or some of them, will fall a sa-
crifice to a tiger or a snake; divine vengeance will
surely await him. Whoever kills a tiger without
divine orders, will either himself, or some of his ree -
lations, falla sacrifice to a tiger.

From such superstition, the natives of the hills
are averse to killing 4 tiger, unless one of their re-
lations has been carried off by one ; when they go
out for that purpose, and having succeeded, their
bows and arrows are laid on the body of the animal,
they invoke Gop, and declare that they killed it
to retaliate for the loss of a relation. Vengeance
thus satisfied, they vow not to attack a tyger, with-
out the provocation of losing a kinsman.

Gop sends a messenger to summon a person to his
presence: Should the messenger mistake his object,
and carry off another, he is desired by the Deity to
take him away; but as the earthly mansion of this
soul must be decayed, it is destined to remain mid-
way between heaven and earth, and never can re-
turn to the presence of Gon, Whoever commits
homicide without divine orders, can never appear in
the presence of the Deity,; bis soul is destined to re-
main mid-way between heaven and earth, Who-
ever is killed by a snake, as a punishment for some
gencealed crime, can never appear in the presence

of

]

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. 39

of the Deity ; his soul is doomed to remain mid-way
between heaven and earth; yet Gop will destroy
the snake: but, if it acted by Divine orders, Pro-
vidence spares it. Should a rich man call the poor,
with promises of giving them alms, and not perform
them, and should the poor exhort Gop to make him
‘poor too, fer his uncharitable deceit, Providence
will either punish him in this way, or some other;
but by penance and prayer he may be pardoned.
As a man marries a4 woman at a great expence,
should she be guilty of infidelity, and. conceal the
sin she had committed, which is the greatest aggra-
vation of it, Gop will be incensed and punish her,
by making her sick, lame, or blind. Whoever
commits fornication and conceals it, may dread di-
vine vengeance. To avert falling sick, or being other-
wise punished for his crime, he must avow it, pray to
be forgiven, and sacrifice a goat at Dewarry Nad, the
shrine of their household Gop, the blood of which
is to be sprinkled over the linen, to purify him, If
aman casts a lustful.eye on his neighbour's wife,
Gop will punish him; for it is forbidden. Who-
ever takes poison and dies, can never go to Hea-
ven; his soul will be doomed to wander eternally 5
he will be convulsed and vomit, with no more than
the daily allowance of as much rice as can be put on
an aura-\eaf (which is smaller than’ the #amarinde
leaf) and as much water, Whoever hangs him-
self, shall never appear in the presence of Gop ;_ his
soul will have no place assigned it; but he will be
deomed to wander eternally with a rope about his

| D4 neck,

40 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

neck. “Whoever drowns himself, shall never ap--
pear in the presence of Gon; his soul shall remain
mid-way between. heaven and earth; and Gop has
ordained, that whoever drowns himself, shall be
doomed to work eternally, day and: night, without
intermission, to make the crooked banks of a river
straight, where the stream ever underniines, as fast as
the lahourers incessantly work. Whoever, undi-
rected by the Deity, has the misfortune of being
killed by a fall from a tree, his soul is received into
the kingdom of heaven, but not admitted into the
presence of the Almighty; it 1s, however, served
with such things as are provided for the righteous.
“Whoever receives favours, and -is guilty of the in-
gratitude of abusing his benefactor, will not be well
treated in other places; Gop will’ expose him to
misery for his ingratitude. Whoever falls in bat-
tle, is well recerved by Gon, and fares sumptuous-
ly ; for the Deity is pleased with his fate. Who-
ever is lost travelling by water, is weil received in
Heaven: the Deity will take him unto himself.

Tue Demauno, or Dewassy, seems to be more of an
oracle than a priest. ‘Those who wish to initiate
themselves, represent that, by dreaming, they can
foretell what. will happen; that the Bepo Gossain
appears to them nightly, and braids their hair, from
which it grows remarkably long; they must never
cut it; as it is believed, if such an act did not prove
fatal to them, that, at least, their dreams’ would
no longer be prophetic. This oracle foretells to
one person, that he shall havea plentiful harvest;

to

~

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL: At

to another, that he shall become rich; a third is
told, that he is to fall sick ; a fourth, that he shall
die; a fifth, that he shall be successful in hunting.
A family is admonished to sacrifice and pray at a2

Certain shrine, to appease an offended Gop; he
prophecies when there will be a scarcity, and when
it will rain. Thus, his predictions being verified, the
people have faith in them; and one, who is sick,
attends him for advice, which is afforded the follow-
ing morning, when the Demauno has dreamt of the
case, or Gop, having appeared to him in his vision,
informed him what will be the fate of the patient,

, and what he must do to get well. Another informs

him, his crops are not so good as usual, and desires
to know which God is offended, and what he must
do to appease him. A sportsman informs him, that
he is not so fortunate as usual, and seeks to know
what he must do to be so. Some ask, at what shrine
they must make their offerings. All who confult
this oracle must make a present, and return the
following day for an answer. On the first full moon
of. January, after his inspiration, he sallies out of his
house, runs about, and pretends to be frantick: but
neither injures nor speaks toany one. He approaches
the door of his chief, and makes signs to have a cock,
and a hen’s egg, brought to him: the latter he im-
mediately eats, and wringing off the head of the cock,
sucks the reeking blood, and throws away the body ;
whence he proceeds to unfrequented rivers and -jun-
gles, where he remains seven, or nine days, and

is supposed to be fed i the Deity, bissead he repre-

sents”

43 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

sents on his return, and when his reason is restored,
ta. have treated him sumptuously; that God had
sometimes seated him on a large snake, and, at
others, made him put his hand into the mouth of a
large tiger; but without fear of any danger.» On the
Demauno’s emerging from his retreat, he brings with
him a large p/antain-tree, which he had torn up by the
roots, and places it on the toof of his house; then
returns, and brings in a large seedee-tree; again,
brings in a muckmun-tree; and lastly, a seege-tree; all
of which, to the astonishment of the people, he,
without human assistance, places, in like manner,
on. the roof of his house. It is to be understood
that these trees are too Jarge for one man to pluck
irom their roots and carry ; and that the seege-tree
is full of thorns, which cannot be touched with :m-
punity; but, by divine aid, he effects these won-
ders. On the might of his return, he represents,
that the Bepo Gossais appears to him in a vision,
and desires him to sacrifice a pigeon or a cock
to him, with prayers. Accordingly, in the morning,
having recovered his senses, he takes some oil to
besmear the trees he had deposited on the roof of
his house, and some red paint to make streaks on
them ; over this he scatters some undressed rice, and
lastly, sacrifices the pigeon, so that the blood may
fall on the trees; and, during this ceremony, he
prays.

HenceroRWARD he must never sit with or
touch any woman but his wife; should any other
woman even touch him by accident, it is supposed

| his

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 48

his predictions would fail; or, should he marry more
than one wife at atime, the people would have no
faith in him. Having thus passed his novitiate, and
obtained the reputation of a good Demauno, he is in-
vited by his chief to the buffalo-festival, who puts
round his neck a red silk thread, with five cowrics
strung on it, and binds a turban on his head, be-
seeching Gop that he may have power of restoring
health to the sick, exorcising such as are possessed.
of devils, and that all his predictions may prove
true. In this manner he is ordained, and officiates
at the festival, A Demauno drinks of the reeking
blood of all offerings sacrificed while he is present.
He must never eat beef, or dhai, nor drink milk;
for, in doing so, his prophecies would fail. There is
no fixed number of Demaunos for the duty of a
village: some have several, while others have none.
The Maungy of every village sacrifices a buffalo in
either the month of Maug, or Phagun, annually: he
fixes a day, and desires his vassals to attend, each
of whom contributes a portion of grain, oil, or
{pirits for the festival: provisions being collected on
the day appointed, the Maungy directs his followers
what to do. Some cook, others go and cut a large
branch of the muckmun (or sicwa) tree, which is
brought, and planted before the Maungy’s door, one
of whose family carries out the undone (a sacred
stool, with four feet) and places it under the shade of the
muckmun-branch, washes it, rubs it with oil, spots it
with (sowndra) red paint, and binds it with a thread
of red silk; the Maungy, having made his salim

to

44 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE
to the stool, sits on it; the Demauno, or priest, sits
on’ the ground to his left, and prays first; after
which he gives the MJaungy a handful of unboiled
rice, which he scatters close to the mzckmun-branch,
addressing himself to Gop, to protect him and his
dependentsf and to be propitious to them, adding a
vow to perferm and hold this festival annually.
During the time of praying, the Maungy’s drums are
beating, that all within hearing, who are. possessed
of devils, may run, and pick up the rice to eat:
having gathered it all, they are seized, bound, and
taken to a {mall distance from the altar, when the
buffalo, with ropes on all his legs well secured, is
hamstrung by the Alawngy, to entertain his barbarous
followers, in order that they may be diverted by his
struggles and exertions, in forcing him to the muck-
man-branch, where his head is cut off; and the per-
sons possessed of devils, who were bound, are set at
liberty, and immediately rush forward to take up
the buffalo's blood, and lick it while reeking.
When they ate supposed to have enough, they are
besprinkled with water, which renders them com-
pletely exorcised, and they retire to a. stream to
bathe: the adherents come forward with their of
ferings of rice, oil, and spirits, and receive a blessing
from their chief, who has the buffalo’s head dressed,
and eats it with the priests and musicians: the
kundone being taken into the house, puts an end to
“the ceremony of the day. The next morning, the
adherents assemble to feast on the buffalo and
other things which the Muungy furnishes. At the
€X-

“HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL, 4s

éxpiration of five days a fowl is immolated, and the
blood sprinkled on the muckmun-branch, which is
taken up, and with the horns and some of the bones of
the buffalo, is fastened on the roof of the Maungy’s
house, where they are left to decay. -In some places
stages are erected for these sacred fragments, at the
north-east angle of the Maungy’s house. The chief
Maungy of a tuppah (which is a number of hills that
have villages on them) whose authority is. acknow-
“ledged by the Maungies of the several villages in
his limits, appoints: a-time annually to pray, that
they may have rain enough for their crops. This
festival may be held in any month in the year, except
Poos, in which’ they neither marry, build a house,
nor undertake. any thing of consequence, considers
ing it an unlucky month. The chief of the tuppak
having determined on a day, sends an arra to the
Maungy of each village, desiring him to attend with
twenty or thirty of his men by the day fixed on;
when assembled, they all repair. to the place esta-
blished without the village, for the ceremony of the
Satane: having planted a small branch of. the. cha-
gulno (bale-tree) the head of a . goat :is.. severed
with a sword, that the blood may fall.on. the leaves
of the chagulno’: the Satane is then resorted to, to
ascertain what chief will be most acceptable to. the
Gop of Rain, to pray to on this o¢casion; :this. be-
dng settled, a day is named. for.prayer, upon. which
all the Maungies, with their vassals, assemble at their
chief's, before. whose door the, Demauno and. the
Maungy, on whom the Satene election had, fallen,

pray :

46 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

pray : after which a buffalo is sacrificed, and the
same forms observed as described in the buffalo-fes-
tival: it continues as long as the provisions which
were presented by the several Manngies last. The
danger of a scarcity is thus supposed to be averted,
and that their crops will flourish.

Wen a Maungy has established a village, should
a tiger infest it, or the small-pox, or any plague
prove fatal to its inhabitants, it is supposed that
Ruxey Gosaiu ts desirous of having a shrine raised.
The Satane is resorted to, to confirm the supposition,
and the Demauno consulted. On both agreeing,
these steps are sufficient to stop the ravages of any
beast of prey, and to avert any further fatality from
the small-pox. Thus relieved, the Maungy calls the
Demauno to get ruxey (a sacred black stone) for
him; in compliance with which the Demauno has a
vision, in which the Deity appears to him, and in-
forms him where the god Ruxey is to be found,
directs him to the spot, and desires him to ratse him
with his own hands, and to present him to the
Maungy inthe morning. The Demauno gets a branch
of the seedee (a tree peculiar to the hills); benjamin
is burned before the Maungy’s door, which he smells,
and proceeds, followed by sorne men to the spot
where Ruxey is to be found; having smelt the
godhead, he directs th¢ persons who were tn at-
tendance to dig for him; to facilitate their work,
water is thrown, to soften the earth; and when
Ruxey is discovered, the Demauno takes him up,
and carries hint to the Maungy, who rnmediately
| . sets

an

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 47

sets out, with his divine present, in search of a large
tree, about half a mile, or less, from the village, un-
der the shade of which he places it, and encloses it
by a fence of stones, and a hedge of seege: a fowl
and a goat are sacrificed to the god, whom the
Maungy, or some other acceptable person (and it is
the object of the Swfane to find out who is most
virtuous and most worthy to address the god) wor-
ships and retires.

Av any other ime when this god is vettipiite
a fowl and goat are sacrificed; and the Maungy, or
person who prays, is attended by two drummers and

-an old man, who has no wife, and, from age, has no

connexion with women, to partake of the offerings
with the preacher; of which others, who have for-
sworn all connexion with women and drinking in-
toxicating liquors, may share. Whoever violates this

vow by drinking or cohabiting with women, it is be-

lieved will become foolish; yet he may recover his
reason by asking pardon of the god, and by offering
a fowl and goat, with prayer in sacrifice at the

shrine; but he can never be a Hook Moko, or an

elect eater, again.

IpLE menand women must not t approach or profane
the place were Ruxey is deposited, by spitting to+

_ wards him, or by doingany uncleanly act near it: should

any person, through forgetfulness, or ignorance, be
guilty of any such acts, by spitting, he will get a
sore mouth; and other more offensive trangres-

sions are productive of a strangury, or flux, re-

spectively; and these diseases are often considered
as

‘

48 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

as the effects of some heedless transgression of the
above nature, which is discovered by the Satane, or |
such like proof: their remedy is to give a fowlto
the Maungy, who makes an offering of it to the god,
who is thus appeased. «If the patient recovers, well;
if not, the friends go to a neighbouring village,
to find out, by the Satene, the cause of their rela-
tion’s illness: if he is not thus relieved, they go
to a second; and, on failing, they consider it as an
affliction by the dispensation of the Supreme Being,
who. will either spare, shorten, or prolong the life of
the offending patient, according to his will.

Tue Chitaria-festival is held but once in three
years. The celebration of it so seldom is, proba-
bly, from its being very expensive to the Maungy,

-who bears the charge. It is not every village that

has a Chalurd, though he is considered as the Gon that
presides over the welfare of villages;. but, like
Ruxey Nap, he is not supposed to be essential to
their happiness till the inhabitants are harrassed. by
some plague or pestilence; when the Demauno, on
being consulted, informs the AZaungy that this Deity
is desirous of having a Nad raised; that effecting
this, and worshipping him, will put an end to their .

misfortunes. The Demauno. then dreams of the

place where this shrine is to be found, in the shape
of a black stone; he proceeds in the morning to dis-
cover it, observing the same forms as are described in
obtaining Ruxey Nap; when found, the stone is
placed under the shade of a muckmun-tree contiguous

to

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 49

to the village, and undergoes no alteration in its form
from the chissel.

Amone the preparations for the Chitaria-festival,
the Muungy must provide a cow and a piece of
red silk, previous to the day fixed for prayer.
The Satane, as usual, is performed, to find out what
two of the Maungy’s vassals will be most acceptable
to the godhead, to pray. This point being settled,
and every thing ready, a day is fixed: on the eve
of this holiday, the piece of silk is cut in two, and
one part given to one of the wives of each of the
_ preachers, with whom their husbands have not coha-
bited for ten or fifteen days previously. The Demauno,
Maungy, Cutwal, Phojedar, Jemmadars, and Bunda-
reens, having been invited into one of the preachers
housés, the Demauno gives water to two Kalewars,
one Dolewar, one Mangeera, and one Je/aum, to wash
their hands; and these musicians are taken into the
house: a feast is served, of which all present partake,
as soon as the chiefs have thrown a litle of each
dish away, in the name of CHatnap. I must here
digrees, to observe, that it is a custom through all
the hills, to throw a little of their meat away at
every meal, previous to their eating; and the same
rule is observed in drinking; the intention of which
is, to avert any bad consequence from any devil or
evil spirit having defiled it. The Bandareens, whose
particular province it is at all festivals to serve out
the ¢oddy; or spirits, perform that office; and the
chiefs, having spilled a little also in the name of
CuAtnap for a hbation, the party drink and sing

Vou. IV. | E all

so ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

all night, in praise of Ca1TaAR1AH GosatH, invoking
his protection, the musicians, or rather drummers,
beating at the same time. Should any person sing a
different song, he is fined a fowl, which 1s sacrificed,
and the blood sprinkled over the whole party. During
the course of the might, they patrole the village
five times, leading a cow with them; in the morning,
the Demauno, the two preachers and drummers, pro-
ceed to Chalnad with the cow. Having finished their
prayers, the cow is sacrificed by one of the preachers,
in such a manner that the blood may fall on the
shrine: a feast is immediately made of the flesh,
and all the men who accompanied them from the
village, except such as may be disqualified from do-
mestic causes, partake of it. On their return to
the village, they send notice of their approach,
that the two wives of the preachers, between whom
the piece of silk was divided, may take off their
clothes and ornaments, and tie the silk round their
middles, covering them from their waists to their
knees: their hair is fastened ina knot on the crown
of their heads; and every part of their body which
is exposed, is spotted with a mixture made of tur-
meric, powdered, and the heart, or white part, of
Indian corn, which is finely ground for that purpose :
part of this is also sent to the preachers, that they
may be spotted in the.same manner, and with it the
halves of four mats thus prepared. The two wo-
men (the whole. village, men, women, and child-
ren being assembled to see the procession) set out,

one following the other, and taking care not toad- |

; vance

;

OO

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. st

vance the foot which is up beyond the toe of that
on the ground, to meet the preachers, who observe the
same pace as their wives; and the mats, as the
parties pass over them, are always taken up and
placed again before. Having passed each other, the
women take place behind the men, and follow them
by the\same step at which they at first set out, to the
house of one of the preachers: when arrived, the
men taking one side, and the women the other, they
wash and change their clothes. Here the ceremony
ends ; and the preachers, with their wives, are invited
to a feast at the Maungy’s. |

Tue above is the only festival where women can
assist, or bear any part, as a wothan never prays in
public on these hills. It has before been said, that they
are to recommend themselves to the protection of the
Supreme Being, morning and night. During the
time of the above festival, the compliment of a salam:
is not paid to any person.

Pow Gosain, or the God of the Road, or High-
way, is the first worship young men perform; though
it is not undertaken till some accident has induced
the person to consult the Cherreen, or Satane, whether
his praying and making an offering will be accepta-
ble. This trial is perhaps of itself sufficient to con-
firm the opinion, that Pow GosarH is: offended ;
therefore the young suppliant vows to worship him.
On the day of thanksgiving, on which the new Tu-
kalloo is first eaten of, or on the day appointed for
‘the new Kosarane-harvest, he proceeds to a high

road, and cleans and washes a small space under
E2 the

52 - ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

the shade of a young Ja/e-tree : in the centre of this
he plants a branch of the muckmun-tree ; round it he
makes marks and spots with red paint, and with a
handful of rice, which he lays close to the branch, ~
placing a hen’s egg on it, on which three streaks of
red paint were drawn, he invokes the Supreme
Being, and God of the Road, to protect him while
travelling, and sacrifices a cock, the blood of which
is threwn on the muckmun-branch: the offering, being
dressed with rice, is eaten by the supplant and such
as may have attended him. The ceremony ends by
breaking the hen’s egg ; and is never repeated by him
unless he should again meet with some accident while
travelling ; on which the Cherreen, or Satane, is re-
sorted to, for a confirmation of the apprehension that
it was caused by Pow Gosarn’s resentment, and his
desire of being worshipped.

Dewary Gosatn, or the God who is supposed to
preside over the welfare of families, is the second
worship which men perform:-there is no fixed time
for it. He who discovers by the Cherreen, or Satane,
that the welfare of himself and family depends on
his holding this festival, distils spirits, purchases a
hog, rice, red paint, and oil; and, having fixed on
a day, invites his Muungy and friends on the day
appointed: a small space before the threshold 1s
brushed and washed, and a branch of the muckmun
planted in it: on this some red paint is put, as well
as marks made round it. Lhe Maungy and his offi-
cers are taken into the supphant’s house, when pots
of spirits and provisions are given to the former,
a as

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. 53
as well as meat dnd drink to all the company. After
a short repast, the suppliant, with a hen’s egg and a
handful of rice, approaches the muckmun-branch,
close to which the former is deposited on the latter.
During this ceremony, he implores the Supreme Being
and Dewary Gosain, to be propitious to him and
family. The hog 1s sacrificed by a relation, as an
offering to Drew ary Gosatu, with professions of again
observing the festival whenever Dewary Gosain
may desire it. A feast is made with the oblation ; and,
at the conclusion, the suppliant breaks the egg, and
pulls up the mzckmun-branch, which he places on the
roof of his house.

‘Kutt Gosatu, or the Ceres of the mountaineers,
is worshipped annually by cultivators, in the season
- of sowing their fields: the proper time is ascertained
by consulting the Demauno, and confirmed by either
the Cherreen, or Satane; and is attended with
more or less expence, according to the means of the
suppliant. If poor, it is deemed sufficient to make
an offering of a cock; those who can offord it, pur-
chase a cut hog and a cut goat, distil spirits, buy
Kice, red paint, and oil, and invite the Demauno to
assist themt in praying, as well as their friends, chiefs,
and neighbours, to a feast. On the day appointed,
the Demauno goes early to aid in distilling spirits,
and in other preparations for the feast: the chiefs
and others, having entered the suppliant’s house, are
presented with meat, and spirituous liquors to drink :
the Demauno is also introduced with two Kalewars,
and one Doelewar; he, and the suppliant, and the

See E 3 Maungy,

54 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

Maungy, facing the middle supporter of the house,
pray for the welfare of the master, making a libation,
and throwing down some meat, in the name of Goomo
Gosain, and of Kuti Gosain: the Demauno
and suppliant burn incense, while the Ka/ewars and
Dolewar beat, and the Maungy and chiefs eat and
drink. After this, the suppliant proceeds, with the
Demauno, musicians, and all who may be disposed to
join in the procession, to his field, where, at the
stump of a tree, having cleaned a small space, and
planted a branch of the muckmun, and prayed with
the forms already described, burning incense,—the
goat and hog are sacrificed by a relation of the sup-
pliant’s (who gets a rupee and a turban for this sa-
cred office) so that some of the blood may fall on the
muckmun-branch, and of which the Demauno pretends
to drink a considerable quantity. He gives out that
the blood digests in his throat, and does not pass into
his stomach.

Or each of these offerings, the Maungy is presented
with a fore-quarter for his family ; and of the re-
mainder all, except such whose wives are in their
separation, partake. At the conclusion, the Demaune
gives water to the musicians and the suppliant, to
wash their hands, who return with the latter, and feast
and drink at his house as long as any fragment of the
provisions which had been prepared for the festival
remains.

Tus Demauno having desired any person to wor-
ship Goomo Gosain, and the Cherreen, or Satane,
baving confirmed his ordinance, the suppliant must

rear

HILLS NEAR RA’JAMAHALL. 59

rear a cut kid and cut pig for that express purpose,
about two years, more or less. Haying acquired
property enough to perform this promise, for it is at-
tended with considerable expence, he sends invita-
tions to his chief and vassals, to those also in the
neighbourhoed, and to his relations; and, to mark
the time for the festival, a string, with a number of
knots equal to the number of days that will inter-
vene, is sent to each. From these strings, to avert
mistakes, one knot is daily cut: in the interval the
suppliant is employed in distilling spirits and col-
lecting materials, such as rice, oil, red paint, &c.
when one knot remains, the cuests assemble, and,
on the morning of the day appointed, some of the
suppliant’s neighbours, or relations, proceed to the
jungles to cut three small muckmun-trees. Before the
first is hewn, a cock is sacrificed, that the blood may
fall on it, and some spirits thrown on it, as a libation
to Goomo. As soonas the branches and bark are
stripped off, two men are sufficient to carry each
tree, and lay them without the village, where it is
their business to prevent men, goats, or fowls, from
touching them; and the suppliant, informed of their
arrival, sends them drink for their trouble. In the
mean time he takes the chiefs and their officers,
with the two men who had prayed at the Chittaria-
festival, into his house, and presents the Maungy
with two pots of spirits and a hog: the Demauno, two
Kalewars, and a Dolewar also go in. At their en-
trance, the Demauno gives water to the musicians, to
wash their hands; he takes a small wicker-basker,
£5'4 con-

56 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

containing about a seer of rice, on which he puts red
paint, and places it-with two pans near the middle
supporter. During this the Ka/ewars and Dolewar
beat, and incense is burning; the Maungy having
made a libation, thrown out some meat,.and sacrificed
the hog, in the name of their gods, he and the chiefs
eat and drink. |
Tue Demaune, supplant, and musicians, repair to
where the trees are ; whence the trees are brought
home, laid lengthwise, east and west, cut the pro-
per length, and the suppliant and his wife sprinkle
turmeric - water on them: the Demawno, mounting
astride on the one which had been first cut, is. car-
ried five times round the house, when they are taken
in, and, some earth being dug, are united to. the
middle supporter (which is called Goomo) being first
spotted with red paint, and bound with a red silk
thread. Incense is burned; and the Demauno, with
a handful of rice, «prays, laying the rice down, and
placing a hen’s egg on it, which had been previously
thrice streaked with red paint: the suppliant, re-
ceiving a handful of rice’ from the Demauno, also
prays, throwing it on the egg, when one of his rela-
tions brings up the fat goat, and sacrifices it so that
the blood may fall on the Goomao. For this sacred
office he gets a rupee and a turban. The Demauno,
supplant, and musicians, and all who may be dis:
posed to be of the procession, proceed to a field,
where, sweeping and washing near the stump of a
tree, they plant the branch of a muckmun, and round
it and on it make streaks of red paint: incense is the
| | burned,

¥ “

- HILLS NEAR RA’JAMAHALL. 57

burned, and with a handful of rice anda hen’s ege,
the Demauno and suppliant repeat the prayers and
ceremony which had been observed in the house,
when the fat hog and another goat are sacrificed
by a relation. Some of the blood of these animals
must fall on the muckmun, and the Demauno drinks
of it. ! |

A rore quarter of each of the offerings being sent
‘to the Muungy, they feast. and return: previous to
- entering the suppliant’s house, the. Demauno gives
him and the musicians water to wash their hands.
The relations of the suppliant attend him, present
him with spirits and a cock each, and anoint him,
his wives, and children with oils he sacrifices the _
cocks, makes a libation, and throws way some
meat in the name of Goomo: they feast and drink
for two or three days, and then repair to their homes.
On the fifth day the ceremony concludes, by the sup-
pliant sacrificing a cock to Goomo Gosa1inH, and ano-
ther to Kuti Gosatu.

Goomo Gosatu is also worshipped as above, with
this difference, that the suppliant does not eat, drink,
or smoke in his house, or partake of any thing that
had been in his house, for several days before the
festival; nor is he allowed to partake of the offer-
ings: and this prohibition continues for five days after
the festival, which is called Oogoss Goomo Gosain.

Tue worship.of CaumpAu Gosain is so expen-
sive, that none but chiefs, or men of property,
can ever afford it, and these not oftener than once
in three years; and therefore the votaries to this

| shrine

58 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

shrine most frequently exceed that period for so ex-
pensive a ceremony. © They first consult the De-
mauno, and have recourse to. the Cherreen and
Satane; both of which must agree with what the
Demauno prescribes, before this festival can be held:
when thus ordained, the suppliant must provide
about a dozen hogs, as many goats, about three
score seers of rice, two of red paint, fifteen of oil;
about twelve rupees must be expended in spirits,
and some scores of cooking pots, dishes, and cups
for drinking, laid in, as well as a few peacock’s tails,
a fan, three bamboos, nine score nafdria-trees, and
some red stones, which are ground for paint, and
also some charcoal. Thus prepared, the suppliant
sends strings, with knots numbering the intervening
days, with invitations to his relations and neigh-
bouring chiefs. On the day appointed, some thou-
sands assemble, and are variously employed. Some
erind the red stone for paint, others charcoal to mix
with oil, while a great number are occupied in
stripping the bark off the natdria, which 1s effected
in one piece of four cubits long, by bruising it ; three
bamboos are then made straight by-oil and fire, and
are of the same length with the wafdéria-bark; a fat
hog, grain, and several pots of spirits, are sent to the
workers. The red stone and charcoal being ground,
are mixed, separately with oil, and a quantity of
hog’s blood added to both: the barks of the nmatdria
have about a cubit of the lower end of each Kack-
ened with the charcoal, another cubit is left of the
natural colour, and above it ene cubit is painted red;
| Caps

;

HILLS NEAR RA’JAMAHALL. 59

caps of wood are fitted on the bamboos, and necks
made in them: on one of these, four score and an
half of barks are bound with twine dipped in oil; on
the second, three score are bound, and on the third,
one score and a half; the heads of these three are
ornamented with a profusion of peacock’s tail fea-
thers, thus prepared ; they are called Cuumpan
GosatH, and carried to the suppliant’s house, where
for the workmen a hog is dressed with grain, that
they may be feasted for their trouble: a hog, two
pots of spirits, grain, and salt, are presented to every
chief, for himself and vassals, who honours the sup-
pliant with his company; as much is also given to
his own relations, and a like quantity to the relations
of his wives, and meat and drink is distributed to all
assembled. The women, who dress these provisions,

exclusive of their daily hire, have a hog givento them,

that they may eat together, as they are not allowed to
feast with the men.

Tue Chundah-bamboos having been brought about
evening, and placed against the suppliant’s house, he
and the Demauno rub the ends on the ground with oil,
and mark them with red paint; when the latter, with
a hen’s egg and a handful of rice, prays, observing
the usual ceremony, that Caumpau Gosain may be
propitious to the suppliant, who follows his exam-
ple, and also makes an offering of a cut hog, which
he sacrifices so that the blood may fall on the bam-
boos; the largest of which, or one with the ereatest
number of barks pendant to it, he presents to one of
his relations ; the second in size to one of his wives

relations;

6> ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

relations; and the third to any volunteer. The
three persons thus favoured, support the Chumdahs
by cloth tied round their waists, and balance them
with their hands, dancing as long as they can: when
fatigued, they are relieved indiscriminately, without
any distinction; and this amusement, with music,»
continues all night. In the morning the Demauno and
supplant pray at the middle supporter of the. latter’s
house, with the usual forms, when a cut. goat Is
brought as an offering, and sacrificed by a relation:
hence they repair to his field, taking with them the
Chumdah, and again pray near the stump of a tree,
where a small space is brushed and washed for the
purpose, and a branch of the muckmun planted, in
addition to the egg and rice deposited there by the
Demauno and suppliant: a shrine for Kuti Gosarnis
washed, rubbed with oil, red paint put on it, and
bound with a red silk thread, and placed close to the
muckmun-branch, when a goat and two hogs are sa-
crificed by a relation, that the blood may fall or be
sprinkled on the shrine Chumdah and branch. For this
office he gets a rupee and a turban: the offerings
being dressed, are eaten with grain: the party having
feasted, return, bringing with them the Chumdahs,
which are carried five times round the suppliant’s
house, and’ then placed against eaves, where they
remain five days; at the ex piration of which, a seer
of takallone is served out to every persan who applies
for it, at the supphiant’s house ; but four men are sta-_
tioned -at each of the four doors, that every person
seine goes outwith the fekallone, may receive a blow |

with

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHAULL.» 65

with the open hand from each of the four men sta-
tioned at the door he passes out of. At the conclusion
of this ceremony the Bhuwmdah-bamboos are taken into
the house, and suspended to the roof; the suppliant
repairs to the field, and makes an offering of a hog,
and prays at the shrine of Kuti Gosain, whence he
returns and sacrifices a goat at the middle supporter
of his house, with prayer: these offerings are dressed,
and, as is customary, they feast on them.

Wuewn the kosarane (a small grain like what the
lowlanders. call co/lye) is reaping in November, or the
_ beginning of December, a festival is held as a thanks-
eiving before the new grain is eaten of. Materials for
a feast being prepared, a day is fixed by the Maunugy,
who invites the chiefs of the neighbouring villages.
On the day appointed, the two men who prayed at
the Chitaria-testival, proceed to Chaluad to pray, and
sacrifice a goat, which, with some osarane,. is an
offering at the Nadto Cuirartaun Gosain. On their
return to, the village, the Muungy has his kondone
brought out, on which he prays and immolates a
fowl. During this, the dungareahar, or vassals, repair
to their fields, offer thanksgiving, make an obla-
tion to Kuti Gosain, and return to their houses to
eat of the new kosarane. As soon as the inhabitants
assemble -at the Maungy’s house, the men sitting
on one side, and the women on the other, the
Phojedar presents a hog, a measure of) kosarane,
and a pot of spirits, to the Maungy, in the name of
his vassals, by whom these had been contributed,
On receiving them, he blesses his vassals, and exhorts

them

62 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

them to industry and good behaviour ; after which,
making a Jibation in the names ofall their gods, and
of their dead, he drinks, and also throws a little of
the fosarane away, repeating the same pious excla-
mations ; which ceremony is the commencement of the
festivity and drinking that lasts for several days.

Ow reaping the takallone (Indian corn) in August
or September, there ts also a festival. Each man re-
pairs to his field, with either a hog, goat, or fowl, to
sacrifice to Kuti Gosatu, to whom he prays ; and,
having feasted, returns home, where another repast is
prepared ; and on this day it is customary for every
family in the village to distribute a little of what they
have prepared for their feast to every house.

SHOULD any person eat of new kosarane or takal-
fone before the festival and public thanksgiving at the
reaping of these crops, the Maungy fines the offenders
a cock ; which is sacrificed by the two preachers at the
shrine of Chittdriah.

THE mountaineers are represented to have in ge-
neral an amorous disposition ; their solicitude and
attentions, when in love, are said to be unceasing.

lf separated but for an hour, the lovers are misera-
ble; they conceal their meat to present to eacls
other privately, The lady dresses whatever nice
things she can secrete from her parents, to treat her
lover with; and he presents her with rings and
beads, and treats her with toddy.. They go to mar-
ket, and exchange paun and tobacco; and, on their
return, should they perceive an acquaintance, they
separate, to avoid being seen in company; but by
assigmatlon ©

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. 69

assignation soon meet again, They retire to sleep”
together, but seldom are guilty of that indiscretion-
which 1s irreparable, though the fine for such impru-
dent conduct, which the parties are afraid to con-
ceal, is a hog and a goat to the Maungy, who sa-
crifices them on the spot where frailty made them
transeress, and sprinkles some of the blood on them,
to wash out the stain from his land, or rather to ap-
pease an incensed deity, who fails not to punish for
such abominations. Thus when a virgin is deflowered
with her consent, the blood of the offering is sup-
posed to atone for their sin. Should the couple agree
to come together as man and wite, the Maungy pro-
claims it; and they are immediately considered to be
married, without any further ceremony or expence.
The man has the option of taking her for his wife :
she however has the privilege of demanding a regu-
lar marriage, which implies the usual presents, and

the time for the wedding is fixed. |
Potycamy is allowed. A man may marry as
many wives as his circumstances will admit of; that
is, as often as he can defray the expences of the
nuptials. When he sees a girl whom he wishes to
espouse, he sends a friend to her parents to ask her
in marriage : they refer him to the lady. Should he
obtain her consent, he acquaints the parents, who
desire him to return to the suitor, to advise him of .
their acquiescence, and that he may prepare the
usual presents of poonate (beads) and tubacane (a ring
for the neck) to present to the lady ; which being
accepted, she is considered betrothed to him; and
| he,

64 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

he, as soon as he can procure money for the exs
pence of the nuptials, must provide a turban for the

Jady’s father, with one rupee; also a rupee and a .

piece of cloth for her mother; and a rupee and a
piece of cloth for several of the nearest. relations.
These andthe materials for the marriage-feast being
provided, a day is fixed, on which the bridegroom,
with his relations,’ proceed to the bride’s * father’s
house, where they are seated on cots and mats, and

after a repast, the bride’s father taking his daugh-.
past, 8 g

ter’s hand, and giving it to the bridegroom, be pub-
licly admonishes him to use her well and kindly, and
not to murder her; threatening to retahate; but
if she should die a natural death, or by means of the
devil, it cannot be helped. On the conclusion of this
exhortation, the bridegroom, with the little finger of
his right hand, marks the bride’s forehead with red
paint, and the same little finger being linked, with
the little finger of the bride’s mght hand, he leads her
out of the house to his own. At the expiration of five
days, the bridegroom, with. the bride, returns to her
father’s, well stocked with provisions for feasting, and,
having passed two or three days with their. parents,
they go home, and the cerernony concludes.

A MAN dying and leaving widows,. his younger
brothers, or younger cousins of the first and secund
degrees, or nephews, may receive the widows as

\

wives. If the parties agree on these occasions, the

children go with their mother: if the widow prefers
returning to her relations, the children under ten
‘years of age go with her, and she is entitled to a

| rupee

/

HILLS NEAR RA'JAMAHALL. 65

rupee and a piece of cloth annually, for bringing
them up. When arrived at that period of life, they
are sent to the relation of their father who paid
their mother for taking care of them. When a wos
man has ten children, her eldest brother may claim
one; the right is acknowledged from custom, though
it cannot be enforced. The child thus adopted by an
uncle, is treated as and has every privilege of his
own children. Should this son by adoption arrive at
manhood, die, and leave property, it is equally di+
vided between the adopter ‘and the father of the
deceased.

A MAN desirous of marrying a widow, deputes a
friend to ask her in marriage. Should she consent,
she refers him to her late husband’s relations, ‘the
nearest of whom, for his acquiescence, is entitled to
two rupees and a turban. The parents of the widow
are next consulted.. Should they approve, they are
entitled to some trifling presents, on which the fa-
ther gives his daughter’s hand, exhorting the°bride-
groom, as related in the description of a marriage’
‘The red paint is not used on a second marriage : 4
feast concludes the whole. id

_A MAN cannot marry a relation, though he may
marry his wife’s sisters, except in the instance of
younger brothers, cousins, and nephews, receiving
one each, or more, of their senior kinsthan’s widaws,
who are treated and considered as wives, though
there ts no expence nor ceremony attending theif
umion.
ENV one TV: K SHOULD

‘

. Ws

65 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

SHouLD a girl be compelled by her parents to
marry aman whom she dislikes, and should she be
unhappy, and leave her husband, and, in despair put
an end to herself, the parents: get a court appointed,
to enquire how their son-in-law behaved to their
daughter. If it should appear that he treated her
cruelly, he 1s considered zuilty of murder, and fined,
but not so heavily as is common for the commuta-
tion of blood. If, on the contrary, it should appear
that he behaved well to her, it is deemed suicide.

SHOULD a married woman elope with a man, and
the party be pursued, seized, and brought back,
judges are appointed.to try the man; who 1s generally
fined one or two score of rupees. ‘The husband may
or may not receive his'wife, and the seducer has to
pay the fine. 7

A MAN convicted of having committed adultery,
is fined twenty or thirty rupees: he is also obliged
to furnish a hog, the blood of which, being sprinkled
on the adulterer and adulteress, washes away their
sin, and, it is believed, will avert divine vengeance :
the ceremony ends with a feast, and, the parties thus
purified, the husband and. friends are reconciled.
The adulteress in general. reveals the secret; as a
superstitious idea is entertained, that, if concealed,
the inhabitants of the village will be visited by a
plague, or that a tiger or venomous animal will
destroy them. When any of these happens, 1t is
religiously believed to proceed from the immorality
and evil doings of sonie individual, and as a punish-
ment for some concealed sin; to discover which they

have

‘HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. 67
have practices, in which they place implicit: faith :
one is called Satane, and is as follows :—A place
Jarge enough for a man to sit in, is brushed and
washed, in the middle of which a small branch of
the Aale-tree is planted, and a person sits opposite
to it; another supplies him with a few grains of rice,
on a Bale-leaf, some of which he throws on the
branch, the remainder he 1s to eat ; the person who
gave it to him repeating, that he is to swallow it in the
names of all the inhabitants of the village; in which
should the sinner be, it is believed Gop will make
him throw up the rice. Should this happen, he is
next to eat some in the names of families, and again
in the name of all the individuals who compose that
on which the Satane proof falls. Another is called
Cherreen, and is thus:—A stone is suspended to a
string, which, it is believed, will be tossed to and fro,on
the name of the village, family, and offender. The
third is called Gobereen, and is of a more serious na-
ture than the two former. A pot with some cow-dung,
oil, and water, is put on the fire; when boiling, a
ring is thrown in; each person approaches to take
eut the ring, calling on Gop to protect him if inno-
cent, and to burn him if guilty. On this trial, it is
believed, the innocent will escape unhurt in taking
out the ring, and that the guilty person will be se-
verely burned, without being able to put his hand
into the pot, as the mixture, it is said, will, boil up to
meet his hand.

WHEN a married man has been detected in com-
mitting fornication, his wife or wives may insist on a
Fa hog

68 ON. THE INHABITANTS OF THE

hog or goat being sacrificed, to sprinkle the blood
over him.~ Being thus purified, it is believed this ce-
remony expiates divine vengeance, which would
sooner or later alight-on him or some of his family,
for this sin.

WitcuecraFr and sorcery are most firmly be-
lieved ; and accidents or diseases, which elude their
little skill in medicine, are attributed to some person
supposed to be skilled in these arts, who has be-
witched them. When such a conviction'is admitted,
the Cherreen 1s consulted, and again the Satane, both
repeatedly, till some person be named. ‘To confirm
this ideal proof, which is received as infallible, an’ or-
deal is undertaken ; and on the part of such person
(supposed to be bewitched) five men are employed
who are qualified and acquainted with this mode of
trial. Such as are born immaturely cannot be en-
gaged init. These five proceed to a retired place on
the banks of a river, before day-licht, taking with
them wood of a particular kind, and make a fire to
heat an iron: one of thesé is to touch the iron when
red hot with his tongue, but is first to bathe. While
he is performing his ablution, the others heat the
iron: when red hot, a little rice is thrown on it, in
the name of the person accused of witchcraft, and
BirmMag, the God of ‘Fire, exhorted to do justice.
If it consumes, he is considered guilty; if not, not:
The Tétoo, or person who touches the iron, keeping
one foot in the water, puts the iron to his tongue, and
must repeat it as often as nine times, if the first and
second touch does not burn; which however cannot

! happen.

LS

-/ HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. 69

happen. On the 7¥foo being burned, the party re-
turn before sun-rise ; and, on their approach to their
village, the friends of the sick person are called out
to see the Téfoo’s tongue. The person accused may
object to the trial, and insist on its being held over
again, that. two persons may go, on his part, to wit-
ness it. On this proof, the unfortunate person is
seized and punished, till he or she acknowledges the
crime. It must be also told who instructed him, or
her, in the practice of this evil art. The Chouraga, or
warlock, is now brought to the sick person, to exor-
cise him from his spell. Should he recover, the Chou-
raga is compelled to pay. one rupee to him, one to the
Maungy of the village, one to the four persons who
witnessed the ordeal, and eight annas to the TUoa.
On the other hand, should he die, the Chouraga must
either suffer death, or redeem ‘his life (at the option
of the friends of the deceased) at the price esta-
blished for the commutation of blood. Again, the
friends of the Chowraga may retaliate on the person
whom their relation accused of having instructed him
in sorcery. | )

Ir is not uncommon for two neighbours to agree,
when their respective wives are pregnant, that the
‘offspring, in the event of there being a boy and a
girl, shall be married to each other.. On these ocea-
sions, the ceremony may be performed when the par-
ties are about eight or ten years old. Should -the
father of the girl violate the engagement, and give
his daughter to another person, the father of the
‘boy will obtain a fine equal to the expence of a

’ F 3 mar-

70 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

marriage, which is rated according to their circum-
stances: whereas, should the father of the boy, not-
withstanding his contract, marry his son before he has
performed his part, the father of the girl is entitled
to a fine of aturban and one rupee: after which it
may still be performed or not, as the parties mutually
agree. -

WHEN a woman is in labour, four or five of her
relations and neighbours assemble to attend her;
amongst these, the most experienced does the duty
of a_midwife. The woman keeps her house for five
days, and her husband attends her; during which he
must not enter any person’s house, or field, nor until
he and his wife have washed their clothes and bathed.
On this day the child is named by the father; but,
if he be not present, the mother givesa name; how-
ever, this name may be changed before the child is
weaned. After this they go out as usual. The wo-
men who attended her in child-bed are entitled toa
feast, are anointed with oil, and their foreheads
painted red. A piece-of cloth is given to the one who

erformed the office of a midwife; and a little grain,
or some other trifling acknowledgement, to the others
for their friendly assistance. |

WueEwn a child dies that is not weaned, the father
sends a friend to his Maungy, to solicit ground to
bury the body; which being complied with, the
corpse is carried to the grave, in a place allotted for.
public burial, and interred with its head to the north.
For infants of this description, no further ceremony
js observed; but, when a child dies that has been

weaned,

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. 71

weaned, at the expiration of five days; the relations
and neighbours are invited to a feast called Boge,
which being prepared, the father, or nearest male
relation, takes a little of every thing that may be
dressed, and proceeds to the road leading to the bu-
rying-ground, where he throws them away, in_ the
name of Gop and the deceased; the intention of
which is to avert the like misfortune in future; and,
returning to his house, the company are feasted, all
observing the same custom of. throwing away a little,
in the name of Gop and the deceased, previous to
eating. Another entertainment, similar to this, is
given at the expiration of a year, and, annually, at
the thanksgiving for reaping the taka/loo and kosarane.
Some of each of these grains are thrown away, in the
name of Gop and of the deceased.

Wuewn a child is still-born, the body is, put into
an earthen pot by the women who attend, and co-
vered with leaves; the father carries the pot into
the jungles, places it near the stem of a tree, and
covers it with some brush-wood, where he leaves it;
and there is no further ceremony.

Tue corpse of a person dying of the small-pox
or measles, is taken with the bed-stead into a jungle
about a mile from the village, and placed under the
shade of a tree, where the body, the bed-stead, and
clothes, are covered with leaves and_ branches,
and left. Those who attend the funeral, bathe be-
fore they return to their homes. At the expiration of
a year, the relations, being prepared. for a festival,
proceed out of the village on the road leading to

ee where

92 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

wheré the body was placed, with all whom they
invite; where one of the kinsmen having prayed,
nd thrown away a small portion of the feast, and
made a libation in the name of the deceased, the
party assembled partake. of it, and return. The
bodies of most others, dying a natural death, are
buried; and the cause assigned for disposing of the
bodies of those who die of the small-pox, as described
above, is a superstitious idea, that such an act will
avert any further fatality; whereas, if buried, it
will continue to rage, and carry off every inhabitant
of the village ; which is Gaiman to have happened
formerly.

WHEN a young man, or virgin, who is marriages
able, dies, the father, or nearest relation, sends a
friend to solicit four cubits of ground, to bury the
deceased, from the Maungy ; who asks if the relations
propose putting the bed-stead into the grave with
the body ; in which case a rupee is paid to him for
the purchase of a hog.’ No time is lost in carrying
the body to the burying-ground, ‘where a grave of
a foot and a half, or two feet deep, being dug north
and south, the head is placed towards the former
point; the body is covered with pieces of green wood
Jaid across it; after this some long grass, and then
the earth which had been taken out, is thrown over
the grass: to conclude, small stones are laid to en-
compass the grave, and a few over the middle of the
-body. No women.or girls are allowed to go to fu-
netals, nor’ are prayers said. On the return of the

:

a es ~~ Ai - me! eh W hades e- | party,

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. “>
\

party, it is customary for the whole to wash their
legs and arms previous to entering their houses.

Tue hog which the Maungy had purchased with
the rupee that was paid for permission to deposit
the bed-stead with the corpse, is sacrificed by him.
The liver being taken out and roasted, the Maungy
takes a small bit, and casting it away with some of
the blood, in the name of Gop and of the deceased,
the remainder is divided among such men as may
be present, who repeat what the AZaungy had said,
throwing a little -away before they eat. After this
repast, the carcase is divided; the Maungy sepa-
rating a fore-quarter.for his family, shares on the
remainder in proportion with every inhabitant of the
village. At the expiration of five days the Boge is
observed ; and every family in the village, or as many
as the relations can entertain, are invited. When the
father has performed the ceremony of carrying a little
of every thing that is dressed, with some. spirits,
provided solely for the purpose of a libation, to the
road leading to the burying-eround, and there cast
them away in the name of Gop and of the deceased,
the company assembled are all served, whether
male or female, old or young, on separate leaves ;
and each, previous to cating, observes the cere-
mony of throwing some away, ‘as already related.
Another Boge is held at the expiration of a year,
differing. only from the former in the free use of
liquors. At the annual thanksgiving for the reaping
of the ¢aka/ and kosar, somé of each is thrown away,
in the names of the deceased kinsmen, for one or more

years,

74 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE
years, according to the degree of propinquity and es-
timation in which each was held: it however ceases
at any time that the survivors remove froin the vil-
lage in which their kinsmen died. 3
Wuewn achief of opulence and high rank is dan-
gerously ul, he orders his relations, male or female,
and vassais, to be assembled; as soon as they atrend
him, he informs them of his situation; and, as they
will observe he has not long to live, he desires them
not to grieve, but to be comforted, and points out
the son whom he wills to be his successor. Here
primogeniture has no preference: if he be a son, he
must succeed *, a daughter cannot; though an idiot,
it is to be understood his right ; and some near kins-
man is named by the dying man to be his son’s
guardian: to him he bequeaths his territories and
fortune (though certain sums or parts are to be dis-
tributed) and desires them to look to him for pro-
tection. On his death a drum is beat, to announce
it to such as are at a distance, that they may attend
to see the body; which is not removed before the
vassals collect together, to be witnesses of the fact;
it is then carried without the village, close to which
it ts interred on the bed-stead, in the same manner as
related of a young man’s or virgin’s funeral. A piece
of silk is spread over the grave, and stones placed so
as to prevent the wind blowing it off; a hut 1s
erected to shelter it, and, round the whole, a fence

* In some of the suppahs, a son may be set aside, and the suc-
cession may be bequeathed to a brother, as is now the cafe in Mun-
necarry ; the prefent chief, brother to the late Maungy, who left a
son a minor, succeeded by desire of the deceased, and received his
brother’s widows as wives. ¢

0.

HILLS NEAR RA JJAMAHALL. 75

of bamboos of stones. The mourners, on their return,
observe the usual oblation, and are feasted ; but throw
away some of whatever they have to eat or drink, in the
name of Gop and of the deceased, previous to tasting
it. All who come are thus treated in succession
for five days, when the first Boge is kept ; when the
only difference between it and that of a Dungarria,
or vassal, is the greater expence from a concourse of
relations and adherents assembling, and that spirits
are provided for them. At the festivals for reaping
the také/ and kosar, some of each is thrown away on
the road leading to the grave, as already described.
At the expiration of a year, the chief’s relations and
vassals being invited for their second Boge, the
Demauno and the heir pray at his door for the de-
ceased, when all assembled partake of the feast, with
the usual ceremony: at the conclusion of this the
fortune and goods of the deceased are divided; the
heir taking one half, the other is equally divided
among the sons, brothers, and nephews by the bro-
ther’s side. Nephews by sisters do not share ; the wi-
dows may, if the parties agree, or go with any of their
Jate husband’s younger brothers, or nephews by the
brother’s side, as wives. If however the parties do not
agree to come together, the mother of the heir has
the option of remaining with her son, or of returning
to her relations ; the other widows must do the latter.
WHEN a married woman dies, the widower ob-
serves the usual Boge at the two stated periods: he
1s not allowed to marry before the performance of
the second, or at the expiration of a year ; and it is
‘customary to present the nearest kimsman of his de-
ceased

+6 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

ceased wife with one rupee and a turban, after which
he may espouse as many wives ashe pleases, or has
fortune to maintain.

Tus body of a person who dies of a dropsy
(Nerat) is carried: and thrown intoa river ; if buried,
it is apprehended the same disorder would return, and
infeét and carry off the other inhabuants. The fune-
ral party having cast the body into the water,
proceed to another part of the river to bathe, and
there, having brought a fowl and some fzkd/, or rice,
some of each is thrown into the water, in the name of
Gop and of the deceased, by all who are present,
before they eat. This isthe only Boge which is ob-
served for persons dying of a dropsy, though, at the
thanksgiving, for reaping the Tuka/loo or Kosar, some
of each is thrown away in their names.

Wren a person has been killed by a tiger, the
body or any part of it that is found, is covered
with the branches of trees. . On the fifth day the re-
lations of the deceased, with a large party, proceed to
the place where the remains of their kinsman lay,
taking with them a new earthen vessel, a goat,
and ten or fifteen seers of Také/, or rice. Being ar-
rived at the spot, one of the nearest relations prays
for the deceased, in which he is accompanied by the
Demauno; at the end of their prayers, the former
scatters some grains of rice, and cuts off the head of
the goat, naming Gop and the deceased. The mo-
ment he severs the head, he rushes into the midst of
the party, who surround him; the Demauno atthe
same time seizes the head of the goat, sucks the

| reeking

oe

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL, 77

reeking blood, and is supposed to become frantic :
he casts the head from him and springs after it, en-
deavouring to imitate the tiger, and making a hideous
noise as like that beast as he can: he looks about
for the preacher, whom it is the business of the party
to conceal, and prevent his touching. Should he in
his exertions accomplish this, a superstitious’ opinion
is entertained that the poor preacher will infallibly
fall a sacrifice to atiger. When the Demasmo is well
wearied by his pranks, the head of the goat is. put
under ground in the earthen vessel; this speedily
restores his reason, and the preacher comes out in
safety.. The party thence retire toa small distance,
have a feast, and return’ to their homes. At the expi-
ration of a year, the second Boge is held for the de-
éeased, in the same manner-as for any other-relation,
and the same attention is paid to his repmory on
reaping the Tukalloo and Koser. .
WueEN any person dies of the Afoogdo, or Kory, a
disease in which the extremities decay and drop off,
the body is buried with the usual ceremony, ; and the
Boge is twice observed as usual, at which every sort
of flesh,’ except goats, may be eaten: fish is also,
forbidden. » In that disease goats flesh and fish are not
allowed to. the patient, which is the cause of their
being forbidden at the Boge. | eB
- Suc as die of an epilepsy, are buried, with the.
usual. ceremonies: at their Boge hogs flesh is. for-
bidden, because those who are sidbspeet to sheepilapsy:

are not sin toe to eat it. is SS peeg othuy
PERSONS

28 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

Persons who are killed, and suicides, are buried
with the usual ceremony above recited.

WueEn a Demauno dies, his body is carried into the
jungles and placed under the shade of a tree, where
it is covered with leaves and branches, and left on
the bead-stead on which he died. The objection to in-
terring his remains is a superstitious idea, that he
becomes a devil, and that, if buried, he would re-
turh and destroy the inhabitants of the village ;
whereas, by placing the body under a tree, he is
thus compelled to play the devil in some other. The
usual Boge ceremonies are obferved, but cow’s flesh
forbidden to be eaten atthem. Should a Demauno eat
of it, Gop in his wrath would cause all his functions
to fail in their effect.

Ir sometimes happens that very old men, when
they are very dangerously ill, desire their descend-
ants and relations to be assembled, to whom they
give directions about the disposal of their body: that
is, if they. wish not to be buried, some direct thei
remains to be placed under the shade of a tree, while
others order them to be thrown into a river. Their
will in this respect is strictly attended to, and the two
Boge ceremonies are observed. ;

Berore the chiefs of the hills put themselves under
the protection of the English government, wrongs
and injuries committed by the inhabitants of one
village on that of another, were in general decided
by the sword; but disputes and differences, whether
with regard to property or otherwise, between inha-

bitants

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 79

bitants of the same town, were always settled by the
Maungy and his officers: the first of them: in rank is
the Cutwal (who 1s the chief’s deputy) next the Pho-
jedar, and lastly the Jemmadars, who have a certain
number of men under their authority, to inspect the
conduct of the inhabitants, and report 1t to the Pho-
jedar ; to these, old and experienced men were added,
and usually called in to assist, when the subject of
litigation was of importance: at present, none but
trifling disputes are settled by those officers; for
murder and all capital crimes, the delinquents are
brought to Bhagalpore or Rajamahall, to be tried by
an assembly of the chiefs, agreeably to the engage-
ments entered into by Mr. CLevetanp with the head
Maungies. Though the Maungies of all the villages
also assemble on these occasions, none but the Svr-
dar Maungies, or chiefs of tuppahs, and their Naibs,
or deputies, sit in judgment. On passing sentence, it
is customary for them to ask the interior Maungies, if
the decree be not just. Should these question it, ano-
ther examination takes place, when the decision may
be the same or amended. ‘

{ HAVE been present at several of these trials: The
forms observed, were first to swear in the judges ac-
cording to their faith: this being peculiar, their va-
tious ways of taking an oath may not be thought
uaworthy of description, The hill-word Deeden, is
an oath. There is no particular officer for administer=
ing oaths ; any person may do it. The form in general
use at these trials, is, fora mountaineer to pur a lit-
tle salt on the blade ofa Tu/war, or scimitar, whea

. he

So ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE
he says, “if you decide contrary to your judgment,
and falsely, may this salt be your death.” The per-
son swearing having repeated this imprecation, and
applied it to hiniself, the part of the blade where the
salt is, is held above his mouth, which he opens, and
it is washed off into his mouth with some water, that
he may swallow it. Those who, from indisposition or
infirmity, do not like to swallow the salt, repeat the
oath, putting their hand on two arrows fixed trans-
versely in the ground, at about a cubit’s distance,
with some salt between them. On some occasions a
man swearing repeats the oath, with his hand on a
sword; while others repeat it, laying hold of any
person’s hand: and all these forms are considered
equally binding. Next, the commitment and charge
are read and explained by the collector’s officer, in
his, the collector’s presence; then the delinquent.
must state his defence or confess his crime, sitting
on his hams; after which the Maungy and Phojedar
of the village where it was committed, declare
what they know of it. Here the criminal 1s appa-
rently his own accuser, by never deviating from
truth; the vice of lying being considered an ag-
sravation of any crime; but I have known the.ac-
cused refuse to speak; for lying has not obtained:
much among these highlanders. A man convicted of
falsehood, or who violates a promise, is called pas-!
siary; the meaning of which is, a person to whom
no credit is due, though he should even speak truth,
and whose professions or promises are not to be de-
oe on. Such a person is not admitted on any’
arbitration,

HILLS NEAR RA‘JAMABALL. 82

arbitration, or on any committee to settle trivial dif-
ferences.

ForMERLY, whena man of one village had a claim
upon an inhabitant of another, it was not uncom-
mon, if the latter denied it, and refused to have the
matter brought to trial, for the complainant to ap-
ply to the chief of his village, to unite with the
heads of one or two others, to whom presents were
made in proportion to the nature of the dispute, to
form a junction with all their vassals to plunder
the village where justice was denied, and to carry
off the offender: the division of. the booty was ac-
cording to the rates allowed the Maungies, their
officers, and vassals. In such troublesome times much
was not taken, as all property, not of immediate
use for domestic purposes, was- usually concealed ;
the chiefs could therefore only have the first choice
of the utensils and apparel which fell into their
hands. The relations and chief of the village from
which the captive was taken, after some time were
wont to send a present to the complainant, acknow-
ledging the demand ; and promising to abide by the
award which arbitrators should give, on his being
released : these conditions were complied with, the
prisoner was enlarged, and he and his relations had to
make good the Joss sustained by the inhabitants of
the plundered village, as well as to “pay sah costs of
the arbitration.

Ir some times happened on -such ccasions. as the
above, that the inhabitants of the village ‘intended
to be plundered, got intelligence of the design, and

Vor. IV. ea the

82 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

the cause of it ; on which it was usual for the Maungy
to call on his vassal, to answer to the accusation: if
he acknowledged it, an ambassador was dispatched to
the complainant, desiring him to desist from his inten-
tion, and to name arbitrators, that justice might be
done: on the other hand, if the charge was denied,
and the accused exhorted his chief to stand on the
defensive, with an assurance that he would either
prove his innocence, after the invasion, or make
good the loss sustained on both sides, the vassals were
assembled and stationed to guard every avenue lead-
mg to the village. Night attacks were most com-
mon; but these precautions were in general sufficient
to induce the assailants to defer a scheme which was
merely: to plunder, and, asilong as the defendants
were alert, nothifge:was attempted; the invaders
therefore kept im their neighbourhood, and, when
they were harassed by’ watching, the party advanced,
and a man was sent forward to scatter a soporific
dust to windward’ of the village, which, it was be-
lieved, would put every inhabitant in. it to sleep in
tess than an hour after dark. In: this persuasion they
tushed on to plunder, and, carrying off all thatewas
valuable, retreated; ‘soon after which a deputation
was sent from the despoiled village, desiring an arbi-
tration to be appointed, to try whether the accusa-
tion was just which was alleged against the inha-
bitant of it: if proved, he was bound.to make good
the loss sustained, as well as to commute the lives
that might have been lost on both sides’: on the other
hand, if acquitted, all this fell on the accusers. -

: _ WuHen

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. 83

WuHew a man by accident killed one of his bro-
ther sportsmen in hunting, it was customary for the
party to carry the body to the village, where the
relations of the deceased, having declared the party
had no right to slay their kinsman, set out and im-
plored the assistance of a neighbouring Maungy
with his adherents, to obtain justice: having suc-
ceeded, they returned in force to plunder the homi-
cide’s houses, and took eatables from every house in
the village: at the conclusion of this violence, the
serdars of the village assembled to sit in judgment
on the part of the hunters, whilst those of the assail-
ants met them on the part of the kinsmen of the
deceased. The sentences on such occasions were seldom
jess than ten or twelve scores of rupees, as a com-
mutation for the blood of the manslayer, two-thirds
of which ransom he had to pay, and the remainder
was recovered from the party of hunters. When the
above fine was realized, another complaint was made
by the relations of the deceased to the Maungy of
the village to which he belonged, claiming some
consideration for the children which he might
have begotten had he lived. Judges being appoint-
ed to examine the second. demand, the fine was
about two or three scores of. rapees from the homi-
Cidewa So7iCuIN. wr: bes

Wuewn a woman had poisoned her husband, and
confessed the fact, judges were appointed to settle
a just retribution; ten or twelve scores of ‘rupees
‘were commonly adjudged, and the sum was recovered
bas G2 | from

7

$4 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

from the woman and her relations, to -whom she was
returned. |

A PERSON Convicted of stealing cloth, was not
fined more than five or six rupees, and a turban ;
yet the thief, -by praying for an abatement of this,
was in general let off, on paying one rupee, and pro-
ducing one hog and a turban.

Wuewn an orphan, who had no relations or pro-
perty, was convicted of stealing money, grain, or cloth,
he was compelled to restore the stolen goods, and
flogged and discharged. Judges were not appointed
for such a trial, as the accused was supposed neither
to have property nor friends to pay the fine for
him.

Wuen grain had been stolen, and the thief un-
known, the Cherreen was first resorted to: whether
this was successful or not, the Sztane was next tried
to confirm the discovery, which might have been
made by the Cherreen, or to find the thief by it if
the Cherreen had been unsuccessful. In the event of
both failing, or on their being firmly denied by the
accused, he was compelled to attempt the Gobereen,
which was deemed unerring., On such slender proof
the accused was seized and punished, till he ac-
knowledged the theft, and declared -whether any

person advised him, or was an accomplice: he was -

then set at liberty, and judges were appointed by
the Maungy of the village to inquire what damage
had been sustained ; which the accused was obliged to
make good, and to fine him according to the nature

and

oo ae

‘

HILLS NEAR RA’JAMAHALL. 85

and extent of his crime. On these occasions the fines
were heavy, to deter others from committing similar
offences.

Wuewn a chief had killed a poor man, the officers
of his own village, and those of a neighbouring vil-
lage, were assembled, with some sage old men for
the trial. Should the fact be established, the rela-
tions of the deceased might refuse a commutation
for the blood of the murderer; in which case he was
delivered up to them to be put to death, and his
kinsmen had to pay the expences of the trial. The
ransom was in general ten or twelve score of ru-
pees; but the relations of the deceased had the op-

tion of remitting the fine, and of pardoning the mur-

derer. | .
ALL applications to a chief ‘to apprehend any
person in a civil cause, and to appoint judges for a

trial, are accompanied witha fee; and any person
‘ borrowing money for that purpose, is compelled to

pay two rupees for every ong so borrowed, at the
issue of the suit, whether he gains it or not.

A cHier has no more right to strike a poor man
than the latter has to strike him: the crime and
punishment in either case is equal. Should a chief

without provocation strike a poor man and draw

blood, the latter complains to the Cutwal, who
with the Phojedar, and some old men, being assem-
bled, and having heard the complainant, they depute
an agent to their chief, to require him to answer the
charge; which being acknowledged, the agent re-
turns, and informs the court that the offender con-

G 3 fesses

86 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

fesses his crime: the complainant then demands a
certain sum for reparation, and the agent sets out to
the offender, who, on begging a remission of the
fine, in general gets off by furnishing a hog; which
being killed, the blood is sprinkled on the wounded
person. A similar misfortune 1s thus supposed to be
averted, and the parties reconciled, the aggressor
paying the expences of the trial.

StouLp a man borrow some Kosarane for seed from
another, and refuse to repay for eight or ten years,
and till he is compelled, the lender, on establishing the
loan before judges, will receive three rupees for each
seer that is due to him.

Tue same penalty is levied from those who refuse
to repay aloan of Takalloo.

WHOoEVER accuses a man of committing incest
with his mother, on proof of such abuse before a jury,
will be fined a rupee for the complainant, and a hog
for a feast to his judges. :

SHouULD aman, who js sober and walking about,
touch another who is asleep, or sitting, with his foot,
the aggressor will be fined a rupee for the complain-
ant, and a hog for a feast.

A PERSON committing the same offence while
drunk, is let off on giving a fow] to the complain-
ant.

SHOULD a man who Is intoxicated, by day light,
and willingly vomit on another, on conviction before
judges, he will be fined a turban and one rupee:
should he however, from its being dark or otherwise,
not see the person, he is forgiven.

| SHOULD

HILLS NEAR RA‘JAMAHALLY! 87

» Suovuxp a man seize and cultivate afield which
his neighbour had begun to clear, this offence not
being cognizable before judges, the latter imprecates
divine wrath, that nothing may grow on it. It is be-
lieved that his prayers will be:attended to, and that
the produce will be small comparatively with former
years... |
Ir two men quarrel, in their’ cups, and blood b
shed,—when sober, judges are appointed, and the per-
son who cut his antagonist 1s fined a hog or a fowl,
the blood of which is sprinkled over the wounded
person, to purify him, and to prevent his being pos-
sessed by a devil: the flesh of whatever has been
sacrificed is eaten, and a feast reconciles the combat-
ants ; but, if the men quarrel while sober, and one be
wounded, judges are appointed, and, exclusive of a
hog ora fowl for the purpose above described, the
person who drew blood from his antagonist is fined
one rupee, and a hog for the Maungy of the village,
and, at the discretion of the judges, is compelled to
pay a fine to his wounded antagonist. |
SHOULD a man, by design or.accident (in carrying
fire) set fire to a jungle, whatever loss.is sustained
by the flames spreading, and burning grain, or mens
property, he must: make it good. If a town should
be set on fire by accident, and. the whole be burned,
the» person who accidentally caused the loss is not
fined, because the loss sustained would be too great
forsone person. or, family toidefray ; but, if only :one
‘or two. housesshould be burned, the offender and
family are:obliged to make entire restitution,
Pit G 4 . Ir

88 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

Ira man be detected by a woman sitting on her
cot, and she complains of the impropriety, and de-
mands a fowl as a forfeit, he complies ; but she re-
turns it: on the other hand, if a man detects a wo-
man sitting on his cot, and he complains and demands
a fowl, she must produce it, and he kills the fowl,
sprinkling the blood on the cot to purify it: the wo-
man is then pardoned.

WoMEN at certain times are considered impure :
should one in such a condition touch a man by acci-
dent, even with her garment, he is defiled; and for
this offence she is fined a fowl, which is sacrificed,
and the blood sprinkled on the man to purify him.
‘Women at such times may talk to men, but not
touch them. Aman, whose wife has that impurity,
must not himself during that period sit on a chief's
cot; for so doing the fine is a fowl, and the»blood 1s
sprinkled on the cot to purify it. He must not even
eat or partake of any thing at a festival during fuch
period of separation; and any person detected in this
offence, must pay the expence of »purification from
this pollution by another festival, to be held:for that
purpose at his expence.

WHEN a party are assembled to go a hunting,
and have arrived at their ground, the Cherreen is
held to ascertain which of the party will be most ac-
ceptable to the God of Hunting, to return thankscfor
the success they may have; two hen’s eggs are given
to the: person. named. This ceremony over,» some
are stationed at the skirts of the wood, while others
scour it to drive the game to them. On their killing
| ; either

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 89

either a hog or a deer, the preacher breaks one of
the eggs on the tooth of the animal, and throws the
contents on its head, at the same time returning
thanksto Au reua, the God of Hunting. This is ob-
served on the death of all large game. On their re-
turn home with their game, the heads, the tails, and

flesh on the inside of the loins, being separated, are

considered sacred; and women are not allowed to
taste of those parts; but the hunters feast on them,
and the rest (one hind quarter being first given to
the fortunate sportsman for his share) is equally
divided among the party for their families. When the
hunters have finished their repast, the one who killed
the game sacrifices a fowl to AuteHa, the'blood of
which is shed on the fore-teeth of the game, with
thanksgivings to the God; and the preacher, having
cut up the heart, that the blood of it may fall on his
bow and arrow, breaks an egg on it, praying again
to AUTGHA. |

SHOULD a woman privately eat of those parts of
which they are forbidden to taste, the mountaineers
believe that Aurcua will be offended, and prevent
their having any success in hunting on any future
excursion ; and, if they do not happen to kill some
game, the failure is attributed to the above cause;
and the Cherreen, or suspending a stone to a string,
1s resorted to, to-discover the offender, who, on such
doubtful proof, is fined a fowl; which, being sa-
crificed to AutcHaA, the God is thus supposed to
be appeased, and will be propitious to them on the
next hunting party. pica

Ir

go ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

Ir a hunter-goes out alone, and wounds soine
game, and returns for assistance to find and bring it
home; those who go with him are entitled to one
half. )

Wauen it 1s found that wild boars or other game
have been in a cultivated field, the owner leaves a
road for the beasts to return, and erects a. stage to
watch their coming at night.) Should he wound any,
he repairs to his village to announce his success, and
to beat.up for volunteers to assist him in ascertain-
ing which way the game went, that they may know
where to find itin thé-morning. They are directed in
this by the groaning,of the animal, which, cannot
run far, the poison,,which they use on their. arrows
being of a-most subtile. nature; yet its being of ‘so
fatal and noxious a quality does not prevent) their
eating the game, after cutting out a large piece of
the flesh round the arrow, which is thrown away, I
heard an instance of a man’s eating that part, and dy-

ing soon after. A sportsman, who. goes out alone,
keeps half of whatever game he kills ;. the remainder

{aiter the, Maungy has. taken several.joints .of the
chine) is divided among the inhabitants, of. the
village.

-

ys
.

A skiLfuL,and, fortunate sportsman, who, gives

up all his time to huntng, daily kills »more or.

less. -When ten or twelve score heads of game have
fallen, by his skil, .it.is customary for him to take
all the teeth. and horns to),a, convenient place for
prayer, and. to: sacrifice a hog overnthem, to Aut
cua, the God of Hunting, who. some times favours

the

rid

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. OL

the huntsman, by drawing some game within view
of the festival, that he may sally forth to kill it; and
whatever his success may be on this occasion, it is con-
sidered as an addition to his offering, and accordingly
eaten on the same altar.. It is to be observed, that
every sacrifice to their God 1s eaten.

Whew a bunter- wounds game which he cannot
find, he returns home to collect. his friends to go in
search of it: in the interim, should any person or per-
sons pick it up, carry it off and eat it,—on detection,
they will be fined by the judges five rupees and as
many hogs; though the complainants in general let
such offenders off, on their delivering one rupee and
one hog.

Docs that will hunt are held in estimation by the
mountaineers ; and any’ petson killing one, is fined ten
or twelve rupees.

Tue penalty for killing a cat is whimsical: a per-
son guilty of it must collect all the children of the
village, and distribute salt among them, that he may
avert divine vengeance.

Ir is related that a man, sitting with another, ob-
served his companion’s clothes on fire, and that, for
informing him of it, the latter demanded a fowl, to
shed the blood of it on his burned clothes for his
'. friend’s officious kindness, observing also that the
clothes were his ; and that he had no business to say any
thing about them. This practice is now obsolete as
far as regards the exaction of a fowl; but the circum-
stance is related to this day. |
| Hos-

92 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

Hospitatiry is considered a virtue; and whena
relation or a man of rank comes to see his friend,
he is kindly received, and treated as sumptuously as
the ability of the host will admit of. Strangers tra-
veiling are well received; a house and bedding is
allotted them, and the inhabitants contribute to
furnish them with as much provisions as they can
eat.

WHEN a peasant waits on his chief to represent
any grievance, having made his sa/am, he is not of
himself to enter onthe subject of it, unless he is de-
sired, as his chief may be thinking of business of
importance, when it would be improper and disre-
spectful to interrupt him; but due attention 1s always
paid to the complainant. )

A PEASANT does not sit inthe presence of his chief
without being desired to doso; and respect requires
that he should decline it two or three times before
he obeys, taking care to sit at a good distance. When
business leads them to their chief, it is customary to
have him previously advised of it. ‘A man who has
business, if he has any penetration, will observe at a
_ distance what humour his chief is in, before he ap-—
proaches him. If he fhould seem pleased, they think 7
it right to embrace the moment, keepins ‘at a’ re-
‘spectful distance and advancing but a step or two as
desired; but, if he is in an ill-humour, the com-
plainant generally defers his suit. Jt is considered
disrespectful in an inferior, even to enter a chief’s
house without being invited. When a chief’ visits

another

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 93

another chief, the guest is always desired to seat him-
self first.

In addition to the foregoing account, a few gene-
ral remarks may neither be deemed superfluous nor
unnecessary, The natives of these hills are mostly
very low in stature, but stout and well proportioned.
To find a man six feet high would, I believe, be a
phenomenon: there are many less than four feet
ten inches, and perhaps more under five feet three
inches than above that standard. It may not how-
ever be far from the truth to consider that as the
medium size of their men. A flat nose seems the
most characteristic feature; but it is not so flat as
the Coffres of Africa, nor are their lips so thick,
though they are in general thicker than the inhabit-
ants of the neighbouring plains. 1 shall not pre-
tend to say whether they ought to be considered the
aborigines or not: as they have no letter, figure, or
hieroglyphic, all accounts of their ancestors are
oral. It will however be remembered, that they:
consider themselves descended from the eldest of the
seven brothers who, according to their tradition,
peopled this earth, and who was an outcast for re-
ceiving his portion of every thing eatable on an old
dish ; that the hills in the districts of Bhagalpore and
Rajamahall were allotted for him and his descendants :
these being rather unproductive, and their wealthy
neighbours refusing to associate with them, they had
no alternative but that of plundering. These causes
are assigned for their remaining in barbarous igno-
ance. In numbers, the hill-language has only words

| for

O4 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

for one and two, which are variously expressed, as
applied to different subjects: they however use the
Fiindu words in counting from two to twenty; and,
when reckoning any thing which exceeds that
quantity, they begin again at one, numbering’ by
scores. Of their manufacture and commerce little
can be said. The small and common Hindostany bed-
steads are made by the highlanders, and brought
down for sale, with the wood-work of ploughs rudely
shaped. Wood for various purposes, as well as for
fire, with charcoal, and planks shaped with a hat-
chet (probably that they may be more portable)
are also brought down for sale: to these, bamboos,
cotton, honey, plantains, sweet potatoes, and occa-
sionally small quantities of grain, may be added,
and will, I believe, include all the articles, which
they barter for their few wants from the plains; such
as salt, tobacco, rice, for the purpose of worship;
cloth, iron heads for arrows, hatchets, crooks, and
such iron implements as they may have occasion
for. I may add, that they have no manufactures:
except the bed-steads, there is nothing made in the
hills: they are even indebted to their neighbours on
the plains for earthen pots. Salt and tobacco are their
principal wants; for, in describing such hill-villages
as are nearest market-towns, or such as have Aauts
on the plains, it is common to say, such a hill-vil-
lage is supplied with these articles by such a town
on the plains. Thus their trade is confined to a very
‘parrow compass. Cultivation is in as‘untmproved and
rude a.state as it well can be, and seldom more ex-,
ee tensive

.

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 95

tensive than for the immediate consumption of the
cultivator and his family. The women as well as men
work in their fields. The bringing of wood and
water’ for all domestic purposes, cooking, cleaning,
afranging all house affairs, belong to the former;
and they are also employed in carrying wood, bam-
boos, and other things to market on the plains, to ex-
change for salt and tobacco. Hence it appears, that
the greatest share of labour falls to the women ; and
a man is rich in proportion to the number of his
wives, who are so many labourers. There are two
sorts of soil which the mountaineers cultivate, the
one a black earth, which is esteemed the best; the
inferior is called red, is stiff, and of the nature of
clay. Where there is earth sufficient for the purpose
of cultivation on the sides and tops of hills, the trees,
with which these hills are well covered, are cut,
leaving pretty large stumps; and such as cannot be
conveniently moved, or are wanted, are burned where
they fall, in the places so cleared. Holes are made
fiom three to four inches deep with a piece of hard
wood pointed, in the middle of June, or setting in
of the rains: in each of these, two grains of Tukalloo,
two of Kosarane, two or three of Ldhary, and’ from
five to seven of Naito, are thrown in, when they are
filled with earth, These holes are not made nearer
than a cubit and a half; if less space was left, the
grain would he too thick, and not so: productive.
Koppai, Gungarea, Mooto, and Koodama, are scattered
in the same field, with Massee, which is sometimes
scattered, and at others, put into separate small

} holes,

96 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

holes, In this field Kuddee is also planted, and slips of
the Marallee; Bareally, or yams, are cultivated, and
grow wild likewise; Zwkal/oo, or Indian corn, is the
same as what is variously named in the plains Bootah,
Janeara, Jewar, Muckai; but is larger and_ better
on the hills, and is reaped in November. Kosarane is
like the Callye grain of the. plains in taste, but is
white, and rather larger: it is reaped at the latter end
of November and beginning of December; Laharys
a large pea, reaped in December; Naito is a round
seed, reaped in December ; Kappai is cotton, and does
not flower before the third year, when it is gathered in
March, April, and May, and sells for as much as
cotton produced in the plains ; Gungarea is a grain
smaller than the Cheennee of the plain, is reaped in
September and Odlober ; Mooto is somewhat like the
Guugarea, and reaped at the same time; Aoodama is
also very small grain, and reaped as the two former;
Mossee is the same as the Bhattnoss of the plains, but
a smaller grain, and is reaped in Sepfember and Odober ;
Kuldee is a large plantain, bears some fruit the se-
cond year, but more plentifully the third and fourth,
after which it declines; Mara//ee is the same as the
Sakkerkund, or sweet potatoe of the plains, but much
larger, is taken out of the ground in November, De--
cember, and January. The foregoing includes all the
cultivated productions of the hills: they are, as may
be supposed, of a hardy nature, and are plentiful or
scanty, in proportion to their having enough or too.
little rain, for they trust entirely to the monsoon for
water, having neither reservoirs, nor any method of
Waler

“HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. ~. 97

watering their fields ; which in fact might not be pos-

sible, from their situation. This last season. their
crops in general failed, from. want of-rain ; on these
occasions, the mountaineers cut more wood and
bamboos, and make. greater quantities of charcoal, for,
which they find a ready mart in the lowlands, and
exchange it for grain. Froin this resource, and the
thriftyness of some, among themselves, who-are_pro-
vident, they averte” a famine during the: great scar-
city in 1769 and 1770: many of the inhabitants of
the plains retired to the hills, where they got a sub-
sistence; but, having. associated and mixed with
the highlanders, they of course lost their casts, and
therefore many remained with them. The. TZvkalloo
is the most productive of any of their grain, and 1s
their chief subsistence. There are no esculent herbs,
nor garden-stuff on the hills. DPungdoallee, the same
as Sootnee in the lowlands, grows wild, and is larger
than the Sootnee. In times of scarcity, Singlah (in
Moors, Jingoor) is found in the jungles, but it must

be boiled in several waters, or well roasted, and is a

dangerous unwholesome food: of much the same na-
ture is Kindallee, which is sliced thin and boiled in

sour waters, otherwise it is poisonous. The Afango-

tree, Tamarind, Kuthul, Bale, Burrel, Bayer, Mow-
wah, Jamon, Phulsah, Dwarf Cudjoor, that yields a
bad kind of date, and Keand, with others peculiar to

the hills, grow wild. Their domestic animals. are
hogs, goats, and fowls; they have also some dogs

and cats; the wild animals are in general the same
that are met with in the plains, except a species of
71. LV. HH large

98 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE
large deer, and another remarkably small; the for-
mer aré called Mazvk, and the latter Marroo.
Tue internal government of the hills, or the con=
nection between the Maungy and his Dungarear (ad~
herents) is a simple engagement for mutual protection.
The Maungy swears to do them: justice in disputes
among themselves, and not to suffer them to be op-
pressed by others; and they, on their part, swear
fidelity fo him, as long as he shall protect them and
do them justice :’a failure on either part dissolves the
contract ; in fine, the Maungy 1s no more than primus
inter pares.’ The Dungarear apply to him for land
to cultivate, and he allots it: when the crops are
tripe, the Cutwal and Phojedar, on the part of the
Maungy, repair with the proprietor of each field, to
estimate what portion he can afford to give his
Maungy: thus an easy and amicable contribution is
levied by the consent of the cultivator, who has no
fixed proportion to yteld to his chief... If the crops
be luxuriant, he willingly gives what he can spare;
if scanty, very little 1s demanded: 1f obstinately re-
fused (a case which seldom or never happens) the
Maungy cannot foreibly take any part; but, as a
punishment, he can prevent this refractory Dun-
parear from cultivating in his territory again. ‘The
‘Cake wal and Phojedar receive a little grain for their
trouble, or perhaps the Maungy remits their contri-
bution ; - for these officers, as well as the Maungy
himself, cultivate their fields: they have'no salary;
the stations perhaps gtve them some degree of conse-
quence; and on all trials they’ either receive some

com-

HILLS NEAR Ra’JAMAHALL. , -99
compensation, or are feasted; the latter, however,
from their disputes in .general being trivial, is most
common..The appointment of Cuéwals, Phojedars,
and Jemmadars, belong to the Maungies ;. and he can
dismiss from office.when any of them offend; the
Jemmadar is merely ;an honorary officer., I, cannot
now learn at what period the hill-villages were formed
into Tuppahs. It seems however to have been an as-
sociation.for mutual protection; for the Sirdar Maun-
gy, or chief of a Tuppah, receives no contribution
from any village but his own, or one.in which he
resides: when appealed to, or applied to for justice,
he is paid in proportion to the amount or magnitude
of the cause. He could assemble the several Afaun-
gies with their adherents on. any offensive or defensive
operations, but could not compel those to act who
disapproved of the motives. In their wars, when high-
landers were made prisoners, they were either set at
liberty, .or were ransomed. In their descents into
the plains they were not however so merciful; all
who opposed them were put to death; those who
made no defence, women and children, were stripped
of such valuables as they might have, but ‘neither
punished mor made prisoners. On such occasions the
chastity of women was held inviolable; for it was
believed, if any of the assailants committed violence
on the persons of females, that he would infallibly
Jose his\reason and die. The bow and arrow is the only
arms peculiar to these mountaineers ; some few have
swords, and still fewer have match-locks ; ‘but these
‘probably were collected in their predatory incursions

H 2 into

160 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE

into the plains, either in war or ‘hunting. In gene-
yal, they use the bow and arrow in the former, but
always in the latter, though 1 do not think: they are
expert archers, when it ts considered they are all’ hun-
ters from the time they can carry’ these arms; and
are so fond of that diversion, that they go out at all
seasons, and undergo great fatigue for the gratifica-
tion which it affords them. A poisoned arrow is al-
ways used in hunting, but never in war, though
they generally had them, as it is said, to be tlt nei
for any game that might start.

THERE are no slaves’ on the hills; slavery can
neither be said to have been tolerated, nor forbidden.
Parents never sell their children ; and those who hire
themselves as servants, stay no longer than they agree
‘with or like their masters.

-EnovcH may have been said of their modes of
worship: they are not the first race of people who,
we are taught, believed that the chief means of
pleasing the Gods, and of pacifying them when they
were angry, consisted In certain ceremonies, sacri-
fices, and feasts, in the due observance of which they
‘conceive their welfare depends ; for,’ in praying, the
suppliant says little more than to recommend himself
and farnily to the Supreme Being and subordinate
Deities, and to promise oblations at the shrine of
the God he then worships, provided he is fortunate,
and enabled so to do by ‘his prosperity... Their ex-
‘piatory sacrifices are however confined to the brute cre-
ation; there is no instance of their’ offering up any
of the human: species to appease the Gods, who are

_ oe.

sup-

HILLS. NEAR RA JAMAHALL. TOL.

supposed to be abundantly pleased by, the votaries
feasting as large congregations of men as they can
afford-to maintain; for, in proportion to the ex-
pence in meat and spirituous drink, the piety. of the
votary is measured. The part which the Demauno,

99

their oracle, «* dreamer of dreams,” bears in their
ceremonies and forms of worship, has already. been
described. . Before a man yows to sacrifice at any
shrine,. he consults the Cherreen and Satane: when
these agree, he: repairs to the Demauno, without in-
forming him of the result of those two processes,
but,explains to him the cause of waiting on him:
the, Demauno. 1s. allowed. one, two, and eyen three
nights to confer with the Deity in a vision, to pre-
scribe what the suppliant ought to do; and, as it is
believed -he has familiar intercourse with God in his
dreams, his decrees are obeyed, though, when they
differ from what was discovered by the Cherreen and
Satane, these. are held over again to reconcile them,
The women neither offer sacrifices, nor approach the
shrines of their Gods ; even husbands are. forbidden
to partake of festivals during the separation of their
wives. These prohibitory laws regarding women
are of an old date, and their origin perhaps not well

known. |
CoLonet Brown, inhis account of these hills, for-
warded to government in 1779, observes that it was
about fifteen years since the hill-people had any
government among themselves of a general nature ;
during which period they had become dangerous and
troublesome to the low country ; that their ravages
H 3 had

102 N THE INHABITANTS OF THE’

had bake the 1e more violent, as they were ‘ stifulated
by hatred against the Zemindars, for having cut off
several of their chiefs by treachery. The’ Colonel
might have added, that, during that interregnum or
dissolution of government, it was a common ‘practicé
for the Zemindars on the skirts of the hills to’ invite
the chiefs in their vicinity, with their adherents, 'to
descend and plunder the neighbouring Zemindaries 5
for which, and for the passage through’ their: lands,
the mountaineers divided the booty with them. ‘Thus,
At one time, from repeated’ acts of treachery in the
Zemindars; the mountaineers were provoked’ to take
ample vengeance on them, and their unhappy ryots 5
and at other times, from their engaging the chiefs to
make predatory incursions, to. which they © were
strongly incited, no less from a desire of plundering
their more Opulent neighbours, than from the diffi-
culty ‘of obtaining salt and tobacco from” the’ hauts,
all friendly intercourse was at a stand ; the low coun-
try bordering on the hills was are depopulated,
and travellers could not pass with ‘safety’ between
Bhaugulpore and Purruckabad nor could boats, with-
out danger of being plundered, put to for the’ might
on the south side of the Ganges between thé before-
named places. It was at this period of double’treach-
ery On the part of the Zemindars, and predatory hos-
tilities on the part of the mountaineers (from which
it may not be a strained inference, that the machina-
tions of the former were in a great measure. the
cause of that necessity which cempelled the latter to
such frequent and fata! descents, when these public
a and

Sg ee a

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. 103

and private incendiaries were making large strides, in
ruining these once fertile districts) that. Captain
Brooke was stationed with a corps’ of ght in-
fantry, to avert their utter destruction., ,On this
duty, it is well known that he acquitted himself with
great credit, from his uncommon. exertions and suc+
cess in pursuing the unfortunate mountaineers unto
their hilis, where numbers must haye unavoidably.
fallen; for it became unquestionably necessary to im-
press them with a: dreadful awe of our prowess: .and
in this harrassing and unpleasant. watfare, I have
been well informed by officers who were with Cap-
tain BrooxeE, that. his gallant conduct could not be
too much commended. He made them sensible of
the inefhicacy of opposing him in the field, and invited
the chiefs to wait upon him and negociate; when he
gave a feast to those who came, and made them pres
sents of turbans; but before any permanent establish-
ment took place, he ‘was succeeded in the command
of the light infantry by) Captain Browye, who
made further progress in-;¢onciliating the minds of
the discomfitted mountaineers. He placed them: on
the-road from: Furruckabad, near Colgong, to protect
the Dewks, on which duty they still continue, From
this and other measures of his, Captain Brooks
and he, it will bé allowed, laid the foundation for the
most permanent and happy settlement concluded
with the hill-chiefs by the late Mr. Aucustus
CLEVELAND, that could possibly be attained.. He
was sensible, from the rapine and decay of these dis-
tricts,that the peaceable deportment of the mountaineers

H4 ought

fof ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE™
ought? to’be purchased; and,° while he was tecon+
ciling: then to bécome subjects to the -British go=
vernment, he bestowed liberal presents in money and
clothes to the chiefs, and to all the men and wo-.
men who’ came down to him. Of his: generosity.
they speak with gratitude: and -for the’ blessings
and benefit which they derive from the wise;and ju-
dicious conditions which he granted, and which were
confirméd by government,” 1: hope they :will -ever
have reason to be thankful.. As long as that govern-
ment lasts, the comforts and happiness which. they
derive from them, must ever ensure their.obedience.
To engage their confidence, Mr. CLEVELAND, in the
early part: of ‘his intercourse with the mountaineers,
entertained all. who offered their services.as archers,
and’ appointed many of the relations of the chiefs,
officers : they were not (nor are they as rangers,
though they very seldom now ask their discharges)
bound to serve for any limited time; the corps, of
course, constantly fluctuated, and was frequently, I
understand, above a thousand strong. He ‘clothed
them; and in less than two years after they ‘were
formed, from the confidence he had_ in‘their-attach-
ment and fidelity, obtained fire-arms for them; in the
use of which, I may venturéuto observe; that they
are expert, and have address; and: { ‘can’ also. with-
out hesitation assert, that: they are capable of: as
high a degree of discipline as any native corps ih’ the
service; and | trust I shall have the happiness: to
prove this in due time. Exclusive. of. having thus
employed so many of the mountaineers; Mr. Creve-
| ? f LAND

HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 105

“LAND fixed the salary of- ten rupees per month for
each chief of a Tuppah, three rupees ditto for each of
his Naibs, and two for the Muungy of each village,
from which there shall. be a man enrolled in the hill-
tangers; but from such as.supply, not.a man,,.the infe-
rior Maungy receives‘no monthly allowance... In con-
sideration of these establishments, I undérstand, the
chiefs are not only responsible for the peaceable deport-
ment of their own adherents, but bound to deliver
over all delinquents, and disturbers of the public peace
within their own limits to the collector, to be tried by
an assembly of the chiefs, either at. Bhaugulpore or
Rajamahall, as already related. It has ever been cus-
tomary on these occasions to feast the chiefs so.assem-
bled. When any report is to be made to the collector,
it is the duty of a Nad to wait on him with it, should
the chief be indisposed or otherwise prevented,

From these happy and admirable arrangements,
digested by Mr. CLEVELAND, whose namie ought to
‘be dear both to the natives of the hills and lowlands,
the ease, comfort, and happiness of the former i ensu-
ted (for which they are grateful, and speak of him with
reverential sorrow) and peace and safety secured to
the latter; and if they have any goodness, they ought
not to be less thankful. These solid. and essential
benefits are attended comparatively with but a trivial
expence, and must ultimately be an advantage to
‘government. I have been led to say more on this
‘subject than I intended; yet it may not be thought fo-
reign to it, to add, that the Awmlah and Zemindars
erected.a monument tothe memory of Mr. Creve-

| LAND,

106 = ss ON ‘THE INHABITANTS OF THE

LAND, hearly in the form ofa Pagoda, and that anothet
was also erected at the expence of government, by the
order of the. Honourable the Governor General and

Council; ‘on Which is the following inscription:
| “<6 thé memory ofAueustus CLEVELAND, Esq.
Late colléctor of the districts of Bhaveulpor ¢ and Rajamahall,
Ww. ho, | w ithout bloodshed or the terrors of authori ity,
Employ’ ing only the means of conciliation, donndenee: and benev olence,
See Attemnpred and accomplished
The entire iin ious of theilawless and savage inhabitants of the jun- ..
aa gleterry of Rajama/all,
W hohad long. infested the neighbourjng lands by their predatory i incursions,
‘Inspired them with a taste for the arts of civilized life, °
JAnd attached them te the British Government by a conquest over their minds 5
The most permanent,/as the, most rational, mode of dominion,
The Governor General and Council of Bengal,
“In honour of his character, and for an example to others, —

e G2 2) Have ordered this monument to be erected.
He departed ‘this life on the 13th day of Yanuary, 1734, aged $920 ui
Bserore 1conclude, I must do the mountaineers
the justice to mention; that they have as great a re-
gard. for truth as any people om earth, and will
soonér dic than deliberatcly tell, a falsehood: . In this
I must confine myself to those) who have not associ-
ated of;mixed.in conyersation with their neighbours,
thé Hindu and Musselman of the plains; where it is well
‘known, lhe and interest -are synonymous terms: and

what change in this respect a more familiar intercourse -

will occasion, I shall not pretend to premise.

THEY are in general of a cheerful. disposition, and
humane: both men and women are remarkably bash-
ful;; When asked to sing (their. notes are wild and
drawling, having a slow cadence, from forte to
-piano ),or dance, they everanswer, that they can.da

neither

a

————

HILLS NEAR RA JAMAHALL. 107

neither without drinking freely, for they are ashamed
until they are intoxicated. Like all’ people in so rude
dnd’ uncultivated a state, they are passionately fond of
all spirituous liquors, and, I am inclined to believe, pre-
fer that which from its strength will inebriate them the
soonest. Hence it appears theyare not ashamed of be-
ing drunk, and in fact their religion promotes it, for
a festival would not be much esteemed, that was unat-
tended with a hearty carouse.

I conceive, instances of remarkable longevity are
very rare: I have heard of one man who was’ said to
be more than five score; but, as I have never met
with any of them that appeared so old, or that could
tell his age, for they keep no account of it, I am in-
clined to doubt the fact. In a late excursion with
Mr. Grant into the hills,“we saw an old woman,
who was said to be of a great age: she was a relation
to a chief, whose- house we--were at; and having
taken a cheerful glass, with his wives and daughter,
of liquors which Mr. Grant.had carried up to give
them, she set them the example of singing and danc-
ing to us; in which she was followed by the chief
and two of his youngest wives, who. were at the
time far from sober. When we had dined, the meat
that remained was given to them; of which, the fa- ,
mily being assembled, they thankfully partook, and
made indubitably a more luxurious meal than they
ever had before. We took a route in which no £u-
ropean had been; and Mr. Grant, toreconcile them
to so novel a sight, as well as to conciliate their
attachment, carried up.'a variety of presents of

: clothes,

teoS ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE HILLS, &c.
clothes, -beads, and looking-glasses, which he -distri-
bated with money to-every family in all the villages,
we passed, and thus left. them the most acceptable.
memorials of their visitors.

se pa Fults 7H «ae

“ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Sra SD ON THE

SPIKENARD OF THE ANTIENTS.

BY THE PRESIDENT.

EARLY at the time when oe result of | my ee
inquiries concerning spikenard was published

in the second volume of our Asiatic Resear ches, there
appeared in the Philosophical Transactions an account
of the AxpRopocon Jwardncusa, the specimen of
which Dr. Brane had received from Lucuow, and
which he supposes to be the true Jndick nard of Dios-
coripesandGaen. Having more than once read
his. arguments with pleasure, but not with conviction,
1 feel it incumbent on me to state my reasons for dis-
senting from the learned physician with all the. free-
| | Pi ais ‘dom

ON THE SPIKENARD OF THE ANTIENTS. 109
dom ofa searcher for truth, but without any diminu=
tion of that respect to which his knowledge and can-
‘dour justly entitle him. |

In the first place, there is a passage in Dr.
Biawne’s paper, which I could not but read with sur-
“prise ; not because it 1s erroneous or disputable (for
nothing can be more certain) but because it is deci-
sive against the very proposition which the writer
endeavours to support. ‘* Droscor1pDEs mentions the
<©) Syriack nard,” says the Doctor, “ as a species dif-
‘¢ ferent from the /ndian, which was certainly brought
‘*from some of the remote parts of India; for both he
“© and GaLen, by way of fixing more precisely: the
** country whence it: came, call it also Gangités.”
“We may add, ‘that Proremy, who, though not a
professed naturalist, had opportunities in Egypt ‘of
conversing with Jndian merchants on every’ thing
remarkable in this country, distinguishes Rangamati
as producing the true spikenard; and iris from the
‘borders. of ‘that very district, 1f ‘we believe modern
Indians, that the people of Butan bring it yearly into
-Bengal*.. Now, it is not contended that.‘ the
‘new species of Andropogon (if it be.a new species)
may be the Indick nard of DrioscoripdEs-y) be-
cause it was found by Mr. BLawye in a remote part
of India (for that solitary fact would have “proved

* Prore’Me ec distingue le canton de Rhandamarcotta, en ce
qu’il fournit la plante, que nous appellons. Spic nard, ce qui peut
convenir a Rangamati; et des differentes espéces, |’Jndique est
bien la plus estimée. D’Anv. Aatig. Geogr. Ind. 81.

+ Dr. RoxzurGu with great reason supposes it to be the My-
ricated ANDROPOGON Of KozniG, who mentions the roots as
ouoriferous when sprinkled with water. See Retz. III. Fastie 42,
aod y, 21.

vothing j;

TIO ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON THE

nothing); but it is learnedly and elaborately urged,
that it must be the true Indian spikenard, because it
differs only in the length of the stalks from the nard
of Garcias; which, according to him, is the only
species of nardus exported from India, and which re-
sembles a dried specimen seen by Rumpurus, and
brought, he says, among other countries, from
Mackran, or the ancient Gadrosia; the very country
where, according to ARRIAN, the true nard grew in
abundance: for “ the Phevicians,” he says, “ collected
<* a plentiful store of it ; and so much of it was tram
«© pled under foot by the army, that a strong. per-
<¢ fume was diffused on all sides of them.” Now
there 1s a singular coincidence of circumstances; for
our Andropogon was discovered by the scent of its
roots, when they were crushed by the horses and
elephants in a hunting-party of the Mazir A’suFUD- -
DAULAH; so that, on the whole, z¢ must be the same
with the plant mentioned by ARRIAN: but it may be
argued, I think, more conclusively, that a plant,
growing with great luxuriance in Gadrosia, or Mack-
ran, which the Doctor admits to be a maritime pro-
vince of Persia, could not possibly be the same with a
-plant: confined to remote paris of India; so that, it
*Garcias, RuMPHivs, and ArRrraw be supposed to
have meant the same species of nard, it was evidently
different from that of Dioscornipes- and GaLeNn.
The respectable writer, with whose opinions I make
‘so free, but from no other motive than a love of
‘truth, seems aware of a little geographical difficulty
from the western position of Mueran; for he first
makes

SPIKENARD OF THE ANTIENTS:» i1f

makes it extend to the river Judus, and-then infers,
from the long. march westward and. the’ distresses of
ALEXANDER’S army, subsequent to the discovery of
the, spikenard, that it must have grownin the more
eastern part of the desert, and consequently. ea the
very borders of Jndia; but, even if we allow Gadre-
sia, or, Gadrosis, to have been the same track of Jand
with Maredn (though the limits of all the provinces
in. Persia have been. considerably changed) yet the
frontier of Juda could never with any. propriety be
carried so far to the west; for not only the. Orite
and drabite ; but, according to Mera, the whole
province of driana were between Gadrosis and the
Indus ; and, though Macrdn (for so the word should
be written ) may have been annexed to dndia by such
- whimsical geographers as the Zurks, who give the
name of White Indians to the Persians of Arachosia,
and of Yellow Jndians to the Arabs of Yemen, yet the
river Jnudus, with the countries of Sind and Méltan
on both sides of it, has ever been considered by the
Persians and Arabs as the western limit of Hind or
India 3 and ARRi AN himself expressly names the Jz-
dus as its known boundary. . Let Gadrosis, however,
be Macran, and let Macran be an Indian province,
yet.it never could have been a remote part of India in
respect of Lurope or Egypt, and, consequently, sas
not meant by Gatun and Dioscoripes, when they
described the true spikenard. It must be admitted,
that, if the Sree of RumpHivs, whith differs little
from the wardus of GARcIAS, which , corresponds. for
the most part with the new dndropogon, was ever

brought

112 ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON THE
brought from the provinée of Mucran, they were all
three probably the same plant with the nard of Arrian:
but, unfortunately, Rumpuivs thought of no coun-
try less than of Persia, and of no province less than of
Mackrén; for he writes very distinctly, both in his La-
tin and \is Dutch columns, that the plant in question
grows in Muckian, which he well knew to be one of
the Moluccas*.. 1 am far from intending to give pain,
by detecting this trifling mistake, and, as I may have .
made many of greater consequence, I shall be traly
obliged to any man who will set me right with good
manners, the sacred laws of which ought never to’be
violated in a literary debate, except when some pe-
tulant ageressor has forfeited all claim to respect.
ARR1AN himself can by no means be understood
to assert that the Jzdian spikenard grew in Persia;.
for his words are @ fragrant root of nard +, where
the omission of the definite articles implies rather a
nard, than the nard, or the most celebrated species
of it; and it seems very clear, that the Greeks used
that foreign word generically for odoriferous plants
of different natural orders: but) ArR1IAN in truth
was. a mere compiler; and his credit, even as a civil
historian, seems liable to so much doubt, that it can-
not be safe to rely on him for any fact in the history
of nature. ‘* We cannot, says the judicious and ac-

“© curate SrrABO; give easy credence to the genera-

* Hi flores sepe, HA) vulgo fere, observantur in vetustis Siree
“stipitibus, qui in Terzata, Motia, et Mackian crescunt. Vol 5.
Lib. 8. Cap. 24. p. 182. aad .
~ +; Nagde piGay sdocpov. 3.3
| lity

SPIKENARD OF THE ANTIENTS; Ii35

‘* lity even of contemporary writers concerning
** ALEXANDER, whose fame was astonishingly high,
*¢ and whose historians, preferring wonders to truth,
** wrote with secure negligence; well knowing,
s¢ that, as the farthest limits of 4sza were the scene
‘* of his actions, their assertions could hardly be dis-
«© proved.” Now Arrian’s principal authority: was.
ArtsrosuLus of Cassandra, whose writings were,
little prized by the antients, and who not only as-
serted, ‘* that Gadrosis produced very tall myzrhatrees,
*¢ with the gum of which the Phewicians loaded many
<< beasts” (notwithstanding the slaughter of them from
the distress of the whole army) but, with the fancy
of a poet describing the nest of a phoenix, placed
myrrh, incense, and cassia, with cinnamon and spike.
nard itself, even in the wilds of Arabia. “~The fruit-
‘< fulness of Arabia,” says ARRIAN, ‘* tempted the
“ king of Macedon to form a design of invading it;
‘© for he had been assured that myrrh and. frankin-
“¢ cense were collected from the trees of that coun-
‘** try; that cinnamon was procured from one of its
«« shrubs); and that its meadows produced spontane-
‘© ously abundance of spikenard.”’ HERopvorus, in-
deed, had heard-of cinnamon in Arabia, where the
Laurus, to the bark of which we now give that
name, was, I verily believe, never seen: even the
myrrh-tree does not seem.to have been a native of
Arabia ; and the public are now informed that it was
transplanted from Abyssinian forests, and) has not
flourished on the opposite shore; but, whatever be

the countries of myrrh and cinnamon, wé may! be cer-
Vor. 1Y, I tain

TI4 ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON THE

tain that any learned -4rab would laugh at us, if we
were to tell him that the Szanbulw’! Hind grew wild
in abundance on the plains of Tuhdmah. It seems a
bold allegation of Gargias, that he has exhibited
‘© the only species of zardus known in India, either
‘¢ for consumption by the natives, or for exportation
«to Persia and Arabia.” If he meant that any
plant was either used in this country or exported
from it by the name of nard, he had been strangely
deceived; and if he meant, that it was the only
fragrant grass used here as a medicine, or as a per-

‘fume, his error was yet more gross. But, what-
ever his meaning might have been, if the nard of
Garcras and of ARR1AN was one and the same plant,
it is wonderful that it ever should have been exported
to Persia and Arabia, where it grew, we are told, in
so great abundance. The nard of Arabia was, pro-
bably, the AnpRopocon Schenanthus, which is a
native of that country: but, even if we suppose that
the spikenard of India was a reed or a grass, we shall
never be able to distinguish it among the many Indian
species of Cypirus, Andropogon, Schenus, Carex, and
other genera of those natural orders, which here form
a wilderness of sweets ; and some of which have not
only fragrant roots, but even spikes to the ancient and
modern senses of that emphatical word; one of them,
which I never have seen in blossom, but suppose from
its appearance to be a Schenus, is even called Ginarda,
and its dry root has a most agreeable odour; another
which RuEEDE names Balaca, or Ramacciam, or white
- drivéli, and which Burmaw thought a variety of the
Schenanthus,

SPIKENARD OF THE ANTIENTS. I15

Schenanthus, is a considerable article, it seems, of J-
dian commerce, and therefore, cultivated with dili-
gence, but less esteemed than the /ack sort, or Cara-
bala, which has a more fragrant root, and affords an
extremely odoriferous oil*. All those plants would,
perhaps, have been called zards by the antients; and
all of them have stronger pretensions to the appellation
of the true spikenard, than the Febrifuge ANDROPo-
con, which the Hindus of Behdr do not use as a per-
‘fume. After all, it is assuming a fact without proof,
to assert that the Indian spikenard was evidently grami-
neus; and, surely, that fact is not proved by the word
arista, which is conceived to be of a Grecian origin,
though never applied in the same sense by the Greeks
‘themselves, who perfectly well knew what was Jest
for mankind in the vegetable system, and for what
eift they adored the goddess of E/eusis. The Roman
poets (and poets only cited by Dr. Brane, though
naturalists also are mentioned) were fond of the
‘word arista, because it was very convenient at the
close of an hexameter, where we generally, if not
constantly, find it; as Homer declares In Lucian,
that he began his J/iad with Miw, because it was the
first commodious word that presented itself, and is
introduced laughing at a profound critic, who dis-
covered in that single word an epitome of the whole
poem on the wrath of AcH1ILLEs. Such poets as
Ovip and Lactanrivs, described plants which they
never had scen, as they described the nest of the

# 12 Hort. Malab. tab, 12 and 9 H.M.p.145. Seealsothe Flora
Indica, and a note from Herman on the valuable oil of Seree.

I2 phoenix

116 ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON THE

phoenix, which never existed, from their fancy alone;
and their descriptions ought not seriously to be ad-
duced as authorities on a question merely botanical ;
but, if all the naturalists of Greece and Italy had con-
curred in assuring us that the nard of India bore an
ear or spike, without naming the sourse of their own
information, they would have deserved no credit
whatever; because not one of them pretends to
ane seen the fresh plant; and they have not even
agreed among themselves, whether its virtues resi-
ded inthe roof, or in the husky /eaves and stalks that
were united with it. Pirrro peELLA VALLE, the
“most learned and accomplished of eastern travellers,
does not seem to have known the /ndian spikenard,
though he mentions it more than once by the obso-~
Jete name of Spigonardo; but he introduces a Sumbrel
from Kha/d, or a part af China, which he had seen
dry, and endeavours to account for the Arabic name
in the following manner :—‘ Since the Khatdian
*¢ Sumbul,” says he, ‘is not a spike, buta root, it was
probably so named, because the word Sumbus may
‘* signify, in a large acceptation, not only. the spike,
but the whole plant, whatever herb or grass may be
** sown; as the drabic dictionary *, entitled Kam/s,
“‘ appears to indicate.” The passage, to which he

* Giacché il Sombol del Cataio é radice e non é Spiga, potremmo
dire, che cosi s‘i chiami, perché forse la parola Sombo/ possa piu lar-
gamente significare non solo la spiga, ma tuttu la pianta diogmi erba,
© biada, che si semini; come par, che il Cams, vocabolario Ara-
6ico, ne dia Indizio. Lett. 18 di Baghdad.

. ! alludes,

—

SPIKENARD OF THE ANTIENTS. It7

alludes, is this: ‘* SumBuL,” says the author of the
Kadmis, “1s an odoriferous plant, the strongest of
“< which is the Siri, and the weakest the Mindi;
** but the Swnbul of Rim has the name of nardin.”
I suggested in my former paper, and shall repeat in
this, that the Jndian spikenard, as it is gathered for
use, is in fact the whole plant; but there is a better
reason why the name Swmbu/ has been applied to it.
By the way» DeELLa Vau_Le sailed, as he tells us,
along the coast of Macrdn, which he too supposes to
have been a part of Gedrosia; but he never had
heard that it produced Jndian spikenard, though
the Persians were fully acquainted with that pro-
vince ; for he would not have omitted so curious a
fact in his correspondence with a learned physician
of Naples, for whose sake he was particularly inqui-
sitive concerning the drugs of sia. It is much to
be wished, that he had been induced to make a short
excursion into the plains of Macrdn, where he
might have found, that the wonderful tree which
ARRIAN places in them, with flowers like violets, and
with thorus of such force and magnitude, as to keep wild
beasts in captivity, and to transfix men on horseback
‘who rode by them incautiously, was no more, probably,
than a Mimosa, the blossoms of which resembled vio-

iets in nothing but in having an agreeable scent.
Ler us return to the rads, by whom Dtosco-
RIDES was'translated with assistance, which the wealth
-of a great prince will always purchase, from learned
Greeks, and who know the Jndian spikenard better
> than any European, by the name of Simbule] Hind.
It-is:no wonder that they represent it as weaker in
Bg sk) ) scent

118 ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON THE

scent and in power than the Senbul of the Lower Asia,
which, unless my smell be uncommonly defective, is
a strong Valerian; especially as they could only
have used the dry nard of India, which loses much
of its odour between Rangpér and Calcutta. One
question only remains (if it be a question) whether
the Sumbulwl Hind be the true IJndian spikenard?
for in that case, we know the plant to be of the
natural order, which Linnzus calls aggregate.
Since the publication of my paper on this subject,
J put a fair and plain question severally to three
or four Musselman physicians: ** What is the Indian
«name of the plant which the Arabs call Sumbuhel
‘© Hind?” They all answered, but some with more
readiness than others, Jétimans/. After a pretty long
interval, I shewed them the spikes (as they are
called) otf Jatdmdnsi, and asked, what was the
Arabic name of that Indian drug ? They all answered
readily, Sumbulwl Hind. The same evidence may
be obtained in this country by any other European
who seeks it; and if among twelve native physi-
cians, versed in Arabian and Indian philology, a
single man should, after due consideration, give dif-
ferent answers, I will cheerfully submit to the Roman
judgment of non liquet; my own inquiries having
convinced me, that the Indian spikenard of Dros-
-corines is the Sumbulw’] Hind; and that the Swn-
bul] Hind is the Jatéamdénsi of AMaRsinu. |] am
persuaded, that the true nard is a species of Va-
lerian, produced in the mos¢ remote and hilly parts
of India; such as Népal, Morang, and Butan, neay
which Provgmy fixes its native soil. The commer-
cial

SPIKENARD OF THE -ANTIENTS. 119

cial agents of the Dévardja call it also Pampz; and, by
their account, the dried specimens which look like
the tails of ermines, rise from the ground, resembling
ears of green wheat, both in form and colour: a fact
which perfectly accounts for the names Stachys, Spica,
Sumbul, and Khishah, which Greeks, Romans, Arabs,
and Persians have given to the drug, though it is
not properly a sp/ke, and not merely a root, but the
whole plant, which the natives gather for sale, before
the radical leaves, of which the fibres only remain
after a few months, have unfolded themselves from
the base of the stem. It 1s used, say the Butan
agents, as a perfume, and in medicinal unguents, but
with other fragrant substances, the scent and power
of which it is thought to increase: as a medicine,
they add; itis principally esteemed for complaints in
the bowels. Though considerable quantities _ of
Jatamdnsi are brought in the caravans from Butan,
yet the living plants, by a law of the country, can-
not be exported without a licence from the sove-
reign; and the late Mr. Purine, on receiving this
intelligence, obligingly wrote, for my satisfaction, to
_ the Dévardja,; requesting him to send eight or ten.
of the plants to Rangpir: ten were accordingly
sent in pots from Tasiséidan, with as many of the
natives to take care of them, under a chief, wha
brought a written answer from the Rajdé af Butan ;
but that prince made a great merit of having com-
plied with such a request; and my friend had the
trouble of entertaining the messenger and his train
for several weeks in his own house, which they seem
to have left with reluctance, An account of this
transaction was contained in one of the last letters

14 that

CGS >. ON THE DHANESA,

that Mr. Purine lived to write; but, as all the
‘plants withered before they could reach Caleutta, and
as inquiries of greater importance engaged all my
time, there was an end of my endeavours to procure
the fresh Jatdmansi, though not of my conviction,
that it 1s the true nard of the antients.

ON THE

DHANESA, OR INDIAN BUCEROS.

BY LIEUT. CHARLES WHITE.

COMMUNICATED BY LIEUT. FRASER,

ieee are two distinct species of this bird; one
called Begma Dunnase, and the other Putteal
Dunnase. 4
“Psuauu first tfeat of the Begma, which is divided
into two kinds; the specific marks of which J shall
hereafter mention. i ,
Tas Begina Dunnase is a very remarkable bird,
and, I believe, has not hitherto been described. AS
far as lies in my power I shall endeavour to rescue it
from a situation so unworthy the distinction it has a
strong claim to among the curious productions of
nature. Pune “ oor
Ir may be necessary to premise, that the names of
black-horned and white-horned are given by myself, the
natives not making any distinction between them. I
thave bestowed upon them these names from the dif.

ference of the bases of their horns. '
eu onal

OR INDIAN BUCEROS. >

> BLacK-HORNED, Begma Dunnase, with a large
double beak, or a large beak surmounted by a horn
shaped like the upper mandible, which gives it the
appearance of a double beak. The horm is hollow;
at the base brown, with a broad edging of dlack,
quite hard; a black mark runs from about one inch
from the base to the point of the horn, very irregu-
Jar in its breadth, in the centre reaches to the junc-
tion of the horn» withthe upper mandible; upper
and lower mandible serrated, and separate from each
other about three inches in the middle of the beak
longitudinally ; upper mandible marked with black at
ats yanction with the head, which part is quite hard;
immediately below this the lower mandible has a
Jarge black mark, which appears on both sides, and
joins at the bottom ; joining to this, and covering the
base of the lower mandible, 1s about an inch of white
shrivelled skin; between these, at the edge of the
mandible, is a small brown spot covered slightly
with feathers; the rest of the beak and horn cream
colour, patched with yellow, except the point, which
is much whiter ; the nostril placed at a small distance
from the head, in the junction of the horn with ‘the
beak; head, neck, back; and coverts of the. tail,
black ; .breast, belly, thighs, and coverts of the
vent, white ; scapulars, greater and lesser coverts of
the wings, black, varying to a greenish tinge ; under
coverts of the wings, white; primaries, white at
their base, then black, with three inches of white at
their ends; secondaries, nearly the same; tertials
black ; a few white feathers on the outward edge of —
the wing, just below the shoulder; tail cuneiform,

two

122 ON THE DHANE’SA,

two middle feathers black, longer than the rest,
which are white, four on each side; crested, closes
the feathers extending a little way down the neck ;
eye, speculum black, irides reddish brown; the
cheek immediately round the eye, and extending
from the beak-to the ear, devoid of feathers, con-
sisting of a shrivelled skin, which is nearly black;
ear-feathers about an inch long, extending partly
across the head; tongue short, formed like a dart,
with the ears of the barb raised above the shaft ; near
the epiglottis it swells to the size of a small nutmeg,
which part is perforated; when the mouth is open,
a black and brown knob appears below the upper
mandible, rising from its base. to an inch | be-
yond its apparent junction with the head; legs and
feet black, tinged with brown and dirty white;
claws large and strong, three in front, and one be-
hind ; length, upon an average, from the forehead to
the tip of the tail, two feet eight inches ; i
three feet two inches. 7 7
Waite-HorneD Begma Dunnase, agreeing with
the former in description, except in the following par-
ticulars; the horn in these is generally smaller, and
blunter at the point, and at the base it is soft, con-
sisting of amembraneous substance; the ground white,
marked: with crimson; the skin, which covers the
base of the lower mandible, is very differently shaped,
and is much stained with crimson; only asmall spot of
black upon the upper mandible, whereit joins thehead,
which junction is soft; eye black, the skin round the
‘ eye

OR INDIAN BUCEROS. 123

eye, extending to the ear, white, marked with crim-
son: the ear-feathers form a curve, beginning in the
centre of the black mark of the lower mandible, run-
ning along it, and rising above the ear, where it joins
the crest. In some I have observed the white tail-
feathers marked in the web with black at their base.

These birds in size are rather smaller than the first.
Putreat Dunnase, with a double beak, or horn;
upon the upper mandible, over which it curves about
half way, base hid in feathers; horn black, except at
the lower edge, near the point, which is brown; the
upper mandible black in the middle, shaded off to
white at the point; lower mandible the same, white
at the bottom, both serrated; a small black projection
from the bottom of the lower mandible crested, cine-
reous, tinged with brown; the feathers, from the eye
to an inch over the beak, iron-grey, dashed with
brown; ear-feathers dark iron-grey, forming a curve
from the lower part of the eye, extending nearly a-
cross the head, under the crest; back grey ; neck the
same, much lighter; breast, belly, thighs, and coverts
of the vent, white ; coverts of the tail, greyish brown;
scapulars, greater and lesser coverts of the wings, Jead
colour ; primaries at the base of che web, black, then
dark grey, edged with white; each primary white at
the end, near an inch; secondaries nearly the same ;
tertial greyish brown; under coverts of the wings,
white ; tail cuneiform, very long, two middle feathers
reddish brown, longer than the rest, which are ferru-
ginous, tipt. with near an inch of white, above which
is a mark much larger, black ;_ eye, speculum black,
irides

124 ON THE DHANE’SA,

irides reddish brown; from the beak to the ear-fea-
thers, and round the eye, bare; -this part is black;
Jegs and feet black, marked with dirty white at the
joints ; claws large and strong; length two feet five
inches, from the tip of the beak to the tip of the rail ;
extent two feet four inches.

Tue last of these birds is to be met with in almost
every part of the country, more particularly where there
are jungles. I have seen a variety of them at Burragong
in Sircar Sarun, where, instead of the horn, they
had a large knob at the base of the beak, very much
resembling that of a wild goose. The one I have
attempted to give a description of, was brought to me
at Miduapore, in which province, and the extending
hilly country, they abound. | I have seen them in the
vicinity of Sheergotty.

Tre. Begma Dunnase chiefly inhabits the western
range of hills, extending from Nee/gur through A/o-
hurbunge, Midnapore, Ramgur, Rotas, towards Bid-
zigur. In Ramgur, t have been. informed by an in,
telligent person, they are to be seen in abundance. He
told me that he had seen crouds of them on the Peepul-
trees, the berry of which they feed upon at times,
Their note; or voice, in concert, has a strong resemb-
lance to the mournful cries of monkies, for which this
person, deceived by the sound, at first took them,
The place where I met withthem, was at Mdidnapore,
in the jungles adjacent to which they are to be found
from the month of November to the month of March
only; at which time they retire to the hills to breed.
Ishould haye been highly pleased. could my curiosity

have

OR INDIAN BUCEROS. 125

have been gratified in the enquiries I made respecting
the ceconomy of this extraordinary bird; but the
people I had to deal with were poor ignorant folk,
from whom I could gain but little information: I
therefore can do little more than ascertain one curious
fact, and display some qualities of the bird, which
may hereafter be of benefit, if thoroughly investigated
by some person of medical*skill.

Tuese birds have a most remarkable appearance
when in the act of flying, from the great size of their
beaks, and length of tail. I have seen several of them
in this state ; and a more uncouth object I never be-
held. The beak, which forms the most prominent
feature in this strange bird, may be considered as one
of the most uncommonly curious among the feathered
tribe. The Youcan, the Spoonbill, the Pelican, the
Dodo, and others, certainly claim the attention of the
naturalist ; but in my humble opinion the Begma has
merits far superior, on the ground of rarity. The
largest beak I ever saw was produced from a bird shot
at a place called Ku//ar, about nine miles from Midna-
pore. The following is the measurement :

Length of the beak in a straight line from its junc- Taches.
tion with the head - ~ - 8+
Length of the horn trom the base to the point - 8t
Depth of the whole beak, including the horn, near 44
The horn to its junction with the upper mandible - 24
Each mandible in the centre of the beak - I

Distance from the point of the horn to the point of the beak 3

It may be proper to observe here, that the beak
forms a much greater curve than the horn, the point

-

‘ ot

426 ON THE DHANESA,

of which is parallel to its junction with the beak ;
whereas the point of the beak comes down an inch
and a quarter below the lower mandible. The fol-

lowing is the measurement of the bird to which this
beak belonged.

Feet. Inch.

Length from the forehead to the tip of the tail 9

Circumference in the thickest part + -
Neck, from the chin to the shoulder - =
Body, from the shoulder to the runip -
Tail, from the rump tothe point — + -
Height and breadth of the head - -
Circumference of the neck in the middle -
Length of the wing, when closed - -

tv

15
6
°

Ditto when open - - A 2 2
Extent when expanded fromtip to tip = -
Length of the legs - pi 4 "
Ditto of the toes - ~ . -
Ditto of the claws, largest - ‘
Circumference of the legs - z

oo OOM wm OO me OO

I wave to regret that I did not weigh this bird :
indeed at the time I had no idea that Ishould attempt
the description of it; I can only therefore venture to
guess that it might weigh about six or seven pounds.
I took a drawing of the bird, which has enabled me to
eive the above account.

J ENDEAVOURED to acquire some information from
the bird-catchers respecting the use of the horn, upon
the idea that nature forms nothing in vain; but all that
I could learn was unsatisfactory, and amounted to
little more than this: one of the beaks wag brought

to

OR INDIAN BUCEROS. 127

to me with the horn very much worn at the point,
which they told me proceeded from the birds strik-
ing it against the trees; but for what particular pur-
pose they so applied it, they could give no clear
account.

But what may be probably deemed the most ex-
traordinary circumstance relating to this curious bird,
is its feeding upon the Nux vomica. This is a point
which I have been able clearly to ascertain. One of
these birds, purchased by Capt. Jounw CampsBety,
was opened, by his orders, before several respectable
gentlemen at Midnapore; and in its craw were found
several seeds of the Nux vomica. With respect to
my own observation, I have had only one opportu-
nity of seeing the contents of the craw, which was
that of the bird shot at Kv//ar. Nothing was found
mit but the remains of an egg, and some weeds: but
to carry on the enquiry, that I might be able safely to
assert what appeared to me a circumstance of great
curiosity, I asked the bird-catchers what these birds
fed upon. They very particularly mentioned a fruit
called Coochla. Agreeably to my directions, they
brought it tome. It was about the size of a lime,
of an orange colour, with a very hard skin, shining
and almost smooth: it contained a pulpous substance,
distinct and separate from the shell. Conversing since
with a man who had been in Major Crawrorp’s
corps at Jelda, who had seen great numbers of these
‘birds in the surrounding hilly country, I enquired of
‘him what they fed upon. He said, sometimes upon
the berry of the Peepul-tree; but that the food they af-

fected

128 ON THE DHANE SA,

fected most, and with which they were most delighted,
was the Coochla ; which he said was to be had in every
bazar. He brought me some of it. It proved to be
the true Nux vemica; which, from an account given
to me by a native, is pro oduced from the fruit above-
mentioned. ‘Vhe adil substance drying, leaves one,
two, and sometimes three of the flat seeds, which.
are known as the Nux vomica: and this agrees with
the account given of it by Casper Neuman in his
Chenucal Works ; who says, ‘* Nux vomica, so called,
*< is not a nut, but the seed of a fruit, like an orange,
*© growing in the East Indies.’ The tree which pro-
duces the Cooch/a, abounds in the range of western
hills before mentioned : it varies in its size; sometimes
attains to a considerable heighth; has a leaf nearly
shaped like a heart. It appears from what I have said,
that these birds teed not only upon theseed, when it has
arrived ata state of maturity, but that they also eat
‘it in the state it was brought to me by the bird-
catchers; and, that when the Cooch/a 1s not to be
had, they resort to other food. ‘These birds, at par-
ticular seasons, grow very fat; and this season ap-
pears to be when the fruit of the Nux vomica prevails 5
about the month of December. The one_ before
mentioned, shot at Ku//ar, was killed in that month,
and was very fat. The natives make use of the fat,
and also of the flesh and bones, as a medicine. They
apply both species to this purpose. The cases they
use it in are, in the contractions, which sometimes pro-
ceed from catching cold after the profuse use of mer-
cury: it is appised to alleviate ancl remove violent pains, —
that

OR, INDIAN BUCEROS. c I29

that often succeed venereal complaints, called by the
natives Gutica ke Azar: itis also used by the natives,
in very cold weather, when the pores of the skin are
affected; for, being in its mature extremely hot, ia
this case it causes a free perspiration. The B.egma
is preferred to the Putteal, as being deeméd more
efficacious. The mode they apply it in is this: they
reduce the fat to an ointment, at the same time mix-
ing with it every kind-of spice, pepper, cloves, car-
damums, &c. the flesh -is also mixed ‘in the same
manner. The ointment is rubbed into the part af-
fected every night when they go to sleep, and a cer-
tain portion of the meat is eaten in the morning ris-
ing: the gall is also used by the native women in
cases of sterility. They take it either infused in wa-
ter, or mix it with their Pawns ; and of the efficacy
of this they have the firmest reliance under Providence,
I enquired of the person who gave me this account,
whether he had ever known any one who had been
benefitted by this medicine >’ he told me that he was
acquainted with a man who had used it in contrac-
tions of his limbs, and that this person declared he
had derived great advantage from the application,
At any rate, it is certainly an opinion generall y adopted
by the natives, that it is of great use in the cases I have
mentioned, With every one with whom I have con-
versed, the medicinal properties of this extraordinary
bird are held in the highest estimation; they speak of
it with a degree of admiration bordering on enthusi-
asm. Thus I have endeayoured, from the slight
ability, 1 possessed, to bring forward to public notice
V ou. LV, K one

130 ON THE DHANE'SA,
‘ L iB
‘one of the most curious birds [ have ever seen or

heard of. Some allowance, I crust, will be made,
from the consideration that this is my first essay:
perhaps I should never have made the attempt but
from having taken a drawing of the bird, and having
heard of its feeding upon the Nwx vomica : these cir-
cumstances induced me to’ give the above account.
Wor, in his description of Cey/on, has the follow-
ing words: ‘a very rare species too of cock is found
‘¢ here, called pon RAR : this has a white double
«¢ bill, which is almost as large_as the bird itself.”
it is by no means a He that this may be the
same bird which I have given an account of: the
beak of the Begma Dunnase, particularly when in the
act of flying, appears to be as large as the bird itself;
the depth in measurement is nearly the same. It is
impossible to form any reasonable conjecture respect-
ing the use of the horn: that some it must have,
may naturally be supposed; but what, must be left
to the future investigation of some one whose situation -
will afford him full opportunity of making the in-
quiry : it is certainly an object worthy of attention ;
more particularly so, as tending to elucidate the wis-
dom-of the Supreme Being, who undoubtedly creates
nothing in vain. | |

REMARK BY THE PRESIDENT.
‘Tuoven the genus of the Duane’sa be already
known to our naturalists by the appellations of Buce-
ros, Calao, and Hornbill; and though even the seve-
ral species be eek a re I believe, with exactness,
yet

é

4 ,

OR INDIAN BUCEROS. 131

¢

yet we are obliged to Lieut. Wuire for a complete
description of so extraordinary a bird, and for our
knowledge of the singular facts which he first made
public. The hollow protuberance at the base of. tlic
upper mandible, has been supposed, with reason, by
Count Gika, to serve as a receptacle for nourish-
ment; and the natives, I find, consider it asa natural
cistern to supply the bird with water in the dry season,
and on its long excursions; whence the name of
Dhanésa, or Lord of Wealth, may possibly have been
given to it. . The Count had been informed that it
was no other than the Garuda of Indian Mythologists ;
but the Pandits unanimously assure me, that, by the
word. Garuda, they mean in common discourse the
Gridhra,, or King of Vultures; and they have a curi-
ous legend of a young Garuda, or Eagle, who burned
his wings by soaring too near the sun, on which he had
fixed his eyes. The-bird of Visuwu 1s in fact wholly
mythological ; and I have seen it painted in the form

“of a boy with an Eagle's plumage. As tothe Cuchila

(for so is the word written and correctly pronounced)
it is, no doubt, the Srrycunos Nua vomica or Colu-
brina, for they are now thought specifically the same.
The leaves and fruit of both the varieties were brought
to me by a Bréhmen as those.of the Cuchilé, and he re-
peated a Sunscrit verse, in which it was called Vana-
edja, ot King of the Forest : but,-according to an ap-
proved comment on the Amaracésh, it has four other
names, amongst which Culaca is the smoothest ; so that
the first true species of this genus maybe named Str r-
cHNos Culaca, and the second Srrycuyos Cataca;

Ke by

132 ON THE ISLANDS

by which denomination it is mentioned in the Laws
of Menu, where allusion 1s made to the Indian prac-
tice of clearing water, by bruising one of the seeds, and
casting it into the jar, where, says Korenic, all im-
purities are in a few. moments precipitated, and the
water becomes perfectly limpid. ane

ON THE

ISLANDS NANCOWRY AND COMARTY,

BY LIEUT. R. H. COLEBROOKE.

8 er ‘id of Nancowry, or Soury, aS it is some-
times called, is nearly centrically situated among
the Nivebar isles. Its length may be about eight
miles, and its breadth nearly equal, The island of
Comarty, whi ich is near it, is more extensive, but does
not perhaps contain more solid land, being exca-
vated by 4 very large bay from the sea. , Thé space
between these two islands forms a gipaciclls and ex-
cellent harbour, the eastern. entrance of which is shel-
tered by another. island, called Trikut, lying at the
distance of about a league, The inlet from the west
is narrow, but sufficiently. deep ta adiait the largest
ships. when the wind i is fair. yc

‘Tue Danes haye long ‘palbedined a roa Dile-
ment ‘at this’ place, which stands on the ‘northern- :
most point of Nancowry, within the. harbour. - A sere
jeant

a ae

ae Pe = =

LO Ve!
Jot 0720 | >~70 PLDI???
¢ / ; V/- LG; A

—

mate, ere ier ne
| We Al: }

ee

P aes iu ee et bs
’ & Tee Te _ *
26 ; iP ft
‘ y a4 ..

NANCOWRY AND COMARTY, 133
jeant and three or four soldiers, a few black slaves,
and two rusty old pieces of ordnance, compose the
whole of their establishment. They have here two
houses, one of which, built entirely of wood, . is their
habitation; the other, formerly inhabited by their
missionaries, serves now for a storehouse.

Tuese islands are in general woody, but. contain
likewise some portions of clear land. From the sum-
mits of their hills the prospects are often beautiful
and romantic. The soil is rich, and probably capa-
ble of producing all the various fruits and vegetables
commion to hot climates. The natural productions
of this kind, which mostly abound, are cocoa-nuts;s
papias, plantains, limes, tamarinds, beetle-nuts, and
the melori*, a species of breadfruit 5 yams, and other
roots, are cultivated and thrive; but rice is hefe un-
known. The mangostain-tree, whose fruit is so justly
extolled, grows wild; and pine-apples of a delicious
flavour are found in the woods.

Tue Nicobar isles are but thinly inhabited, and
some of them are not inhabited at all, » Of those we
visited, Nancowry and Comarty appeared to be the
best peopled. There were thirteen villages, we were
told, upom both islands; each village might contain,
upon an average, fifty or sixty people; so that the
whole population of these two will scarcely amount to
eight hundred.

THE natives of ‘Mancrenby: and - the Nicobar
islands in general, live on the sea-shores, and never

* Mr. Fontana has’ given an accurate and learned description
of this fruit, Vide Asiatic Researches, 3d vol. p. 161.

K 3 . erect ~

134 ON THE ISLANDS)»

erect their habitations inland *. Their houses are of 2
circular form, and are covered with elliptical domes,
thatched’ with grass and the leaves of ‘cocoa-nuts
They are raised upon piles to the height of six or eight
feet above the ground ; the floor and sides are laid
with planks, and the ascent 1s by a ladder. In those
bays or inlets which are sheltered from the surf, they
erect then sometimes so near the margin of the water
as to admit the tide to flow under, and wash away the
-erdure from below. i |
Iw front of their villages, and a little advanced in
the water, they plant beacons of a great height, which
they adorn with tufts made of grass, or the bark: of
some tree. These objects are discernible at agreat
distance, and are. intended probably for landmarks ;
their houses, which are overshadowed by thick groves
of cocoa-nut trees, seldom being visible from afar. |
Tur Nicobareans, though indolent; are in general
robust and well limbed. Their features are somewhat
like the Malays, and their colour is) nearly similar.
The women are much inferior in stature to.the men;
but more active in all domestic affairs. Contrary to
the custom of other natives, they shave the hair of
their heads, or keep it close cropt, which’ gives them
an uncouth appearance, in the eyes of strangers
at least. The dress of both sexes, their mode of
life, and some of their customs, have been so ably
described by Mr. Fonvawa, that little needs to be

* Thegreat Nicobar island is perhaps an exception, where, itis
said,-a race of men exists, who are totally different in their colour
and manners. They are considered as the Aborigines of the coun-
try. They live inthe interior parts, among the mountains, and
commit frequent depredations on the peaceable inhabitants of the
coasts.

said

NANCOWRY AND COMARTY: 135

said of them here. I-have only :to state, in addition,
an extraordinary ceremony. which they annually per-
form, in honour of the dead.

Oy. the anniversary of this festival, if it can be so
called, their houses :aredecorated with :garlands of
flowers, fruits, and branches. of trees...The people of
each village assemble, drest in their best attire, at the
principal house in the place, where they spend the day
in a convivial manner; the men, sitting apart from.
the women, smoke tobacco and intoxicate themselves;
while the latter are nursing their children and employ-
ed in preparations for the mournful business of the
night. .Ata certain hour of the afternoon, announced
by striking the Goung *, the women set up the most
dismal howls’ and lamentations, which they continue
without intermission till about stn-set; when the
whole: party get up, and walk in procession to the
burying-ground. Arrived at the place, they form a
circle around one of the graves, when a stake, planted
exactly over the head of the corpse, is pulled up. The
woman whois nearest of kin to the decéased; steps
out from the crowd, digs up the skull, + and draws it
up with her hands, At sight of the bones, her strength
scems to fail her; she shrieks, she sobs ;. and tears of
anguish abundantly fall on the mouldering ‘object. of
her pious care. She clears it from the earth; scrapes

* An instrument of brass, somewhat like the Gzrry of Bengal.
Its sound is more hollow, |

+ We were present at the ceremony oh the 1st of Fedruary,
1790, when the first skull we saw was that of a woman, who had
been buried but a few months before. It was then dug up for the
first time by her daughter. This office, we are told, is always
performed by the women, whicheversex the skull belongsto. A
man in a fantastic garb officiates ds priest.

K 4 off

136 (2°) ON OTHE ISLANDS © ~
off the festering flesh, and Javes it plentifully with the
milk of fresh cocoa-nuts, supplied by the bystanders ;
after which she rubs it over with an infusion of saffron,
and wraps it carefully in a piece of new cloth. «It is
then deposited again in the earth, and covered tip»;
the stake is replanted, and hung:»with the various trap-
pings and implements belonging to the deceased.
They proceed then to the other graves ; and the whole
night is spent in repetitions of these dismal -and:dis-
custful rites. ae |

On the ‘morning following, the ceremony is con-
cluded by an offering of many fat swine ; when the sa-
crifice made to the dead affords an amplefeast.to the
living: they besmear themselves with the blood of the
slaughtered hogs, and some, more voracious than
othets, eat the’ flesh raw. - They have various ways
however of dressing their meat, but always eat 10with-
out salt. “A kind of paste made of the meléri, servés
them for bread ; and they finish their repast with) co-
pious potations of faury. Mevo viigsys

Tue Nicobarcans are hospitable and honest, and
are remarkable for a strict) observance: of truth, and
‘for punctuality in adhering to their engagements.
Such crimes: as theft, robbery, and murder, /are un-
known in these islands; but they do not want: spirit
to revenge their injuries, and will fight resolutely and
slay their enemies, if attacked or unjustly, dealt with.*

* We were informed, that a party of Malays had once landed at
Nancowry, to commit depredations, and were cut off to a man by
the enraged inhabitants. A similar instance of their vengeance is
said to have happened at the island Carnicobar, when they put to
death some sailors who were plundering their houses, and probably
attempting to violate their women, :

, ar Their

fe ee 443,07 low £ Savod LEMME,

es. Oo ig, noe called Soora-

Gow
Or! CINCY « AP as CL Bull of FT dee:

NANCOWRY AND COMARTY. 137

Their only vice, if this failing can be so called, is ine-
briation; but in their cups they are generally jovial
and good-humoured. It sometimes however happens
at their feasts, thatthe men of different villages fall out;
and the quarrel immediately becomes general.
these cases they terminate their differenecs in a pitched
battle, where. the only “Weapons. used are long. sticks,
otah rd and knotty Hoods. ne With these they 7“
onesanother most heartily, ull, no longer. able. to en

dure the conflict, they mutually put a : stop to a.
combat, and all get drunk nig |

; >
— ; id: t
d!

iJ

accurate figur 25
Linnaus; except that sickled would
juster epithet than awe the ben te laws on its hin-
der indic 25: a nd at the size of a squi rs s semis an

é nD TO Pet . r TarTy le. 7) wre . * )
AV >. : : AL : es tos : : ~
Geiit jh? EF ee a tae it ~ i! aay 5 > oS et LA aa

. io a oe . b ‘ a 5 fi é
a eT he OE +1 : TIS. yeh =. = tae oo : age
7 ; 7 ‘ ‘ 2” r ™
M11 4 - + - fr ; a : “P: ac :
i 7 > J ed = 3 ae en tt 7 <c ae
— % aah ew a o; ' ’
= a yy <e
4 : <

v ., ~

| : AC Rotnt
of thie Loris ys M. De Be FFON, appears unsatisfac-

Oy X VARA

tory,

138: ON THE LORIS,
tory, and his engraved representation of it has little
resemblance to nature; so little that, when I was en-
deavouring to find in his work a description of the
quadrumane which had just been sent me from Dacca,
I passed over the chapter on the Loris, and ascertained
it merely by seeing in a note the Linnean character of
the slow-paced Lemur. The illustrious French natura-
list, whom, even when we criticise a few parts of his
noble work, we cannot but name with admiration,
observes of the Loris, that, from the proportion of its
body and limbs, one would not suppose it slow in walking
or leaping, and intimates an opinion, that SEBA gave
this atte the epithet of s/ow-moving, from some fan-
cied likeness to the S/orh of America :. but, though its
body be remarkably long in proportion to the breadth
of it, and the hinder legs, or: more properly arms,
much longer than those before, yet the Loris, in fact,
walks or climbs very slowly, and is, probably, un-
able to leap. Neither its genus nor species, we find,
are new: yet, as its temper and instincts are unde-
scribed, and asthe Natural History by M. De Bur-
Fon, or the System of Nature by Linnmus, cannot
always be readily procured, I have set down.a few
remarks on the form, the manners, the name, and the
country of my little favourite, who engaged my af-
fection while he lived, and whose memory I wish to
perpetuate.

I. Tuis male animal had four bodied, each five-
fingered; palms naked; nails round, except those

of the indices behind, which were long, curv-
7 ATCT ANOS BES Gaby

OR SLOW-PACED LEMUR. 39

ed; pointed; hair very thick, especially on the
~ haunches, extremely soft, mostly dark grey, varied
above with brown and a tinge of russet; darker oa
the back, paler about the face and under the throat,
reddish towards the rump; no tail, a dorsal stripe,
broad, chesnut-coloured, narrower towards the neck 5
a head almost spherical; a countenance expressive
and interesting, eyes round, large, approximated,
weak in the day-time, glowing and animated at night;
a white vertical stripe between them ; eye-lashes black,
short; ears dark, rounded, concave ; great acuteness
at night, both in seeing and hearing; a face hairy,
fiattish ;.a, nose pointed, not much elongated ; the up-
per lip cleft ; canine-teeth, comparatively long, very
sharp.

Moxe.than this I eauld not observe on the living
animal; and he died at a season when I could nei-
ther attend a-dissection of his body, nor with -pro-
priety request any of my- medical friends to perform
such an/operation during the heats of adugust'; but I
opened his jaw and counted only two incisors above,
and as many, below, which might have been a defect
An, the individual; and it is mentioned: simply as a
fact, without any intention to censure the generic ar-
vangement of Linnavus. ’

Il. In his manners he was for the most part gentle,
except in the cold season, when his temper seemed
wholly changed; and his Creator, who made him so
sensible of cold, to which he must often have been
exposed even in his native forests; gave ‘him, proba-
bly for that reason his thick fur, which, we rarely

see

140 . ON THE LORIS,

see on animals in these tropical climates. To me,
who not only constantly fed him, but bathed him twice
a week in water accommodated to the seasons, and
whom he clearly distinguished from others, he was at.
all times grateful; but, when I disturbed him in win-
ter, he was usually indignant, and seemed to reproach
me with the uneasiness which he felt, though no pos-
sible precautions had been omitted to keep him in
a proper degree of warmth. At all times he was
pleased with being stroked on the head and throat,
and frequently suffered me to touch his extremely sharp
teeth ; but at all times his temper was quick, and,
when he was unseasonably disturbed, he expressed a lit-
tle resentment by an obscure murmur, hke that ofa
squirrel, or a greater degree of displeasure by a peev-
ish cry, especially in winter, when he was often as fierce
on being much importuned, as any beast of the woods.
From half an hour after sunrise to half an hour before
sunset, he slept without intermission, rolled up like a
hedge-hog; and as soon as he awoke, he began to
prepare himself for the labours of Ais approaching day,
licking and dressing himself like a cat: an opera
tion which the flexibility of his neck and limbs ena-
bled him to perform very completely ; he was then
ready for a slight breakfast, after which he commonly
took a short nap; but when the sun was quite set, he
recovered all his vivacity. His ordinary food was the
sweet fruit of his country; plantains always, and
mangos during the season; but he refused peaches,
and was not fond of mulberries, or even of guatavas;
milk he lapped eagerly, but was conterted with plain

water.

OR SLOW-PACED LEMUR. —° I4f

water. Jn general he was not voracious, but never
appeared satiated with grasshoppers ; and passed the
whole night, while the hot season lasted, in prowling
for them. When a grasshopper, or any insect, alighted
within his reach, his eyes, which he fixed on his prey,
glowed with uncommon fire ; and, having drawn him-
self back to spring on it with greater force, he seized
the victim with both his fore-paws, but held it in one
of them while he devoured it. For other purposes,
and sometimes even for that of holding his food, he
used all his paws indifferently as hands, and fre-
quently grasped with one of them the higher part of
his ample cage, while his three others were severally
engaged at the bottom of it; but the posture of
which he seemed fondest, was to cling with all four of
them to the upper wires, his body being inverted ; and
in the evening he usually stood erect for many mi-
nutes playing on the wires with his fingers, and rapidly
moving his body from side to side, as ifhe had found
the utility of exercise in his unnatural state of con-
finement. A little before day-break, when my early
hours gave me frequent opportunities of observing him,
he seemed to solicit my attention; and if I presented
my finger to him, he licked or nibbled it with great
gentleness, but eagerly took fruit when I offered it;
though he seldom eat much at his morning repast.
When the day brought back his night, his eyes lost their
lustre and strength, and he composed himself for a

slumber of ten or eleven hours. _
Il]. THe names Loris and Lemur will, no doubt,
be continued by the respective disciples of Burrow
and

Taz on THE LorTS, &e.

and Linnmuss; nor can I suggest any other, since
the Pandits know little or nothing of the animal. The |

lower Hindus of this province generally call it Lajjd-
binar, or the Bashful Ape; and the Muselmans, re-
taining the sense of the epithet, give it the absurd
appellation of a Cat; but it is neither a cat nor bash-
ful; for though a Pandit, who saw my Lemur by
day-light, remarked that he: was Lajjalu, or modest (a
word which “gf indus apply to all sensitive plants)
yet he only seemed bashful, while in fact he was dim-

sighted and drowsy ; for at night, as you perceive
by his figure, he had open eyes, and as much bold-
ness as any of the Lemures poetical or Linnean.

~ JV. As to his country, the first of the species that
I saw in India was in the district of 7 ipra, properly
Tripurc, whither it had been brought, like mine,
from the Gurrow mountains; and Dr. ANDERSON
informs me, that it is found in the woods on the coast
of Coromandel. Another had been sent to a member
of our society from one of the eastern isles; and tho’
the Loris may be also a native of S//én, yet. I cannot
agree with M. De Burron, that it is the’ minute,
sociable, and docile animal mentioned by THEVENOT,
which it resembles neither in size nor in disposition.

My little friend was, on the whole, very engaging 3

and when he was found lifeless, in the same posture
in'‘which he would naturally have slept, I consoled
myself with believing that he had died without pain,
and lived with as much pleasure as‘yhe could have en-
joyed in a state of captivity.

ASTRONOMICAL

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

MADE IN, THE

UPPER PARTS OF HINDOSTA‘N,

AND
ON A JOURNEY THENCE TO OUJEIN.

BY WILLIAM HUNTER, ESQ.

BORE delivering’ the following observations,
it will be proper to give some account of the
instruments with which they are made. The alti-
tudes for determining latitudes and time, were taken
with a sextant of ten inches radius, made by TRovucH-
_ von: the limb ts divided into degrees and thirds of
| aidegree, and the divisions on the vernier go to half
minutes ; so that, by the help of the magnifying lens,
a difference of ten seconds is sufficiently perceptible.
The two specula, being screwed down in their places,
do not (as far as I can discover) admit of the princi-
pal or vertical adjustment: but the error was almost
daily ascertained by the double mensuration of the
sun’s diameter, and constantly allowed for. It is sub-
tractive ; and my determination of its quantity varied
from 2” 30” to 3° 30”. These differences may have in
part arisen froma real variation in the quantity of this
correction; but I ascribe them chiefly to some inac-
curacy in my mensuration of the sun’s diameter.
To form some judgment of the influence this cause
‘aie might

144 ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

might have, I have examined twenty-three of: those
measurements, made between,the 7th of March and
the 7th of June ( being all of which I have any record)
by taking the medium of the sun’s diameters, as mea-
sured on the, limb, to the‘right and left of zero, and.
compating it with the diameter for that day, as laid
down in the #¢phemeris, It will appear, from, a list
of those observations, that my measurements com-
monly exceeded those given in the Ephemeris ; but

the greatest excess was 25 .

‘

_. MENSURATIONS

IN UPPER HINDUSTAN, Tag.

MENSURATIONS OF THE SUN’S DIAMETER.

Difference of the Sun’s

1792 Adjustment of Sex-| diameter, measured
Sear tant. Subtract. from that in the
E phemeris.
March 7 2 aa ap 8’
9 Be oer i 14
II Z 30 + 14
13 2 62 Eig e
15 3 15 Tor
1] ba - 3
18 _ a ~ Io
19 3. 45 + 3
of aa + 23
f BEL: bE es
22 3 15 + ZO
23 a. ee ig ieee
2 pat ga
‘ets Niber pak >: onl
28 3 15 ot ooo
3? a7 45 + 10
April 1 3 15 4. 11
3 an: 2 + 12
tO eS. — 3
11 3 15 ie 15
eT MS Sek PP oe rage
May 29 oe — 7
June 7 a see -} I

146° ASTRONOMICAL! OBSERVATIONS

THESE mensurations may have a farther use, be-
sides-asceriaining the adjustment of the quadrant.
If the eye could determine, with perfect accuracy,
the contact of the limbs, the mean between the two
measurements of the stin’s diameter would be ex-
actly equal to his apparent diameter, as determined
by calculation, and given in the Ephemeris; but,
from the imperfection of our organs, it happens
that the limbs will sometimes appear to be in contact,
when a little space remains between them ; at others,
when they overlap one another: in the former case,
the diameter, will appear greater; in the latter, less
than the truth. But it ts probable that, at nearly
the same period of time, the state of the eye, or of
the sensoritim, by which we judge of this contact,
is, in the same person, nearly the same. Of this
1 have made some trials, and ‘found, that, when the
sun’s diameter, by my mensuration, differed from
that in the Ephemeris, on repeating the mensurations,
at short intervals, the difference remained nearly the
same. Therefore, if we observe the sun’s altitude, a
little time before or after measuring his diameter,
the contact of the limbs will, probably, appear to
take place in the same. real situation of those limbs
as when we measured the sun’s diameter. But here,
the effect of too open or too close observation will
be reversed ;,the former making the altitude appear
less ; the latter, greater than the truth. _ These mea-
surements then may be applied ag corrections of the
observed altitude. Thus, if the diameter of the sun
has appeared too great, add the quantity.of its ex-
geau lt ik VI}. 10Weess

IN UPPER HINDUSTAN. 147

cess to the ancle observed, between the sun and his
image in Mercury; if it appeared too small, subtract
the defect, to give the true angle. Thus, March the
13th, the error of the sextant was 2’ 52” to be sub-
tracted ; but the measurement of the sun’s diameter
exceeds the truth by 24”. Therefore, this quantity
is to be added to. the observed angle, the observation
being, probably, so much too open.
Tue angle between the sun and his image in quick-

filver, that day at noon, was > ~=——-123° 99 sae

Error Sextant — 2’ 52”

Do. Observation+ o 24

Dif. — 2 28

———SSESEe—s

a) S28 OEY £7
i) 61 45 38 5
Diff. refr. and parallax — 26 5
| 61 45 12
Sun’s Semidiameter _ — 16 7
62.42 19
Sun’s Declin. South + 2 36 29
Co-Latitude | big og petal
Latitude of Burwa Sagur 26 a 18

— oO

which is 13” less than in the following list, where
this error was not allowed for.

Tue secondary, or horizontal adjustment, made
by a small screw at the fore-part of the little specu-
lum, was, from time to ume, Carefully attended to.

L 2 THE

148 ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

Tue altitudes were taken by means of the image
in quicksilver, which, if the sun was the object, was
defended from the wind by a covering of thin gauze,
as recommended by Mr. Burrow in the first volume
of the Asiatic Researches. When the altitude of a
star was to be taken, this method did not answer, as
it rendered the image too obscure. A thick cloth
was therefore properly disposed to windward of the
mercury. |

Tus small telescope belonging to the sextant was
used in all the observations.

As the instrument is only graduated to 125 de-
grées, I could not take-altitudes exceeding 62 de-
grees. While the sun’s meridian altitude could be
observed, I have preferred it for the latitude; but,
as this was soon about to be impracticable, I began,
on the 29th of February, to compare the latitudes by
meridian altitude, with those obtained from two al-
titudes and the elapsed time, by the rule in the re-
_ quisite tables, in order to- judge how far the latter

might be depended on. The result of. the compari-
son, which appears in the observations from that
time to the 15th of March, determined me to trust
to those double altitudes, while they could be-taken
within the prescribed limits ; at the same time, com-
paring them occasionally with observations by a
fixed star. From the first of April, I was obliged
to trust entirely to the stars; and, to make the ob-
servations by them’as accurate as possible, I have,
when circumstances would allow, taken the meridian
altitude. of one to the north, and another to the

| sogiie

x

eT ee

IN UPPER HINDUSTAN. ~ 149

south, of the zenith. The telescope is an achro-
“matic, made by Dotan, of twenty-eight inches
focal distance. It inverts the object, and magni-
fies eighty times.

Tue watch is made by Brooxsanx, with hori-
zon balance wheel, and continues to go while
winding up. To determine, as accurately as pos-
sible, the time of an observation, I took equal al-
titudes of the sun, on the days preceding and fol-
lowing it, and, having thus found the quantity
- gained or lost in twenty-four hours, applied to the
time of observation a part proportional to its dis-
tance from the preceding or following noon. In
this calculation, allowance was made for the dif-
ference of longitude (ascertained by geometrical
surveys) if the altitudes on the two days were taken
at different. places. Besides this I have, when I
had the opportunity, taken the altitudes of two
fixed stars, one to the east, and another tothe west
of the meridian, within an hour before or after the
observation, and calculated the time from them.

OBSERVATIONS or LATITUDE.

REMARKS.

Prk we. CS oe - | Latitude,
tar.

May 24! Agra; monument of T2j Maal,
25} - Ditto, ra 27 10 1 1| distinct
Nov. 1 Licnow; Mr.Taytor’s House, © {26 51 9g} clear
24) Futtebgurb; Mr. vie ce | : ‘

—_—— rsa cs

ell

«MR 27 10 on doubtful

Bungalow, near the centre 27 21 5§; cloudy

of cantonments,
25 Ditto, [27 2% §4, clear
_ 26 Ditto, do
23! Ditto, d

°
‘ jaz 28 | 40

. ;

27 29 11/ do

} mile.
9 Ditto,

©
O
8 27 22 46
Di 7 27 25 §4!
De. 4.Gureiab village, bearing N 4 *t © 42
ee

150

_—-

1792.

——_

/

Fb.

Mar, z

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

P

25
at

23! Sukbeet 5

L'AG UE.

%an. 24|Debiiah; near the Bungalow,
Nawabgunge; bg. E dist. 3 furl.
Allygange ; Mosque, S 72 e

7| Deomres; Fort, S 22 E dist. 2% f.

29 \Giroul ; Fort, S10 W 12 f,
30 Shekobabad ; Agra-gate, § 555

7f. |
3) Feerczabad ; Gate, SE 7f.
Eatumadpoar; Tank,S67W 2f.
fire j Monument of Taj Mabl.

9

Ditto,

SH eet: at Gober Chokry
Ditte,
at Baad ; bearing N 2 E dist. 3 f.

24 Mishiab 3

25 Dbelpour

S 30 W
;5S3W

-~ 1
3

27\Choola; Fort, N 44 W 3

28|Noorabad ; Garden, S3E 2

29'Gualior ; Hill, $3 E—S.45E
Ditto,
Ditto,
6 Antery; Fort, S10 W. dist. 4, f,
7\Dibborak,
| Ditto,
3 Ditteab ; S 32 E dist. 34 miles
| Ditto,
9 Ditto, Rajab’s House, N W 3 f.
| Ditto,
11/Fbansy; SE angle fort, N83 E
az f.
Ditto,
12 Ditto,
33, Burwab-Sagur ; Castle,N 51 E
Ditto,
14 Ditto,

¥5| Pirtipoor;N $0 W—N18E it f,
Ditto,

16| Bumaury; N 2W—N 4zWit f.

17| Belzaung

; Nif.

3iTeary3 N55 E2

¥9|Marouny

3 Fort, S75 E 2.

20'Sindwaha; N 55 E 2.

2t|Narat ;

S14E3

Temple of Hanumén,
i
3,"

Ditto,

22|Maltown; Fort,N14E dist.3@ f. |

23\Xbémlasab; N48 E—N 57Wz.
24|Rampoor; N 5 EN—43 W
Ditto,

2 a ; Fort, N 42——52 W 3

agree IY Nd ee ES I A SH TD hr NT Ca SE I: ee

OSwOe © OOOODOOOO O OOO OOOOOOOE

ene: eae Sas ae

a eee

Suny or

@) P

2

©

»

<=

G

-

Se Bs ESEx ZO O OOOOOCOOOO O OO OOOO

> >> > bhp >P Ph >> PD

N Prepeon Sse S Se

BPS > ppp>erd>>d

a &

Fa ON

-_—oo Oooo ene Se ee eee

> ~ >

56

Latitude. | REMARKS,

5 |
12
90
41 | clear, windy.

re 9 5u8 had begun
5 to fall.

be
w

oo

' cloudy.
clear.

a cloud came
over the sun
before he reach-
ed the Merie
‘dian.

clear, windy.

25

fe

cleare 2

nN
Ww

>

or
Qw

orob A Reon

bp wh
. N PO H HW O
Wo eS

Nw

windy.

w
res

>) oIN UPPER HINDUSTAN.. » I Sainz

Lattude. | REMIARKS, |

+173 37. 3 wind ye!
- (23°53 25 :

+123 go PS te
ay Fe
23 41 i;

~“
moderate,

Ditto, a dist. jobser.

23/North Bank Guleuttn River

29|B' belsab, S 56C. 23 31 19 ae
Ditto, 23 32 1 clear, calm.
30 Ditto, 23.31 ¥ nities,
3! Ditto, 230932 «5 re ir
April Goolgaung ; ;N58E 2303! 334 cl. moderake
Ditto, «+ 23 23 46 clear, calm.
2| Amary; N 67 E 2325 24
bE: Ditto, 27°24 29
4\Bopaul ; Futtebgurb fort, S 62 ss |
68 W imile, b.U.M, j23--15_46
Ditto, eM 23 16 35 2
g Ditto, Bw \23 15-52
_ 7\Pundab; N 42 ES $2 E—1 fur,| U. M. |23 13 50
: Ditto, ail (23.5% 45
$'Sehoue; S85 E 22 aM |23 12 y
9) Furber 5 N28. 55 W 44| 8 U. M. |23 14° §

“oS bujawulpoor; N18W N86E | & U. M.|23 24 sat
11\Beinsroud; N64E—S65E 1 | @ Hydra |23 25 54

7s Shabjekanpoor 5 S$; W e Hydra |23. 26 g |
Ditto, BU. M. |23 25 46 Ne
33|Turana; N 70 W 35 t Hydrejz3,20 2
Ditto, BU. M. }23. 19 39
14'Tajpoor ; close to the village, . Hydre |23 14 47
| Ditto, BU. M.j23 13° «1 :
15 Oujein; near Rana Kuan’s ay
Garden, «a Hydrei23 12 9
, 36 Do., Do, a Hydre@}23 12 13 t
Do, Do. BU. M.|23 10 581
1$ Do Do. a Hydre }23 rete
19 Dos Do. BU. M. {23 to 50 '
23 Do: Do. aM {23 1: 28
May 29 Do. house near ScINDIAH’S ,
¢ palace, aM: j23.11 i
“tune Re Do. all ee 10 4
i

Eccieses

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

SurCfinSvu, 6940759]0) 2110M04GIT BANVITOC, GHM™ peadesgo "sagt p]2iyg 5,218

i «kpurm frespsjoo 61 94
ekpog s.t0ntdnf 0} 980]9 pasate *[]3}¢g *op ‘op [St or gf
*MOZIAOY aq} AkaU azZEY UIY} + Aveu uooyyy *op top {of bz Sia

; “WOOUT aq} JkIU 00} J2UL] op top. [Sh 6 Lt
rg tee ¢ ‘op ‘op [Sb zz zZ
qeymauios worssawUT JO “ISUr a3 I “ed
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"op ‘op Sr 9
‘op ‘op joo z gl
‘op ‘op joo z$ LZ
“urpes favayzo/$x 6e LL
*UOIJEAIISGO JOUTZSIP B Sur[eo kde e #: ad rm
“Wye SavaTD
eqeaiq 03 Suruuigaq Avg Cupra ‘spnopd utyyjoo &f LZ
efpvaqsun jeymauios °S2]9,L ‘op ‘op = ; ge
cop cop {Sr Ex gl
“uoryeazasqo your}sIp & Ppa a
f “DAapr |
03 pousiye Aytroururos apnysuoy 243 03 ‘op ‘op joe r 62
AqqeassSe Say3no yr ueyy Jarpiea solMUy "op ‘op jSt gz 62
auios pouaddey osje vorssamur OT, “GN = = =
= | *op ‘op joo zz gé
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‘auiry, quowrddy

dul, fo sasdijry -

153

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[‘dgantunoo] “SHLITIALVS SUILIdAL AO sasdi Toa

LATITUDES

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

: LATITUDES OBSERVED.

ea. | PLACE. ge: | Latitude. Te | Remarks.
Osjein, Bachp at 'B :
CO. 7 ujein amp at SHAH ie
‘Dawon’ s Durgzh, ; QM. A. ies *3 4 élear, calm
3 | Ditto, Ditto, | ditte ss
wate ea a, |
eb. 2 itto, Camp near RANA : 9) ‘5
Kit pele Garden, 5 ditto ib ae eg eco
Jfar. 13 } Ditto, Camp at Unk-Pat, | aWHydre [231g 2
14 | Gutteah, ~ - } a Hydrz | 23 23 55
35 | Tenauriab, - - by i | 23 36 i
16 | Ager . tto 23 43 4 $
27 Soos oe (N. 10 63 W. dist ) Sirius. 23 56 47?
2 fur.) - - ) a Hydrx 23 57 56 5 med.-2% 57 21
r8 | Perawa, - ~ Sirius. | Sap Th Le
ja Hydre | 24 9 13 § med.24 9 14
29 ¢ Soonel (N. 18 W, dist. 3. oo i 24 12 11
San woe §. t0S.35W.
ar uimee (trom 5. to 35
dist. 2. 33 fur. < oe | aa SPs ‘|
22 | Mucundra, zi la Hydrx | 24 49 2
23 ri a (N. 10 E. ytd 8U.M. | 24 59 3 2
24 | 4nandpoor, - | ditto [25 6 40] med. 26° 7! ¢”
; a vy 125 7 3 rj
25 | Xetab (Camp near Et | eae 4 |.
Dur- ‘ate ,) BU. M. Ge,
28 | Gaumuch $.77E.dist.3f.) |. gitts | 25 16 2 |
29 5 ge a ci_-GoWy, dist. Y Sha: | a5 40543 |
30 scons og ; Mabl, N. ‘ ats): 25 26 38}
Dublana(fromS.toS$. ‘8c. ¢ sf
I :
; dist 1 fur) - ditto oh ki 5 |
Spr. 1 is ee (3. ne @ ve | ditto } 25 40 00
2 abmen-gaung o sf i fe j ;
Bhd eth) % ditto | 2545 8 | cloudy, uncertain
3 tone aa te > P3 . ici ¢ ditto 25 53 8 : ditto, ditto
rere ue A
Ditto, - ditt 125 §4 53 \clear »
é Ditto, * Site 425 55 15 clear, mod. 23
8 | Burwarab(S$.22.E etnh ree
E. dist. extremes, 2 f.) ditto G19 BE naa
Bhugwunt-gurb (N. 3o— i 16
9 85 W. dist- 3) ~ ditto | 26 91 ditto, ditto
10 mn (S.30—82 rabaagk wey 26 16 9 | ditto, ditto
: Mularna (8. 57—80 W.
Af dis 3.3 y : ¢ Alitto | 26 19 9 | ditto, windy
A $.20 ist. 2. ? a
” ried ¢ jh s ; ditto 2627.9 | ditto, moderate

“*

IN UPPER HINDUSTAN. 1355

LATITUDES OBSERVED.

1792. PLACE. San oF?) rales REMARKS.

RS aie ed Ra ae ih i 1
April 13 | Xhoosh-hal-gurh(N.55—
65 E. dist. 4 f.) =

Ditto, -

|

a wn 28 9
% 28 34 ditto, ditto
|
{

Peelaudoh, (N.60—8o E.

ee es 3) , a ply
Ditto, - 6 ULM. | 26 36 39 ditto, ditto

Aramis

/
.

Hindoun, N. 12 W.to N. H dr |
Son dis st. nearest I 5 igs bi

“aon | OPLACH. | 5" | ried | REMARKS.
Ot SEC Sates Se be i VERA: With NO
|
Ditto, - ‘ 26 43 39
Surout (S. 48 W. to W. |
16 | d4rout 4 to
dittant, 2,6£) 2 ) BU.M. | 26 49 9

15

clear, mo-
derate

Ditto -
x ditto, ditto

17

ditto, wind

®
eo
s
Ss
ron
in
an
ie)

w
a
“i
Due
ae
4 & .
OOOO OOUElO——————eeeeeeeeeeeeee
we ‘
~
Ur
war
in

see Sh oor pow ,vS gbog¢ pour 18, £+92'pous 91,9f,9t'paur ,%2,97,9z'paut

x8 | Rudawyl (N. ad atin
dist. 2 f.)
Kanau (S. 69 E ae: 88
E. dist. 3 f:) -
Ditto, ~

&
a
“a
a.
oe
8
)
con)
in
oO
tv
WN

ditto, moderate

* ditto

nr
“I
»
sy
in

DW
S
Ss
ie)
~s]
Lal
wat
way

ditto, ditto

ditto, ditto

Futtehpoor (Camp within
Chunnunpooree Dur-
waxa) - -

Ditto, .

coe)

S

a
tN
“J
A
Ww
w

wh S ghz pow 01 74% pour

————___ J rw ee

Biana (§. 22 W.toS. 48? t
E. bh re ‘ 4 54 Hydra | 26 55 “fms

ECLIPSES

‘STLITIALVS SMALIdAL AO SISdITOa

=
2

omp “oup | $b of Le | - THW-LEL wooy fos | my | x [Sh Le fe 6 depy
“ | onip fone let 1S gL | = ne ; Seek = 1} $z ot £1 gt “
” . ‘ Cr -8 7oL ke = ° - ‘oI! at € | gf oS ti —
a Be pan § Bee ae { BOS Lit a - Gd sn qaieek fay t : 1 ver Ex
© ontp fo21!p 2) a ae) Ae bak - ‘qind-qunminggy | ‘wy | 1 | ot 1 it 6
oe ae ace span3u07y pue dt 78 oor
ah seat aunty aur oF) tf — (yois1guUUt
, jo duITy dy) 03 cured atqeuoniodoad
+ vw MOTTE AM JT *sinoy OL Ut poutes
Gy) 19% Buroq 6S g ktuo ‘mops yam
WN fang om kq ‘Wy £41 wie ay uo ing
FQ ‘paisnipe st aut ayy siya Aq oe ys OF
© moys yom ‘yl ‘qd 6 Yed $ ye Ssnunjory
pie uoks01g jo sulonvaiasqo Ag oytp fo11p Sh ib SL] e > « fouq | ‘wy | z[9 S$ $1 —
4 ut paatooiod JT a1ojaq
“5 SUWTJOWIOS pasjoura pey ePtypoyes ayy op fouip Ch Sz gl "4 a ES ‘puviuog wy ¢ gz $$ or 9° tay
ee omip ‘onip SH 52 Sey te - - ‘purpgnq | -wyt | 1 | S€ €b bx 1
ss oip foyp Srg SL] * - : ‘sopuoog | “uy | t | 6z gt €1 of
a oye1apour Seayo ob $2 SL - ° tyoodpurnpy | wy | T gb zi bz ‘rey
vA SS ee. ‘Ss ‘NW ‘H‘d
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o \
bs | wa |
et SMUVNAY | "WHHLVIM ‘Su07T ‘NOILVAUASHO JO AOWTd | to {Z| couny warddy
a2 ‘wy | wo
“

hey JN UPPER HINDUSTAN.

157

4993. Feb. 25th, at Onyeiny Moon eclipsed.

At 3 P. M. watch by the Sun ~ . 10’ 52” slow
At 123 P.M. by Procyon 9 59 do. Hot to! 30”
At 14% - by Lyra 10° 32 do,
By Watch 14° 14—"
+ 10 30
Appar. Time, 14 24 30 A slight obscurity began-on the Moon’s N. E. limb.
H *
14 18—
+ 10 30
14 28 30 Dark shadow distinctly seen to enter.
17 90 00
+- 10 30
17 10 30 Eclipse ended—Limb clear.

If we reckon the beginning of the eclipse from the first perceptible obscurity 3

*!

2 - - ~ 14°24’ 30"
Then beginning by Epdemeris - 9 23 45 bap
Diff. of Long. intime = ~ 5.09 45 oshestx st
‘But, reckoning from the entrance of the
dark shadow, the difference is 5 445 26.4%) 3
‘The end, by observation I7 I0 30
By Ephemeris - eee 12 6 30
§ 00 76 00 00
Beginning of obscurity - 14 24 30
End - - z 7% 10 30
Middle s - 15 47 30
Ditto, by Ephemeris - - ' To 45 15
———
RG 75 33 45
Duration observed, 2 46 co
By Ephemert: 2 nih sate 42 45
Excess of obseivation oo (3.15

As the stete of the limbs at the times marked as the beginning of-obscurity
and end of the eclipse were similar, if we add half this: difference (1' 37”) to
the first of these tines, and substract it fram the last, we shail have the begin-

a ie] a ' all -
ning 14° 26 7,.
End 17 8 53/
Ej:her of which will give the longitude 75° 2¢' 40 :

. _ REMARK i

158 ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS, &c.

REMARK BY THE PRESIDENT.

‘Tue observations, with which Mr. Hunter has
favoured us, will be a valuable acquisition to all
Indian gcographers and antiquaries ; for since Ujjayini,
or Ujjein, is in the first meridian of the Hindus, its
longitude ascertains the position of Lanca on the
equator, and fixes the longitude, at least according to
the Hindu astronomers, of Curucshétra, Fatsa, the
Pool Sannihita Canchi, and other places, which are
frequently celebrated in Sauscrit books of the highest
antiquity. Hence also we shall possibly ascertain
the seven dwipas, which, on the authority of Pa-
TANJALI and of the Véda itself, we ray pronounce
to be neither the seven planets nor the seven climates,
but great peninsulas of this earth, or large tracts of
Jand with water on both sides of them. For example,
in a preface to the Sérya Siddhanta, the peninsula,
called Sa/mala, is declared to be 422 Yéjanas to the
east of Lancd ; now a true Yéjana is equal to 43°
geometrical. miles; and. the longitude of Salmala
will thus bring us to the Gulph of Syam, or to the
eastern Indian peninsula beyond Malacca. There is
a passage in one of the Purduas, which confirms this
argument; where king Sra’vana is described
“ on the Vhite Mountain in the extensive region of
“« Salmaladwipa, meditating on the traces of the
«* divine foot, at a place called the station of TR1-
** yicRAMA.” Now we are assured by. credible
travellers, that the Siamese boast of a rock in thelr
country, on which a foosstep, as they say, of VisHnu
is clearly discernible.

QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS AND REMARKS
ON THE

- ASFRONOMY OF THE HINDUS.

BY JOHN PLAYPAIR, A. M.
PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS, AT EDINBURGH.

WRITTEN IOTH' OF OCTOBER, 1792.

RESUMING on the invitation given with so

much liberality in the Advertisement prefixed to

the second volume of the Asiatic Researches, I have

ventured to submit the following queries and observa-

tions to the President and other Members of the
learned Society in Bengal.

ey ) ie
Are any Books to be found among the Hindus,
which treat professedly of Geometry 2

~ Tam led to propose this question, by having ab-
served, not only that the whole of the Judian As-
tronomy is a system constructed with great geometrical
skill, but that the srigonometrical rules, given in the
translation from the Surya Siddhdnta, with which
| Mr.

160 QUESTIONS AND REMARKS ON

Mr. Davis has obliged the world, point out some
very curious theorems, which must have been known
to the author of that ancient book. The rule, for
instance, by which the trigonometrical canon of the
Fiindu astronomers is constructed *, involves in it the
following theorem: ‘If there be three arches of a
<¢ circle in arithmetical progression, the sum of the
<< sines of the two extreme arches is to twice the sine
‘* of the middle arch, as the co-sine of the common
<¢ difference of the arches to the radius of the circle.
Now this theorem, though not difficult to be demon-
strated, is yet so far from obvious, that it seems not
known to the mathematicians of Europe ull the be-
ginning of the last century, when it was discovered
by Viera. It has ever since been used for the con-
struction of trigonometrical tables, as it affords a
method of calculating the sines and arches much
easier than that which depends on successive extrac-
tions of the square root. To find that this theorem
was known to the Brahmens many ages ago, 1s there-
fore extremely curious; and the more so, because
there is some reason to think. that the commentator
on the Siddhanta, quoted and translated by Mr. Da-
vis +, did not understand the principle of this rule,
sihce the method which he lays down is entirely dif-
ferent, much less profound in theory, and much more
difficult in practice. If this be true, it indicates a re-
trograde order in the progrees of eastern science, which
must have had its origin in a very remote age.

* 2 Asiatic Researches, 245.
+ P. 246, 247.
Il. Are

a, a —"

THE ASTRONOMY OF THE HINDUS, 161
(3B, apy
li 0 any books shia Hindu) Ayithmetc to be P pre

’

cured: oh

r

Ir should seem, that if such books exist; they must
contain much curious information, ‘with many a-
bridements-in the labour of calculating, and the likes
all which may be reasonably expected from them,
since an arithmetical notation, so perfect as that of
India, has existed in that country much longer than
in any other; but that which most of all seems to
deserve the attention of the learned, is, the discovery
said to be made of something like 4/gebra among the
Hindus such as the expression of number in general
by certain symbols, and the idea of ‘negativé quanti-
ties. These certainly cannot be too carefully en-
quired into; and will, it is hoped, be considered by
the Society at Calcutta as ‘a part of that rich mine from.
which they -have.already: extracted so inany valuable
maine -The problem, mentioned by, Mr, Bur-
ROW * * proves, that the Hindus have turned their at-
tention to certain arithmetical iny jestigations, of which
there is no trace in the’ writings of the Geek mathe-
maticians. ph Tae SHO PYRENEES

| TH, , Lory fs | |
Must not a complete translation of the | Su'rya
Siddha’ nta be considered as the grand desideratuin
with respec to Indian Astronomy 2

* 2 Asiat. Res. 495.
Vor. IV. M SIR

162 QUESTIONS AND REMARKS ON

Sir W. Jones gives us reason, I think, to hope
that this will be executed by Mr. Davis; and the
specimen which that gentleman has exhibited, leaves
as little reason to doubt of his abilities to translate the
work accurately, as of the great value of the original:
I have therefore only to express a wish, that if there
be any diagrams in the Sérya Siddhénta, they may be
carefully preserved, |

TV ey
Wo uld not a Catalogue Raisonne’, containing an
enumeration, and a short account of the Sanscrit
books on Indian Astronomy, be a work highly in-
teresting and useful?

Ms

Might not an actual examination of the beavens,
in company with a Hindu Astronomer, to ascertain
all the stars and constellations, for which there
gre names in Sanscrit, prove a most valuable addi-
tion to our knowledge of Indian Astronomy 2

Let me here take the liberty of reminding the.
President of his promise to make such an examina-
tion; by which the mistakes concerning the Indian

Zodiac, some of which he has already pointed out,
may be decisively corrected.

VI. Afay

THE ASTRONOMY OF THE HINDUS. 163
| Vi.

May it not be of consequence to procure descrip-—
tions of the principal astronomical buildings and
instruments of whick any remains are still to be
found, and which are certainly known to be of
Hindu origin ?

Unper this head I would comprehend not only
such works as the Observatory at Benares, which is
well described by Sir Rozpert Barker, but also ~
such instruments as the 4s/ro/abe, mentioned by Mr.
Burrow: in the Appendix to the second volume of
the Asiatic Researches ; and engravings of such instru-

ments will be necessary to accompany the descriptions.

THoveu, in the preceding questions, there may
be nothing that has escaped the attention of the Soci-
ety in Bengal, yet they will, perhaps, be forgiven to
one who feels himself deeply interested in the subject
to which they, relate, and who would not lose even
the feeblest ray of a light, which, without the exer-
tions of the Asiatic Society, must perish for ever.

REMARK BY THE PRESIDENT.
We shall concur, I am persuaded, in giving our

public thanks to Professor PhayFrair for the Ques-
tions which he has proposed; and in expressing our
wish, that his example may be followed by the learned
in Europe. Concise answers to his queries will be
given in my next annual discourse; the subject of
which will comprise a general account. of Indian
M 2 astronomy

764 “UQUESTIGNS AND REMARKS, “Qc.
astronomy and mathematics. I would long ago havé
accomplished my design (which I neyer meant as a
‘promise to:-be performed. in all events) of examining
the heavens in company with an intelligent Findu
‘astronomer, if such a companion could have been
found in this province: but, though I offered\ample
stipends to any Hindu astronomer who could. name, in
Sanscrit, all the constellations which I should point
out; and to any Hindw physician who: could bring
me all the plants named in Sazscrit books, I was as-
sured by the Brahmen whom 1| had commisioned to
search for such instructors, that no Pandit in Bengal
even pretended to possess the knowledge ‘which I re-
guired. Lieut. W 1tLFokD, however, has lately favoured
‘me with a Sanscrit work, procuted by him at Benareés,
containing the naines, figures, and’ positions of all
the asterisms known to aficient or modern Hindus,
not only in the Zodiac, but in /both hemispheres,
and almost from pole to pole. » ‘That work J translat-
ed with attention, and immediately consigned it to
Mr. Davis, who, of all men living, is the best qua-
lified to exhibit a copidtis and accurate History of Si-
dian Astronomy.

DISCOURSE

_—_—

| { 7165 SP *y 0 coe" OL.

_ “a? ren “ “
ie > tad e Gad e )

\ ich. DISCOURSE ‘THE ELEVENTHE''”

’ ’ .
TT . : = J rent

ON THE

PHILOSOPHY OF THE ASIATICS.

Delivered 20th of February, 1794.

BY THE PRESIDENT,

ye it been of any importance, Gentlemen, to
arrange these’ Anniversary Dissertations accord-

‘ing to the BRA} progress of the human mind,
the gradual expansion of i Its three most “Shatlbratite
powers, memory, imagination, and reason, I should cer-
tainly have presented you with an essay on the /beral
arts of the five Asiatic nations, before I produced my
Temarks on their abstract sciences; because, from my
‘own observation at least, it seems evident, that fancy,
or the faculty of combining our ideas agreeably, by
various modes of imitation and substitution, is in
general earlier exercised, and sooner attains maturity
‘than the ‘power of separating and comparing those
‘ideas. by the laborious ‘exertions of intellect; and
“hence, I believe, it’has happened, that’all nations in
‘the world had poets before they had mere philoso-
‘phers: but, as M. D’ALemeerr has deliberately
tty science before art, as the question” of prece-
M 2 dence

166 | ON THE PHILOSOPHY

dence is, on this occasion, of no moment whatever,
and as many new facts on the subject of Asiatic Phi-
losophy are fresh in my remembrance, I propose to
address you now on the sciences of Asia, reserving
for our next annual meeting a disquisition concerning
those fine arts which have immemorially been culti-
vated, with different success, and in very different
modes, within the circle of our common inquiries.

By science I mean an assemblage of transcendental
propositions discoverable by human reason, and re-
ducible to first principles, axioms, or maxims, from
which they may all be derived in a regular succession ;
and there are consequently as many sciences as there
are general objects of our intellectual powers. When
man first exerts those powers, his objects are himself
and the rest of nature. Himself he perceives to be
composed of dody and mind; and 1n his individual ca-
pacity he reasons on the uses of his animal frame and
of its parts, both exterior and internal; on the dis-
orders impeding the regular functions of those parts,
and on the most probable methods of preventing
those disorders, or of removing them; he soon feels
the close connexion between his corporeal and men-
tal faculties; and when his mind is reflected on itself,
he discourses on its essence and its operations: in his
socia} character, he analyzes his various, duties and
rights, both private and public; and in the leisure
which the fullest discharge of those duties always ad-
mits, his intellect is directed to mature at large, ta
the substance of natural bodies, to their several pro-

” perties,

‘OF THE ASTATICS. 167

perties, and to their quantity both’separate and unit-
ed, finite and infinite; from all which objects he
deduces notions, either purely abstract and universal,
or mixed with undoubted facts ; he argues from phe-
nomena to theorems, from those theorems to other
phenomena; from causes to effects, from effects to
causes, and thus arrives at the demonstration of a first
intelligent cause: whence his collected wisdom, being
arranged in the form of science, chiefly consists of
physiology and medicine, metaphysics and logic, ethics
and jurisprudence, natural philosophy and mathematics ;
from which the religion of nature (since revealed reli-
gion. must be. referred to history, as alone affording
evidence of it) has in all ages and in all nations been
the sublime and consoling result. Without professing
to have given a logical definition of science, or to have
exhibited a perfect enumeration of its objects, I shall
confine myself to those five divisions of Asiatic Philo-
sophy; enlarging for the most part on the progress
which the Hindus have made in them, and occasionally
introducing the sciences of the Arabs and Persians, the
Tartars and the Chinese: but, how extensive soever
may be the range which I have chosen, I shall be-
ware of exhausting your patience with tedious dis-
cussions, and of exceeding those limits which the
. Occasion of our present meeting has necessarily pre-
scribed.

I. Tue first article affords little scope; since I
have no evidence that, in any language of Asia, there
Exists one original treatise on medicine considered

M 4 as

168. ON THE PHILOSOPHY

as a science :: physic, indeed, appears in these regions
tg have been from :time. immemorial, as we see it
practised at this day: by; Hindus and Muselmans, a
mere empirical Aisfory of diseases and remedies; use-
ful I admit, ina high degree, and. worthy of atten-.
tive examination,. but wholly foreign to the, subject
before us, Though the Arabs, however, have chiefly
followed the Greeks in this’ branch of knowledge,
and have themselves been implicitly followed by
other Mohammedan, writers, yet (not to mention the
Chinese, of whose medical works I can at. present
say nothing with confidence), we still have access to
a. numberof Sazscri¢ books on the old Judian practice
of physic, from which, if.the J7indus had a theo-
retical system, » wey might easily collect. at.:) The
Ayurvéda, supposed to be the work of a) celestial
physician, is almost entirely lost, unfortunately, per-
haps, tor the curious Mwropean, but happily for the
patient JZudu ;. since a revealed science precludes im-
provement from experience, to which that of medi-
cine ought, above all others, to be left perpetually
open: but | have myself met with curious fragments
of. that primeval work ; jand, in the Vda. itself, I
found with astonishment an entire Upanishad on the
internal parts of the. human body; with an enume-
ration .of nerves, veins, and arteries; a description
of the heart, spleen, and liver; and various disquisi-
tions. on the. fermation. and erowth of the foetus.
From. the, laws, indeed; of Mznv, which have lately »
appeared in, our own language, we may perceive that
he ancient Hindus were fond of reasoning, in their

_ wa
vaya

“OF THE ASIATICS, 169

way, on the mysteries of animal generation, and on
the comparative influence of the. sexes in the pro-
duction of perfect offspring ; and we may collect from
the authorities adduced in the. learned’ -Essay on
Egypt andthe Nile, that their physiological disputes
led to violent schisms in religion, and’even to bloody
wars. On the whole, we cannot expect to acquire
many valuable truths from ‘an examination of eastern
books on the science of medicine ; but examine them
we must, if we wish to complete the history of uni-:
versal philosophy, and to supply the scholars of Exu-
rope with authentic materials for an account of the
opinions anciently formed on this head by the philo-
sophers of sia. ‘To know indeed, with certainty,
that so much and no more can be known on any
branch of science, would in itself be very important
and useful knowledge, if it had no other effect than to’
check the boundless curiosity of mankind, and to fix
them in the straight path of attainable science, espe-
cially of such as relates to their duties, and may con-
duce to their happiness.

li. We have an ample’field in the’next-division, and
a field almost wholly new, since the mytaphysics and
logic of the Bréhmens, comprised in their six philoso-
phical Sustras; and explained by numerous glosses,
or comments, have never yet been accessible to
Europeans; and, by the help of the Sanscrié \an-
guage, we now may read ‘the works of the Sangatus,

Bauddhas, Arhatas, Jainas, and ‘other heterodox

philosophers, whence. we may ‘gather the metaphy-
sical tenets “prevalent-in China and Japan, in the
2 eastern

170 ON THE PHILOSOPHY

eastern peninsula of Jndia, and in many considerable
nations of Turtary. There are also some valuable
tracts on these branches of science in Persian and
Mrabic, partly copied from the Greeks, and partly
comprising the doctrines of the $#/7s, which anciently
prevailed, and still prevail in a great measure over
this oriental world ; and which the Greeks themselves
eondescended to borrow from eastern sages.

Tue hittle treatise in four chapters, ascribed to
Fydsa, is the only philosophical Séstra, the original
text of which I have had leisure to peruse with a
Bréhmen of the Véddnti school: it 1s extremely ob-
scure, and thougi composed in sentences elegantly,
modulated, has more resemblance to a table of con-
tents, or an accurate summary, than to a regular

1?
i

systematical tract; but all its obscurity has been
cleared by the labour of the very judicious and most
learned SANCARA, whose commentary on the Ve-
dénta which I read also with great attention, not only
elucidates. every word of the text, but exhibits a.
perspicuous account of all other Jndian schools, from
that of Capita to those of the more modern here-
tics. It is not possible, indeed, to speak with too
much applause of so excellent a work; and I am
confident in asserting, that, unti] an accurate trans-
Jation of it shall appear in some European language,
the general history of philosophy must remain incom.
plete; for I perfectly agree with those wha are of
opinion, that one correct version of any celebrated
Ffindu book would be of greater value than all the
dissertations or essays that could be composed on

the.

OF ¥HE ASIATICS. 17

the same subject. You will not, however, expect.
that, in such a discourse as I am now delivering, IL
should expatiate on the diversity of Indian philoso-
phical schools, on the several founders of them, on
the doctrines which they respectively taught, or on
their many disciples, who dissented from their in-
structors in some: particular points. On the present
occasion, it will be sufficient to say, that the oldest
head of a sect, whose entire work is preserved, was:
(according to some authors) Carina; not the divine
personage, a reputed grandson of Brauma’, to whom
CrrsHna. compares himself in the Gitd; but a sage
‘of his name, who invented the Sdnc’hya, or Numeral
philosophy, which Cri’suna himself appears to im-
pugn in his conversation with Arjuna and which,
as far as I can collect it from a few original texts,
resembled in part the metaphysics of Py rHacorRAs,
and in part the theology of Zeno. His doctrines
were enforced -and illustrated, with some additions,
by the venerable Paranjyaut, who has also left us a
fine comment on the grammatical rules of Pa’nin1,
which are more obscure, without a gloss, than the
darkest oracle; and here, by the way, let me add,
that I refer to metaphysics the curious and important
science of universal grammar, on which many sub-
til disquisitions may be found interspersed in the
particular grammars of the ancient Hindus, and -in
those of the more modern Arabs. The next founder,
I believe, of a philosophical school was Go’rama ;
if, indeed, he was not the most ancient of all; for
his wife Anatya’ was, according to Indian legends,

restored

9“ | ON THE PHILOSOPHY
restored tova human shape by the great Ra/ma scand?
a sage.of’ his) names whom: we > have ‘no’ reason’ to
suppose a different personage, is frequently men-
tioned im the: ¥éda itself to his rational ‘doctrines
those of Cana’pa were im general conformable ; and
the philosophy of them both is usually called Nydya}
or /egicad: a title aptly bestowed ; for it seems to bea
system “of metaphysics and logic better accommo-
dated thameany other anciently knows in Jndia, to
the natutab reason and common sense of mankind’
admitting the actual existence of material substance in
the» popular, acceptation of the word matter; and
comprising not only a body of sublime*dialectiess
but an artificial. method of reasoning, with distinct
names forthe three parts of a proposition, and‘even
for thoeiof a regular syllogism. HeresI cannot re+
frain from introducing: a singular tradition, which
prevailed, -according to the well-informed author of
the: Dabistdén, in the Panjib and in several Persian:
provinces; that, “among other Indian curiosities,
*¢ which CALL?Ts’THmENES transmitted to’ his uncle,
‘siwas a Lechnical system of logic, which the Brahmens
** had communicated to the inquisitive Greek,” and
which the Mohammedan writer supposes to’ have been
the ground work of the famous Aristot/ean method.
If this: bexrme, it-is one<éf the most interesting facts
that Ichave met with in’_4sa: and if it be false, it is
very. extraordinary -that such a story should “have
been ‘fabricated. either by the candid Mousane Punt,
‘or by. the simple Pérsis and’ Pandits, with whom he
had coniversed; ‘but, not having had leisure to study
OVLOjeul the.

OF THE \ASIATICS. r73

the Nydya Sistra, 1 can only assure you, that I have
: frequently seem perfect syllogisms: in the philoso-
‘phical writings. :of :thes: Bréfimens, and have often
heard them. used in thew verbalrcontroversies, W hat-
‘ever might have been the merit or age of Go'ram Ay
eyet the «most ‘celebrated :Jndian: scliool is that,. with
which I began, foundedi:\by YvA's., and: supported
in mosti respects by his pupil Jaimin1, whose dissent
on a few points is'‘mentioned)by his master, with re-
‘spectful moderation : ; their several systems are: fre-
quently: distinguished by the names of the first and
‘second Mimrinsa 3 a word which, like Nydéya, denotes
‘the operations and conclusions of reason; but the
stract of Vy."s.a has in general the appellation of /é-
-dinta,or the scope and end of the /’¢daz; on the texts
‘of which, as: they were understood by the philosopher
-who collected them, his doctrines are. principally
igrounded. The fundamental tenet of the Védénti
‘school, to which.in.a more modern, age the incom-
parable Sancara wasa firm and illustrious adherent,
“consisted not im) denying the. existence of matter,
that 1s, of solidity,, impenetrability, and. extended
figure (to deny which would be lunacy) but, in cor-
‘recting the popular notion of it, and in contending
“that it has no essence independent of mental percep-
‘tion; that existence and perceptibility are conver-
tible terms ; that external appearances and sensations
are illusory, and would vanish into nothing, if the

idivine energy, which alone sustains them, were sus-
pended but for a moment: an opinion, which Epr-

-CHARMUS and: PLato seem to have adopted, and
\ | . which

174 ON THE PHILOSOPHY

which has been maintained in the present century’
with great elegance, but with little public applause ;
partly because it has been misunderstood, and partly
because it has been misapplied by the false reasoning
of some unpopular writers, who are said to have
disbelieved’ in the moral attributes of Gop, whose
omnipresence, wisdom, and goodness, are the basis
of the Indian philosophy. I have not sufficient evi-
dence on the subject to profess a belief in the doc-
trine of the V¢dénta, which human reason alone
could, perhaps, neither fully demonstrate, nor fully
disprove; but it is manifest, that nothing can be
farther removed from impiety than a system wholly
built on the purest devotion; and the inexpressible
difficulty which any man, who shall make the at-
tempt, will assuredly find in giving a satisfactory
definition of material substance, must induce us to de-
liberate with coolness, before we censure the learned
and pious restorer of the ancient /¢da; though we
cannot but admit, that, if the common opinions of
‘mankind de the criterion of philosophical truth, we
must adhere to the system of Go rama, which the
Brémens of this province almost universally follow.

Ir the metaphysics of the /¢dint/s be wild and
erroneous, the pupils of BuppHa have run, it 13 :as-
serted, into an error diametrically opposite ; for they
are charged with denying the existence of pure spirit,
and with believing nothing absolutely and really to
exist but material substance: a heavy accusation
which ought only to have been made oa positive

and .

OF THE ASIATICS. 175
and incontestible proof, especially by the orthodox
Brikmens, who, as Buppua dissented from their
ancestors in regard to dloody- sacrifices, which the -
Véda certainly prescribes, may not unjustly be suspect-
ed of low and interested mahenity. Though I cannot
credit the charge, yet 1am unable to prove it entirely
false, having only read a few pages of a Saugata
book, which Captain Kirkparrick had _ lately
the kindness to-give me; but it begins like other

Hinds vooks, with the word Om, which we know to

be a symbol of the divine attributes; then follows,
‘indeed, a mysterious hymn to the Goddess of Nature
by the name of A’ryd, but with several other titles,

which the Brdéamens themselves continually bestow

on ther Dévi. Now the Bréhmens, who have no

idea that any such personage: exists as De’vi’, or

the Goddess, and only mean to express allegorically

the power of Gop, exerted in creating, preserving,
and renovating this universe, we cannot with justice

infer, that the dissenters admit no Deity but visible
nature. The Pandit who now attends me, and who
told Mr. Wiixins that the Saugatas were atheists,
would not have attempted to resist the decisive evi-

‘dence of the contrary, which appears in the very
Anstrument on which he was consulted, if his under-
standing had not been blinded by the intolerant zeal
of a mercenary priesthood. A literal version of the
book just mentioned (if any studious man had learn-

ing and industry equal to the task) would be an in-

estimable treasure to the compiler of such a history

as that ofthe laborious Brucker. But let us proceed
; to

a7 ON THE PHILOSOPHY
tothe morals and jurisprudence of the Asiatics, on
“which I could expatiate, if the occasion admitted a
full discussion of the subject, with correctness and
confidence. f
Il]. That. both ssilids and abstract law. might
be reduced to the method of science, cannot surely be
doubted ; but, although such a method would be of
infinite use in a system of universal, or even of na-
tional - jurisprudence, yet. the priczples of morality
are so few, so luminous, and so ready to present
themselves on every occasion, that. the practical
utility of a scientifical arrangement, in a treatise on
ethics, may very justly be questioned. The moral-
ists of the east have, in, general, chosen to deliver
their precepts in short sententious maxims, to illus-
trate them by sprightly comparisons, or to inculcate
them in the very ancient form of agreeable apologues.
There are indeed, both in Arabic and. Persian,
philosophical tracts on ethics, written with sound
ratiocinution and elegant perspicuity; but in every
part of this eastern world, from Pekin to Damascus,
the popular teachers. of moral wisdom have immemo-«
rially been poets, and there would be:no end of enus
merating their. works, which are still extant in the
five principal languages of f/sia. Our divine religion,
the truth of which (if any history be true) is abun-
dantly proved by historical evidence, has no need of
such aids, as many are willing to give it, by assert+
ting, that the wisest men of this world were ignorant
of the two great maxims, that «we must act in respect
of others, as we should wish them to act wm respect of our»
selves,

OF THE ASIATICS. Ta
sebves, and that, instead of returning evil for evil, we
should confer benefits even on those who injure us:
but the first rule is implied in a speech of Lysras;
and expressed in distinct phrases by Tu axes and Pit-
racus; and [haye even seen it, word for word, in the
original of Conructus, which I carefully:compared
with the Lat#im translation. It has been ‘usual with
zealous men to ridicule and abuse all those who dare
on this point to quote the Chinese philosopher ;_ but,
instead of supporting their cause they would shake it,
if it could be shaken, by their uncandid asperity ;
for they ought to remember, that one great end of
revelation, as it is most expressly declared, was not
to instruct the wise and few, but the many and
unenlightened. If the conversion, therefore, of the
Pandits and Maulavis in this country shall ever be
attempted by Protestant missionaries, they must be-
ware of asserting, while they téach the gospel of
truth, what those Pandits and Maulavis would know
to be false. The former would cite the beautiful
Arya couplet, which was written at least three cen-
turies before our zra, and which pronounces the duty
of a good man, even in the moment of his destruction,
to'consist not only in forgiving, but even in a desire of
benefitting, his destroyer, as the Sandal tree, in’ thein-
stant of its overthrow, sheds perfume on the axe Which
fells it; and the latter would triumph in repeating the
vetse of Sapt, who represents a return of good for good
as a slight reciprocity ; but says to the virtuous man,
<< Confer benefits on him who has i injured thee ;? using
an Arabic sentence, and a maxim apparently of the

Vou. IV. N ancient

178 ON THE PHILOSOPHY

ancient 4rabs. Nor would the Muse/mans fail to re-
cite four distichs of HA F1z, who has illustrated that
maxim with fanciful but elegant allusions :

Learn from yon orient shell to love thy foe,

And store with pearls the hand that brings thee woes
Free, like yon rock, from base vindictive pride,
Emblaze with gems the wrist that rends thy side:
Mark, where yon tree rewards the stony show’r

With fruit nectareous, or the balmy flow’r :

All nature calls aloud; ¢* shall man doless

“6 Than heal the smiter, and the railer bless ?”*

Now there is not a shadow of reason for believing
that the poet of Shiraz had borrowed this doctrine
from the Christians; but, as the cause of Christianity
could never be promoted by falsehood or error, so
it will never be obstructed by candour and veracity;
for the lessons of Conrucius and Coanacya, of
Sapi and Ha’Fiz, are unknown even at this day to
millions of Chinese and Hindus, Persians and other
Makommedans, who toil for their daily support; nor,
were they known ever so perfectly, would they have
a divine sanction with the multitude; so that, in
order to enlighten the minds of the ignorant, and
to enforce the obedience of the perverse, it is evi-
dent,.a priori, that a revealed religion was necessary
in the great system of Providence: but my principal
motive for introducing this topic, was to give you a
a specimen of that ancient oriental morality which
is comprised in an infinite number Ee Arabic,
and Sanscrit compositions. |

NEARLY one = half of jurisprudence is closely con-
nected

OF THE ASIATICS. 179

nected with ethics; but, since the learned of Asia con-
sider most of their laws as positive and divine insti-
tutions, and not as the mere conclusions of human
reason ; and since I have prepared.a mass of extremely
curious materials which I reserve for an introduction
to the digest of Indian laws, | proceed to the fourth
- division; which consists principally of science, tran-
scendently so named, or the knowledge of abstract
quantities, of their limits, properties, and relations, im-
pressed on the understanding with the force of irre-
sistible demonstration; which, as all other knowledge
depends, at best, on our fallible senses, and in a great
measure on still more fallible testimony, can only be
found in pure mental abstractions ; though for all the
purposes of life our own senses, and even the credible
testimony of others, give us in most cases the highest
degree of certainty, physical and moral.

IV. I wave already had occasion to touch on
the Indian metaphysics of natural bodies according to
the most celebrated of the Asiatic schools, from which
the Pythagoreans are supposed to have borrowed
many of their opinions; and, as we learn from
Cicero, that the old sages of Europe had an idea of
centripetal force, and a principle of universal gravita-
tion (which they never indeed attempted to demon-
strate) so I can venture to affirm, without meaning to
pluck a leaf from the never-fading laurels of our
immortal Newton, that the whole of his theology,
and part of his philosophy, may be found in the Vé-.
das, and even in the works of the Sifs. That most
subtil spirit, which he suspected to pervade natural

\N 2 bodies,

180 “ON THE PHILOSOPHY

bodies, and, lying concealed in them, to cause ats
traction and repulsion ; the emission, reflection, and
refraction of light; electricity, calefaction, sensation,
and ‘muscular motion, is described. by the Hindus as-a
fifth element, endued with those very powers; and
the Védas abound with allusions to a force univer-
sally attractive, which they chiefly ascribe to the
Sun, thence called Aditya, or the tractor: a name
designed by the mythologists to mean. the Child of
the Goddess Aditi; but the most wonderful passage
on the theory of attraction, occurs im the charming
allegorical poem of Su1’r1'n and Ferwa’p, or the
rvine Spirit and a human soul disinterestedly pious :
a work which, from the first verse to the last, is a
blaze of religious and- poetical fire. The whole
passage appears to me so curious, that I make no
apology for giving you a faithful translation of it:
«© There is a strong propensity which dances through
“every atom, and attracts the minutest particle to
<< some peculiar object. Search this universe from
*¢ its base to its summit, from fire to air, from water
*« to earth, from all below the Moon to all above
< the celestial spheres, and thou wilt not find a cor-
«¢ puscle destitute of that natural attractability ; the
«< very point of the first thread, in this apparently
*¢ tangled skein, is no other than such a principle of
attraction; and all principles beside are void of
“ areal basis: from such &. propensity arises every
«« motion perceived in heavenly, or in’ terrestrial
< ‘bodies: it isa disposition to be attracted, which
* taught hard.stecl to rush from its place and rivet
‘itself

OF THE ASIATICS: 181-

«itself on the magnet: it is the same disposition
«* which impels the light straw to attach itself firmly
‘* on amber: it is this quality which gives every
*s substance in nature a tendency toward another,
*¢ and an inclination forcibly directed to a determi-
“ nate point.” These notions are vague, indeed,
and unsatisfactory ; but permit me to ask, whether the
last paragraph of Newron’s incomparable work goes
much farther, and whether any subsequent experi-
ments have thrown light on a subject so abstruse and
obscure. That the sublime astronomy and exqui-
sitely beautiful geometry with which that work is il-
lumined, should in any degree be approached by the
Mathematicians of Asia, while of all Huropeans whe
ever lived, ArcHiMEDES alone was capable of
emulating them, would be a vain expectation; but
we must suspend our opinion of Jdian astronomical
knowledge, till the Surya Siddhanta shall appear ‘in
our own language, and even then (to adopt a phrase
of Cicero) our greedy and capacious ears will by no
means be’satisfied ; for, in order to complete an his-
torical account of genuine Hindu astronomy, we
require verbal translations of at least three other
Sanscrit books; of the treatise of Parasara for
the first age of Indian science; of that by Vara‘Ha,
with the copious comment of his very learned son,
for the middle age; and of those written by Bua-
SCARA for times comparatively modern. The va-
luable and now’ accessible works of the last menti-
oned philosopher, contain alsoan universal, or speci-
ous arithmetic, with one» chapter at least in geo-

- Rens metry 5

182° ON THE PHILOSOPHY ©

metry; nor would it, surely, be difficult to pro-
cure, through our several residents with the Pishwd
and with Scinpuya, the older books on algebra,
which BHascARA mentions, and on which Mr.
Davis -would justly set a very high value; but the

Sanscrit work, from which we might expect the -

most ample and important information, is entitled
Cshétrddersa, or a View of Geometrical Knowledge,
and was compiled in a very large volume by order
of the illustrious JayAsiNHA, comprising all that
remains on that science in the sacred language of
India: it was inspected in the west by a Pandit now
in the service of Lieutenant W1Lrorp, and might, I
am persuaded, be purchased at Jayanagar, where
Colonel Portier had permission from the Réjd to
buy the four Vedas themselves. Thus have I an-
swered, to the best of my power, the three first
questions obligingly transmitted to us by Professor
PiayFair,—Whether the Hindus have books in San-
scri¢ expressly on geometry? Whether they have any
such on arithmetic? and, Whether a translation of
the Sérya Siddhénta be not the great desideratum on
the subject of Jndian astronomy? To his three last
questions, —W hether an accurate summary account of
all the Sanscri# works on that subject? A delineation
of the Indian celestial sphere, with correct remarks
on it? and, A description of the astronomical instru-
ments used by the ancient Hindus, would. not seve-
rally be of great utility? we cannot but answer in
the affirmative, provided that the utmost critica]
sagacity were applied in distinguishing such works,

7 constellations,

i i pe

OF THE ASIATICS. 183

constellations, and instruments, as are clearly of
Indian origin, from such as were introduced into this
country by Muse/man astronomers from Tartary and
Persia, or in later days by mathematicians from
Europe. |

V. From all the properties of man and of na-
ture, from all the various branches of science, from
all the deductions of human reason, the general co-
rollary, admitted by Hindus, Arabs, and Tartars, by
Persians, and by Chinese, is the supremacy of an all-
creating and all-preserving Spirit, infinitely wise,
‘good, and powerful, but infinitely removed from the
comprehension of his most exalted creatures; nor
are there in any language (the ancient Hebrew al-
ways excepted) more pious and sublime addresses to
the Being of beings, more splendid enumerations of
his attributes, or more beautiful descriptions of his
visible works, than in Arabic, Persian, and Sanscrit,
especially in the Koran, the introductions of the
poemsof Sani’, Niza‘’mr, and Firpaus’r, the four
Vedds and many parts of the numerous Puranas: but
supplication and praise would not satisfy the bound-
less imagination of the Vedént: and Szfz theologists,
who, blending uncertain. metaphysics with un-
doubted principles of religion, have presumed to
reason confidently on the very nature and essence
of the divine spirit, and asserted in a very remote
age, what multiudes of Hindus and Musselmans
assert at’ this hour, that all spirit is homogeneous;
that the spirit of Gop is in kind the same with that
of man, though differing from it infinitely in degree ;

; i N 4 ant

184 ON THE PHILOSOPHY

and that, as material substance is meré illusion,
there exists in this universe only one generic spiri-
tual substance, the sole primary cause, efficient,
substantial, and formal of all secondary causes and
of all appearances whatever, but endued, in its high-
est degree, with a sublime providential wisdom,
and proceeding by ways incomprehensible to. the
spirits which emane from it: an opinion. which
Go’raMA never taught, and which we have no au-
thority to believe, but which, as it is grounded on
the doctrine of an immaterial Creator supremely
wise, and a constant Preserver supremely benevo-
‘lent, differs as widely from the pantheism of Spin-
oza and ToLawnp as the affirmation of a proposi-
tion differs from the negation of it; though the last-
named professor of that zusane philosophy had the
baseness to ccnceal his meaning under the very
words of Saint Paut, which are cited by New-
Ton fora purpose totally different, and has even
used a phrase which occurs, indeed, in the Véda,
but in a sense diametrically opposite to that which
he would have given it. The passage to which I
allude, is in a speech of Varuwa to his son, where
he says, ‘That spirit, from which these created
“< beings proceed; through which, having proceeded
“* from it, they live; toward which they tend, and
«in which they are ultimately absorbed, that’ spirit
“€* study to know; that spirit is the Great One.”
Tue subject of this discourse, Gentlemen, is in-
exhaustible: it has been my endeavour to ‘say as

much on it as possible in the fewest words; and, at —

the beginning of next year, I hope to close these

general

a

OF THE ASIATICS. 185

general disquisitions with topics measureless in ex-
tent, but less abstruse than that which has this day
been discussed; and better adapted to the gaiety
which seems to have prevailed in the learned ban-
quets of the Greeks, and which ought surely to
prevail in every symposiac assembly,

A DISCOURSE
DELIVERED AT
A MEETING OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETY,

ON THE 22d OF MAY, 1794.

BY SIR JOHN SHORE, BART. PRESIDENT.

‘FI had consulted my competency only, for the
station which your choice has conferred upon me,
I must, without hesitation, have declined the honour
of being the President of this Society ; and although I
most cheerfully accept your invitation, with every
inclination to assist, as far as my abilities extend, in
promoting the laudable views of our association, I
must still retain the consciousness of those disquali-
fications, which you have been pleased to overlook.
Ir was lately our boast to possess a President,
whose

186

whose name, talents, and character, would have been
honourable to any institution; it 1s now our misfor-
tune to Jament, that Sir W1ur1tam Jones exists
but in the affections of his friends, and in the esteem,
veneration, and regret of all.

I cannot, ! flatter myself, offer a more grateful
tribute to the Society, than by making his character
the subject of my first address to you; and if in the
delineation of it, fondness or affection for the man
should appear blended with my reverence for his
eenius and abilities, in the sympathy of your feelings
I shall find my apology. |
' To define, with accuracy, the variety, value, and
extent of his literary attainments, requires more
dearning than I pretend to possess; and I am there-
fore to solicit your indulgence for an imperfect sketch,
rather than expect your approbation for a complete
description, of the talents and knowledge of your late
and lamented President.

I saxty begin with mentioning his wonderful
capacity for the acquisition of languages, which has
never been excelled. In Greek and Roman \itera-
ture, his early proficiency was the subject of admi-
ration and applause, and knowledge of whatever
nature, once obtained by him, was ever afterwards
progressive. The more elegant dialects of modern
Europe, the French, the Spanish, and the Ftahan,
he spoke and wrote with the greatest fluency and pre-
cision ; and the German and Portuguese were familiar
to him. At an early period of life his application to
oriental literature commenced: he studied the He-
brew with ease and success; and many of the most

| learned

/

187
learned Asiatics have the candour to avow, that his
knowledge of rabic and Persian, was as accurate
‘and extensive as their own; he was also conversant
in the Turkish idiom ; and the Chinese had even at-
tracted his notice so far, as to induce him to learn the
radical characters of that language, with a view per~
haps to farther improvements. It was to be expected,
after his arrival in Jndia, that he would eagerly em-
brace the opportunity of making himself master of
the Shanscrit ; and the most enlightened professors of
the doctrines of BkauMAa, confess, with pride, de-
light, and surprize, that his knowledge of their sacred
dialect was most critically correct and profound. The
Panidits, who were in the habit of attending him, when
I saw them after his death, at a public Durbar, could
neither suppress their tears for his loss, nor find terms
to express their admiration at the wonderful progress
he had made in their sciences. |

Berore the expiration of his twenty-second year,
he had completed his Commentaries on the Poetry
of the -dsiatics, although a considerable time after-
wards elapsed before their publication; and_ this
work, if no other monument of his labours existed,
would at once furnish proofs of his consummate skill
in the oriental dialects, of his proficiency in those of
Rome and Greece, of taste and erudition far beyond his
years, and of talents and application without example.

Bur the judgment of Sir Witi1amM Jones was
too discerning to consider language in any other light
than as the key of science ; and he would have des-
pised the reputation of a mere linguist. Knowledge -

and

188

and truth were the objects of all his studies, and his
ambition was to be useful to mankind. With these
views, he extended his researches to all languages,
nations, and times. :

Sucu were the motives that induced him to pro2
pose to the Government of this country, what he
justly denominated a work of national utility and im-
portance; the compilation of a copious Digest of
Hindu and Mahommedan Law, ftom Shanscrit and
Arabic originals, with an offer of his services to su-
perintend. the compilation, and with a promise to
translate it. He had foreseen, previous to his depar-
ture from Europe, that without the aid of sucha work,
the wise and benevolent intentions ofthe legislature of
Great Britain, in leaving, to a certain extent, the na-
tives of these provinces in possession of their own
laws, could not be completely fulfilled; and his expe-
rience, after a short residence in’ Juda, confirmed
what his sagacity had anticipated, that without prin-
ciples to refer to, in a language familiar to the judges
of the courts, adjudications amongst the natives must
too often be subject to an uncertain and erroneous ex-
position, or wilful misinterpretation of their laws.

To the superintendence of this work, which was
immediately undertaken at his suggestion, he asst-
duously devoted those hours which he could spare
from his professional duties. After tracing the ‘plan
of the digest, he prescribed its arrangement and mode
of execution, and selected from the most learned
Hindus and Mahommedans fit persons for the task of
compiling it... Flattered by his attention, and encou-
aL raged

| 189
taged by his applause, the Pandits prosecuted their la-
bours with cheerful zeal, to a satisfactory conclusion>

The Moluvees have also nearly finished their portion of
the work ; but we must ever regret that the promised
translation, as well as the meditated preliminary dis-
sertation, have been frustrated by that: decree which so
ofien intercepts the performance of human purposes.
Durine the course of this compilation, and as
an auxiliary to it, he was led to study the works ‘of
Menu, reputed by the Hindus to be the cldest and
holiest of legislators; and finding them to comprize
asystem of religious and civil duties, and of law in
all its branches, so comprehensive and minutely
exact, that it might be considered as the institutes of
Hindu \aw, he presented a translation of them to the
“Government of Bengal. During the same period,
deeming no labour excessive ‘or superfluous that
tended, tn any respect, to promote the welfare or hap-
piness of mankind, he gave the public an English ver-
sion of the drabic text of the Srrajtyyan, or Ma-
hommedan Law of Inheritance, with a Commentary.
He had already published in England, a translation
_of a Tract on the same subject, by another Mahkom-
medan lawyer, containing, as his own words. express,
a lively and elegant epitome of the Law of Inheritance,
according to ZAID. ;
To these learned and important works, so far out of
the road of amusement, nothing could have engaged
his application, but that desire which he ever professed,
of rendering his knowledge usefiil to his.own nation,
_ and beneficial to the inhabitants of these provinces.
WyrHOUT

=

vv

290

Wirnovr attending to the chronological order
of their publication, I shall briefly recapitulate his
ether performances in Asiatic Literature, as far as
my knowledge and recollection of them extend.

THE vanity and petulance of ANnQuETIL pu
Perron, with his illiberal reflections on some of the
learned Members of the University of Oxford, ex-
torted from him a letter in the French language,
which has been admired for accurate criticism, just
satire, and elegant composition. A regard for the
literary reputation of his country, induced him to
translate from a Persian original into French, the Life
of Naprr San, that it might not be carricd out
of England, with a reflection that no person had
been found in the British dominions capable of trans-
lating it. The students of Persian literature must
ever be grateful to him for a grammar of that lan-
guage, in which he’ has shewn the possibility of
combining taste and elegance with the precision
of a grammarian; and every admirer of Arabic poe-
try must acknowledge his obligations to him for an
English version of the seven celebrated poems, « so
well known by the name of Moz/lakut, from the dis-
tinction to which their excellence had entitled them,
of being suspended in the temple of Mecca. I should
scarcely think it of importance to mention, that he’
did not disdain the office of Editor of a Shanscrit and
Persian work, if it did not afford me an opportunity
of adding, that- the latter was published at his own
expence, and was sold for the benefit of insol-
vent debtors. A similar application was made of

the produce of the SrRajiyYAu.
Or

TO}

Or his lighter productions, the elegant amuse-
ments of his leisute hours, comprehending hymns
onthe Hindu mythology; poems, consisting chiefly
of translations from the Asiatic languages ; and the
version of SACONTALA, and ancient J/zdian drama,—
it would be unbecoming to speak in a style of im-
portance which he did not himself annex to them.
They shew the activity of a vigorous mind, its fer-
tility, its genius, and its taste. Nor shall I particu-
larly dwell on the discourses addressed to this Society,
which we have all perused or heard, or on the other
learned and interesting dissertations, which form so
large and valuable a portion of the records of our re-
searches, Iect us lament that the spirit which dictated
them is to us extinct; and that the voice to which
we listened with improvement and rapture, will be
heard by us no more.

Bur I cannot pass over a paper, which has fallen
into my possession since. his demise, in the hand-
writing of Sir Witt1am. Jones himself, entitled
DersIDERATA, as more explanatory than any thing
I can say of the comprehensive views of his enlight-
ened mind. . It contains, as a perusal of it will shew,
whatever is most curious, important, and attainable,
in the sciences and histories of India, Arabia, China,
and Tartary; subjects which he had already most
amply discussed in the disquisitions which he laid be-
fore the Society.

has

DESIDERATA.

192
DESIDERAT A.

INDIA.

:.
The Ancient Geography of Inpia, &c. from the
Puranas.
II.
A Botanical Description of Inp1an Plants, from the
Coshas, &c.
Ill. |
A Grammar of the Sanscrit Language, from Pé-
nini, &C.
IV. if
A Dictionary of the Sanscrit Language, from.thirty-
two original Vocabularies and Nirucri.
y;
On the Ancient Music of the Jndians.
VI.
On the Medical Substances of Judia, and the fidian
Art of Medicine.
wb
On the Philosophy of the isnie Badithes
VII.
A Translation of the ¢da.
eo.
On Ancient Indian Geometry, Astronomy, . and
Algebra.
X.
A Translation of the Purdnas.

Xl. Trans-

193
XI.
Translations of the Mahébharat Ramayane —
XII.
On the Indian Theatre, &c. &c.
XIII.
On the Indian Constellations, with their Mythology,
from the Puranas.
XIV.
The History of Judia before the Mahommedan Con-
quest. From the Szanscrit-Cashmir Histories.

ARABIA.
XV. |
The History of Arabia before MunaMMED,
Wien XVI. a
A Translation of the Hamédsa.
oe oR aC
A Translation of Hariri’.
XVIII.
A Translation of the Fécahatil Khulafé
Of the Céfiah.
PERSIA.
XIX.

The History of Persia, from Authorities in. Sanscrit,
Arabic, Greek, Turkish, Persian, ancient and mo-
dern.

Firpausi’s-Khosrau ndma.

Vor. IV. O oe ee The

194

XX. |
The five Poems of Nrza‘1, translated-in prose. -
A Dictionary of pure Pexsian. Jehangire.

CHINA’ are
A Translation of the Shi-cing.
XXII.
The Text of Can-Fu-Tsu verbally translated.

TARTARY. |
XXII,

A History of the Tartar Nations, chiefly of the
Moguls and Othmdns; from the Turkish and Persian.”

We are not authorized to ~ conclude that he had
himself formed a determination to complete the works
which his genius and knowledge had thus sketched ;

‘the task seems to require a period beyond the
probable duration of any human life; but we who
had the happiness to know Sir WiLL1AM Jones,
who were witnesses of his indefatigable perseverance
in the pursuit of knowledge, and of his ardour to ac-
complish whatever he deemed important; who saw
the extent of his intellectual powers, his wonderful
attainments in literature and science, and the facility:
with which all his compositions were made, cannot
doubt, if it kad pleased Providence to protract the
date of his existence, that he would have ably exe-
cuted much of what he nae so extensively planned.

-_

gal - , ~ x

I HAVE

195
T wave ‘hitherto sitneTpally confined my discourse
to the pursuits of our late President, in oriental lite-
.Ydture, which, from their extent, might appear to
‘have occupied alf his time 5. but they neither preclud-
ed his attention to professional studies, nor to science
in general. Amongst his publications in Europe,
in polite literature, exclusive of various compositions
in prose and verse, I find a translation of the Speeches
of Isaus,° with a learned comment; and in law, an
- Essay on the Lew of Bailments. Upon the subject of
this Jast work, I cannot deny myself the gratification
of quoting the sentiment of a celebrated historian :—
«© Sir Witt1am Jones has given an ingenious and
<¢ rational Essay onthe Law of Bailments. He is per-
«© haps the only lawyer equally conversant with the
«« year-books of Westminster, the Commentaries of
« Uptan, the Attic Pleadings of Ismus, and the
«© Sentences of Arabian and Persian Cadhis.”
~ Hts professional studies did not commence before
his twenty-second year; and 1 have his own authority
for asserting, that the first book of English jurispru-
dente which he’ever studied, was Fortescve’s Es-
say, in Praise of the Laws of England.
Or the ability and conscientious integrity with which
he discharged the functions of a Magistrate, and the
_ duties of a Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature,
in this settlement, the public voice and public regret
bear ample and merited testimony. The same pene>
tration which marked his scientific researches, distin-
cuished his legal investigations and decisions; and he
deemed no enquiries burthensome which had for their

object substantial justice under the rules of law.
vi Olay. His

196

His addresses to the jurors are no less distinguished
for philanthropy and liberality of sentiment, than for
just expositions of the law, perspicuity and elegance
of diction ; and his oratory was as: captivating as his
arguments were convincing.

In an epilogue to his Commentaries on Asiatic Po-
etry, he bids farewell to polite literature, without re-
linguishing his affection for it; and concludes with
an intimation of his intention to study law, expressed.
if a wish which we now know to have been prophetic.

Mihi sit oro, non inutilis toga,
Nec indisserta lingua, nec turpis manus !

I HAveE already enumerated attainments and works
which, from their diversity and extent, seem far be-
yond the capacity of the most enlarged minds; but
the catalogue may yet be augmented. To a proficiency
in the languages of Greece, Rome, and Asia, he added
the knowledge of the philosophy of those countries,
and of every thing curious and valuable that had been
taught in them, The doctrines of the Academy,
the Lyceum, or the Portico, were not more familiar to
him than the tenets of the /édas, the mysticism of
the Suis, or the religion of the ancient Persians ; and
whilst with a kindred genius he perused with rapture
the heroic, lyric, or moral compositions of : the most
renowned poets of Greece, Rome, and sia, he could
turn with equal delight and knowledge to the sublime
speculations, or mathematical calculations of Bar-
row and Newron. With them also he. professed
his conviction of the truth of the Christian religion ,
and he justly deemed it.no inconsiderable advantage

that his researches had corroborated the multiplied »

evidence

: | ray
“evidence of revelation, by confirming the Mosaic ac-
count of the primitive world. We all recollect, and
can refer to the following sentiments in his Eighth
Anniversary Discourse.

«© THEOLOGICAL inquiries are no part of my pre-
€€ sent subject; but I cannot refrain from adding,
és that the collection of tracts, which we call from |
«¢ their excellence the Scriptures, contain, independ-
«‘ ently of a divine origin, more true sublimity,
<* more exquisite beauty, purer morality, more im-
<* portant history, and finer strains both of poetry and
« eloquence, than could be collected within the same
«© compass from all other books that were ever com-
“posed in any age, or in any idiom. The two
*¢ parts, of which the scriptures consist, are connected
<¢ by a chain of compositions, which bear no resem-
¢« blance in form or style to any that can be produced
«< from the stores of Grecian, Indian, Persian, or even
‘© Arabian learning. The antiquity of those compo-
‘* sitions no man doubts, and the unrestrained appli-
“cation of them to events long subsequent to their
« publication, is a solid ground of belief that they
*‘ were genuine predictions, and consequently inspired.”” |

THERE were, in truth, few sciences in which he
had not acquired considerable proficiency; in most
his knowledge was profound. The theory of music
was familiar to him, nor had he neglected to make
himself acquainted with the interesting discoveries
lately made in Chemistry; and I have heard him
assert, that his admiration of the structure of the hu-
man frame, had induced him to attend for a season
to a course of anatomical lectures, delivered by his
friend the celebrated Hunter.

ies 03 His

.198
His last and favourire pursuit was the study of
Botany, which he originally began under the confine-
ment of a severe and lingering disorder ; which, with
most minds, would have proved a disqualification
from any application, » It constituted the principal
amusement. of his leisure hours. In the arrangements
of Linnzus. he. discovered system, truth, and
science, which never failed to. captivate and engage
his attention; and from the proofs which he has
exhibited of his progress in Bofany, we may conclude
that he would have extended the discoveries.in that
science. Lhe last composition which he read in this
Society, was a description of select Jndzan plants ; and
I hope his Executers wil allow us to fulfil his inten-
tion of publishing it in a number of our Researches. .
Ir cannot be deemed useless or. superfluous to en-
quire, by what arts or method he was enabled to at-
tain to a degree of knowledge, almost universal, and
apparently beyond the powers of man, during a life
little exceeding forty-seven years. |
Tue faculties of his mind, by nature vigorous,
were improved by constant exercise ; and his memory,
‘by habitual ‘practice, had acquired a capacity of re-
taining-whatever had once been impressed upon it.
To an unextinguished ardovr for universal know-
ledge, he joined a perseverance in the pursuit of it,
which subdued all obstacles; his studies began with
the dawn, and, during the intermissions -of profes-
sional duties, were continued throughout the day:
reflection and meditation strengthened and confirmed
what industry and investigation had accumulated,
It’ was a fixed principle with him, from which he
; never

99
never voluntarily deviated} not to be deterred by any
difficulties that were surmountable, from:prosecuting
to a successful. termination. what he had once -delis
berately undertaken, ‘

Bur what appears to me more spite to have
enabled him to employ. his talents so much to his
own and the public advantage, was the regular allot-
ment of his time to particular occupations, and. a
scrupulous adherence to the distribution which he
had fixed ; hence, all his studies were pursued with-
out interruption or confusion : nor can I here omit re-
marking, what may probably have attracted your ob-+
servation. as well asmine, the candour and compla-
cency with which he gave his attention to all persons,
of whatever quality, talents, or education: he justly
concluded. that curious or important information
might be gained even from the illiterate ; and wherever
it was\to'be obtained, he sought and seized it.

Or the private and social virtues of our lamented
President, our hearts are the best records. ‘To you
who knew him, it cannot be necessary for me to expa-
tiate on the independence of his integrity, his hu-
manity, probity, or benevolence, which every living
creature participated ; on the affability of his conver-
sation and manners, or his modest unassuming deport-
ment; nor need I remark that he was totally free from
pedantry, as well as from arrogance and self-sufficiency,
which sometimes accompany and disgrace the great-
est abilities: his presence was the delight of every so-
ciety, which his conversation exhilarated and im-
proved; and the public have not only to lament the
loss of his talents and abilities, but that of his example.
O4 To

_

200

To him, as the Founder of our Institution, and
whilst he lived its firmest support, our reverence is
more particularly due: instructed, animated, and en-
couraged by him, genius was called forth into exer-
tion, and modest merit was excited to distinguish
itself. Anxious for the reputation of the Society, he
was indefatigable in his own endeavours to promote
it, whilst he cheerfully assisted those of others. In
losing him, we have not only been deprived of our
brightest ornament, but of a guide and patron, on
whose instructions, judgment, and candour, we could
implicitly rely.

But it will, I trust, be long, very long, before the
remembrance of his virtues, his genius, and abilities,
lose that influence over the Members of this Society
which his living example had maintained ; and if,
previous to his demise, he had been asked, by what
posthumous honours or attentions we could best shew |
our respect for his memory, I may venture to assert
he would have replied, ‘* by exerting yourselves to sup»
port the credit of the Society ;” applying to it, perhaps,
the dying wish of Father Pau, * Esto perpetua.”

A TREATISE

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IV +96 88] go] -84 +gt +85 By 82 88 *82] .80 78] 791 79 85] .85 81 81 81 Br] 80
84 84 84 +78 87 | 81 82 80 +83
Vv 96 go gt 80 85 85
+85 +88 -78 <8] Bo) Bin) )-83 80
VI +96 90 Or 84 +85 82 87 “79 -78| +79 “79 385 Br «Bo 83
-96 .go 1or| 85] .85 82| .88] .87 82 a82/|) Se7Oi]) 185 Shi) SKN Brat oul) spy 80
VIL “95 +90 191 85 +92 87 79 78 82 79 85 88 81 +B2 83 81
97 «gt | -89 85 | 85 79 | .88 .78| «82 89} 81 Or By]
VII} «og -91| .go} .89 +85 95 .87 -79| 89] +80] +78} Az] 80] 85) .go}] .8r| .83} 86) .83 85
+98 «go 8c +85 88 -36 +95 | 30. 7 80 .90 -80 83 83 88 +92 Sr 83 86 86 aah
1X +99 +95 | 30- .93 | -87 | .86 190] .96] .95 | 30. 87 86] .or} .80| .78) +84] .85] -94] 97] 83} 83] .86 183
+99 .97 | 30- 93] 89] .88] 85} 82 95 | 29-77 | 87 186] .gt +78) 84 30. «99 | +84] .83] .86] .88 85
x +99 +97 | 30- ‘97)| .88'| 288 | <87 30. 85 .o} .gt{ +87] +78) .84 30 96} .85] .83 83
99 +97 | 30 2 -97 82 -93 | 29-99 “go +79 | 39 85 +83 88
XI +99 +94 | .97 | 30 2 -88 79 +gt -96| «85 gl 80 +83 85
.99 ; SBS O35|| ooe || 86 +94 78) 84] «79 84 83] .86
Xi .97 130.2] .97) .88] .88'1 .85 FG BO) 937 4d BG Bot agac| Lor Be 378 +791 29.941 .84 |! .85 82| 86 831
f 7. hb. ome F ' d, 2 he
ae New Moon, Marchir - 1 15 P.M. Laft Quarter, April 23. - qz 2. M Wage
CALCUTTA. » Ging Quarter, April 7 - 11 15 A.M. New Moon, April rg - 9) 53 2. M. is
FullMoon, Aprils - 4 o P.M, ‘

A

’ TREATISE ON THE BAROMETER,

BY FRANCIS BALFOUR, ESQ.

:

(aN a Treatise, published at this place a few weeks ASO,
~ on Sol-Lunar Influence in Fevers, I have endea-
voured to shew, “* That all Fevers are liable to certain
diurnal and septenary * revolutions ; and that these re-
volutions are uniformly and constantly connected with
Jixed periods of time.

‘ Tl.

Havine established this proposition (1.), it was na-
tural to suppose that the power or influence which
is capable of producing these very remarkable and
interesting revolutions on the human constitution,
at certain intervals, did not exert itself without ef-
fecting, at the same time, some corresponding pe-
riodical change in the state of that element in which
we constantly exist ; and in which all the operations of
life and nature are carried on.

OrweER necessary avocations having hitherto pre-
vented me from being able to make those experi-
ments myself that are required for deciding on this

* That is to say, changes happening after an interval of seven or
eight days. fs).

question,

202 _ by TREATIGE

question, I applied to Mr, Faroui ar, who, I under-
stood, had paid some attention to this subject ; and
was favoured with the following very oben and
instructive letter : ek Tae

TO DOCTOR BALFOUR.

DEAR SIR,

«© You likewise desire me to give you some ac-
count of the regular diurnal variations of the Ba-
rometer which take place in this country ; and which,
J said, I conceived to be peculiar to tropical climates,
from the otherwise unaccountable silence of ever
author whose work I had been able to consult on
the subject. The first intimation of this was from
Mr. Henry Traiz, who informed me that he had
observed the Mercury to rise every night till about
eleven o’clock, when it became stationary. I imme-
_ diately repeated his observations, and found that the
fact was certain; but that there was likewise another
diurnal variation, which had escaped his notice. Af.
ter numerous observations, at all hours during the
day and-night, I found that the Mercury is subject
to the following variations, with the utmost degree of
recularity, throughout the whole year. ~Fiom six
in the morning till between seven and eight, it is sta-
tionary; it then rises till nine, sometimes, though |
rarely, till ten, when it remains stationary till noon;
it then descends, and is lowest at three, and con-
tinues stationary till eight; when it begins to rise,
and continues till eleven, and is then at the same

f d

height that it was at nine in the morning, |

On

"ON THE BAROMETER. 203

Ox relating the above observations to the late Co-
lonel Pearce, an indefatigable and rigidly accurate
observer, and who had devoted much time and at-
tention to Barometrical pursuits, he was surprised that
such regular variations of the Mercury should have
escaped his observation: but some time after, with
great candour acknowledged the certainty of the fact,
and framed an hypothesis to account for it; which you
will probably be able to obtain on an application to
Captain GRACE.

To me the phenomena appear inexplicable to any
hypothesis that I can think of. he periods are evi-
dently connected with the earth's diurnal motion ; and,
if we had not a satellite, might be easily explained by
the atmospherial tides caused by the sun. But when
we find that the Barometer is not, in the least observ-
able degree, affected by the moon’s passage over the
meridian, or by the united action of the sun and moon
at the syzygies, we have absolute proof that this can-
not be the cause; neither can the expansion of the
Mercury, being directly opposite to the phenomena,
the greatest degree of heat taking place at three o’clock,
when the Mercury 1s lowest.

.Wi1rTH respect to the influence of the moon on the
sbrciosphere, I was perfectly satisfied while in Beerboom,
that the cold season set in at the syzygies only; and that
there was always a considerable increase of cold at every
return of them. “But at the old powder-works near
Calcutta, 1 observed the greatest degree of cold to
happen sometimes at the) quadratures.. Being, how. |
ever, at that time much engaged in other pursuits, I
did -not attend, to the circumstance of the moon’s

ubsolute

204 _ ff TREATISE

absolute distance, though of the utmost ‘consequence
in all calculations of the heights of the tide, to which
the variations of the state of the atmosphere, occa-
sioned by the attraction of the sun and moon, must be
analogous. And yet this fact, important as it is to
every sea-faring person, especially in river-navigations,,
as well as to ship-builders, for predicting the highest
spring-tides, seems to be totally unknown to the ge-
nerality of these persons; nor is it surprising, as it is
not taken notice of in any treatise on navigation that
T have met with. But M. De 1a Lawnpe (Astro-
nomy, vol. ill. p. 656.) shews, that if the moon’s
mean force to raise the waters of the ocean be two and
a half, her greatest force when Apogee, will be three;
and her least when Perigee, two: a difference suffi-
cient ‘to account for the tides at the quadrarures
being sometimes nearly as high as those at the sy=
zygies: a circumstance which was ascertained by part
of a committee instituted for examining plans for
new powder-works at the Old Fort Ghaut; where
stakes had been driven, on purpose to find the rise of
the tide. M. De 1a Lanpe confirms the theory
by many observations, made with great accuracy in
some of the ports of France (Supplement, vol. iv.) ;
and I can vouch for the fact by numerous measures
of the heights of the tide, bath at the old and new
powder-works. But you may easily satisfy yourself of
the fact, by observing the height of a few tides at
Champaul Ghaut, when you will find, invariably,
that every great parallax of the moon, at the syzygies,
is attended with a very high tide and strong bore;
and vic2 versa. I have not becn able to observe
that

ON THE BAROMETER. 2905

that the moon’s declination, notwithstanding what you
may have heard from other quarters, has any percep-
tible effect on the tides.
I wave been the more particular on this subject, as
I have heard it made an unanswerable objection to
your system, that the first attacks of intermittent fever
do happen at the quadratures as well as the syzygies;
and that relapses do likewise happen at the .quadra-
tures. Now, should you meet with any such cases,
the above observations may perhaps tend to reconcile
them to your system, &c.
| JoHN Farquuar.
Banky Bazar, wath Feb. 1794.

III.

Attuovcs in this letter Mr. FarquyAr de-
scribes in the Barometer only ¢hree different diurnal
periods of rising and falling, I could not help suspect-
ing that there must likewise be a fourth, which kad
escaped his notice; and that I should be able to dis-
cover a periodical falling also in the state of the
mercury, between eleven at might and six in the
morning, analogous to that which he had observed
between eleven at mid-day and six in the evening.
Accordingly, by keeping myself awake, and conti-
nuing my observations during the night, | have now
the satisfaction to be assured that my anticipation of
the revolution I expected to discover, was perfectly
just. |

> “ky; |

Wri a view of ascertaining the progress of these
_ four different revolutions by personal observation, I
| | imposed

. ~

206 A TREATISE

imposed upon myself the task of observing and res
cording the changes of the Barometer, as far as T was

able, every half-hour, day and night, during the pe-
riod of one complete lunation.

- Tue result.of this undertaking I have now the ho-
nour to lay before the Society; and if in matter or
form it contains any thing worthy of their attention,
or of a place amongst their Researches, it will afford
me a deeree of satisfaction that will more than renvant
me for my labour. -

1. ‘OF THE PERIODICAL DIURNAL CHANGES
OF THE BAROMETER.

THE DETAIL OF FACTS,

$t0 3

Twe Detail of Facts is comprehended. in the fol-
lowing record of observations made on the Barometer,
as regularly as I was able to perform it, evety: halt-
hour, both day and night, during the lunation whic
intervened between the 31st of Merch and the 2gth
of April 1794. To these | have added the state of
the. Thermometer and Wind, with the appearance of
the sky...

Mé;

’ My observations of the Baroweter were taken. se
scrupulous exactness; and although the weighty hand
of sleep has more than once deprived me of observa-
tions that I was just about to make, and was anxious to
record, | have never ventured toassume any probable

‘state of the Mercury as an actual observation.
| Wil. Wits

os

ON THE BAROMETER, 207
| VIL. bmg

~ Wrru respect to the Thermometer, although it was
liable to some inaccuracy from my not being able to

» preserve the apartment in which it was hung, uniform-
ly open or shut, yet, as the variations from this cause
were trifling, and never obscured the regular and pro-
gressive rise and fall which it observes at different pe-
riods of the day, I conceive that my record is suffid
ciently exact for enabling me to decide, with safety,
,. that the daily fluctuations which appeared in the Baro?

meter, were mot connected with the daily vicissitudes
of heat and cold.
VI.

5 BA UGH ches state,of the wid was not measured
by any instrument, but estimated only grossly by the
effect which it appeared to produce omthe trees:and
other objects around, still I conceive that I may also

* venture to determine on this ground, | that the diurnal
fluctuation of the Mercury was s Hol connected with the
state of the wind. |
_ Iw the column appropriated for nigosdinic the state
of the wind, Nzmber 1: represents a breeze capable
of carrying ona ship two or three miles in the hour;
Number 2, a breeze capable’of carrying on a ship four
or five miles ; and Number 3, a breeze capable of car-
rying on a ship six, seven, or efght niles.

F 2 Fa f ia |
“NeirHeR are the ‘appearances of the sky defined
With much precision or minuteness; yet, upon the
ay a a that I have given, I think I may pronounce
Sa iaae ; with

2058 | A TREATISE

with sufficient confidence, that they did zof direct
or regulate the periodical diurnal fluctuation of the
Barometer.

By conceiving the wind, which in the month of
April is generally from some point in the south, car-
rying constantly along with it, in the different degrees
of velocity I have described (VIII) different pro-
portions of light and heavy clouds, we may obtain a '
tolerably just idea of the appearance of the sky at Ca/-
cutta during that month.

To express these different states, we have employed
inthe record the terms clear, cloudy, and overcast.
When few clouds only appear, or none, which 1s sel-
dom the case at this season, the sky is said to be clear;
when -the sun or stars shine through a number of
clouds, the sky is said to be cloudy ; and when the sun
or stars do not appear at all, the sky is said to be
evercist. ;

N.B. Asthe record of observations from which these negative
propositions (VII. VIII. 1X.) respecting the thermometer, the
state of the wind, and appearance of the sky are inferred, is volu- -
minous, and would necessarily exclude from this volume of the
Researches matter that is much more interesting, it has been
considered sufficient for the object of this paper, to insert only
the opposite abstract, or Syopsis, of the observations made on
tre Barometer. | ;

x
THE STATEMENT.

, XI.
_ Tue sum of my observations respecting the four
Periodical Diurnal Revolutions of the Barometer
which I have described, appears at one view in the
| preceding

. ON THE BAROMETER. 209

' preceding Synoptical Arrangement, and when stated
precisely in numbers, amounts to this,

ist, THar on every day of the thirty compre-
hended in the Record, excepting one (a), the
Barometer constantly fell between ten at night
and six in the morning; and that progressively,
and without any intermediate rising, excepting in
one instance (4). 3

ad, TuHar on every day of the thirty compre-
hended in the Record, without one exception,
the Barometer constantly rose between six and
ten in the morning ; and that progressively, and

without any intermediate falling, excepting in
two instances (c) (d).

3d, ‘THAT on every day of the thirty compre-
hended in the Record, without one exception,
the Barometer constantly fe// between ten in the
morning and six in the evening; and that pro-
eressively, and without any intermediate rising
in any instance.

4th, Tuart on every day of the thirty compre-
hended in the Record, excepting two (e) (jf);

the Barometer constantly rose between six and
ten. in the evening; and that progressively, and
without any intermediate falling in any instance.

(a) Between the 2oth and 21st—Vide Synopsis.
(4) Between the 22d and 23d—ditto
(c) On the 11th, - —ditto,
(d) On the 23d, - — ditto,
(e) On the 15th, - ditto,
(/) On the 2oth, . — ditts.

Vou. IV. 7 i eat From

ian A TREATISE
THe INFERENCE.

XII. “

From the preceding statement of the coincidences
observed in these four portions of the day, it appears
that we may reasonably infer the following proposi-
tions, limited to Ce/cutta in the month of April 1 794.

1st, THAr, in the interval between ten at night

and six in the morning, there existed a prevailing
tendency in the Mercury to fall.

2d, ‘THart, in the interval between six and ten in

the morning, there existed a prevailing tendency in.
the Mercury to 7ise.

3d, Tuar, in the interval between. ten in the

morning and six in the evening, there existed a
prevailing tendency in the Mercury to fall.

4th, ‘Tuat, in the interval between six and ten

in the evening, there existed a prevailing tendency
in the Mercury to rise. :

TueEse different prevailing tendencies to rise and
fall periodically at certain times of the day and night,
necessarily imply a proportionate corresponding cause
sufficient to produce them. . But here we stop, and
venture to proceed no farther than to say, with Mr.
FarquuAr, that they seem to be connected with the
diurnal revolutions of the planet which we inhabit.

pb ain
By an attentive examination of the Synopsis, it will
appear that the general characters of the tendencies
which prevail] at the different periods we have de-
scribed, are liable, within their respective: limits, to
several remarkable variations, viz.
1. With

ON THE BAROMETER. | 211

1. With regard to the time of beginning to rise or fall.

2. With regard to the ¢ime of ceasing to rise or fall.

3. With regard to the steps or degrees by which the

Mercury rises or falls.

4. With regard to the /imits or extremes to which it

rises or falls.

Berne under the necessity of acknowledging our
ignorance of the cause which produces these prevaif-
ing tendencies themselves, we can of course have no
adequate idea or conception in, theory of the different
circumstances that are capable of producing the differ-
ent variations which appear in their general character;
and our observations being much too limited ta esta-
blish, concerning them, any thing like practical rules,
we must remain contented for the present with point-
ing them out as questions which want investigation:
expressing however a strong suspicion that they are
not unconnected with the relative positions of the
Moon, and the other planets.

THE APPLICATION.
XIV.

At the time of digesting the ideas which I have
delivered upon this subject, being possessed of no
information but that which was communicated in
Mr. Farquxar’s letter, and what 1 obtained after-
wards from myown observations, I did not conceive
that I was authorized to extend the propositions
which I have advanced (XII.) respecting these ten-
dencies, beyond the limits of Calcutta. By a note,
however, which is just now pointed out to me in Dr.
Mose vey’s very ingenious Treatise on Tropical Dis-

F2 eases,

—_

412 | A TREATISE

eases (a), I have the satisfaction to find thatrthe
very same tendencies have been observed to prevail
on the opposite side of the globe. We may there-
fore now venture to allow them a more extensive
range ; and it will, no doubt, be considered of some
importance to establish in certain latitudes (0) the
existence of a law in nature’ by which the Mercury
of the Barometer, let the standing weight and pres-
sure of the atmosphere be what it may, is liable to
the effects of a constant and regular periodical diur-
nal fluctuation; for it will then follow shat the power
-of each succeeding hour to raise or sink it, is liable
to differ from that which went before; ¢hat the height
_of thé Mercury, therefore, taken only at two or three
stated hours of the day, cannot with propriety ‘be as-

(a) The Note referred toin Dr. Mosgiey’s Treatise is this:—:
*<It has been observed in these and more equatorial regions, that
“¢ though the barometer is useless in indicating the variations of the
‘¢ weather, it exhibits a phenomenon not correctly ascertained ih
** temperate climates; which is that the Mercury has two diurnal
“‘ motions of ascent and descent, of nearly a line corresponding
*¢ with the course of the sun; ascending as the sun approaches the
*¢ zenith and nadir,.and descending as the sun deviates from these
*‘ points. It remains stationary at its lowest and highest degrees
‘© for some hours.”

(2) As far as can judge from the following extract from Father
Corte’s Memoir on the prevailing winds, &c. &c. which [ have
just met with in the Edindurgh Magazine for March 1792, there
seems to, be great reason to believe, that similar fluctuations take
place in the Mercury, in the different latitudes of Hwrope; and
that they are not entirely confined to the regions under the equator,

‘©The Mercury is generally a little lower about two o’clock 1
** the afternoon than at any other time of the day; and it is high
“‘est towards eight o’clock at night. I would compare this fact
‘< without pretending to draw any consequences trom it, with the
«‘ phenomenon of the magnetic needle, the greatest variation of
s¢ which from north towards west takes place about two or three
“in the afternoon, and the least about eight o’clock in the morn:
“6 ing.’’-—Vide the Edinburgh Magazine for March 1792, page 211.
par. 6, | RP
8 sumed

ON THE BAROMETER. 213

sumed to represent or form a just estimate of the
whole twenty-four ; ¢hat calculations proceeding hi-
therto ‘on such partial grounds, must necessavily im:
clude error and require adjustment, and ¢hat in fu
ture, wherever this law extends, no correct phildso-
phical investigation connected with the nature\of the
atmosphere, can be carried on withont giving it a
place (c) ; and no just prognostic formed of the weather
without distinguishing those regular and constant
changes from such as are only occasional and tempo-
rary. |

Wiru respect to Medicine, this law is a principle
entirely new; ‘and: it has now -become a matter of
real consequence, to ascertain in what respects. it co-
‘operates with the power of the sun and moon in pro-
ducing and regulating the paroxysms of fevers.
From the striking coincidence of these tendencies with
the periods at which the paroxysms of fevers gene-
rally attack and remit, and from their superior preva-
lence in tropical climates where the paroxysms of
fever are also most prevalent, ‘* it seems to be highly
probable that they may have a considerable share in consti-
tuting that power which shews itself in so remarkable a
manner in this country, and which we have denominated

Sol-Lunar Influence,”

Il. Of the Periodical Septenary Changes of the Barometer.
XV i

RrEsPEcriNG periodical septenary changes in the

state of the Barometer, the only information I have

(c) A mean, extracted from means obtained from the extremes

of these different diurnal fluctuations, will give the mean weight of
the atmosphere much more correctly than the common process.

Bs been

214 A TREATISE

been able to obtain, 1s extracted from an abridged
Exposition of the System of Mr. ToALpo upon the
probability of the change of weather by the lunar
points taken from the Journal des Sciences Ustiles,
and published in the Calcutta Magazine for July and
August 1793. Mr. Toaxpo, it appears, in order to
ascertain whether the moon had any influence on the
Mercury, collected a journal of the Barometer kept
for several years, from which he discovered that the
Barometer was six-tenths of a line higher at the
times of the quadratures than at the syzygies.

Ir this journal was kept correctly on a proper
plan, periodical septenary changes in the Barometer
connected with the revolutions of the moon, are esta-.
blished of course. Bwt if it was kept in the ordinary
way of assuming two or three observations taken in
the course of the day, to serve asa standard or rule
for estimating the state of the whole twenty-four, it is
evidently able to errors which render the calculation
precarious and inconclusive for the reasons already
explained; which however had not occurred to me atthe
imeof writing my last Treatise on Sol-Lainar Influence.

°Tuar the Barometer will be differently affected at
the springs and neaps, is an anticipation which has
in its favourthe strongest probability that analogy can
afford. ‘Yet, upon a review of the observations col-
lected during the springs and neaps of the lunation
which I have observed, I cannot say that, when ar-
ranged as they stand in the Synopsis, in coincidence
with their respective periods, they exhibit a ‘differ-
ence of character to establish this conclusion. We

therefore leave it to the decision of a far more exten-
sive

ON -THE BAROMETER. 215

sive experience, conducting its observations on a plan
similar to that which we have exemplified in this

Treatise.

In looking over Dr. Mosexey’s Treatise on this occasion, I am
sorry to discover that trusting too much to memory, in referring
to his work in my last publication, I have given a very imperfect
account of what he has communicated on the subject of Sol-
Lunar Influence. But when he considers that by my inaccuracy’
J have deprived myself of the weight of his authority in supportiag
a proposition I was anxious to establish, he will be inclined to as-
cribe it to the cause I have stated. Dr. Moserey’s observations
are contained in the Conclusion to his Treatise, between page sso
and 556: they confirm the power of Sol-Lunar Influence in
Europe in a very unequivocal manner, and merit the attention
of those who wish for information on this subject.---For the note
to which this remark refers, vide page 212.

ON THE DUTIES
OF A

PAITHFUL HINDU WIDO??.

_BY HENRY COLEBROOKE, ESQ.

[A 7HILE the light which the labours of the
Asiatic Society have thrown on the sciences:

and religion of the Hindus, has drawn the attention
of the literary world to that subject, the hint thrown
out by the President for rejecting the authority of

every publication preceding the translation of the
P4 Gité,;
‘ ¢

a6 ON THE DUTIES

Gitdé, does not appear to have made sufficient impres-
sion. Several late compilations in Europe betray’
great want of judgment in the selection of authori-
ties; and their motley dress of true and false colours
tends to perpetuate error; for this reason it seems
necessary on every topic, to revert to original au-
thorities for the purpose of cancelling error or veri-
fying facts already published; and this object will.
no way be more readily attained than by the com-
munication of detached essays on each topic, as it
may present itself to the Orientalist in the progress
of his researches. | 3

From this or any other motive for indulgence,
should the following authorities from Sanscrit books
be thought worthy of ‘aplace in the next volume of
the Society’s Transactions, I shall be rewarded for
the pains taken in collecting them.

“+ Fi avine first bathed, the widow, dressed in two
*¢ clean garments, and holding some césa grass, sips
water from the palm of her hand. . Bearing chsa
“* and #/g (a) on her hand, she looks towards the
east or north while the Bréhmana utters the mystic
‘¢ word Om, Bowing to Nérayana, she next declares
«« (6): “ Onthis month, so named in such a Pacsha,
“¢ on such a #it’At, 1 (naming herself and her (¢)
F family) that f may meet ARUNDHATI’ (d) and re-
side in Swarga; that the years of my stay may be
(a) Sesamum: ;
(4) This ceclaratjon is called the Sancalpa.
(c) Gotra, the family or race. Four great families of Bréhmanas
are now extant, and have branched into many distinct races. Since,
the memorable massacre of the Cshatriyas, by Parasu Rama, the -

Cshatriyas describe themselves from the same Gotras as the Brahe:
Manas»

“

(é) Wife of VasisuT’Ha,
| ** numerous

OF A FAITHFUL HINDU WIDOW. 217

«¢ numerous as the hairs on the human body; that I
«© may enjoy with my husband the felicity of hea-
<‘ ven, and sanctify my paternal and maternal pro-
«« genitors, and the ancestry of my husband’s fa-
«¢ ther; that lauded by the Apsarases, 1 may be hap-
‘© py with my lord, through the reigns of fourteen
Iwpras; that expiation be made for my husband’s’
offences, whether he has killed a Brihniana,
‘*¢ broken the ties of gratitude, or murdered his friend,
** thus 1 ascend my husband’s burning pile. - 1 calf
<¢ on you, ye guardians of the eight regions of the
*¢ world! Sun and Moon! Air, Fire, Aéther (e},
s* Barth, and Water! My ownsoul! Yama! Day,
«© Night, and Twilight! And thou, Conscience, bear
‘* witness: I follow my husband’s corpse on the fu-
_ © neral pile (f).” :

«© Havine repeated the Sancalpa, she walks thrice
“ round the pile; and the Bréhmana utters the fol-
* lowing Mantras:

nN

‘

“a

c

“

n

“

«Om! Let these women, not to be widowed
good wives, adorned with collyrium, holding cla-
rifed butter, consign themselves to the fire. Im-
‘© mortal, not childless, nor husbandless, excellent,
** let them pass into fire, whose original element is
‘* water. From the Rigvéda,

€¢

ee

(¢) Acdsa.

(f) In several publications the woman has been described as
placing herself on the pile before it be lighted ;. but the ritual
quoted is conformable to the text of the Bhagavata.

** When the corpse is about to be consumed in the Sahétaja*, the
faithful wife who stood without, rushes on the fire.”

Na’rEDAto YUDISHT’HIRA.

* Cabin of grass or leaves, sometimes erected on the funeral pile,
** The Shed on the funeral pile of a Munv’ iscalled Parn’o’TAJA
and Sauo’raja.’’ See the vocabulary entitled Ha’ra’Batr’.

<6 Om !

218 ON; THE DUTIES

‘<-Om! Let these wives, pure, beautiful, commit
‘© themselves to the fire, with their husband’s corpse.

MA Pauranica Mantra.

« Wiru this benediction, and uttering the mys-
* tic Namo Namah, she ascends the flaming pile.”

Wutte the prescribed ceremonies are performed
by the widow, the son, or other near kinsman, of
the deceased, applies the first torch, with the forms
directed for funeral rites in the Grihya (¢); by
which his tribe is governed.

Tue Sancelpa.is evidently formed on the words of
ANGIRAS ;

_* Tue wife who commits herself to the flames
<* with her husband’s corpse, shall equal AnuNp-
<* wari’, and reside in Swarga; |

*¢ AccOMPANYING her husband, she shall reside se
«< long in Swarga as are the thirty-five millions of
¢ hairs on the human body,

“© As the snake-catcher forcibly drags the serpent
<« from his earth, so, bearing her husband from
*< hell, with him she shal] enjoy heavenly bliss.

«© Dyine with her husband, she sanctifies her ma-
‘«* ternal and paternal ancestors; and the ancestry of
«© him to whom she gave her virginity.

(g) Extracts or compilations from the sacred books, containing
the particular forms for religious ceremonies, to be obseryed by the ©
race or family for whom that portion of the sacred writings has
been adopted, which composes their Grdsya. . We learn from the
Bhégavata, that Vya‘sa divided the Véda into four (Rich, Yajush,
&aman, and APharvan) or five, including the /tibasas or other Pura-
vasasone Veda. Patria accepted the Rigvéda; Jarment and
Cavi, or Sucra, the Sdmavéda; BaisaMPAYANA learned the
Rajurvéde; Samuntu, Daruna, andothers of the family of An-.
61rAs, the A?harvavéda, ** My father (Suc’Ha, sonof Vya’sa
‘ speaks) selected the Zihdsas and Puranas; then the several Ri‘shis
* chose the /¢das variously (parts of each). Their pupils, the
‘* successors of their pupils, and the pupils of these, became fol<
« lowers of particular Sac’? ba’s.”

Hagin .$¢ SucH

OF A FAITHFUL HINDU WIDOW. 219

s* Sucu a wife, adoring her husband, in celestial
*¢ felicity with him, greatest, most admired (/),
«¢ with him shall enjoy the delights of heaven while
< fourteen INDRAS reign.

‘¢ THovucsH her husband had killed a Bréhmana,
‘ (7) broken the ties of gratitude, or murdered his
‘© friend, she expiates the crime.” ° ANGIRAS.

Tur Mantras are adopted on the authority of the
BrauMeE Purana.

‘¢ Wuite the pile is preparing, tell the faithful
s¢ wife of the greatest duty of woman, she is Joyal and

a

** pure who burns herself with her husband’s corpse.
s¢ Hearing this, fortified (in her resolution) and full
‘* of affection, she completesthe PrrriMuEDA Yaga
** (&) and ascends to Swarga.”
BrRaAHME Purana.
It is held to be the duty of a widow to burn herself
with her husband’s corpse; but she has the alterna-
tive,
«© On the death of her husband, to live as
‘¢ Brahmachar}, or commit herself to the flames.”
| VISHNU.
THE austerity intended consists in chastity, and in
acts of piety and mortification.

(4) The word in the text is expounded ‘ lauded by the choirs
of heaven, Gandhbaraas,’’ &e. .

_ (2) The commentators are at the pains of shewipg that this ex-
piation must refer toa crime committed in a former existence; for
funeral rites are refused to the murderer of a Brabmana.

(4) Acvof burning herself with her husband.
| ve . a “ THE

20 ON THE DUTIES

«6 Tue use of Tambula, dress; and feeding off Ves.
*¢ sels of tutenague is forbidden’ to the Farr (J), thé
« Brahmachcri, and the widow. ri nm”

PRACHETAS.,
-. © Tue widow shall never exceed one meal a Gay,
«¢ nor-sleep ofa bed: if she do so, her husband falf
« from Swarga, fe

‘© Siz shall eat no other than simple food, and
*¢ (mt) shall daily offer the terpana. of -. éésa, ‘tila,
*¢ and water (7). ty Bat |

© In Faisa'e ha, Ca'rtica, and Ma'gha she shall ex-
« ceed the usual duties of ablution, alms, and pilgri+
4* mage, and often use the name of Gop in prayer.”
he Syri'77.

Arrer undertaking the duty of a Saf’; should
the widow recede, she incurs the penalties of
defilement. | i .

« Jr the woman,-teeretting life, recede from the
¢¢ pile, she is defiled; but may be purified by ‘ob-
*« serving'the fast called Prajdpatya” (0).

, : APASTAMBA.

Tuovucu an alternative be allowed, the Hindu le-
gislators have shown themselves disposed to, encou-
rage widows to burn themselves with their husband’s

corpse.

(2) Saanyash.

(7) If she has no male descendants. See Madana Parijdta,

{ny Oblations for the manes of ancestors to the third degree,
‘though not exclusively; for the prayer includes a general petition
for remoterancestors. Yet daily oblations (Vaisvédéva) are sepa-
rately offered for ancestors beyond the third degree.

(0) 1t extends to twelve days ; the first three, a spare meal may
be taken once im each day ; the next three, once in each night; the
succeeding three days, nothing may be eaten but what is given
unsolicited; and the last three days area rigid fast.

Fia’ri'ta

¢

OF A FAITHFUL HINDU WIDOW. 23°

~Ha’ai'ra thus defines a loyal wife: <‘ She, whose
** sympathy feels the pains and joys of her husband;
¢* whe mourns and pines in his, absence, and dies
*¢ when he dies, is a good and loyal wife.
Haritas
« Arways revere a loyal wife, as you venerate
© the Dévatds; for, by her virtues, the prince’s em*
‘¢ pire may extend over the three worlds.”
| Matsya Purana.
** TxHovucs the husband died unhappy by the dis-
* obedience of his wife: if from motives of love,
<¢ disgust of the world, fear of living unprotected,
* or sorrow, she commit herself to the flames, she
“¢ js entitled to veneration.”
Mahé Bhirata.
OgzsEQuiss for suicides are forbidden; but the
Rigveda expressly declares, ‘ that the loyal wife who
“< burns herself, shall not be deemed a suicide. When
‘* a mourning of three days has been completed, the
‘* Srdddha isto be performed*. This appears from
‘s the prayer for the occasion, directed in the Rig-
“6 veda.” : |
RecuLar_y the chief mourner for the husband
and for the wife, would, in many cases, be distinct
persons: but the Byavisaya Purdua provides, that
«<< WueEn the widow consigns_ herself to the same
“¢ pile with the corpse of the deceased, whoever per-
‘* forms the Criyé for her husband, shall perform it
*s) for ‘hers?

* The shortness of the mourning is honourable; the longest
mourning is for the lowest tribe, |

j ss As

’

222 » ON THE DUTIES
«As to the ceremonies from the lighting of the
<¢ funeral pile to the Pimda; whoever lights the pile,
$< shall also ofterthe Pinda.”’ Va’yvu Puréna.
Iw certain circumstances the widow is disqualified
for this act of a Satz.

_ Swe who has an infant child, or is pregnant, or
«¢ whose pregnancy is doubtful, or who is unclean,
<¢ may not, O princess! ascend the funeral pile.

<¢ Sosaid Na’rEDA to the mother of Sacara.”
_ © The mother of an infant shall not relinquish the
. & care of her child to ascend the pile; nor shall one
«© whois unclean (from a periodical cause) or whose
«¢ time for purification after child-birth is not passed,
«© nor shall one whois pregnant, commit herself to the
‘¢ flames (g). But the mother of an infant may, if
«* the care of the child can be otherwise provided.”
VRiHASPATI.
Ix the event of a Brahmana dying in a distant
country, his widow is not permitted to burn herself.
<¢ A Vipra or Bréhmana may not ascend a second
‘< piled? Go’TAMA.
Bur with other casts, this proof of fidelity is not
precluded by the remote decease of the husband, and
is called Anugamana. |
«¢ Tue widow, on the news of her husband’s dying
‘< in a distant country, should expeditiously burn
‘¢ herself: so shallshe obtain perfection.” Vya’sa.
(7) Ithas been erroneously asserted, that a wife, pregnant at the
tine of her husband’s death, may burn herself after delivery.
Hindu authorities positively contradict it. In addition to the text

it may be remarked, that it is a maxim, ** What was prevented in
‘© its seqson, may not afterwards be resumed,”

“6 SHOULD

OF A FAITHFUL HINDU WIDOW. 229

*¢ Suovu tp the husband die on a journey, holding
“6 his sandals to her breast, let her pass into the flames.”
3 BRAHME Purdna,

‘The expression is not understood of sandals exclu-
sively: for thus Usanas or Sucra.

‘© Excerpt a Vipra, the widow may take any thing
*« that belonged to her husband, and ascend the pile.

“ BuraVipra may not ascend a second pile; this
‘© practice belongs to other tribes.” SUCRA.

In two of the excepted cases, a latitude is allowed °
for a widow desirous of offering this token of loyalty,
by postponing the obsequies of the ‘deceased: for
Vya’sa directs'that, ‘* If the loyal wife be distant
“* less than the journey of a day, and desire to die
“« with her’ husband, his corpse shall not be burnt
“ until she arrive. And the Bhavishya, Purdna per-
«¢ mits that the corpse be kept one night, if the third
‘¢ day of her uncleanness had expired when her hus-
“ band died,”

_ W11TH respect to a circumstance of time (7)

),. which
might on some occasions be objected, the commenta-
tors obviate the difficulty, by arguing from several
texts, ** that to die with or after her husband, .is for
“a widow Naimittica (s) and Cémya (t¢), and conse-
** quently allowable in the intercalary month ;” for
DacsHa teaches, that ‘ whenever an act both
‘« Naimittica and Camya is in hand, it is then to be
‘* performed without consulting season.” They are
at the trouble of removing another difficulty: »
{r) Occasional observances are omitted on‘intercalary days.

{s) Eventual; incumbent when a certain event happens.
(¢) Optional; done Yor its reward,

“ DNRI-

Bex ON THE DUTIES

«© DHRITARA'SHTRA, In the state of Samadhi,
ac quitted his terrestrial form to proceed to the Muc«
‘¢ rt, or deatitude, which awaited him. When the
«¢ leaves and wood were lighted to consume the corpse,
<< his wife Ga’npHa’r1’ was seen to pass into the
«* flames: Now also, a husband dying at Cds? and
<¢ attaining Mucti, it becomes his widow to follow
<¢ the corpse in the flames.” :

Ir were superfluous to pursue commentators through
all their frivolous distinctions and laborious illustra-
tions on latent difficulties.

At the ceremonies essential to this awful rite are
included in the instructions already quoted. But
many practices have been introduced, though not
sanctioned by any ritual. A widow who declares
her resolution of burning herself with the corpse,
required to give a token of her fortitude: and it is
acknowledged, that one who receded after the cere-
mony commenced, would be compelled by her rela-
tions to complete the sacrifice. This inay explain cir-
cumstances deseribed by some who have witnessed the
melancholy scene.

OrHER ceremonies noticed in the relations of per-
sons who have been present on such occasions, are
directed in several rituals:

«© ApoRNED with all jewels, decked with minium
«* and other customary ornaments, with the box of
‘© minium in her hand, having made pd, or adoration
«to the Dévdtds, thus reflecting that. this life is
“© nought : my lord and master to me was all, — she
‘© walks round the burning pile: she bestows jewels

‘on the Brahmanas, comforts her relations, and
& shows

OF A FAITHFUL HINDU WIDOW. 225

€< shows her friends the attentions of civility; while
<¢ calling the Sun and elements to witness, she dis-
“ tributes minium at pleasure; and having repeated
“«¢ the Sancalpa, proceeds into the flames: there em-
‘*. bracing the corpse, she abandons herself to the fire,
* calling Satya! Satya! Satya!”

Tue bye-standers throw on butter and wood: for
this, they are taught, that they acquire merit ex-
ceeding tén million fold, the merit of an Aswamedha,
or other great sacrifice, Even those who join the
procession from the house of the deceased to the
funeral pile, for every step are rewarded as for an
Aswamedha. Such indulgences are promised by grave
authors: they are quoted in this place only as they
scem to authorize an inference, that happily the
martyrs of this superstition have never been numerous,
It is certain that the instances of the widow’s sacri-
fices are now rare: on this it is only necessary to ap-
peal to the recollection of every person residing in
India, how few instances have actually occurred
within his knowledge. And, had they ever been
frequent, superstition would hardly have promised
its indulgences to spectators.

(:) 226 |)

“ON THE TRACES

OF THE
HINDU LANGUAGE anp LITERATURE, |

Extant amongst the Malays.

BY WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ.

tt Psa Sanserit, ot ancient language of the Hindus,
is a subject so interesting in itself, that every
“discovery which contributes, to throw light upon its
history or to mark its extent, carries with it a degree
of importance: The proofs of its influence in the
northern countries of Assam, Nepal, Booten, and Tibet, ~
as well as in the southern parts of the peninsula of
India, are to be found in the works of the Missiona-
ries and the Researches of this Society, but.the pro-
gress it made in early times, amongst the inhabit-
ants of the eastern islands and countries possessed by
the Malays, has not, I believe, been pointed out by
any writer. My acquaintance with the language
of the latter people, together with some attention
paid to the dialects of Jndia in general, have enabled
me to observe, that the Malayan is indebted to the
Sanscrit for a considerable number of its terms. I have
also satisfied myself, that the intercourse by which this
communication was effected, must have taken place
in times anterior, probably by many centuries, to

« ae the

HINDU LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. 227

the conversion of these people to the Mahometan re-
~Nigion. The language, it is true, abounds at present
with Arabic words, which their writers affect to in-
troduce, because this display of literary skill is, at
the same time a proof of their religious knowledge;
but they are generally legal or metaphysical terms,
borrowed from the Koran and its commentaries ; are
never expressive of simple ideas, have not been in-
corporated into the language (a few excepted) and
are rarely made use of in conversation. The Hind
words, on the contrary, are such as the progress of
civilization must soon have rendered necessary, being
frequently expressive of the feelings of the mind, or
denoting those ordinary modes of thought which
result from the social habits of mankind, or from the
evils that tend to interrupt them. It is not however
to be understood, that the affinity between these
Janguages is radical, or that the names for the com-
mon objects of sense are borrowed from the Sznscrit.
The Malayan is a branch or dialect of the widely
extended language prevailing throughout the islands
of the Archipelago, to which it gives name (*),
and those of the South Sea; comprehending between
Madagascar on the one side, and Easter Island cn
the other, both inclusive, the space of full two hun-
‘dred -degrees of longitude. This consideration
alone is sufficient to give it claim to the highest de-
gree of antiquity, and to originality, as far as that
“term can be applied. The various dialects.of this

* The Malay- Archipelago may be understood to comprehend the
Sunda, Philippine, and Molucca islands, in the maritime parts of
which, the Malayan is used as a lingua franca, ‘

2 | speech,

228 ON THE TRACES OF THE
‘speech, though they have a wonderful accordance
in many essential properties, have experienced those
changes which separation, time, and accident produce,
and in respect to the purposes of intercourse, may
be classed into several languages, differing consider- .
ably from each other. The marks of cultivation by
which the Melzyan is distinguished from his ruder
neighbours, are to be attributed, in my opinion, to
the effects of an early connexion that must have sub-
sisted between the inhabitants of this eastern peni-
sula and those of the continent of India; but what
the nature and ‘circumstances of this connexion may
have been, it is not easy to detérmine. A spirit of
foreign conquest, and still more, a zeal for the pro-
pagation of their religious tenets, appear incompa-
tible with the genius of the Hindu system, except-
ing amongst the disciples of Boop ; but I have ne-
ver discovered in the Malay yan ‘customs or opinions.
any traces of the peculiar institutions of that extra-
ordinary sect.

A ‘COMMERCIAL intercourse has always subsisted
between the manufacturing countries of India and
the marts for the produce of the Spice-islands, such
as Johor, Singapoora, and Malacca; and when the
Portuguese, at the commencement of the sixteenth
‘century, ‘first visited these places, they mention
with surprize the concourse of foreign vessels as-
sembled there. Bult independently of other objecti-
‘ons that might be raised to the probability of these
traders having polished the language of the people

whose ports they frequented, or haying imparted
to them their national literature, it is to be observed
that

HINDU LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. 229

that by much the greater proportion of ‘the ships
belonging to native merchants, which now enter the
straits of Ma/acca, come from the coast of Coromandel,
and consequently are navigated by persons whe speak
the languages prevailing in that part; whereas it is
evident, that, from the Ze/mga, or the Lamool, the
Malayan has not received any portion of its improye-
ment, but from the genuine Hinduvee of the northern
provinces, prior to its debasement by the mixture of
Arabic nouns, and the abuse of verbal auxiliaries. If
the communication must necessarily be supposed to
_ have its origin in commerce, 1 should be inclined to
consider the people of Guzerat, notwithstanding their
distance, as the instructors of the Ma/ays. Their
resort to Malgeca is particularly noticed by Dz Bar-
Ros, and other authentic writers; and it is well
known that the Hindu language has been preserved
with more purity in that, than in any other maritime
province of India, ;

Pue nature of the afinity suggested, will suffici-
ently appear to those whe are conversant with the
Findy dialects, by the following examples of Sanscrit
words, which are at the same time so familiar to the
Malays, and so thoroughly incorporated into their
vernacular tongue, that their foreign origin is never
suspected, although the terms adopted from the drabs
can, with very few exceptions, be immediately pointed
out by the most ordinary scholar. It is true that he is
assisted in this discrimination by the peculiarities of
the Arghic orthography ; for the Afa/ays, as well as
the Persigus and gther people, who, in consequence

_ of their conversion to the faith of the Koran, employ

Q 3 this

230 ON THE TRACES OF THE

this alphabet in their writings, do yet reject the use of
certain letters, either as superfluous, or as not suited to
the smoothness of their own sounds, and which there-
fore appear only in words purely Arabic. The Hin-
duvee words, on the contrary, being divested of their
proper dress, and clothed, in common with those
originally Malayan, in the adopted Arabic character
(with certain judicious modifications) want the same
token of their origin, and are more assimilated with
the rest of the language.

Is this short list of words taken, with little pains
in the selection, from a Malayan dictionary, the de-
parture from the Hinduvee is scarcely more than may
arise from a different habit of spelling them in our
‘letters, unless where it consists in a slight v variation of
the sense, or of the part of speech,

Scoka Fond, pleased. Bechara. Advice, eter Fagae To watch.
Sooka chetha. Pleasure, joy. judicial proceeding. Poctree. Princess.
Dookae Sad Becjee. Seed. Rata. Chariot.
Bagee. To divide. Boodee. Wisdom, under- Pernama, Full moon,
Bangsa. Race, Family. standing. Charee. To seek.

Basa. Language. Loba., Covetouss

Aw inspection of the characters used by the natives
cf the islands, who have not adopted the Malayan or
Arabic mode of writing, will shew that in the arrange-
“ment of their letters they have taken the Hindu for
their guide, and have even preserved the rhythmus
terminated by a nasal; which so peculiarly distin-
-guishes this from every other system. The aspirated
letters not being required for expressing the sounds of
these languages, are omitted, and each division of the
series consists therefore of three, instead of five. In

ae | hs cd the

HINDU LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. 231
the Rejang alphabet the order is as follows: Ka, ga,

nga; Tu, da, na; Pa, ba, ma; Cha, jas nia, &e,
(see History of Sumatra, plate.) In the Sanserit, 1 |
need scarcely to observe, the series of consonants be-
gins thus, Ka, ha, ga,.gha, nga; Cha, ch’ha, ja,
pha, enya; Ta, tha, da, Pha, na, &c. Jf other.
- proofs were wanting of the influence of Hindu inter-
course in these parts, such conformity alone, ina
matter so arbitrary, and which exists equally in other
obscure dialects, and extends even to the island of
Celebes, would be sufficient to establish it. The lan-
_ guages of these islanders have not, however, been en-
riched by an accession of Hindu words in any degree
proportioned to the Adfayan, which uses the drabic
alphabet ; but the probability is strong, that the inha-
bitants of the Malay peninsula were in possession ot
an alphabet on the same model, and were even skilled
in composition, before the Mahametans introduced
their learning and character among them.

Bur the circumstance which has more immediately
struck my attention, and given occasion to these re-
marks, is that of my having met with frequent allu-
sion in their writings, to the most celebrated works of
the Hindu mythological poets, especially the Mafab-
harat and the Ramayan. A manuscript now lying
before me, which is a species of romance, exhibits
in almost every page the marks of the author’s ac-
quaintance with Hindu literature and manners. It
contains the adventures of two princes, who were
sent by the king their father, to obtain for him the
possession of an-extraordinary self-performing in-

Q4 strument

232 ON THE TRACES OF THE

strument of music, whose enchanting air he had heard.
in a dream. However flimsy this foundation, and.

incoherent the parts of its superstructure, it gives
scope to the display ofa lively and fertile imagina-
tion, much delicate imagery, and pathetic expres-
sion of sentiment. The following passages allude,
unequivocally, to well-known personages in the Poo-
rans: — Terlaloo baeck segala reopa’nia maha-indah
separtee pandooa leema; “* surpassing good was their
** whole appearance; most admirable, like unto the
‘*.five Pandgos.” Again: Lakoo’nia meng-amok eetoo
separtee pandooa leema tatkala. eca meng-amok deda-
lam rayeé kooraco; ‘* the manner in which they

** fought was like that of the five Pandoos when. they-

*s rushed into the ranks ot the Kooroos.”? These can

be no other than the renowned favourites of KRIsHNA,,

whose brilliant actions and personal accomplish-

ments are the theme of jmmortal song.. The ma-
chinery of the Ramayan is interwoven with the story ;

and this circumstance tends to increase my regret that
We possess no transia tion, even in abstract, of that
much-admired poem. The Malayan princes are,,
like Rama, attended in their wars by apes of extra-
ordinary endowments, who fight with more than,
human prowess, and overcome the /gksasa, or

hobgoblins, who serve ynder the banners of the.

adversary. One of the former, whose talents as an
ambassador are the subject of panegyric, 1s said to
resemble that diplomatic monkey who was sent by.
Sree Rama to the King of Langkapooree. The,
mixture of .qualities and actions gravely attributed,

to them in their double capacity of monkies and.

heroes,

<

HINDU LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. 233

heroes, produces a. very ludicrous and amusing
effect. Though their ideas are-rational, their man-
ners and propensities are faithful to nature. Men-
tion is also made of Bisno dewa; of the mountain
_Maha-meroo; of the blue lotos growing in the pool
Mandoo ratra; of a lion possessing supernatural
powers, Siug-asaktee, and elsewhere Sing-a-rajoon, who
shot arrows at Maharaja Karna. Some of these lat-
ter names I do not recollect to have met with in the
notices we have of the Hizdu mythology.

Tuese similies and allusions must refer, as in all
poetry, to stories with which the readers were pre-
sumed to be well acquainted, and secm to imply,
that translations of the works were formerly in the
hands of the Ma/ays. I donot know that such re-
main amongst them at this day: but my ignorance
is no proof of the contrary; for at the time when I
had opportunities of making the enquiry, I was un-
informed asto the existence of the originals, and the
passages above quoted were of course unintelligible
tome. They must be sought for in the peninsula
of Malacca, or amongst the Menangkabou people in
Sumaira. A spirit of investigation is now gone
forth, and under the influence of the Asiatic Society,
and from the example of its President, we may con-
fidently hope that no region of oriental literature
will be left unexplored. P |

Since the foregeing Paper was written, and com-
_municated to a few friends, I have seen a copy of
the third volume of the Asiatic Researches (just
received from Calcutta) and observe that the con-
bit nexion

224 A CATALOGUE OF

nexion between the Malayan and the Sanscrit has
not escaped the notice of the President, whose
learned and efegant ANNIVERSARY DsicourRsgE
points it out (p. 11 & 12) ina clear and decided man-
ner. The sanction of his authority to my opinion

fully reconciles me to the anticipation of a supposed
discovery.

rem Te ORE ee or eee, :

Be MEET A LOG OE
oO F
INDIAN PLANTS,

COMPREHENDING THEIR SANSCRIT,

AND

AS MANY OF THEIR LINN EAN GENERIC NAMES AS COULD
WITH ANY DEGREE OF PRECISION BE ASCERTAINED.

BY THE LATE PRESIDENT.

"Aca’SABALLI’, Casyta,\ x0 Alurca, Auclepias

Achyuta, Morinda. Alpamarisha.

*Acranti, Solanum, Amala.

Acsha. ‘Amalaci, Phyllanthuse
§ Agastya, Zschyncmene. Ambasht”ha. ‘

Agnis‘ic‘ha. 15 Amlana, Gompbrena :

Aguru, Cordia. . . Amlalonica, Oxalis.

Alabu, Cucurbita. » Amlavétasa, Hypericum,

Alamvusha, Bryonia, Amlica, Tomarindus.

Amr,

20

30

35

40

45

50

55

bo

whe)

INDIAN PLANTS. 238

Amra, Mangifera.
Amrataca, Spondias.
Ancot'a.

Ans'uma'ti.,

An‘u, Oryzae
Apamarga.

Aparajita, Clitoria.
Arca, Asclepiase.
"Ardraca, Amomums
Ariméda. ;
Arisht4, Xanthiume
Arjaca, Ocymum.
Axjuna, Lagerstroemia ?
Arushcaray Semecarpuse
As’ mantaca.

As’'0¢a, a new genus.
‘Asp'hora, Nyctanthes.
"Aus'vrihi, Oryzde
Atavisha, :
Atichara.

Atimiucta, Banisteriaa
‘Avigna, Carissa ?
Bacula, Mimusops.
Badari, Rbamnus,
Bahuvaraca.

Bahvanga, anew genus.
Bala.

Bala.

Bandhica, Ixora.
Banga, Cannabis.

Ba'ta, Ficus.
Bhadramustaca, Cyperus.
Bhanga, Gossytium, ~
Bhanti, Clerodendrum.
Bhavya, Dillenia,
Bharadwaji.
Bhichampaca, Kemferia.
Bhijambica.
Bholavanga, Jussieva,
Bhurandi, Jpomea ?
Bhiarja.

Bhistrina, Andropogan?
Bhitavési, WVyctantbes,
Berbera.

Bimba, Bryonia ?
Bimbica, the same ?
Brahmani, Ovieda, :
Brahmasuverchala.
Brahmi, Ruta.

Bilva, Cratewa.
Biranga.

Cacamachi.

Cacangi, Aponogeton ?
Cachu, Arum.

Cadali, Musa.
Cadamba, Nauclea,
Cahlara, Nymphaea.
Cala.

Cala,

Bo

35

go

95

p fete)

10

t5

20

Calambi.

Calami. <.

Caldya Calinga, Cucurbita,

Calpaca.

Camalata, Ipomeea. i

Campilla, a new genus.

Canchanara, Bauhinia,

Canda, Dracontium,

Candarala.

Candira, Dolichos.

Candiru, Scilla?

Cangu.

Cantala, Agave ?

Capila.

Capitt’ha, Limonia.

Caranjaca, a new genus,

Caravéella, Cleome ?

Caravi, Laurus,

Caravira, Nerium.

Carmaranga, Averrboa.
arnicara, Pavettas

Carparala, dlo¢ ?

Carpasi, Gossypium.

Carpira, Laurus.

Caruna, Citrus.

Césa, Saccharum.

Cashmirda.

C'ataca, Strychnos.

Ca'tp’hala, Taberncemontana.

Catu,

Cémuca.

Césara, Crocus.

Cétaca, Pandanuts

Chacrala.

C’hadira, Mimosa, ;

Ch’hatraca, Agaricus.

Champaca, Micbelia, - '

Chanaca,

Chanda.

Chandana, Santalum.

Chandrica, 5

Chasjara, Phenix.

Charmacasha.

’ Chavaca,

35

30

Chitra.

Chitraca, Plumbago.
Chérapushpi, Scirpus
Cirata.

Cédrava.

Corang i.

Covidara, Baubinias
Clitaca.

Cramuca,

Crishna,

‘ Crishnachira, Poincianae

35

Cshiravi, Asclepias ?
Cshuma, Linum.
Culaca, Strychnose
Culmasha,

Cumbha,

236 A CATALOGUE OF

Cumbha.
Cumbhica, Pistia.

qo Cumuda, Menianthes.
(Cuncuma, Crocus) ?
Cunda, Jasminum.
Carubaca, Barleria.
Curuntaca,

g5 Curuvaca.

Cus'a, Poa.
Cushmanda, Cucumis ?
Cusumbha, Carthamus,

_ Cutaja, Fasminunt.

So Cuvalaya.

Cuveraca, Swietenia.
Damapana,.

Dantica.

Dhanyaca.

55 Dérima, Punica.
Disi.

Dévadaru, Unona,
Dhitaci.
Dhustira, Datura.

Go Dona, Artemisia.
Dracsha, Vitis.
Durgaja ta, Opbioglossum.
Dirva, Agrostise
Dwipatri, Jmpatiens.

65 ‘Ela, Amomum,
"Elabaluca.

Eranda, Ricinus.
Gajapippali, anew genus,
Gambhari.

70 Gandali.

Gandhardja, Gardema.
Gandira, Solanum ?
Gaurichandra, Hedysarunt.
Ghantapatali.

35 Ghonta, Rbamnus.
Ghéshaca.

Grant’ hila.
Grinjana, Daucus.
Gocantaca, Barleria.

Zo Gédhapad'i.
Gédhima, Triticum.
Gojibva, Elepbantopss.
Gélomi, Agrostis ?
Gonarda, Cyperus ?

35 Gorzsha.

Govacshi

Gévar4, Erantbemum.
Guggulu.

Guha,

go Gunj2, Abrus.

' Guvaca, Areca.
Haimavati.

Halaca, Nympbheg.
Hanu,

Haricus'a, Acanthes,
Haridra, Curcuma,

200

Jo

35

20

3°

40

50

55

ee

Harédru.

Haritaci, Termizelia.
Haritala.

Haryanga, Cissus.
Hémapashpica » Jasminum.
Hémasagara, Coryledan.
Hilamochica’.

Himavati.

Hingu, Terebinthus.
Hingul'i, Solanum,
Hintala, E/ate.

Holica.

Jambira, Citrus.

Jambu, Eugenia.
Jatamansi i, Valerianae
Java, Lerminalia ?
Jayap’ hala, Myristica
Jayant'i, Oesehynomenc,
Icshu, Saccharuste
Icshura.

Icshwacu,

Jjimita.

Indivara, Tradescantia ?
Jiraca.

Jivanti.

Indravarun i.

Ingudi,

irbaru,

"Is'waramila, Mihi.
Lacucha, Artrcarpus.
Langali, Nama ?

Latarca, Allium.

Lasuna, Afium,

Laval'i, Averrboa.
Lavanga, Caryopbyllus.
Lodhra.
Madana, Pisonia.
Madhica, Bassia.

Madhilaca.

Madhiracae
Madhusigru, Guilagdioay
Mahajal'. ‘
Mahaswéta, | r
Malapu. i

Malati, Sasminum.
Mallica, Nyctanthes.
Manaca, Mri
Mandara, Erytbrina.
Marcara.

Marcati.

Maricha, Capsicum,
Marunmila.

Mésaparn'i i,

Masha, Phaseolus.
Mashandari, Ca/licarpae
Mastra.

Matulanga, Citruse
Mauri,

Mayira.

Muchucynday

INDIAN PLANTS.

Muchucunda, Pentapeters
Mudga.
Mudgzaparn’i.
Mulaca, Raphanus,

60 Mundaballi, Ipomeca.
Mura.

Murva, Aletris.
Mustaca, Schemnns.
Nagabala, Sida.

#5 Nagaball‘i, Baubinia.
Nagacésara, Meswa.
Nagadana, Artemisia.
Nagarangay Citrus.
Nala, Aristida ?

70 Nali.

' Naranga,

Naricéla, Cocos.
Nichula, a new genuse
Nili, Indigofera. |

75 Nijotpala, Pontederia.
Nimba, Melia.
Nivara, Oryza.

Pacala.

Padma, Nymphea.
So Palandu, Anan,

Palisa, Butea.

Panasa, Artocarpuse

Parnasa, Ocymum.

- Patali, Bignonia.

85 Patola, Solanum.

Paura.

Pichula, Tamarix.

Pilu, Ale,

Pinya,

go Pippala, Fics.

Pippali, Piper.
Piyala.
“Pi tasala.
Placsha, Ficus.
95 Pri'sniparni.
Priyangu.
Potica, Physalis.

Punarnava, Boerkgavia.

Pundarica,
400 Pundra.

Paticaraje, Guilandina.
actamula, Oldenlandia.

fast

Rasna, Opbioxy!um.
nuca,
Riddhi.
ro ‘Rishabha,
Réchana,

Ghita, Punica.
Sacotaca, Trophis.
Sahacira, Mangifera,

5 Sabachati,

Sailéya, Mucus.
Sairlyaca, Barlerias
Saivala,

"Sala.

20 ‘Salanchi,

’Salmali, Bombar.
Samanga, 2?
‘Sami, Mi motas
Samira, Mimosa,

25 Samudraca, 4guiliclas’
Sana, Crota/aria,
Sanacrajata, Hedysarce,
“Sanc’hapushpa, or.
"Sara.

30 Sarala,

Sarana.
"Satamuli,
Satapushpae
Sa'th’.

35 Sep’halica, Nyctantéer,
Septala, Nyceanthes. .
Septaparna, Echites.
Sershapa, Sinapise
*Simbi, Dokchos,

40 Sindhica, Vitexe-

Sirisha, Mimosae
Sisu, Croton?
Siva, :
Sébhinjana, Guilamdinds
45 Somalata, Ruta? _
Somardj'i, Peederia.
Solp’ha.
Sonaca, Bignonia.
_ Stingétaca, Trapa.
5° Sriparha, an
Sthalapadma, Hibiscus.
Suca.
Sucti.
Sunishnnaca,. Marsileas
§§ Surabh’i.
SGryamani, Hibiscus,
Suvernaea, Cassia.
Syama, a new genus,

ity * irra
60 Tala, Borassus.
Talamélaca, Cochhedria?

Tali, Corypha.
_ Tamhila, Datras ?
Tambili, Piper.

85 Tamracita, Micotiane.
Taraca, Amomum ?
Tarun'i, Aloe.
Tatpatri, Dauirus,
Tila, Sésantem,

90 Tilaca. : ;

_ Tinsa, Ebenus ?
Trayamiana,

75 Trveita,

raipusha, Cucumiifs -

237

Tubarica.

238 A CATALOGUE OF INDIAN PLANTS.

Tubaric?.
Tula, Morus.
2
Udumbara. Ficus.
$o Ulapa, Aristida.
Upodica.
Urana, Cassiae,
Utpala ?
Vajradru, Eplorbia.
$5 Vadvaja,! Andropogon ?
Vanacéli, Canna.
Vanamudga.
Vanardraca, Costus.
Vanda, Epidendrumy
go Vanda, Loranthus.
Vanda, Viscum.
Vanaca, Quercus.
Vans'a, Bambos.
Varahi.
95 Warangace, Laurus.
Varuna.
Vasaca, Dyanthera.

‘

tn

Vasalya.

Vastuca, Amaranthus.
Vasu.

Vataca.

Vatsadani, Menispermum.
Vayaséli

Vétasa, Barleria.
Vétra, Calamus,
Vichitra, Tragia.
Vidar'i.

Vidula.

Virana, Andropogon.

to Vishan'i,

Vistaraca, Convelvylus,
Vrithi, Oryza,
Vyaghranac’ha,
Vyaghrapada.

Yasa

Yava, Hordeum.
Yavasa, Poa?
Yuctarasa.

Yuvhica, Fasminum,

ee re a a TR, TRIES SEE RST EE MRED IEE EE

: BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

SELECT INDIAN PLANTS."

\

BY THE LATE PRESIDENT.

© JF my names of plants displease you, says the

‘ great Swedish botanist, choose others more
‘ agreeable to your taste ;’ and, by this candour, he
has disarmed all the criticism, to which, as it must be

* This paper was announced in the specimen of an Asiatic
Common-place Book, which the President added, in the third volume
of these Transactions, to Mr. Harrineron’s proposal for an im-

provement of Locxe’s useful plan.

allowed,

BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS, &c. 239

allowed, even the critical parts of his admirable works
he continually open. I avail myself of his indulgence,

_and am very solicitous to give Jndian plants their true
Indian appellations ; because I am fully persuaded
that Linn.us himself would have adopted them) had
he known the learned and ancient language of this
country; as he, like all other men, would have re-
tained the native names of 4siatic regions and cities,
rivers and mountains; leaving friends, or persons of
eminence, to preserve their own names by their own
amerit, and inventing new ones, from distinguishing
marks and properties for such objects only as, being
“recently discovered, could have had no previouy
denomination. Far am I from doubting the great
importance of perfect botanical / descriptions 3 for lan-
guages expire as nations decay, and the true sense of
many appellatives, in every dead language, must
be lost in a course of ages: but, as long as those ap-
pellatives remain understood, a travelling physician,
who should wish to procure an Arabian or Indian
plant, and, without asking for it by its learned or
vulgar name, should hunt for it in the woods by its
botanical character, would resemble a geographer,
who, desiring to find his way in a foreign city or
province, should never enquire, by name, fora street
or atown, but wait with -his tables and. instruments,
for a proper occasion to determine its longitude and
latitude.

THE plants described in the following paper by
their classical appellations, with their synonyma, of
amrnets. and their names im the vulgar dialects, »
have

‘

240 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS ON
have been selected for their novelty, beauty, poetical
fame, reputed use in medicine, or supposed holi-
ness; and frequént allusions to them all will be
found, if the Savscrit leneuage should ever be gene-
rally stuidiéd, in the popular and sacred poems of the
ancient #iimdus, in their medical books and laws
tracts, and even in the /édas themselves. Though, un-
happily I cannot profess, with the fortunate Swede,
to have seen without glasses 4ll the parts of the flow-
érs which I have described, yet you may be assured
that I havé mentioned no part of them which I have
not again ahd again examihed with my own eyes;
‘and though the weakness of my sight will for ever
prevent my bécofiing a botanist, yet I have in some
little dégree atoned for that fatal defect by extreme
attention, and by an ardent zeal for the most lovely

and fascinating branch of natural knowledge.
BeFore 1 was acquainted with the method pur-
sued by VaN Rufede, necessity had obliged me to
“follow a similar plan on a smaller scale; and, as his
mode of studying botany, in a country and climate
by ho means favourable to botanical excursions,
may be ‘adopted more successfully by those whbd
have more lcistire than [ shall ever enjoy, I present
you with an interesting passage from one of his pre-
faces, to which I should barely have referred you,
if his great work were not unfortunately confined,
from its rarity, to very few hands. He informs us,
in an introduction to his thitd volume, “ that several
“ Indian physicians and Brikmens had composed by
; RT ay oe his

14

~

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 241

his order, a catalogue of the most celebrated plants
which they distributed according to their times of
blossoming and seeding, to the configuration of
their leaves, and to the forms of their flowers and
fruit; that, at the proper seasons he gave copies
of the list to several intelligent men, of whom he

sent parties into different forests, with instructions

to bring him, from all quarters, such plants as
they saw named, with their fruit, flowers, and
leaves, even though they should be obliged to
climb the most lofty trees for them ; that three or
four painters, who lived in his family, constantly
and accurately delineated the fresh piants, of
which, in his presence, a full description was
added; that, in the mean while, he had earnestly
requestd all the princes and chiefs on the Malabar
coast to send him such vegetables as were most
distinguished for use or for elegance; and that
not one of them failed to supply his garden with
flowers, which he sometimes received from the dis-
tance of fifty or sixty leagues ; that when his herb-
arists had collected a sufficient number of plants,
when his draughtsmen had sketched their figures,
and his native botanists had subjoined their descrip-
tion, he submitted the drawings to a little aca-

' demy of Pandits, whom he used to convene. for

that purpose from different parts of the country ;
that his assembly often consisted of fifteen or six-
teen learned natives, who vied with each other in
giving correct answers to all his questions concern-
ing the names-and virtues of the principal vegeta-
Obs hv. R bles ;

242 ‘BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

€¢

€¢€

66

ce

and myself as.much as any, that we have no leisure

bles; and that he wrote all their answers in- his
note-book ; that he was infinitely delighted with
the candid, modest, amicable, and respectful de-
bates of those pagan philosophers, each of whom,
adduced passages from ancient books in support.
of his own opinion, but without any bitterness of
contest or the least perturbation of mind ; that the
texts which they cited, were in verse, and -taken
from books, as they positively asserted, more than,
four thousand years old: that the first couplet of

each section in those books comprised the synony-

mous terms for the plant, which was the subject.
of it;- and that, in the subsequent verses, there
was an ample account of its kind or species, its
properties, accidents, qualities, figure, parts;
place of growth, time of flowering and bearing
fruit, medical virtues, and more general uses;
that they quoted those texts by memory, having

‘ gotten them by heart in their earliest youth, ra-,

ther as a play than a study, according to the im-
memorial usage of such Indian tribes as are des-
tined by law to the learned professions ; and on

that singular law of tribes, peculiar to: the old

Egyptians and Indians; he adds many sehd and
pertinent remarks.” Now when we complain,

in Jndia for literary and philosophical pursuits, we
should consider that Van RHEEDE was a nobleman,
at the head_of an Indian government, in his time
very considerable, and that he fully discharged all
the duties of his important station, while he found

leisure

4
7 a a a

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS: 243

leisure to compile, in the manner just described, those

- twelve large volumes which Linnzvs himself pro-

nounces accurate. 13

1. Ta’RAcA?

Vutec. Varac.

Linn. Amomum.

Cav. Perianth spathe-like, but sitting on the germ 3
tubular, one-leaved, broken at the mouth into few
irregular sharp toothlets; downy, straited ; in part
coloured, in part semi-pellucid.

Cor. One-petaled, villous. Ywbe short, funnel-
form. Border double. Exterior thiee parted;

coloured like the calyx ; divisions oblong, striated,
internally concave, rounded into slipper-like bags ;
the two ower divisions equal, rather deflected ;
the higher somewhat longer, opposite, bent in a
contrary direction, terminated with a long point,
Interior, two-lipped (unless the upper-lip be called
the filament); wmder-lip revolute, with a tooth on
each side near the base ; two-parted from the mid-
dle ; divisions axe-form, irregularly end-nicked.
WNectaries, two or three honey-bearing, light brown,
‘glossy bodies at the base of the wader lip, just
below the teeth; erect, awled, converging into a
small cone. . =

Stam. Filament (unless it be called the upper lip,

- of the interior border) channelled within, sheathing
the style ; dilated above into the large fleshy an-
ther, if it can justly be so named. _dnther oblong
externally convex and entire, internally flat, di-
vided by a deep furrow; each division marked

, R2 with

244 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

with a perpendicular pollen-bearing line, and ends
ing in a membranous point.

Pist. Germ beneath, protuberant, roundish, ob-
scurely three sided, externally soft with down.
Style, thread-form, long as the jlament, the top of
which nearly closes round it. Stigma headed,
perforated.

Per. Capsule (or Capsular berry, not bursting in a
determinate mode) oblong-roundish, three-striped,
smooth, crowned with permanent calyx and corol ;
with a brittle coat, almost black without, Beep
within.

Sereps lopped, with three or four angles, very
smooth, enclosed within. three oblong, rounded,
soft, membranous integuments, conjoined by 4
branchy receptacle ; in each parcel, four or five.

Interior Border of the corol, pink and white 5 under
lip internally milk-white, with a rich carmine-
stripe in each of its divisions. Seeds aromatic,
hotter than Cardamoms. J.eaves alternate, sheath-
ing, oblong, pointed, keeled, most entire, mar-
gined, bright erass-green above, very smooth;
pale sea-green below. Stem compressed, three or
four feet long, bright pink near its base, erect, end-
ing in a beautiful panicle. Peduncles many flower-
ed; bracts few, lance-linear, very long, withering.
Root fibrous, with two or three bulbous knobs,
light brown and spungy within, faintly aromatic.
Avruoveu the Tuaraca has properties of an fmo-

mum, and appears to be one of those plants which

RUMPHIUs names Globba, yet it has the air of a~

LANGUAS,

r

oa

aa

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 245

Lancuvas, the fruit, I believe, of a RENEALMIA,
and no éxact correspondence with any of the genera
so elaborately described by Koenie: its essential
character, according to Retz, would consit in its
‘two-parted interior border, its channelled filament, and
its ¢wo-cleft anther with pointed divisions.

2. BHU’'CHAMPACA:

Vuic. Bhichampac.

Linn, Round-rooted Ka:Mpreria.

Cart. Common Spathe imbricated, many flowered ;
partial, Perianth one-leaved, small, thin, obscure.
Cor. One petaled. Tube very long, slender, sub-
cylindric below, funnel - form above, somewhat
incurved. Border double, each three parted ; ex-
terior, divisions lanced, acute, dropping ; interior,
two higher divisions erect, lapping over, oblong,
pointed, supporting the back of the anther; /ower
division expanding, deflected, two cleft; subdi-
visions broad, axe-form, irregularly notched, end-

nicked, with a point.

Stam. Filament adhering to the throat of the coro/,
oblong below, enlarged, and two-lobed above, co-
loured. Axther double, linear, higher than the
mouth of the tube, fixed on the lower part of the

- filament, conjoined round the pistil, fronting the
two-cleft division of the border,

Pist. Germ very low near the root, attended with a
nectareous gland, Style capillary, very long.
Stigma funnel-form below, compressed above ;
fan-shaped, two-lipped, downy, emerging a little |

~ «from tlie conjoined anther.

-R3 Perr,

246 - BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Per. and SEEpDs not yet seen.

Scape thickish, very short. Coro/ richly fragrant ; tabe
and exterior border milk-white, divisions dropping, as
if sensitive, on the slightest touch, and soon yielding
to the pressure of the air ; zzterior border purple, the
higher divisions diluted, the lower deeply coloured
within, variegated near the base. One or two flow-
ers blow every morning in April or May, and wither
entirely before sun-set : after the spike is exhausted,
rise the large /eaves keeled, broad-lanced, membra-
Nous nerved. oot with many roundish, or rather
spindle-shaped bulbs.

Tuts plant is clearly the Bencha'po of RHEEDE,
whose native gssistant had written Bhu on the draw-
ing, and intended to follow it with Champa: the spicy
odour and elegance of the flowers ,induced me to
place this Kamprerta (though generally known) in
a series of select Indian plants ; but the name Ground
CHAMP AC is very improper, since the true Champaca
belongs to a different order and> class; nor is there
any resemblance between the two flowers, except that
both have a rich aromatic scent. |

Amone all the zatural orders, there is none in
which the genera seem less precisely ascertained by
clear essential characters, than in that which (for

want of a better denomination) has been called seita-

mineous; and the judicious Rerz, after confessing
himself rather- dissatisfied with his own generic ar-
rangement, which he takes from the border of the
corol, from the stamen, and principally from the an-

ther, declares his fixed opinion, that ¢he genera im

this

| ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 287
this order will never be determined with absolute cer-
tainty until all the scitamineous plants of India shail be
perfectly described.

SSE P’HALICA’s —

Syn. Suvaha’, Nirgudi’, Nilica’, Niva'rica’.
Vute. Singaha’, Nibarri.

Linn. Sorrowful NycTANTHEs.

Iw all the plants of this species examined by me,
the calyx was villous; the Jorder of the corol. white
five-parted, each division unequally subdivided ; and
the ¢ube of a dark orange-colour; the stamens and
pistil entirely within the ¢ube: the berries twin, com-
pressed, capsular, two-celled, margined, inverse-
hearted, with a point. This gay tree (for nothing sor-
rowful appears in its nature) spreads its rich odour to
‘a considerable distance every evening ; but at sun-
rise it sheds most. of its wight-flowers, which are col-

' lected with care for the use of perfumers and-dyers.

My Pandits unanimously assure me, that the plant
before us is their Sep ha'lica’, thus named because bees
are supposed to s/eep on its blossoms; but Ny lica
must imply a blue colour; and our travellers insist
that the Jndiaxs give the names of Parijatica or Pari-
- jata to this useful species of Nyctanthes. On the other
hand, I know that Pa'rijata is a name given to flow-
ers of a genus totally different ; and there may be a
variety of this with S/ucish corols s for it is expressly
declared, in the .dmarcésh, that, when the S¢p’ha-
‘¢ Lica’ has wife flowers, itis named Swe tasurasa’, and
“<6 Bhultave si. .
4. Macuya,
: . R 4 | SYN,

“

248 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Syw. Cunda.

Lann. Nyctanthes Sambace.

See RuzEEDE: 6 H. Mutab. 54.

Flowers exquisitely white, but with little or no frag.
rance; stem, petioles, and calx very downy ; ieonsae
egged, acute ; below rather hearted.

e SEPTALA!

Syn. Navamallica, Navama'liea’.

Vuuc. Béla, Muta-be'la.

Burm. Many-flowered Nyctanthes.

See 5 Rump. tab. 30. 6 H. M. Zab. 50.

Tue blossoms of this variety are extremely frags
rant. Zambak (so the word should be written) is a: ;
flower to which Persian and Arabian poets frequently
allude.
soi Marasicas ?

w. Trinasulya, Malli, Bhu'padi’, Satabhirue
Vurc. Dési'-bela’. |
Linn. Wavy-leaved NycranruHes,

Berry globular, simple, one-celled. Szxp large, sin-
gle, globular.

Accorpine to Ruzepe, the Bra’hmens in the
west of Judia distinguish this flower by the word Cas-.
tri, or musk, on account of its very rich odour,

6. “Asp’HOTA’; |

Syn. Kanamalli,

Vuta. Banmallica,

Linn. Narrow-leaved NycTanrTueEs.

Tus Indians consider this as a variety of the
former species ; and the flowers are nearly alike. Ob- -
tuse leaved would haye been a better specific name 5

the

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 249

the petals, indeed, are comparatively narrew, but not

the leaves. This charming flower grows wild in the

forests, whence it was called /anajéti by the Brékmens,
who assisted Rurepe; but the Jét, or Ma'lati, bes
longs, I believe, to the next genus.

7. Ma’Lati’: |

Syn. Sumdna’, Ja'ti.

Vuuic. Mali, Ja'ti, Chambeli.

Linn. Great-flowered JASMIN.

Buds blushing ; coro/, mostly with purplish edges.
Leaves feathered with an odd one, two or three of
the terminal /eaflets generally confluent.

~Tuaovca Ma'lati and Ja‘ti be synonimous, yet

some of the native gardeners. distinguish them; and
it is the Ja‘ti only that I have examined. Comme-
zine had been informed that the Javans give the
name of Maleti to the Zambak, which in Sanscrit is
called Navamallica’,and which, according to RHEEDE,
is used by the fHindus in their sacrifices; but they
make offerings of most odoriferous flowers, and par-
ticularly of the various Jasmins and Zambaks.

8. Your’Hica’,

Syn. Ma'gadhi, Ganica’, Ambasht?ha, Yithi.

Vue. Jat, Jui.

Linn. Azorick JAsMin.

Leaves opposite, three’d. Branchlets cross-armed.
Umbels three-flowered. Corals white, very fragrant.
The yellow Yérhicd, say the Hindus, is called He’-
mapushpica, or golden-flowered; but I have never
seen it; and it vias be of a different species,

9. AMLICA’

250 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

g. AMLICA:

Syn. Tintidi, Chincha’. i

Vutec. Tintiri; Tamrwlhind:, or Indian Date.
Liny. Tamarindus.

Tue flowers of the Tumarind are so exquisitely
beautiful, the fruit so salubrious when an acid sher-
bet is required, the leaves so elegantly formed and
arranged, and the whole tree so magnificent, that I
could not refrain from giving a place in this series to
a plant already well known. In all the flowers, how-
ever, that I have examined, the coalition of the sta-
mens appeared so invariably, that the Tamarind should
be removed, I think, to the sixteenth class; and it
were to be wished that so barbarous a word as Tama-
yindus, corrupted from an Arabic phrase absurd in
itself, since the plant has no sort of resemblance to a
date-tree, could, without inconvenience, be rejected,
and its Indian appellation admitted in its room.
ro. SARA: or Arrow-cane.

Syx. Gundra, or playful; Téjanaca, or Acute,
Vutec. Ser, Serkeri.
Linn. Spontancous SACCHARUM. wa
Car. Glume two-valved; valves oblong-lanced,
pointed, sub-equal, girt with silky diverging hairs,
exquisitely soft and delicate, more than twice as
- long as the flower.
Cor. One valved, acute, fringed.
‘Sram. Filaments three, capillary; -4nthers oblong,
incumbent. |
Pisr. Gems very. minute; styles two, thread-form.

Stigmas feathery,

FLOWERS

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 251

FLowers ona very large terminal panicle, more
than two feet long, in the plant before me, and one
foot. across in the broadest part ; consisting of nume-
rous compound spikes, divided into spikelets, each on
a capillary jointed rachis, at the joints of which are the
flowerets alternately sessile and pedicelled. Common
peduncle many-furrowed, with reddish joints. /z/velet
of the corol purple, or light red; stamens and pistils
ruddy ; stigmas purple; pedicels of a reddish tint,
finely contrasted with the long silvery beard of the
calyx. Leaves very long, striated, minutely sawed ;
teeth upwards; keel smooth, white within, sheathing
the culm ; the mouths of the sheaths thick, set with
white hairs. Cu/m above twenty feet high; verysmooth,
round, and light ; more closely jointed and woody near
the root, which is thick and fibrous: it grows in large
clumps, like the Venu. This beautiful and superb
grass is highly celebrated in the Pura‘nas, the Indian
God of War having been born in a grove of it, which
burst into a flame; and the gods gave notice of his
birth to the nymph of the P/eiads, who descended
and suckled the child, thence named Ca’rtice'ya. The
Casa, vulgarly Casia, has a shorter culm, leaves
much narrower, longer, and thicker hairs, but a smaller
panicle, less compounded, without the purplish tints
ofthe Sara. It is often described, with praise, by the
Hindu poets for the whiteness of its blossoms, which
give a large plain, at some distance, the appearance of
a broad river. Both plants are extremely useful to
the Indians, who harden the internodal parts of the

~ culms,

252 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

culms, and cut them into implements for writing on
their polished paper. From the munja, or culm, of
the Sara was made the maunji, or holy thread, or-
dained by Menu to form the sacerdotal girdle, in pre-
ference even to the Cusa-grass.

11. DuRVA:
Sywx. ‘Sataparvica’, Sakasravirya, Bhargavi, Rudri,

Ananta. |
Vure. Dab.

Koex. Acrosris Linearis.

Noruine essential can be added to the mere bo-
tanical description of this most beautiful grass, which
Van Rueepe has exhibited in a coarse delineation
of its leaves only, under the barbarous appellation of
Beli-caraga. Its flowers, in their perfect state, are
among the loveliest objects in. the vegetable world,
and appear, through a lens, like minute rubies and
emeralds in constant motion from the least breath of
ait. It is the sweetest and most nutritious pasture for
cattle ; and its usefulness, added to its beauty, induced —
the Hindus, in their earliest ages, to believe that it was
the mansion of a benevolent nymph. Even the Veda
celebrates it; as in the following text of the d’?har-
wana: ** May Dirvd, which rose from the water of —
«* jife, which has a hundred roots and a hundred —
‘s stems, efface a hundred of my sins, and prolong .
‘© my existence on earth for ahundred years!” The
| plate was engraved from a drawing in Dr. RoxBur GH’s”
valuable collection of Indian grasses. 3
12. Cus’a, or Cus’#a, YE aramid:

: SYN,

x az 7 a? ee 2
eA a
“ tyrostes UCUPt x / iy Fe

; CS 7
Jonesut page 252.

. ye

a j te ey:

st. Bere 4

\. ee a
stein he eitte nd’ ;

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 253

Syn. Cu’ha, Darbha, Pavitra. ;

Vutec. Cusha.

Koen. Poa Cynosuroides.

Fiavine never seen this most celebrated grass in a
state of perfect inflorescence, I class it according to
the information which Dr. RoxBuren has been so ©
kind as to send me. The /eaves are very long, with
margins acutely sawed downwards, but smooth on
other parts, even on the keels, and with long points,
of which the extreme acuteness was proverbial among
the old findus. Every law-book, and almost every
poem in Swnscrif, contains frequent allusions to the ho-
liness of this plant; and, in the fourth Veda we have
the following address to it at the close of a terrible in-
cantation : ** Thee, O Darbha, the learned proclaim
“¢ a divinity not subject to age or death; thee they
“ call the armour of InpRaA, the preserver of regions,
the destroyer of enemies ; a gem that gives increase
“© tothe field. _ At the time when the ocean resound-
ed, when the clouds murmured, and lightnings
* flashed, then was Darbha produced, pure as a drop
_ © of fine gold.” Some of the /caves taper to a most
acute, evanescent point; whence the Pandits often
say of a very sharp-minded man, that his intellects are
acute as the point of a Cusa-leaf.

13. BanpHU cA:

Syn. Ractaca, Bandhujivaci.

Vuuc. Ba'ndhiti, Ranjan.

Lawn. Scarlet Ixora,.

Car. Perianth four-parted, permanent; divisions
coloured, erect, acute. ih

2

Cor.

254 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Cor. One-petaled, funnel-form. Tube cylindric,
very long, slender, somewhat curved. Border‘four-
parted ; divisions egeed, acute, deflected.

Sram. Lilaments four, above the throat very short,
incurved, -dnthers oblong, depressed.

Pist. Germ roundish, oblate beneath. S*y/e thread
form, long as the tube. Stigma two-cleft, just
above the throat; dvisions externally curved.

Per.

SEEDS.

Flowers bright crimson - scarlet, umbel - fascicled.
Leaves oval, cross-paired, half-stem-clasping ;
pointed, pale below, dark green above, leathery,
clothing the whole plant. Stipules between the
opposite leaves erect, linear. Sve russet, chan-
nellec.

Tue Bandica flower is often mentioned by the best

Indian poets; but the Pandits are strangely divided

in opinion concerning the plant which the antients ©

knew by that name. Ra’pHa’ca Nt brought me,
as the famed Bandhica, some flowers of the Doubtful

Papaver ; and his younger brother Rama’ca’nt

produced on the following day the Scarlet Ixoras

with a beautiful couplet, in which it is named Band-
hica: Soon after, SeERvo’Ru showed me a book, in
which it is said to have the vulgar name Dip’ hariya, or

Meridian; but by that Aimdusta’ni name the Musel+

mans in some districts mean the Scar/et PENTAPETES,

and, in others, the Scur/et H1ziscus, which the Hin-
dus call Séryamani, or Gem of the Sun. The last
mentioned plant is the Sresmim of RHEEDE, which

Lin-

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS, 255

Linnzvus, through mere inadvertence, has con-
founded with the Scarlet Pentapetes, described in the
fifty-sixth plate of the same volume. F¥ cannot refrain
from adding, that no Indian god was ever named.
Ixora; and that Js’‘wara, which is indeed a title of
S1va, would be a very improper appellation of a
plant which has already a classical name.

14. CARNICA’RA:

Syn. Drumo'tpala, Perivya'dha.

Vuue. Cincra’; Cat hachampa’.

Linn. dudian PAVETTA.

Ir is wonderful that the Pandits of this province,
both priests and physicians, are unable to bring me the
flower which Ca’t1pa’sa mentions by the name of
Carnicéra, and celebrates as a flame of the woods.
The lovely Pavetia, which botanists have sufficiently

-“ described, is called by the Bengal peasants Cénera,
whieh I should conclude to be a corruption of the
Sanserit word, if a comment on the .dmaracish had
not exhibited the vulgar name Cat? hu-champd ; which
raises a doubt, and almost inclines me to believe that

the Carnicéra is one of the many flowers which the
natives of this country improperly called wild Cham-
paes. 3
15. Ma’sHANDARY;
Vuxce. Masandari in Bengal, and Bastrain Hindustén.
Linn. -dmerican CALLICARPUS; yeta native of

Java? Oy Bats wt

‘ - s
Cat. Perianth one-leaved, four-parted; Divisions.
pointed, erect.

eae

256 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Cor. One-petaled, funnel-form ; border four-cleft.

Stam. Filaments four, thread-form, coloured, longer
than the coro]. -Axthers roundish, incumbent.

Pist. Germ above, egged. Svy/e thread-form, co-
loured, longer than the stamens. S/gma thickish,
gaping.

PER.

SEEDS. ‘

FLoweErs minute, bright lilac, or light purple, ex-
tremely beautiful. Panicles axillary, one to each leaf,
two-forked, very short in comparison of the leaves,
downy. Bracts awled, opposite, placed at each fork
of the panicle. Leaves opposite, petioled, very long,
egeed, veined, pointed, obtusely notched, bright green
and soft above, pale and downy beneath. Branches ,
and petiols hoary with down. S*rué, with: flexible
branches ; growing wild near Calcutta; its root has
medicinal virtues, and cures, they say, a cutaneous
disorder called mésha, whence the plant has its name.
Though the leaves be not sawed, yet I dare not pro-
nounce the species to be new. Seea nete on the
Hoary CALLICARPUS, 5 Rez. Pascic. pi ls me 1Q9e
16. SRINGA ATA.

Syn. Sringdtaca.
Vutec. Singhdra.
Lann. Floating Trapa.

I can add nothing to what bes been. written on
this remarkable water-plant; but as the ancient’
Hindus were so fond of its nué (from the horns of
which they gave a name to the plant itself) that
they placed it among their lunar constellations, it

a

‘ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. oe

may certainly claim a place in a series of Indian ve-
eetables. | .

17, (CHANDANA.
Syn. Gandhasara, Malayaja, Bhadras'ri’.
Vuxic. Chandan, Sandal, Sanders.
Linn. True Santulum; more properly Sandahan.
Sep large, globular, smooth.

Havine received from Colonel FutLtarton
many seeds of this exquisite plant, which he had found
in the thickets of Midnape'r, I had a sanguine hope of
being able to describe its flowers, of which RuMPuHivus
could procure no account, and concerning which
there is a singular difference between Linnzvus and
BurMay the younger, though they both cite the
same sauthors, and each refers to the works of the
other; but the seeds have never germinated in my
garden, and the Chandan only. claims a place in the
present series, from the deserved celebrity of its
fragrant wood, and the perpetual mention of it in
the most ancient books of the Hindus, who constantly
describe the best sort of it as flourishing on the
mountains of Malaya. An elegant Sanscrit stanza,
of which the following Version is literally exact,
alludes to the popular belief, that the Venus, or
Bambus, as they are vulgarly called, often take fire
by the violence of their collision; and is addressed,
under the allegory of a sandal-tree, to a virtuous
man dwelling in a town inhabited by contending
factions: ** Delight of the world, beloved CHanDa-
“wa, stay no longer in this forest, which is over-
‘© spread with rigid pernicious Vans‘as, whose hearts

Vou. IV. S ‘sare

258 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

‘© are unsound; and who, being themselves con-

** founded in the scorching stream of flames kindled

‘¢ by their mutual attrition, will consume not their

— own families merely, but this whole wood.” The

original word Durvans‘a has a double sense, meaning

both a dangerous bambu, and a man with a mis-

chievous offspring. Three other’ species, or varieties

of Chandan, are mentioned in the Amaraco'sha, by the

names Tailaparnica, Go'sirsha, and Herichandana;

the red sandal (of which I can give no description) is

named Cuchandana from its inferior quality , Ranjana

and Racta from its colour, and Ti/aparni, or Patra angdy

from the form of its leaves.

38, CumuDA:

Syn. Cuirava.

Vutec. Ghain.chi. ‘

RuHEEDE: Tsjeroea Cit Ambel. 11 H. M.t. 29, ,

Linn. MENIANTHES? i

Cau. Five-parted, longer than the tube of the corol,
expanding, permanent; divisions awled.

Cor. One-petaled. Tube, rather belled ; idle
five-parted ; divisions oblong, wavy on the margin:
a longitudinal wing or foldlet in the middle of
each. The mouth and whole interior part of the
corol shaggy.

Sram. Filaments five, awled, erect ; Anthers twin, ’

converging ; five, alternate, shorter, steril.
Pist. Germ egged, very large in proportion; girt

at its base with five roundish glands. . Sty/e very

short, if any. Stigma headed.
Per. Capsule four-celled, many-seeded.
| . SEEDS

ee ees eS aed

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 259

Sreps round, compressed, minute, appearing rough,
with small dots or points.

Leaves hearted, subtargeted, bright green on one
side, dark russet on the other. Flowers umbel
fascicled, placed on the stem, just below the leaf ;
Glands and Tube of the corol yellow ; border white ;
both of the most exquisite texture: Cumuda, or
Delight of the Water, seems a general name for
beautiful aquatic flowers ; and among them, accord-
ing to Van Rueepe, for the Indian Menianthes,
which this in part resembles. The divisions of the

-corol may be called three-winged: they look as if
covered with silver frost.

19. CHITRACA.

Syn. Pdthin Vahni, and all other names of Fire.

Vuuice. Chita, Chiti, Chitra. ;

Linn. Briumesaco of SiJén.

Car. Perianth one-leaved, egg-oblong, fubillar;
five-sided ; rugged, interspersed with minute pedi-
celled glands, exuding transparent glutinous drop-
lets ; erect, closely embracing the tube of the corol ;
mouth five-toothed ; base protuberant with the valves
of the nectary, |

Cor. one-petaled, funnel-form. Tube five-angled,
rather incurved, Jonger than the calyx. Border
five-parted, expanding. Divisions inverse, egg-
oblong, pointed, somewhat keeled,

Nectary five-valved, pointed, minute, including the
germ.

Stam. Filaments five, thread-form, inserted on the
valvelets of the nectary as long as the tube of the

' corol. Anthers oblong, oblique.

S 2 PistT.

260 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Pist. Germ egged, very smail; at first, when cleared
of the nectary, smooth; but assuming as it swells, -
five-angles. Sty/e columnar, as-long as the stamens,
Stigma five-parted, slender.

Per. none, unless we give that name to the five-

_ angled coat of the seed. ‘

SEED one, oblong, rcomaee five-sided, inclosed in
a cat.

Racemas viscid leafy. Calyx light green. Corol milk-
white. Anthers purple, seen through the pellucid
tube. Leaves alternate, egged, smooth, pointed,
half sheathing, partly waved, partly entire; floral-_
leaves similar, minute.. Stem flexible (climbing)
many-angled, jointed at the rise of the leaves.
Root caustic ; whence the name Vahni, and the like,
Chitraca means attracting the mind; and any of the
Indian names would be preferable to Plumbago, or
Leadwort. The species here described, seems most
to resemble that of Sean; the rosy Plumbago 1s’
less common here: the joints of its stems are red ;
the bracts. three’d, egged, equal pointed, coloured,

20. Ca’MALATA:

Syn. Séryd-canti or Sunshine, 11, H. M. t. 60.

Vuie. Caém-latda, Ishk-pichah.

Linn. Ipomoea Quamoclit.

Tue plant before us is the most beautiful of its or-
der, both in the colouf and form of its leaves and
flowers; its elegant blossoms are celestial rosy red,
love's proper hue, and have justly procured it the name
of Cimalaté, or Love’s Creeper; from which I
should ‘have thought Quamoclit a corruption, if
there were not some reason to suppose it an meri-

can

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS, 261

tan word. Cimalata may also mean’a mythological
plant, by which all desires are granted to such as in-
habit the heaven of Inpra;.and if ever flower was
‘worthy of paradise, it is our charming Ipomoea. Many
species of this genus, and of its near ally the Convol-
vulus, grow wild in our Indian provinces; some
" spreading a purple light over the hedges, some snow-
white with a delicate fragrance; and one breathing,
after sunset, the odour of cloves; but the two genera
are so blended by playful nature, that very frequently
they are undistinguishable, by the coro/s and stigmas :
for instance, the Mundavalli, or Beautiful Climber, of
RaeEeEvDeE (of which I have often watched the large
spiral-buds, and seen them burst into full bloom) is
called Ipomoea by Linnzus, and Convolvulus (ac-
cording to the Supplement) by Kawnre ; and it
‘seems a shade between both. The divisions of the
perianth are egg-oblong, pointed; free above, intri-
cated below ; its corol and ‘tube, those of an Ipomoea ;
its filaments of different lengths, with anthers arrowed,
jointed above the barbs, furrowed half-incumbent ;
the stigmas, two globular heads, each globe an aggre-
gate of minute roundish tubercles; the stem not quite
smooth, but here and there bearing a few small
prickles; the very large coro/ exquisitely white, with
greenish ribs, that seem to act as muscles in expand-
ing the contorted bud ; its @our in the evening very
agreeable ; less strong than the primrose, and less
faint than the lily. The clove-scented creeper, which
blows in my garden at a season and hour when |
cannot examine it accurately, seems of the same
genus, if not of the sanie species, with the Mundavalli.

33 21, Ca-

262 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

21. CADAMBA: 3
Syn. Nipa, Priyaca, Halipriya.
Vuuc. Cadamb, Cadam.
Linn. Oriental Nauclea.

To the botanical description of this plant I can add
nothing, except that 1 always observed a minute
five-parted calyx to each floret, and that the /eaves
are oblong, acute, opposite, and transversely nerved.
It is one of the most elegant among Jndian trees,
in the opinion of all who have seen it, and one of
the holiest among them in the opinion of the Hindus.
“The Poet Ca’tipa’s alludes to it by. the name of
Nipa; and it may justly be celebrated among the
beauties of summer, when the multitude of aggregate
flowers, each consisting of a common receptacle, per-
fectly globular, and covered uniformly with gold-co-
loured florets, from which the white thread-form s#y/es
conspicuously emerge, exhibits a rich and singular
appearance on the branchy trees decked with foliage
charmingly verdant. he flowers have an odour,
very agreeable in the open air, which the ancient
Indians cormpared to the scent of new wine; and
hence they call the plant Halpriya, or beloved by
Hatin, that is, by the third Ra’ma, who was evi-,
dently the Baccuus of India.
22.GANDIRA:

Syn. Samasht hila, Lavana-bhantéca.
| Muue. Lona-bhant ; Ins; Salatiya.
Linn. Soranum. Is it the Verbascum-leaved ?
Car. Perianth one-leaved, cup-form, or belled?
obscurely five-cleft, downy, pale, frosted, perma-
| nent.

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 253

hent. Divisions egged, erect, pointed, very villous.
Cor. One-petaled. Zube very short. Border five-
_ parted. Divisions oblong, pointed, expanding,

villous.

Sram. Filaments five, most short in the mouth of
the tube. dnthers oblong, furrowed, converging,
nearly coalescent, with two large pores gaping
above.

Pist. Germ nisicsidils villous. Svy/e thread-form;
much longer than the stamens, S¢igma obtuse-
headed.

Per. Berry roundish, dotted above, hoary, divided
into cells by a fleshy receptacle, with two or three
wings.

SzxEps very many, roundish, compressed, nestling.

Leaves alternate, egg-oblong, pointed, rather
wavy on the margin, delicately fringed with down ;
darker and very soft above, paler below, with pro-
tuberant veins, downy.on both sides, mostly de-
current on the long hoary petiols.

Stem: shrubby, scabrous with tubercles, unarmed.

Flowers umbel-fascicled. Corols white. . Anthers

yellow. Pedunclés and pedicels hoary with de-

~| elduous frost. -

‘Tis plant 1s believed! to coritain a saison of
davana, or salt, which makes it useful as a manure ;
ebut the single word. Bhantéca, vulgarly Bhént,
means the Clerodendrtwn, which (without’ being «nfor-
_ tunate) beautifies. our Indian fields and hedges with
its very black derry.in the center of a bright red
expanding permanent calyx. The charming little
7 S450 bird

264 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

bird Chatréca, commonly called Chattérya, or Trusts
tuni, forms its wonderful nest with a leaf of this downy
Solanum, which it sews with the silk-cotton of the
Seven-leaved Bomeax, by the help of its delicate
but sharp bill: that lovely bird is well known by
the Limnzan appellation of Mor acitua Sartoria, pro-
perly Sartriz; but the figures of it that have been
published, give no idea of its engaging and exquisite
beauty. |

23. SAMUDRACA:

Syn. -Dhola-samudra.

Vue. Dhol-samudr.

Linn. Aquilicia; but a new species.

Car. Perianth one-leaved, funnel - shaped, five-
toothed, short, the teeth closely pressing the corol ; v4
permanent, | ff

Cor. Petals five, egg -oblong, sessible, greenish ;
acute, curved inwards, with a small angled con-
cave appendage. Nectary tubular, fleshy, five-
parted, yellowish ; divisions, egg-oblong, doubled,
compressed like minute bags with inverted mouths ;

- enclosing the germ. |

Sram. Filaments five, smooth and convex exter-
nally, bent into the top of the zecfary, between the
divisions or scales, and compressing it into a glo-
bular figure. -dnthers arrowed ; the points hidden
within the nectary, surrounding the stigma; the.
barbs without, in the form of a star.

Pist. Germroundish. Sty/ecylindric.. Stigma obtuse.

Per. Berry roundish, flattened, naveled, longitu-
dinally furrowed, mostly five-celled.

SEEDS

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 265

Sxzps solitary, three-sided,. externally convex.
Ojmes mostly three-parted. Szem deeply channelled,
jointed, two-forked. Peduncles also jointed and
channelled. © Fructification bursting laterally, where
the stem sends forth a petiol. Berries black, watery.
: Leaves alternate, except one terminal pair ; hearted,
pointed, toothed ; twelve or fourteen of the teeth
shooting into lobes; above, dark green ;~below,
pale, ribbed with processes from the petiol, and re-
ticulated with protuberant veins; the full-grown
leaves above two feet long from the apex, and
nearly as broad toward the base; many of them
rather targetted. This new species may be called
lupge-leaved,or AQuiiici A Samudraca, Thespecies
described by the younger Burman, under the
name of the Indian STAPHYLEA, Is not uncom-
mon at Crishua-nagar; where the peasants call it
Cacajanghd, or Crow’s foot: if they are correct, we
have erroneously supposed the Céing of the mo-
dern Bengalese to be the Cécdéngi of the ancient
Hindus. \t must not be omitted, that the stem
of the Agulicia Sambucina is also channelled, but
that its fructification differs in many respects from
the descriptions of Burman and Linn=vs;
though there can be no doubt as to the identity of
the genus.
24. SO’MARAYTL:
Syn. <Avalguja, Subaili, Somaballict, Célaméshi,
Crishnéphala Vacuchi, Piguji, Pitip’hall.
Vue. Sima‘ 9G, Bacuchi.
Lixn. Fetid Peverta.
; THE

£66 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Tue characters as in Linn us, with a few variations.
Calyx incurved, Corel very shaggy within. S*y/e
two-cleft, pubescent; divisions contorted, Srem
climbing, smooth. Leaves opposite, long-petioled ;
the lower ones oblong, hearted; the higher, ege-
oblong, veined, with a wavy margin. Panicles
‘axillary (except the highest) cross-armed. /owers
beautiful to the sight, crimson, with milk-white
edges, resembling the Dianthus, vulgarly called
Sweet William, but resembling it only in form and
colours; almost scentless to those who are very
near it, but diffusing to a distance a rank odour
of carrion. All the peasants at Crishna-nagar
called this plant Somrdéj ; but my own servants, and
a family of Bra’hmens trom Dribéni, gave that
name to a very different plant of the sneteenth
class, which 1 took, on a cursory inspection,’ for a
Prenanthes.

5. Sya Ma: ,

Syn. Gopi’, Sa'riva’, Ananta, Utpalasariva, Gopa,
Gopa'lica, Go pavalli.

VuLc.. Sya'ma- -lata’

Rueeve; in Malabar letters, Puppal-val le

CAL. Perianth one-leaved, five-toothed, erect, mi-
nute, permanent.

Cor, One-petaled, salver-form. Tube itself, cy-
lindric, but protuberant in the middle with the
germ-and anthers; fhraat very villous. Border
five-parted; divisions very long, lance - linear,
spirally contorted, fringed, closed, concealing the
fructification.

STAM.

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 267

Sram. Filaments, if any, very short. Anthers, five,
awled, erect, converging at the top.

Pisr. Germ above, pedicelled, spheroidal, girt with
a nectareous ring. Style thread-form, rather awled.
Stigma simple.

Per.. Capsule one-celled; one-seeded, roundish,
hispid.

Szep oval, very minute, glossy.

Flowers raceme-panicled, greenish- white, very
small, scented like those of the hawthorn, but far
‘sweeter; and thence the Portuguese called them
honey-flowers.

Peduneles axillary, russet; pedicles many - flowered.
Branchlets milky. Leaves opposite, lance - oval,
pointed at both ends, most entire veined ; above,
dark green ; below, pale. -S/:pules linear, axillary,
adhering. S¢em climbing, round, of a russet hue,
rimmed at the insertion of the short peftiols.

Tue ripe fruit of this elegant climber, which
Ca’‘Lipa’s mentions in ‘his poem of the Seasons, has
been seen by me only in a very dry state; but it
seemed that the hispid appearance of the capsules,
or berries, which in a microscope looked exactly like
the burrs in Van RHEEDE’s engraving, was caused
by the hardened calyxes and fringe of the permanent
corols; the seeds in’ each burr were numerous, and
like black-shining sand ; for no single pericarp could
be disengaged from it; and it is described as one-
seeded merely from an inspection of the dissected
germ. Before I had seen the fruit, I thought the
Sya'ma very nearly connected with the Shrubby Aro-

| cYNUM,

268 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

eynuM, which it resembles in the aves, and in: parts
of the coro/.

Five of the SANscRIT names are strung together,
by the author of the Amaracish, in the following
verse :

+ e : i ' r ’
Gotpi syama' sariva syadanatotpala sarivd':

and his commentator observes, that the last name

was given to the Sarzv@ from the resemblance of its ‘

flowers to those of the Uzpala, which I thence con-

clude to be a Menianthes, especially as it is always

described among the Judian Water-plants. The other

synonymous words are taken from Va'CHASPATI.

26. A'vicna, or dvinga: ed

Syn. Crishnapa'cap hala, Sushénas, Contenredae

Vuuc. Carondé, or Caraundé in two dictionaries ;
in one, Péniamal.

Linn. Carissa Carandas.

Caz. Perianth five-clett, acute, very small, coloured,
persistent. |

Cor. One-petaled, funnel -form, Tufte longish;
throat swoln by the inclosed anthers. Border five-
parted ; divisions oblong; one side of each -em-
bracing the next. |

Stam. Filaments five, extremels y short. duthers
oblong, erect.

Pist. Germ above, roundish. Style thread - form,
short, clubbed. “S¢igma narrower, pubescent. _

Per. Berry elliptoidal, two-celled.

Sreps, at least seven, oval, compressed, margined.
Flowers miik-white, jasmin-like. Fruit beautiful

in

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 269

in form and colour, finely shaded with carmine
and white; agreeably acid. Branches two-for-
ked. Leaves opposite, short petioled, elliptic,
obtuse, most entire, smooth; some small] leaves
roundish inverse hearted. horns axillary, op-
posite, expanding; poimts bright red. Peduncles
twin, subterminal, three-flowered ; pedicels equal.

The whole plant, even the fruit, milky. We have

both species of Carissa in this province ; but they

melt, scarce distinguishably, into each other.

Tue Pandits have always brought me this elegant
plant as the Carcandu, mentioned by JAYapr va;
but, judging only by the shape and taste of the
fruit, they seem to confound it with the Ryamnus
Jujuba; and the confusion is increased by the obscuri+
ty of the following passage in their best vocabulary :

, as , “3
_ Carcandhu’, vadari, coli; cilam, cuvala phenile,
Sauviram, vadaram, shontd——————

All agree, that the neuter words mean fruits only ;
but some insist, that the Ghonfa’ is a distinct plant,
thus described in an ancient verse: ‘¢ The ghonta’,
~* called also gopapho'nta, is a tree shaped like the
* Vadari, with a very small fruit, growing only in
* forests.’ For the ghonta’, here known by the name
of Sehacul, my servants brought me RHAamNus
with /eaves alternate egg-oblong, three-nerved, ob-
scurely sawed, paler beneath, and most beautifully
veined ; floral young leaves crowded, very long, li-
near; prick/es often solitary, sometimes paired, one

straight,

»

276 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS.

straight, one curved; a small globular drupe, quite
black, with a one-celled nut: the flowers I never
saw perfect; but it seems the minmeteenth species of
Lixnavus. We have many species of Rhamnus in
our woods and hedges; some like the d/aternus,
polygamous. by male and hermaphrodite flowcrs ;
others, distinguished by various forms and positions
of the prickles and leaves; but the common Badari
or Baiar,is the Jujube-tree, described by Ruxpe ;
and by Rumputvus called Indian Apple-tree. Its
Persian name is Cona'r; by which it is mentioned in
the letters of PIETRO DELLA VALLE, who takes
notice of the soapy froth procured from its leaves;
whence it has in Sanscrit theepithet p’hén/a, or frothy.
To the plant the drads give the name of Sidr, and to
its fruit that of Naik; from which perhaps, Napeca
has been corrupted.

27. CARAVIRA:

Syn. Pratihasa, Sataprasa, Chandata, Hayama'raia.
Linn. Nerium Oleander, and other species.
Wurc. Caner, Carbir.

A PLANT so well known would not have been in-
serted in this place, if it had not been thought pro-
per to take notice of the remarkable epithet /ayama’-
vaca, ot herse-killer; which rose from an opinion
still preserved among the Hizdus, that a horse, un-
warily eating the leaves of the Neriwm, can hardly
escape death; most of the species, especially their
roots, have strong medicinal, but probably narcotic
powers. The blue-dying Nerium grows in woods at
a little distance from my garden; and the Hindu
peasants, who brought it me, called it Nz/, or blue:

a proot

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS... 29%

a proof that its quality was known to them, as it
probably was to their ancestors, from time imme-
morial.

28. SEPTAPERNA, Or seven-leaved:

Syn. Viséla-twach, Séiradi, Vishama-ch hada.

Vue. CWhitavani, CPha'tiya'n, Ch’ha'ton,

Linn. School Ecuires.

Car. Perianth five-parted, sub-acute, small, villous,
permanent; closing round the germ immediately
on the removal of the tube.

Cor. One-petaled, funnel-form. Tube cylindric
below, prominent above, with inclosed anthers,
very villous in the throat. Border five-parted,
shorter than the tube: dsvisions inverse-egged, ob-
tuse, oblique, reflected, waved on the margin. ?

Nectary, a circular undivided coronet, or rim, termi-
nating the tube, with a short erect villous edge.

Sram. Filaments five, cylindric very~short in the
throat of the tube. -duthers heart-harrowed, cleft,
pointed, forming a star, visible through the mouth
of the tube, with points diverging.

Pist. Germ above roundish-egged, very villous,
scarce extricable, from the calyx enclosing and
grasping it. Sy/e cylindric, as long as the tube.
Stigma two-parted, with parts diverging, placed on
an irregular orblet.

Per. Follicles two, linear, very long, one-valved.

SEEDS numerous, oblong, compressed with silky
pappus, pencilled at both ends. |

Nore.

272 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS
NOTE.

Tue whole plant milky. Svew dotted with minute whitish tus
bercles. Leaves mostly sevened in verticils at short distances, very
soft, oblong inverse-egged, some pvinted, some obtuse, some
end-nicked ; some entire, some rather scallopped ; with many
transverse parallel veins on each side of the axis; rich dark green
above, diluted below. Petéols furrowed above, smooth and cone
vex beneath, elongated into a strong protuberant nerve continu-
ally diminishing and evanescent at the apex. Si/pules above erect,
acute, set in a coronet round the stem; the-verticils of the leaves
answering to the definition of fronds. Flowers racher small, greenish
white, with a very particular odour, less pleasant than that of
elder-flowers: Pedancles terminal, with two verticils pedicelled
umbel-wise, but horizontal. Pedicels six-headed, many-flower-
ed; highest verticils similar to those heads, more crowded. Free
very large when full grown; light and elegant when young.
This plant so greatly resembles the Pa/a of Van Ruezpe (which
has more of the Nerium than of the Tabernemontana) that I suspect
the genus and species to be the same, with some little variety.
That author says, that the Brahbmens call it Santenu, but his
Nagari letters make it Savénu; and neither of the words is to be
found in Saxscrit. With all due respect for PLuMIER and Bur-
wan, I should call this plant Narivm Sepraparaa : itis the Pule of
Rumpxius, who enumerates its various wses at great length and
with great confidence. Z

29. ARCA:

Syx. Vasuca, A sp hita, Gondripa, Vicirana, Man-
déra, Arcaperna ; and any name of the Sum, .

Vurc. Acand, Anc.

Linn. Gigantic AscLEPIAS.

Nectaries with two-glanded compressed folds, in-

stead of awled hornlets at the summit; spirally

eared at the base. Filaments twisted in the folds
of the nectaries. -duthers flat, smooth, rather
wedge-form. Svy/es near half an inch long, sub-

cylindric.

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS, 273

-tylindric.. Stigmas expanded. Flowers terminal

and axillary umbel ; fascicled ; amethyst coloured,

. with some darker shades of purple on the petals

- and nectaries; the starred corpuscle bright yellow.
Jeaves opposite, heart oblong, mostly inverse-eg-

. ged, subtargeted, very rarely stem-clasping, pointed,

- villous on both sides, hoary beneath, with soft

down; peiiols very short, concave and bearded
above, with a thickish conical stipu/e. The whole
plant filled with caustic milk. A variety of this
species has exquisitely delicate milk-white flowers ;

itisnamed Alarca or Pratdpsa, and highly esteem-
ed for its antispasmodic powers. The Padinérca,
which I have not seen, is. said to have small crimson
corols. The individual plants, often examined by
‘me, vary considerably in the forms of the leaves and
the tops of the nectary.

30. PICHULA:

Syn. Jhivaca.

Vuuc. J’ hau.

Koun. Indian TAMARIX ? ,

Flowers very small, whitish, with a light purple tinge,
crowded on a number of spikes, which form all to-
gether a most elegant panicle. Stem generally

bent, often straight, and used:anciently for arrows

by the Persians, who call the plant Gaz. The
celebrated shaft of IsrENpry a’R was formed of it,
as I learned from Baumen, who first showed it to

- me.ona bank of the Ganges, but asserted that it
was common in Persia. The leaves are extremely

minute, sessile, mostly imbricated. Calya and corel
Vor. IV. T | as

274 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

as described by Linnzus 3 five filaments consider-

ably longer than the petal; anthers lobed, fur-

rowed ; germ very small; style scarce any ; stig-
mas. three, revolute, but, to my eyes, hardly fea-
thered.

Noruine can be more beautiful than the appear-
ance of this plant in flower during the rains, on the
banks.of the rivers, where it is commonly interwoven
with a lovely twining Asciepras, of which the fol-
lowing description is, | hope, very exact :

31. Ducpuica’: or Milk-plant.

Syn. Cshirévi Dugdhica’.

Vute. Kyirui, Dédhi, Didh lata’.

Linn. Esculent Periploca. |

Car. One-leaved, five-parted ; divisions leds acute,
coloured, expanding. |

Cor. One-petaled, salver-form, star-like, divisions
five, egged, pointed, fringed.

Nectary double, on a five-cleft base, gibbous enue
the clefts, protuded, and pointed above,. surround-
ed with a bright green villous rim: exterior: five-
parted; divisions egged, converging, attenuated
into daggers; each concave externally, gibbous
below the cavity, which is two-parted and wrinkled
within. Jvtertor a five-parted corpuscle, lopped
above, five-angled, surrounding the fructifica-
tion. | |

Sram. Filaments scarce any. -Anthers five, round-
ish, very minute, set round the summit of the lop-
ped corpuscle, |

Pist. Germs two, egged, catameck erect, internally

flat.

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 275

» flat. Styles none, unless you’ so call the points of
the germs. Stigma; none but the smterior nectary,
unless you consider that as a common, stigma.

Per. Follicles two, oblong; in some, pointed; in
others, obtuse ; inflated, one-valved ; each contain-
ing a one-winged receptacle.

Srzps numerous, roundish, compressed, crowned
with pappus.

To each pair of leaves, a peduncle mostly two-flow-
ered, often with three, sometimes with five, flowers.
Pa 4s reddish. Coro/ white, elegantly marked with
* putple veins; fringe white, thick; anthers black.
Leaves lineat-awled, pointed, opposite, petioled, with
ene strong nerve; svipules very soft, minute. Stem
smooth, round, twining ;»the whole plant abounding
with milk. wir
32. La ncALi:

Syn. Saradi, Toyapippali, Sacul: dan,

Vue, Canchra, Isholangolya.

Ruse. Cheru-vallél?

Linn. Nama of Silin,

Cau. Perianth one- leaved, five-parted, ellis di-
visions lanced, pointed, long, permanent. -

Cor. One petaled, nearly wheeled. Tube very short.
Border five-parted. Divisions egged.

Stam. Filaments five, awled, expanding ; from. the
mouth of the tube, adhering to the divisions of the
border by rhomboidal concave bases convergent
above. _Anthers large, arrowed,

Pist, Germ above, egg-oblong,’ two-cleft, Siyles

ty’ _ > two,

/

276 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

two, azure, funnel-form, diverging almost hori-
zontally. Szigmas lopped, open.

Per. Capsule many-seeded.

SEpDDS very minute.

Stem herbaceous, branchy, smooth, pale, creeping.
Leaves alternate, short-petioled, most entire, lance-
oblong, smooth, acutish. Peduucles mostly axil-
lary, sometimes terminal, villous, often many-
flowered, subumbelled, three-rayed, with mvo-
Jueves general and partial. Coro/s bright-blue, or
violet. Stamens white. The plant is aquatic, and
by no means peculiar to S//’z; 1 have great rea-
son, however, to doubt, whether it be the Ldn
gali of the Amaracish, which is certainly the Cane

chré of Bengal; for though it was first brought to _

me by that name, yet my gardener insists that Cans
chra is a very different plant, which, on exami«
nation, appears to be the Ascending Jussizua of
Linwzaus, with leaves inverse-eg-ged, smooth, and
peduncles shorter: its fibrous, creeping roots are
purplish, dwoys white, pointed, solitary; and at
the top of the germ sits a nectary composed of five
shaggy bodies, arched ike horse-shoes, with exter-
nal ee cavities.
33. Uma: Ce '
Syw. Atasi, hin WEL 7 | 1G
Vue. Visi, Masana’. |
Lin». Most common Linu™, | | vis
Car. Perianth five-leaved; leaflets oblong, acute,
imbricated, keeled, fringed minutely, having some+
. what reflected at the points.
| Cor.

~

i

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 279

Cor. Small, blue: petals notched, striated, wavy,

reflex, imbricated.

Sram. Anthers light blue, converging, no rudiments
of filaments.

Pist. Germ large. Style pale blue. Stigma simple.

Per. Capsule pointed. Furrowed.

Root simple.

Stem, Herbaceous, low, erect, furrowed, knotty?
naked at the base. :

Leaves \inear, three-nerved, alternate crosswise,

~ sessile, smooth, obtuse, reflected, stipuled, g/anded?

Stipules linear. Q. a minute gland at the base.

34. Mu’rva;

Syn. Dévi, Madhurasa, Morata, Tejani, Surva,

Madhilica’, Madhus'réni, Gocarni, Piluparni.

Vuuc, Muraga, Murahard, Murgati.

Linn, Aygcinthoid, ALETRIS.

Cat. None.

Cor. One-petaled, funnel-form, six-angled. Tube

short, bellied with the germ. Border six-parted.
Divisions lanced ; three quite reflected in a circle ;
three alternate, deflected, painted,

Stam. Filaments six, awled, as long as the corol, di-
verging, inserted in the base of the divisions. | du-
thers oblong, incumbent.

Pisr. Germ inverse - egged, obscurely three-sided,
with two or three honey-bearing pores on the flattish
top. Style awled, one-furrowed, as long as the
stamens, Stigma clubbed.

PeRicARpP and SEEDs not yet inspected.

‘Deg Roos

278 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS »

Root fibrous, tawny, obscurely jointed, stolof-
bearing. Scape long, columnar, sheathed with
leaves, imbricated from the root; a few sheaths
above, ‘straggling, Leaves fleshy, channelled,
sword-form, keeled, terminated with awls, the
interior ones longer, mostly arched, variegated
with transverse undulating bands of a dark green
hue approaching to biel,

Raceme erect, very long. Flowers, from three to
seven in each fascicle, on very short petiols.
Bracts linear, minute. -Corols pale pea-green,
with a delicate fragrance, resembling that of the
Peruvian Heriotropre; some of the Sanscrit
names allude to the honey of these delicious flowers ;
but the nectareous pores at the top of the germ are
not very distinct; in one copy of the Amaraco'sha
we read Dhanuh-s'réni among the synonyma; and
if that word, which means a series of bows, be cor-
rect, it must allude either to the arched leaves or
to the reflected divisions of the corol. This ALE-
TRIS appeats to be a might-flower; the raceme
being covered every evening with fresh blossoms,
which fall before sun-rise. i
From the leaves of this plant, the ancient Hindus

extricated 4 very tough elastic thread, called Maurvi,

of which they made bow - strings, and which, for
that reason, was ordained by Menu to form the

‘sacrificial zone of the military class.

35. Larunti: :

Syn. Saha', Cuma'ri.

~Vurc. Ghrita-cumari, | + - 7

LINN, |

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 279

Lawn. Two-ranked ALrot, A Perfoliata, P?
Flowers racemed, pendulous, subcylindric, rather
incurved. Bracts, one to each peduncle, awled,
“concave, deciduous, pale, with three dark stripes.
Corol six-parted; three external divisions, -orange-
scarlet; internal, yellow, keeled, more fleshy,
and more highly coloured in the middle. Fi/aments
with a double curvature. Germ six-furrowed.
Stigma simple. . Leaves awled, two-ranked; the
lowest expanding ; sea-green, very fleshy; ex-
ternally quite convex, edged with soft thorns;
variegated on both sides with white spots. Van
RHEEDE exhibits the frue ALor by the name of

_ Cumadri; but the specimen brought me by ana-
tive gardener, seemed a variety of the fwo-ranked,
though melting into the species, which immedi-
ately precedes it in Linnxvus,

36. Bacula:

Syn. Ce'sa’ra.

Vutc. Mulsari,or Mulasri.

Iynn. Mimusops Elengi.

Car. Perianth eight-leaved ; Jeaflets egged, acute,
permanent; four inferior, simple; four exterior,
leathery.

Cor. Petals sixteen, lanced, eae a as long as
the calyx; Nectary eight-leaved; /eaffets lanced,
converging round the stamen and pistil.

Sram, Llaments eight (or from seven to ten) awled,
very short, hairy. dnthers oblong, erect.

Pist. Germabove, roundish, villous. Style, cylindric.
Stigma obtuse.

Pen. Drupe oval, pointed ; br oh orange-scarlet.

, | Nut

_

280 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Nur oval, wrinkled, flattish, and smooth at oné
edge ; broad and two-furrowed at the other.

Flowers agreeably fragrant in the open air, but with
too strong a perfume to give pleasure in an apart-
ment. Since it must require the imagination of a
BurMay to discover in them a resemblance to the
face of a man, or of an ape, the genus will, I hope, -
be called Bacuta ; by which name it is fre-
quently celebrated in the Pura‘uas, and even placed
among the flowers of the Hindu paradise. Leaves
alternate, petioled, egg-oblong pointed, smooth.
The tree is very ornamental in parks and pleasure-
grounds, |

37. ASOCA:

Syx. Vanjula.

Car, Perianth twa-leaved, closely embracing the
tube.

Cor. One-petaled. . ube long; cylindric, subin-
curved; mouth encircled with a nectareous rim, ,
Border four-parted ; divisions, roundish.

STAM. Llaments eight, long, coloured, inserted on
the rim of the tube. -Anthers kidney-shaped..

Pisr. Germ above, oblong, flat, Style Shapes downy.
Stigma bent, simple,

Per. Legume long, compressed at first, then protu-
berant with the swelling seeds; incurved, strongly
veined and margined, sharp-pointed,

SEEDs from two to eight, solid, large, many-shaped,
some oblong-roundish, some rhomboidal, some ra-
ther kidney-shaped, mostly thick, some flat. Leaves
egg-oblong-lanced, opposite, mostly five- paired,

nerved ;

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 28r

‘nerved; long, from four or five to twelve or thir-
teen inches. | |

Tne number of stamens varies considerably in the
same plant: they are from six or seven to eight
or nine ; but the regular number seems eight, one
in the interstices of the corol, and one before the
centre of each division. Most of the fiowers, in-
deed, have one abortive stamen, and some only
mark its place, but many are perfect; and Van
RueEEDE speaks of eight as the constant number :
in fact no part of the plant isconstant. Flowers fas-
cicled, fragrant just after sun-set, and before sun-
rise, when they are fresh with the evening and morn-
ing dew; beautifully diversified with tints of orange-
scarlet, of pale yellow, and of bright orange, which
grows deeper every day, and forms a variety of
shades according to the age of each blossom that
opens in the fascicle. The vegetable world scarce
exhibits a richer sight than an 4so’ca-tree-in full
bloom: it is about as high as an ordinary cherry-
treé. A Bra‘hman informs me, that.one species of
the soca is a creeper; and JAYADE’VA gives it
the epithet voluble: the Sanscrit name will, I hope,
be retained by botanists, as it perpetually occurs
in the old Indian poems, and in treatises on religious
rites, )

38. SaivaA’La:

Syn. Janalil. Saivals.
‘Vue. Simdr, Syala’, Pa'tasya'la, Se hala’.

Lywr. Vallisneria? R.

Car. Common Spathe one-leaved, many - flowered,

very

282 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

very long, furrowed, two-cleft at the top; each

division end-nicked. Preper Perianth senior A

divisions avled.

Cor. Petals three, linear, long; eaibicligics fleshy.

Stam. Filaments.invariably nine, thread-form. An-
thers erect, oblong, furrawed. me

Pist. Geri egged, uneven. Séy/es always three,.
short, awled, expanding. S¢zgmas three, simple,

Per. Capsule very long, smooth, awled, ane-celled,
infolded in an angled Spathe.

SEEDS very numerous, murexed, in 4 viscid mucus.
Flowerets from six to fourteen, small. Scape compres-
sed, very narrow, fleshy, furrowed in the middle.
Pedicel of the floweret thread-form, crimson above ;
proper perianth, russet; petals white; anthers
deep yellow. Leaves sword-form, pointed, very
narrow, smooth, and soft, about two-feet long,-
crowded, white at the base. Roof small, fibrous,

It flourishes in the ponds at Crishna-nagar. The re-

finers of sugar use it in this province. If this

plant be a Vallisneria, 1 have been so unfortunate
as never to have seen a female plant, nor fewer than -

nine stamens in one blossom out of more than a

hundred, which I carefully gpamunge

so. Pu’rICARAJA:
Syn. Practrya, Putica, Calibrate.
Vue. Na tacaranja. |
Linn. Guiranpina Bonduccella,

Tue species of this genus vary in a singular man-
ner: on several plants, with the oblong leaflets and
double prickles of the Bonduccella, Lcould, see only male

flowers

,

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 283

flowers as RueEpe has described them; they were
yellow, with an aromatic fragrance. Others, with
‘similar Jeaves and prickles; were clearly polygamous,
and the flowers had the following character.
MALE.
Car. Perianth one -leaved, salver - form, cence :
Border five-parted, with equal, oblong dvzsions.
Cor. Petals five, wedge-form, obtusely notched at
the top ; four equal, erect, the fifth depressed.

Sram. Filaments ten, awled, inserted in the calyx,
villous, very unequal in length. _A4nthers oblong,
furrowed, incumbent.

HERMAPHRODITE.

Calyx, Corol, Stamens, as before.

Pist. Germ oblong, villous. S*y/e cylindric, longer
than the filaments. Stigma simple.

Per. and Steps well described by Linnaus.

Flowers yellow ; the depressed petal variegated with red
specks. Bracts three-fold, roundish, pointed. Spikes
set with Moral leaflets, lanced, four-fold, reflected.

40. SOBHA’'NJANA:

Syw. Sieru, Ticsina, Gandhaca, Acshi Ud, Me chaca.

Vuxe. Sajjana, Moranga.

Linn. Guilandina Moringa.

Car. Perianth one-leaved. Tube short, unequal,
gibbous, Border five-parted. Divisions oblong-
Janced, subequal ; first deflected, then revolute 5
coloured below, white above.

Cor. Petals five, inserted into the calyx, resembling
a boat-form flower. Wing-like, two, inverse-egged,
clawed, expanding.

Awning-

284 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Awming -\ike, two, inverse-egged, erect; claws
shorter. <

Keel-like, one, oblong, concave ; enclosing the fruc-
tification ; beyond it, tenis longer than the
wing-petals,

Sram. Filaments five, fertile: three bent over the
pistil : two shorter, inserted into the claws of the
middle petals. 4zthers twin, rather mooned, ob-
tuse, incumbent. Five steril (often fowr only)
alternate with the fertile, shorter; their bases
villous.

Pist. Germ oblong, coloured, villous; below it a
nectar-bearing gland. S¢y/e shorter than the stamen,
rather downy, curved, thicker above. Stignia ?
simple.

Per. Legume very long, slender, wreathed, pointed,
three-sided, channelled, prominent with seeds, one-
celled.

SEEDS many, winged, three-sided.

Tree very high; Aranches in an extreme degree
hight and beautiful, rich with clustering flowers,
Stem exuding a red gum. Leaves mostly thrice-
feathered with an odd one; /eaffets some inverse-
egged, some egged, some oval, minutely end-nick-
ed. Raceme- panicles mostly axillary. In perfect
flowers the whole caylx 1s quite deflected, counter-
feiting five petals; whence Van RueEpE made ita
part of the corol. Corals delicately odorous ; milk-
white, but the two central erect petals beauti-
fully tinged with pink. The root answers all the
purposes of our horseeradish, both for the table

. and

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 285.

and: for medicine; the fruit and blossoms are

dressd in caris. In hundreds of its flowers, exa-
mined by me with attention, five stamens and a
pistil were invariably perfect; indeed, it is pos-
sible, that they may be only the female herma-
phrodites, and that the males have ten perfect sta-
mens with pistils abortive; but no such flowers
have been discovered by me after a most diligent
search. Tae,

THERE is another species or variety, called Men-
nu Si’erv, that 1s Honey-Sigrv; a word intended
to be expressed on Van Ruzeve’s plate in Nagar:
letters; ts vulgar mame is Muna, or Racte sajjana,
because its flowers or wood are of a redder hue.

Linn.zuvs refers to Mrs. BLACKWELL, who re-
presents this plant by the name of Balenus Myrepsica,
as the celebrated Ben, properly Bax, of the afralvan
physians and poets:
4f. Co'vipa ra:

Syn. Ca'nchanara, Chamarica, Cuddéla, Yugapatra.
Vuxre. Cachna'r, Racta ca'uchan.
Linn. Variegated BAUHINLA.
Cat. Periauth caeasilegint obscurely five-cleft, deci-
_ duous. |
Cor. Petals five, eg edi’: expanded, wavy j
one more distant, more beautiful, striated)

Sram. Filaments ten, unequally connected at the
base ; five shorter, Anthers. double, incumbent.
Pist. Germabove, oblong. Style incurved:. Stig-

ma simple, ascending.

Per. Legume flattish, long, pointed, uw five
Seelled. Sgxps

286 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

SreEps mostly five; compressed, wrinkled, roundish,

Leaves rather hearted, tivo lobed; some with round-
ed, some with pointed, lobes. Flowers chiefly
purplish and rose-coloured, fragrant; the sweet
and beautiful buds are eaten by the natives in
their savoury messes: We have seen many species
and varieties of this charming plant: one had race-
med flowers, with petals equal, expanding, lanced,
exquisitely white, with a rose-coloured stripe from
the base of each to its centre; axthers four only,
fertile; six much shorter, steril; a second had
three fertile, and seven very short, barren; anos
ther had light purple corols, with no more than
five filaments, three longer, coloured, curved, ina
line of beauty. A noble Chmbing BAUHIN1IA was
lately sent from Nepél; with flowers racemedy
cream - coloured ; style pink; germ villous: sta-
mens three filaments, with rudiments of two more; —
stem downy, four-furrowed, often spirally. Ten-
drils opposite, below the leaves. Leaves two-
lobed, extremely large: it isa stout climber up the
highest ARuNDO Venu, ‘The Sanscrit name Man-
déra is erroneously applied to this plant in ‘the first
volume of Van RHEEDE.

42. CapiTT’HA:

Syn. Gréhin, Dadhit?ha, Manmat ha, ie it ,
Pushpap’ hala, Dantas‘at ha.

Vuic. Cath-bel.

Koun. Crateva, Valanga.. |

Car. Perianth five-parted, minute, deciduons ;

divisions expanded, acute.
Cor.

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 287

Cor. Petals five, equal, oblong, reflegted.

Sram. Filaments. ten, very short, with a small

» gland between each pair, awled, furrowed.’ n-
thers thick, five times as long as the filaments ;
furrowed, coloured, erect-expanding.

Pist. Germ roundish, girt with a downy coronet.
Style cylindric, short. Sézgma simple.

Per. Jerry large spheroidal, rugged, often warted
externally, netted within; many seeded.

- Szzps oblong-roundish, flat, woolly, nestling in five
parcels, affixed by long threads to the branchy
receptacles.

Flowers axillary, mostly toward the unarmed. extre-
mity of the branch. Dyvisions of the Perianth with

- pink tips; petals pale; anthers crimson, or cover
ed with bright yellow pollen. Frat extremely acid

_ before its maturity; when ripe, filled with dark
brown pulp, agreeably subacid. © Leaves jointedly -
feathered with an odd one; /eaflets five, seven, ot
nine ; small, glossy, very dark on one side, ‘in-
verse-hearted, obtusely-notched, dotted round ‘the
margin with pellucid specks, very strongly fla-
voured and scented like anise. Thorus long, sharp,
folitary, ascending, nearly cross-armed, axillary,
three or four petiols. to\one thorn. KiErnHOFF
jimits the height of the tree to thirty feet, but: we
have young trees forty>or fifty feet high; and at
Bandell there is a full-grown Capité’ha equal in size
to the ttue Bilva ; from its fancied refemblance to
which the vulgar name has been taken. When ‘the
trees flourish, the air around them breathes the odour

AS of

=

‘

288 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

of anise, both from the leaves and the blossoms #
and I canno help mentioning a singular fact which
may. indeed have been purely accidental: not a
single flower, out of hundreds examined by. me,
had both perfect germs and anthers visibly fertile,
while others, on the fame tree and at the same time,
had their anthers profusely covered with pollen,
but scarce any séy/es; and germs to all appearance
abortive.

43. CUVE'RACA:

Syx. Tiana, Tuni, Cachha, Céntalaca, Cun, Mita:
divricsha.

Vurc. Tuni, Tin; absurdly Vilayati Nim.

Lixw. Between Ceprera and SWIETENIA.

Ca. Perianth one-leaved, five-cleft, minute, deci-
duous; divisions roundish, concave, villous, ex-
panding.

Cor. Rather belled. . Petals pie alorrenaaaile
obtuse, concave, erect,» white with a greenish
tint, ¢iree exterior lapping over the ¢wo others.
Neetary short, five parted; drvisions _ roundish,
orange-scarlet, bright and concave at the insertion
of the stamens, rather downy. |

Sram Filaments five; inserted on the Zidaa of
the nectaty, awled, somewhat converging, nearly

. as long as the style. Anthers doubled, some
three-parted, curved, amcumbent. |

Pist. Germ. egged, obscurely five cleft Sz/e awl-

ed, erect, rather longer than the coro]. Sf#gma.

broad-headed, flat, bmght, green, circular, star-
red. |

Per,

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS, 289

Pir. Capsule egsed, five-celled, woody, gaping at
the base. Receptacle five-angled.

SEEDs imbricated, winged. 7

Leaves feathered, scarce ever with an odd one; pairs
from six to twelve; petioles, gibbous at their inser-
tion, channelled on one side, convex and smooth
on the other. S*ipules thick, short, roundish;
leaflets oblong - /anced, pointed, waved, veined, »

- nerve on one side. Panicles large, diffuse, con-
sisting of compound racemes. Necfaries yielding
a fine yellow dye. ood light, in colour like Ma-
hagoni.

44. NIcHULA:

Syn. Ambuja, Ijala.

Vute. Aijala, Badia, Jyihi.

Cav. Perianth one-leaved, belled, fleshy, downy,
coloured, permanent, five-parted ; divisions erect,
pointed. ; ;

Cor. Five-petaled; petals egeed, short pointed, re-
volute, downy within and without.

STAM. Filaments ten, five mostly shorter ; ahisstied
in the bell of the calyx; awled, villous. Anthers
erect, oblong, furrowed. :

_ Pist. Germ egg-oblong, very villous. S*y/e thread-
form, curved. Stigma headed, with five obtuse
corners.

Per. Drupe subglobular.

Nut scabrous, convex on one nas wis on the
other,

Leaves feathered ; pairs, from five to nine; /eaffets
oblong, daggered, notched. Calyx pale pink. Corot

Vor. IV, U darker

290. BOTANICAL- OBSERVATIONS
darker pink without, bright yellow within. Cyme
terminal, spreading.

45- ATIMUCTA:

Syn. Pun'draca, Vésanti, Médhavilatd.

Vue. Médhavilata. |

Lins. Bengal BantsTERIA.

RHEEDE: Dewenda, 6 H.M. tab. 59.

Cau. Perianth one-leaved, five-parted, permanent 5
divisions coloured, oblong-oval, obtuse; between
two of them a rigid glossy honey-bearing ‘ubercle,
hearted, acute.

Cor. Five-petaled, imitating a boat-form corol.
Wings, two petals, conjoined back to back, in-
volving the wectary, and retaining the honey.

Awning, large concave, miore beautifully coloured.
Keel, two petals, less than the wings, but similar.
All five roundish, elegantly fringed, with reflected
margins, and short oblong claws, ,

Sram. fi/aments ten; one longer. Anthers oblong,
thickish, furrowed.

Pisr. Germs two, or three, coalesced. S¥y/e:one,
thread-form, incurved, shorter than the longest fila-
ment. Svigma simple. |

Per. Capsules two or three, mostly two, coalesced
back to back ; each keeled, and extended into three
oblong membranous wigs, the lateral shorter than
the central.

SEEDs roundish, solitary.

fiacemes axillary. Flowers delicately fragrant; white,
with a shade of pink; the large petal supported by
the nectareous tubercle, shaded internally with

bright:

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 291

bright yellow and palered. Bracts linear ; Wings

of the seed light brown; the long one russet.

Leaves opposite, egg oblong, pointed. Pesio/s

short. S¢ipules linéar, soft, three or four to each

“petiol. Two glands at the base of each leaf. Stem
pale brown, ringed at the insertion of the leaves,
downy.

Turis was the favourite plant of Saconrara,
which she very justly called the Delght of the
Woods ; for the beauty and fragrance of its flowers
give them a title to all the praises which Ca’Lipa’s
and Jayapeva bestow on them: it is a gigantic
and luxuriant climber; but, when. it meets with no-
thing to grasp, it assumes the form of a sturdy tree,
the highest branches of which display, however, in
the air their natural flexibility and inclination to climb.
The two names, Vdsanti and Madhavi, indicate a
vernal flower ; but I have seen an Atimucta rich both
in blossoms and fruit on the first of January.

46, “AmMRA’TACA:

Syw. Pitana, Capi'tand.

Vuio. Anda, pronounced 4’mra, or A’mld.
Lixn. Sponpias Myrobalun ®. or a new species.

THE natural character as in Linnavs. . Leaves
feathered with an odd one; /zaffets, mostly five pair-
ed, egg-oblong, pointed, margined, veined, nerved ;
common petiol smooth, gibbous at the base. F/owers.
raceme-panicled, yellowish white. Fruit agreeably
acid; thence used in cookery. VAN RHEEDE calls
it «Ambadd or Ambalam; and, as he describes it with
jive or six styles, it is wonderful that Hizr should
have supposed it a Chrysobalanus. |

! U'2° 47. He'Ma-

292 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS
47. He'masa’cara, or the Sea of Gold,

Vouu.c. Himségar.

Lixn. Jagged-leaved CoryLepon.

Ca. Perianth four-cleft ; divisions acute.

Cor. One-petaled: Yube four-angled, larger at the
base ; Forder four-parted ; divisions egged, acute.
Nectary one minute, concave scale at the base of
each germ.

Stam. Filaments eight, adhering to the tube; four
just emerging from its mouth; fowr alternate, .
shorter. Anthers erect, small, furrowed. |

Pist. Germs four, conical. Styles, one from each
germ, awled, longer than the filament. Stigmas
simple.

Per. Capsules istie, oblong, pointed, bellied, one
valved, bursting longitudinally within. |

SEEDS numerous, minute.

Panicles terminal. Flowers of the brightest gold-colour.
-Leaves thick, succulent, jagged, dull sea-green.
Stem jointed, bending, in part recumbent. This
plant flowers for many months annually in Bengal:
in one blossom out of many, the numbers were
ten and five; but the filaments alternately long and
short. :

48. Mapuv’ca:

Syn. Gurapushpa, Madhudruma, Vinaprast ha, Mad-
husht hiila, Madhu.

Vuxrc. Maiydla, Mahuya, Maid.

Liwxwn. Long-leaved Bassi.

49. CAHLA'RA*:

\

* According to the sacred Grammar, this word was written
Cahlhdra, and pronounced as Callara would be in ancient. British,
When the flowers are red, the plant is called Halaca and Racta

_sandhache
Sie

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 293

Syw. Saugandhica, or Sweet-scented.
Vouurc. Sundhi'-halé, or Sundhi-hala-nali.
Linn. Nympuaa Loros.
Calyx asin the genus.
Cor. Petals fifteen, lanced, rather pointed and keel-
ed; the exterior series green without, imitating an
interior calyx. |
Stam. Filaments more than forty; below flat, broad;
above narrow, channelled within, smooth without ;
the outer series erect, the inner somewhat converg-
ing. Anthers awled, erect; some coloured like
the petals.
Pisr. Germ large, orbicular, flat at the top, with
many (often seventeen) furrows externally, be-
tween which arise as many processes, converging
_ toward the stigma; the disk marked with as many
furrowed rays from the center, uniting on the mar-
gin with the converging précesses. $#7gma round-
ish, rather compressed, sessile in the centre of the
disk, permanent,
Per. Berry inthe form.of the germ expanded, with
sixteen or-seventeen cells.
SEEDS very numerous, minute, roundish. Flowers
- beautifully azure, when full blown. more diluted ;
less fragrant than the red, or rose-coloured, but with |
a delicate scent. Leaves radical, very large, sub-
targeted, hearted, deeply scollop-toothed. On one
side dark purple, reticulated ; on the other dull
green, smooth. Petio/s very smooth and long,
tubular. The seeds are eaten, as well as the bulb -
-of the root, called Sdl/ica; a name applied by
| hae ; RHEEDE

294. BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

RueEDE to the whole plant, though the word Cz-
mala, which belongs to another Linnean species
of Nymphaea, be clearly engraved on his plate in
Négari letters. ‘There is a variety of this species
with leaves purplish on both: sides; flowers dark
crimson, calycine petals richly coloured internally,
and anthers flat, furrowed, adhering to the top of
the filaments: the petals are more than fifteen, less
pointed, and-broader than the blue, with little
odour.

Tue true Lotos of Egypt isthe Nympo xa. Nili-
fer, which in Sanscrit has the following names or epi-
thets:. Papma, Nalina, Aravinda, Mahotpala, Cama-
la, Cuséshaya, Sahasrapatra, Sérasa, Paneéruha, Ta-
morasa, Sarasiruha, Ra‘ji'va, Vis'aprastna, Pushcara,
Ambhiruha, Satapatra. "The new-blown flowers of
the rose-coloured Papa, have a most agreeable fra-
erance; the white and yellow have less odour: the
blue, I am told, is a native of Cashmir and Persia,

50. CHAMPACA:

Syn. Cha'mpe'ya, He'mapushpaca,

Vurc. Champac, Champa’,

Lisn. Michelia. toa

Tue delineation of this charming and celebrated
plant, exhibited by Van RuEEDE, is very correct,
but rather on too large a scale: no material change
can be made in its natural character given by Lin-
N&US; but, fram an attentive examination of his
two species, I suspect them to be varieties only, and
am certain that his trivial names are merely differ-
ent ways of expressing the same word. The strong
| aromatic

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 295

aromatic scent of thet gold-coloured Champac, is
thought offensive to the bees, who are never seen on
its blossoms; but their elegant appearance on the
black hair of the Jndian women is mentioned. by
Rumpuivs; and both facts have supplied the San-
scrit poets with elegant allusions. Of the wild Cham-
pac, the leaves are lanced, or lance-oblong; the
three leaflets of the -ca/yx green, oval, concave;
the pefa/s constantly six, cream-coloured, fleshy, con-
cave, with little scent; the three evferior inverse-
egeged ; the three mterior more narrow, shortcr point-
ed, converging ; the avthers clubbed, closely set round
the base of the imbricated germs, and with them
forming a cone; the s/igmas minute, jagged.

Born Mr..Marspewn and Rumpuivus mention
the blue Champac as a rare flower highly prized in Sz-
matra and Java; but I should have suspected that
they meant the Kampreria Bhichampac, if the
Dutch naturalist had not asserted that the plant
which bore it was a tree resembling the Champaca
with yellow bldssoms: he probably never had seen
it; and the Braéhmens of this province insist, that it
flowers only in paradise.

51. DevapDaRu:
Syw. Sacrapadapa, Pdribhadraca; Bhadradiru, ,
Duhcilima, Pitadéru, Déru, Pu tica'sht’ ha.
Vue. De'vadar. |
Linn. Most lofty Unona.
52. PaRNasa:
Syn. Tulasi, Cat’ hinjaray Cut*héracas Vrinda.
Vuue. Lulosi, Didsi. |
U4 LINN.

296 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Linn. Holy Ocymum?

The Natural Character as in LANN&US.
See 10 H. M. p. 173.

Ir is wonderful that Ruzerepe has exhibited no
delineation of a shrub so highly venerated by the
Hindus, who have given one of its names to a sacred
grove of their Parriassus on the banks of the Yamuna :
he describes it, however, in general terms, as resem--
bling another of his To/assis (for so he writes the
word, though Tulasi be clearly intended by his
Na'gari letters) ; and adds, that 7# is the only species
reputed holy, and dedicated to the God Visunu. 1
should, consequently, have taken it for the Aly
Ocymum of Linnzus, if its odour, of which that
species is said to be nearly destitute, had not been
very aromatic and grateful; but it is more probably
a variety of that species than of the Small-flowered,
which resembles it a little in fragrance. Whatever be
its Linnean appellation, if it have any, the following
are the only remarks that I have yet had leisure to
make on it.

SremM one or two feet high, ‘i incurved
above; knotty and rough below. SBranchlets —
crossearmed, channelled, Leaves opposite, rather -
small, egged, pointed, acutely sawed; purple
veined beneath, dark above. Petto/s dark
purple, downy. Racemes terminal; Flowers vere
ticilled three-fold or five-fold, cross-armed, ver
ticils from seven to fourteen; Peduncles dark pur-
ple, channelled, villous; Jracts sessile, roundish,

goncave, reflected. Calyx with its upper lip ore
bicular,

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 207

bicular, deeply concave externally. Coro/ blucish
purple. The whole plant has a dusky purplish
hue approaching to b/ack, and thence, perhaps,
like the Jarge black bee of this country, it is held
sacred to CrisHna3; though a fable, perfectly
Ovidian, be told in the Purdzas concerning the
metamorphosis of the nymph Tutas1, who was
beloved by the pastoral God, into the shrub, which
has since borne her name. It may not be improper
to add, that the White Ocymum is in Sanserit
called Arjaca.

63- Pa raLt;

Syn. Pa'tala, Amight. Ca chasPha'li, P’haléruhi,
Crishnavrinta, Cuvérachi, Some read Migha’ and
Ca'la'st hdl’,

Vuuc. Parald, Pérali, Parul.

Linn. Bicnonia. Chelonoides ?

Cat. Perianth one-leaved, belled, villous, withering.
obscurely five-angled from the points of the divi-
sions, five-parted ; divisions roundish, pointed, the
two lowest most distant.

Cor. One-petaled, belled. Tube very short;
throat oblong-belled, gibbous. Border five-
parted; the two higher divisions reflected, each
minutely toothed; convex externally; the ¢hrce
lower divisions, above, expanded ; below, ribbed,
furrowed, very villous. Palate nearly closing the
throat. Necfary, a prominent rim, surrounding
the germ, obscurely five- parted.

Sram. Filaments four or five, incurved, inserted

_ below the xpper division of the border, shorter

7 than

298 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

than the corol, with the rudiment of a fifth or sixth,
between two shorter than the rest. _duthers two-
cleft, incumbent at obtuse angles.

Pist. Germ oblong-conical. S*y/e thread-form, as
jong as the stamens. Stigma headed with two folds,
often closed by viscidity.

Per. Capsule one-celied, two valved, twelve inches
tong at a medium, and one inch thick; rounded,
four-sided, pointed, incurved, rather contorted,

_ diminished. at both ends, dotted with ashy specks,
here and there slightly prominent, striated; two
stripes broader, very dark, at right angles with the
valves.

Rec. A series of hard, broadish, woody rings, closely
strung on two wiry central threads.

SEEDS numerous; forty-eight on an average, three-
angled, inserted by one angle in cavities between
the rings of the receptacle, into which they are
closely pressed by parallel ribs in the four sides of
the capsule; winged on the two other angles with
tong subpellucid membranes, imbricated along the
sides of the receptacle.

T ree rather large. Stem scabrous.

Branchlets cross-armed, yellowish green, speckled
with small white lines. Leaves feathered with an
edd one ; two or three paired, petioled. Leaflets
opposite, egged, pointed, most entire, downy
en both sides, veined; older leaflets roughish,
margined, netted and paler below, daggered.
Petials tubercled, gibbous at the base ; of the

paired leaflets, very short; of the odd ane,
" longer,

ON-SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 299

longer. Stipules linear. Flowers panicled ; pedicels
opposite, mostly three- flowered ; an odd flower
subsessile between the two terminal pedicels.
Corol, externally, light purple above, brownish
purple below, hairy at its convexity; internally
dark yellow below, amethystine above; exqui-
sitely fragrant, preferred by the bees to all other
flowers, and compared by the poets to the quiver
of Ca’mapeEva,orthe God of Love. The whole
plant, except the roof and stem, very downy and
viscid. The fruit can scarce be called a silique,
since the seeds are nowhere affixed to the sutures ;
but their wigs indicate the genus, which might
properly have been named Perospermon: they
are very hard, but enclose a white sweet kernel ;
and their light-coloured summits with three dark
points, give them the appearance of the winged in-
sects. Before I saw the fruit of this lovely plant,
I suspected it to be the Brcnonia_ Chelonoides,
which Van RueeEpeE calls Padri; and I conceived
that barbarous word to be a corruption of Patali ;
but the pericarp of the true Patch, and the form
of the seeds, differ so much from the Pédri, that
we can hardly consider them as varieties of the
same species; although the specific’ character ex-
hibited in the Supplement to Linnzvs, corres;
ponds very nearly with both plants.

Tue Pétali blossoms early in the spring, before a |
leaf appears on the tree, but the fruit is not vat till
the following winter. ,
54. Go'CANT’ACA:

| Syn.

300 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Syn. Palancésha’, Icshugandha’, Swadanshira, Swa-
ducantaca, Goeshuraca, Vanasrniga'ta.

Vuxe. Gocshura, Gokyura, Culpé,

Raeeevt: Bahéel Chulh. ‘

Linn. Long-leaved, BaRLERIA ?

Cau. Perianth one-leaved, hairy, five-toothed ; upper
tooth long, incurved, pointed; two wnder and
two lateral shorter, subequal, winged with sub-pel-
lucid membranes.

Cor. One-petaled, two-lipped. Tide flattish, curved,
protuberant at the mouth. Upper lip erect, two-part-
ed, reflected at the sides, convave in the middle, en-
closing the fructification. Under lip three-parted,
reflected, with two parallel, callous, hispid bodies
on the centre of its convexity ; Divisions inverse-
hearted.

Sram. Filaments four, inserted in the mouth of the
tube; connected at their base,. then separated into
paits and circling round the pistil; each pair
united below, consisting of a Jong and a short fila-
ment. Authers arrowed.

Pist. Germ awled, pointed, furrowed, with pro-
minent seedlets, sitting on a glandular pedicel.

. Style thread-form, longer than the stamens, incurved
above them. Svigma simple.

Per. .

Flowers verticilled; Corols blue, or bright violet;
centre of the under lip yellow. Verticils, each sur-
rounded by six #horns, very long, diverging,
coloured above ; under which are the /eaves, alike

verticilled, anced, acutely sawed, pubescent,
interspersed

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS, 308

interspersed with bristles. Svem jointed, flattish,

hairy, reddish; furrowed on both sides; broader .

at the joints, or above the verticils ; furrows alter-

nate.

55. SINDHUCAS

Syn Sindhuvdra, Indrasurisa, Nirvand:, Indra‘nica.

Vuic. No'‘andi.

Linn. Three-leaved Vitex, or Negundo?

Car. Perianth five-toothed, beneath, permanent;
toothlets acute, subequal.

Cor One-petaled, grinning; Tube funnel-shaped,
internally villous; border two-lipped; upper lip

_ broad, concave, more deeply coloured; under lip
four-cleft ; divisions acute, similar.

Stam. laments four; two shorter, adhering to the
Tube, villous at the base. -dnthers half-mooned,
Pisr. Germ globular; S*yle thread-form ; Stigma

, two-parted, pointed, reflex.

Per. Berry (unless it be the coat of a naked seed}
roundish, very hard, black, obscurely furrowed,
with the calyx closely adhering.

SEEDs from one to four? I never saw more than one,
as RHEEDE has well described it.

FLowers raceme-panicled ; purplish or dark blue
without, greyish within, small. Racemes mostly
terminal; some pedicels many-flowered. ©

Stem distinctly four-sided; sides channelled, jointed,
bending. Svipules egged, scaly, ae ge close.
Branchlets cross armed.

TueE tube of the corol is covered ite, with a
tangle of silvery silky down, exquisitely beautiful ;
more dense below the upper lip.

Tats

30% BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Tus charming shrub, which seems to delight in
watery places, rises to the height of ten or twelve,
and sometimes of twenty feet; exhibiting a most. ~
elegant appearance, with rich racemes or panicles
lightly dispersed on the summit of its branchlets. On
a comparison of two engravings in Rumpuius, and
as many in Van Rueepe, and of the descriptions
in both works, Iam nearly persuaded that the S1n-
puuca, or Nirgand?, is the Virex Negundo of Liy-
wau33 but it certainly resembles the three-/eaved
Vitex in its /eaves, which are opposite, egged,
acute, petioled ; above mostly ¢hree’d, below mostly
fived; paler beneath ; rarely sawed and very slightly, .
but generally entire: they are very aromatic, and
pillows are stuffed with them, to, remove a cold in
the head and a head-ach_ occasioned by it.. ‘These,
J prusume, are the shrubs which Bonstivs calls
Lagondi, and which he seems to consider as a pa-
nacea.

56. Ca’RAVELLA:?

Syn. Catillaca, Sushavi

Vuic: Beng fee Find. Ghia.

Linn, Five-leaved Cleome ?

Car. Periaith four-leaved, gaping at the base,
then erect; /eaflets egg-oblong, concave, downy,

deciduous.

Cor. Cross-form. Petals four, expanding, claws
long; folds wrinkled.

Nectary, from six to twelve roundish perforated
glands, girding the gibbous receptacle.

|

STAM,

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 303

Sram. Felaments six, thread-form, hardly differing
in length, inserted on a pedicel below the germ.
Anthers erect, pointed, furrowed,

Pist. Germ erect, linear, long, downy, sitting on
the produced pedicel. Sty/e very short. Stigina
headed, flat, circular.

Per. Siligue one-celled, two-valved, spindle-shaped,
with protuberant seeds; crowned with the petma=
nent style.

SzEDs very many, roundish, nodding. Receptacles
linear, often more than two.

Tue whole plant, most distinctly one piece. Loot
whitish, with scattered capillary fibres. Svem her-
baceous, pale green, in parts purple, hairy, cross-
armed, produced into a long raceme crowded at the
summit. Branchlets, similar te the stem, leaf-bear~
ing; similar, but smaller leaves rising also frona
theiraxils. Leaves fived, roundish-rhomboidal, notch~
ed, pointed, hairy, dark green, the lower paurs re-
spectively equal, the odd one much larger, strengly
ribbed with processes from the petiol-branchlets,
conjoined by the bases of the ribs, in the form
of a starlet; each ray whitish and furrowed
within. Calyx green. Petals white. -Anthers cove-
red with gold-coloured pollen. Pedicels purplish,
Bracts three’d, similar to the cauline leaves. The
sensible qualities of this herb seem to promise great
antispasmodic virtues; it has a scent much_resem-
bling assafetida, but comparatively delicate and ex~
tremely refreshing. For pronouncing this, Cleome
the Cwrave'lla of the ancient Indians, I haye only the

uF ~ authority

304 ROTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

authority of Rurenper, who has exactly written that
word in Malzbar letters. As to his Bra'hmanical name
Tilint, my vocabularies have nothing more like it
than Tilaca, to which Cshuraca and Srimat are the
only synonyma.

57. Na’GACESARA: Aiatee
Syn. Chimpéya, Césara; Canchana, or any other
name of gold. |
Vue. - Nagasar.

Linn. Jron Mersva.

To the botanical descriptions of this delightful
plant, I need only add, that the tree is one of the
most beautiful on earth, and that the delicious odour
of its blossoms justly gives them a place in the qui-
ver of Ca’mMapeva. In the poem, called Nais-
hadha, there is a wild but clegant couplet, where
the poet compares the white of the Na'gace'sara, from
which the bees were scattering’the pollen of the
numerous gold-coloured anthers, to an alabaster-
wheel, on which Ca’ma was whetting his arrows,
while sparks of fire were dispersed in every di-
rection. Surely, the genuine appellation of an Jz-
dian plant should be substituted for the corrupted
name of a Syrian physician, who could never have
feen it: and, if any trivial name were necessary to dis-
tinguish a single species, a more absurd one than rox
could not possibly have been selected for a flower
with petals like silver and anthers like gold.

58. S'armact:
Sys. Pich’hila’, Pirani, Mocha’, 8? hira’yush.
Vutec. Semel,

. Likw.

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 305

Linn. Seven-leaved Bompax.

59, SAn’a:

Syn. S'anipushpicd, Ghant'érava.

Vutc. San, pronounced Sun,

Linn. Rushy Crotalaria.

Car. Perianth one-\leaved, villous, permanent;
short below, gibbous on both sides, with minute
linear tracts. Upper teeth two, lanced, pressing
the banner; Jower tooth, boat-form, concave,
two-gashed in the middle, cohering above and be-
low, sheathing the keel, rather shorter than it;
pointed, |

Cor. Boat-form.

Banner broad, large, acute, rather hearted, with
two dark callosities at the base, and with com-

pressed sides, mostly involving the other’ parts :
a dark line from base to point.

Wings inverse-egg-oblong, with dark callous’ bodies
at their axils, two thirds of the banner in length.
Keel flattened at the point, nearly closed all round to
include the fructification; very gibbous below, to

receive the germ.

STAM. filaments ten, coalesced, cleft behind, two-
\ parted below; alternately short with linear furrowed
erect, and long with roundish anthers.

Pisr.' Germ rather awled, flat, villous, at a right
angle with the ascending, cylindric, downy S¥/e.
Stigma pubescent, concave, open, somewhat lip-
ped. pA

Per. Legume pedicelled, short, velvety, turgid,
one-celled, two-valved. ‘

weiNou. IV = SEEDS,

306 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Seeps, from one or two to twelve or more, round-
kidney-form, compressed.

Flowers deep yellow. Leaves alternate, lanced, paler
beneath, keeled; petioles very short; stipules mi-
nute, roundish, villous. Sem striated. , |

Threads, called pavitraca, from their supposed purity,
have been made of Sana from time immemorial:
they are mentioned in the laws of Menv.

The retuse-leaved CRoTALARIA, which Van
RueEeEpDEs, by mistake calls Schama Pusp?, is cultiva-
ted, I believe, for the same purpose. RuMPpuHivus
had been truly informed that threads for nets were
made from this genus in Bengal; but he suspected
the information to be erroneous, and thought that
the persons who conveyed it had confounded the
Crotalaria with the Capsular ConcHoRvs. Strong
ropes and canvas are made of its macerated bark.

The Jangal-s'an, or a variety of the watery CROTALA~
R1tA has very beautiful flowers, with a. greenish
white banner, purple striped, wings bright violet:
stem four-angled and four-winged; /eaves egged,
obtuse, acute at the base, curled at the edges, dow-
ny ; stipules two, declining, mooned, if you chuse
to call them so, but irregular, and acutely pointed.
In all the Jndian species, a difference of soil and
culture occasion varieties in the flower and fructifi-
cation. | : |

60, JAYANTI

Syn. Jaya’, Tercar}, Nadeyi, V aijayautica

Vure. Jamti Jaki; some say, Arant, 0

RHEEDE: Kedangu. weg ,belldd-dt0

Vi .2o Runes.

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS: a"

Linn. AiscHYNOMENE Seshban. srertt

Car. Perianth one-leaved, rather belled, five- dee

toothlets awled, erect, sub-equal, more distant on each

side of the awning ; permanent.

Cor. Boat-form.

Awning very broad, rather longer than the wings,
inversé-hearted, quite reflected so as to touch the

-calyx: waved on the margin; furrowed at the
base. internally, with two. converging — hornlets
fronting the aperture of the keel, gibbous below,
awled upwards, acute, erect, within the wings.

» Wings oblong, clawed, narrower above, obtuse,

_ spurred below, embracing the keel and the hornlets
of the awning.

Keel compressed, enclosing the fructification, inflec-
ted nearly in a right angle, gashed below and
above the flexure; each division Danchetsonny 5
beautifully striated.

Stam. Filaments simple and nine-cleft, inflected like
the keel; the simple one curved at the base. dn-
thers oblong, roundish..

Pist. Geri compressed, linear, erect as high as the
flexure of the filaments with visible partitions.
Style nearly at a right angle with the germ, awled,
inflected like the stamen. Sigma rather. headed,
somewhat cleft, pellucid. ray"

Per. Legume very long, slender, wreathed when
Tipe, smooth at the valves, but with seeds ra-

- ther protuberant, Poapyeparted, terminated with a
hard sharp. point.

SeEEDs oblong, rather kidney- -shaped, nen slight»
~ dy affixed to the suture, solitary,

8 ae: Stem

308 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Stem arborescent, rather knotty. Leaves feathered,
pairs from nine to fifteen, or more, often alter-
nate; /eaffets oblong, end-nicked, some with an
acute point, dark green above, paler beneath,
with a gibbosity at the insertion of the petiols;
sleeping, or collapsing, towards night. Racemes
axillary ; pedicels with a double curvature or line
of beauty; flowers small, six or seven; varying
in colour; in some plants, wholly yellow; in
others, with a blackifh-purple awning yellow with-
in, and dark yellow wings tipped with brown; in
some with an awning of the richest orange-scarlet
externally, and internally of a bright yellow;
wings yellow, of different shades; and a’ keel pale
below, with an exquisite changeable light purple
above, striated in elegant curves. The whole
plant is inexpressibly beautiful, especially in the
colour of the buds and leaves, and the grace. of
all the curves, for there is no proper angle in any -
part of it. The Bréahmens hold it sacred: Van
RHEEDE says, that they call ic Cananga; but I
never met with that word in Sanscrit: it has parts
like an Hedysarum, and the air of Cytsus. |

61. Para’sa 3

Syn. Cms‘uca, Parna, Vatépot ha.

Vute. Palas Pla's Dha'e.

Korn. Butea frondosa.

Car. Perianth belled, two-lipped upper lip ane

obscurely end-nicked ; under lip three-cleft, dawe
hy; permanent. |

Cor. Boat-form.
Awning

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 399

Awning reflected, hearted, downy beneath; some-
times pointed.
Wings \anced, ascending, narrower than the keel.
Keel as long as the wings, two - parted below, half-
mooned, ascending.
Stam. i/aments nine and one, ascending, regularly
curved. _Anthers linear, erect. 7
Pisrt. Germ pedicelled, oblongish, downy.
Style awled, about as long as the stamens. Stigma
small, minutely cleft.
Per. Legume pedicelled, oblong, compressed, des
pending.
SEED one, toward the apex of the pericarp flat;
smooth, oval-roundish. |
Flowers raceme-fascicled, large, red, or French scarlet,
, silvered with down.
Leaves. three’d, petioled; /eaflets entire, stipuled,
large, rhomboidal; the /¢tera/ ones unequally
divided; the termimal one larger, equally bis-
sected, brightly verdant. A perfect description of
the arborescent and the twining Paua’sa has been
exhibited in the last volume, with a full account
of its beautiful red pum; but the same plant is
here shortly described from the life, because few
trees are considered by the Hindus as more venera-
ble and holy. The Pa/ésa is named with honour
in the /’édas, in the laws of Menu, and in Senserit
poems, both sacred and popular; it gave its
~ mame to the memorable p/ain called Pla’ssey by the
vulgar, but properly Pa/a’ss; and, on every ac-
count, it must be hoped that this noble plant will
retain
?

~~

310 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

retain its ancient and classical appellation. A
erove of Palisas was formerly the principal or-
nament of Crishna-nagar, where we still see the

-- trunk of an aged tree near six feet in circumfe-
rence. This genus, as far as we can judge from

_ written descriptions, seems allied to the Nissolia.

62. CARANJACA; |

Sy. Chirabilva, Nactamala Caraja.

Vue. Caranja. -

Rueepe: Curanschi, 6 H. M. tab. ¢.

Car. Perianth one-leaved, cup-form, obscurely five-
toothed, or scalloped, beaked.

Cor. Boat-form.

Awning broad, end-nicked, striated, rather spirally
inflected, with two callosities at its base.

Wings oblong, of the same length with the awning.

Keel rather shorter, gibbous below, two-parted.

Sram. Filaments nine in one body, gaping at the base, -
and discovering a tenth close to the style. Anthers
egced, erect.

Pist. Germ above, oblong, downy. Svy/e incuryed
at the top. Stigma rather headed.

Per. Legume mostly one-seeded, thick, rounded
above, flattish, beaked below.

SeEeD oblong-roundish, rather kidney-form.

“Rascemes axillary. Awning pale; wings violet. Leaves
feathered with an odd one, mostly two-paired ;
leaflets ezg-oblong, pointed, keeled, short peti-
oled; brownish on one side, pale on the other.
Common petiol gibbous at its base. The seed yields
an oil supposed to be a cure for the most inveterate
scabies, .

63. ARJUNA:

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 311
63. ArRjuNA: |
Syn. Nadisarja, Virataru, Indradru, Cacubha.
Vutc.. Jaral.
‘Rueeve. Adamboe; 4 H.M. tab. 20, 21, 22.
Linn. Beautiful Muncuuauvsia?
Koen. Queen’s Flower LLAGERSTROEMIA ?
‘Car. Perianth one-leaved, six-cleft, top-shaped,
furrowed, with protuberant ridges, downy, perma-
nent; divisions coloured, with points reflected.
Cor. Petals six, roundish, somewhat notched, expand-
ing, wavy; c/aws short, inserted in the calyx.
Stam. Filaments coloured, numerous, capillary, short-
ish, obscurely conjoined in six parcels, one to each
division of the calyx: -Anthers thick, incumbent,
roundish, kidney-shaped.
Pist.. Germ above, egged. S*y/e coloured, longish,
thread-form, incurved. Stigma obtuse,
Per. Capsule egged, six-celled, six-valved.
SEEDs numerous. |
Panicles racemed, terminal, erect. Flowers violet
or light purple, in the highest degree beautiful.
Leaves alternate, leathery, ‘some opposite, egg-
oblong, stipuled, most entire, short petioleds
smooth, paler beneath. Branches round and smooth.
I have seen a single panicle waving near the
summit of the tree, covered with blossoms, and
as large as a milkmaid’s garland. The timber is
used for the building of small boats.
64. Vanpa’:
Syn. Vricshédani Vriesharuha, Ji'vantice.
Vuutc. Banda, Persa'ra, Perasa'ra.
These names, like the Linnean, are applicable to all
arasite-plants. LINN.

312 | BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

Lins. Retuse-leaved EpIpDENDRUM?

Car. Spathes minute, straggling.

Cor. Petals five, diverging, oval-oblong, obtuse,
wavy; the two lowest larger; the three highest
equal, bent towards the nectary. ,

Nectary central, rigid: Mouth gaping, oblique: Up-
per lip shorter, three-parted, with a polished
honey-cup; under lp, concave in the middle,
keeled above, with two smaller cavities below, two
processes at the dase, incurved, hollow, oval-poin-
ted, converging, honey-bearing.

Sram. Filaments very short. -dnthers round, flat-
tish, margined, covered with a lid, easily deciduous
from the zpper lip of the nectary.

Pist. Germ beneath long, ribbed, contorted with
curves of opposite fléxure. S¢y/e very short, adhe-
ring to the wpper lip. Stigma simple.

Per. Capsule oblong-conic, wreathed, six-keeled,
each with two smaller keels, three-celled, crowned
with the dry corol.

SzxEDs innumerable, like fine dust, afixed to the Re-
ceptacle with extremely fine hairs, which become
thick wool.

Scapes incurved, solitary, fil the cavity of the leaf,
at most seven-flowered; pedicels alternate. Pe-
tals milk-white externally, transparent; brown
within, yellow-spotted. Upper lip of the nectary
snow-white ; wader lip rich purple, or light crim-
son, striated at the base, with a bright yellow
gland, as it seems, on each process. ‘The. flowers
gratefully fragrant and exquisitely beautiful, looking
as if composed of shells, or made of enamel ; crisp

elastic,

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 313

elastic, viscid internally. Leaves sheathing, op-
posite, equally curved, rather fleshy, sword-form,
retuse in two ways at the summit, with one acute
point. Roots fibrous, smooth, flexible; shooting
even from the top of the leaves. This lovely
plant attaches itself chiefly to the highest Amras
and Bi/vas; but it is an air-plant, and lives in a
pot without earth or water: its leaves are exca-
vated upwards, to catch and retain dew. It most
resembles the first and second Maravaras of Van
RHEEDE inits roots, leaves, and fruit, but rather
differs from them in its inflorescence. Since the
parasites are distinguished by the trees on which
they most commonly grow, this may in Sanscrit
be called Amaravanda; and the name Baculavanda
should be applied to the Loranthus; while the
Viscum of the oak, Iam told, is named Vanda sim-
ply and trancendently, the Vunda'ca, or oak, being
held sacred.

65. A’MALAct?’

Syn. Tishyap hala seus Vayast ha’.

VULG.

Linn. Puyriiantuus Emblica’.

60. GAJAPIPPALI:

Syn. Caripippaly, Capiballi, Colabalti, Sreyas't, Va-
sira. Some add, Chavica’, or Chavya; but that is
named in the maracésh as a distinct plant, vul-
garly Chava, or Chayi.

Vurc. Pippal-? hanca, Maidah.

Male Flowers.
Car. Commou Perianth-four leaved; leaflets round-

ish, concave; the two exterior, opposite, smaller,
containing

!

314 “BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

containing from eight to fourteen florets. Partial
calyx, none.

Cor. None. Nectary, many anita glands on the
pedicel of the filaments.

Sram. filaments from eight to eighteen in each
floret, connected by a short villous pedicel, thread-
form, very hairy. -dzthers large netted, wregular,
inflated, containing the pollen. i

Pist. Rudiments of a germ and style withering.

Female Flowers

Car. Common Perienthas inthe male, but smaller;
containing from ten to twelve florets.

Partial calyx none, unless you assume the corol.

Cor. many petaled, belled. Petals erect lance-
linear, fleshy, covered within, and externally with
white hairs. Nectary, yellow glands sprinkling the
receptacle. |

Pist. Germ oval. Style cylindric, curved at the
base. Stigma headed.

Per. Berry globular, one-seeded.

Seep spherical, smooth.

Flowers umbelled, yellow from their anthers. Leaves
mostly oblong-lanced, but remarkahly varying
in shape, alternate. Both flowers and fruit have an
agreeable scent of lemon-peel; and the berries, as
a native gardener informs me, are used as a spice
or condiment. It was from him that I learned the
Sanscrit name of the plant: but as da//? meansa
creeper, and asthe Pippal-jhanea, 1s a tree perfectly
able to stand without support, I suspect in some de-
eree the accuracy of his information ;. though I

th cannot

>

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 315

cannot account for his using a Sanserit word with-
out being led to it, unless he had acquired at least
traditional knowledge. It might be referred, from
the imperfect mixed flower, to the twenty-third class.

67. Sa’co’Ta’ca:

SYN. .

Vuic. Syura, or Syaura.

Korn. Rough-leaved Trophis ?

MALE.

Cat. Common imbricated; /eaflets six or eight, eg-
sed, acute, small, expanding, withering, con-
taining generally from five to seven flowerets.
Partial four-parted ; divisions egged, expanded,
villous. |

Cor. None, unless you assume the calyx.

Stam. Filaments mostly four (in some, three; in
one, five) awled, fleshy, rather compressed,
spreading over the divisions of the calyx, and
adhering to them at the point, -Anthers double,
folded: |

The buds elastic, springing open ona touch.

FEMALE.

Car. Four-parted; divisions egged, concave, poin-
ted, permanent, propped by two small bracts; un-
less you call them the calyx.

Cor. None; unless you give the ca/yx that name.

Pist. Germ roundish. Séy/e very short, cylindric.
Stigma long, two-parted, permanent.

Per. Berry one-seeded, navelled, smooth, somewhat
flattened.

Srep globular, arilled.

{LEAVES various, some inverse-egged, some oblong,

some

316 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

some- oval, pointed, irregularly notched, alrer-

nate (some opposite), crowded, crisp, very rough

veined, and paler beneath, smoother and dark
above. Berry, deep yellow. The Pandits having
only observed the ma/e plant, insist that it bears
no fruit. Mema/e flowers axillary, from one to four
or five in an axil,

68. ViIRANA:

Syn. Viratara.

Vuuic. Béna Gandar Caia.

Retz. Muricated ANDROPOGON.

Roxs. -dromatic ANDROPOGON.

Tue root of this useful plant, which Ca’Lipa’s
calls us‘¢7va, has nine other names, thus arranged in a
Sanscrif Verse :

._ Abhaya, Nalada, Sévya Amrinala, Jala saya,

La'majaca, Laghulaya, Avada ha, Ishtaca pat ha.
It will be sufficient to remark, that Ja /as‘aya means
aquatic, and that Avada'ha implies a power of allaying
feverish heat ; for which purpose the root was brought
byGautamyi to her pupil Saconrara’. The slender
fibres of it, which we know here by the name of
Chas or Khaskhas, axe most agreeably aromatic
when tolerably fresh ; and, among the innocent luxu-
ries of this climate, we may assign the first rank to
the coolness and fragrance which the large hur-
dles or screens in which they are interwoven, impart
to the hottest air, by the means of water dashed
through them; while the strong southern wind spreads
the scent before it, and the quick evaporation contri-

butes to cool the atmosphere, Having never seen
the

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. Az.

the fresh plant, I guessed, from the mame in Van

RHEEDE and from the ¢hin roots, that it was the 4s/-

atic Acorus; but a drawing of Dr. RoxzurGn’s has

convinced me that I was mistaken.

69. S'aMI.

Syn. Saciu-phala, Siva.

Vurc. Satin Ba bul.

Linn. Farnesian Mimosa,

Thorns double, white, black pointed, stipular.
Teaves twice feathered ; first, in three or four
pairs, then in pairs from fourteen to sixteen.
Spikes globular, with short peduncles; yeHow,
perfuming the woods and roads with a rich aroma-
tic, odour. .A minute g/and on the petiols below
the leaflets. . /¥ood extremely hard, ufed by the
Brahmens to kindle their sacred fire, by rubbing two
pieces of it together, when it is of a proper
age and sufficiently dried. Gum semi-pellucid.
Legumes rather spindle-shaped, but irregular,
curved, acutely pointed, or daggered, with
twelve’ or fourteen seeds rather prominent, guni-
my within. Seeds roundish, compressed. The

_ gum of this valuable plant is more transparent
than that of the Nilotic or Arabian species; which
the Arabs call Ummillghi‘lan, or Mother of Ser-

_pents; and the Persians, by an easy corruption,
Mughilan.

SAMI’RA Means a small Sami; but I cannot learn to
what species that dimunitive form is applied.

Layya’ru (properly Lajjalu) signifies bashful, or
sensitive, and appears to be the word engraved

on

_

318 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

on a plate in the Malabar Garden; though Vaw:
RHEEDE pronounces it Lauri. There can be no
doubt that it is the sqwzmuning Mimosa, with sen-
silive leaves, root inclosed in a spungy cylinder,
and flowerets with only ten filaments. Linnzus,
by a mere slip, has referred to this plant as his
Dwarf JEscHYNoMENE; which we frequently
meet with in India.—See 9 H. M. tab. 20 The

epithet Lajjale is given by the Pandits to the
Modest Mimosa.

470. CHANDRACA:

Syn. Chandrapushpa.

Vuic. CRhota Cha'nd, or Moonlet.

RHEEDE: Sjouanna Amelpodi, 6 H. M. t. 47.

Linn. Serpent OPHIOXYLUM.

Ga. Perianth, five-parted, small, coloured, ereét,
permanent ; divisions egged, acutish.

Cor. Petal, one. Tube very long in proportion;
jointed near the middle, gibbous from the en-
closed anthers; above them, rather funnel-form.
Border five-parted; divisions - inverse - egged,
wreathed ~

Pist. Germ above, roundish. Style thread-form.

_ Stigma irregularly headed; with a circular pellucid
base, or mectary, extremely viscid.

Per. Berry mostly twinned, often single, roundish,
smooth, minutely pointed, one-seeded.

SEED on one side flattish, or concave;. on the other,’
convex. | >
Flowers fascicled.- Bracts minute, egged, paneer
coloured. Zube of the corol light purple ; order

small,

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS 319
“small, milk-white. Calyx first pale pink, then
bright cafmine. Pefiols narrow-winged. : Leaves
—oblong-oval, pointed, nerved, dark and ‘glossy
above, mostly three-fold, sometimes paired, of-
ten four-fold near the summit; margims wavy.
' Few shrubs in the world are more elegant than the
Chandra, especially when the vivid carmine of the
_ perianth is contrasted notyonly with the milk-white
corol, but with the rich green derries, which at
the same time embellish the fascicle: the mature
berries are black, and their pulp light purple.
The Bengal peasants assure me, as the natives of
Malabar nad informed Ruzepe, that the root of
this plant seldom fails to cure animals bitten by
snakes, or stung by scorpions; and, if it be the
plant, supposed to assist the Nacula, or ViIVERRA
Ichneumon, in his battles with serpents, its ame
synonyma have been strung together in the follow-
ing distich :

Naiculi, Surasd, Ra'sna’, Sugandu Gandhandéuli’

Na cule shta’, Bhujangacshi, CW’ hatrica, Suvaha,
é Nava. ~
The vulgar name, however, of the ‘ichneumon-
plant is Résan ; and its fourth Sumsertt appellation
signifies well-scented; a quality which an. ichaeu-
mon alone could apply to the Opioxpliwm; since
it has a strong, and rather feetid odour. The
fifth and sixth epithets, indeed, seem.to imply. that
its scent is agreeable to the Nacula;:and the
seventh (according to the comment:on the Amer-
‘acésh) that it is.offensive to snakes, It is asserted

ae r

&% Wahi. by

s

3720 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

by some, that the Adsam is no other than the
Rough Jxdian AcuYRANTHES 3 and by others,
that it is one of the Indian ArnistoLocutias. From
respect to Linn wus, I leave this genus in his mixed
class; but neither my eyes, nor far better eyes
than mine, have been able to discover its male
flowers; and it must be confessed, that all the
descriptions of the Ophioxylum, by Rumpuivs,
BurMAN, and the great botanist himself, abound
with erroneous. references, and unaccountable
oversights.

71. PIpPALA:

Syn. Bédhi-druma, Chala-dala, Cunjarésanas, An-
wat ha. |

Vuic. Pippal.

Linn. Holy Ficus: but the three following are also
thought oly. Fruit small, round, axillary, sessile,
mostly twin., Leaves hearted, scalloped, glossy,
daggered ; petiols very long; whence it is called
chaladala, or the tree with tremulous leaves.

72. UDUMBARA:

Syw. Jantu-p’hala, Yajnyinga, Hemadugdhaca.

Vuxic. Dumbar. |

Linn. Racemed Ficus.

Fruit peduncled, top-shape, navelled racemed.

Leaves egg -oblong, pointed, some hearted, ob-
scurely sawed, veined, rough above, netted beneath,
Van Rueeve has changed the Sunscrit | name
into Roembadoe. It is true, as he says, that minute
ants are hatched in the ripe fruit, whence it is
named Jantu-p’ hala; and the Pandits compare it to

the Mundane iige.
73. PLACSHA :

CN SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 321
/

72. PLACSHA:

Syn. fali, Parcati.

Vue. Pacari, Pacar.

Linn. Judiaw Ficus citron-leayed; but all four are
Indian.

Fruit sessile, small, mostly twin, crouded, whitish.

Leaves oblong, hearted, pointed, with very long
slender petiols.

74. VATA:

Syn. Nyagrédba, Babupéat.

Vuuc. Ber.

Linn. Bengal Ficus, but all are found in this pro-~
vince, and none peculiar to it.

Fruit roundish, blood-red, navelled, mostly twin,
sessile. Calyx three-leaved, imbricated.

_Leaves some hearted, mostly egged, obtuse, broad-
ish, most entire, petiols thick, short, branches ra-
dicating. —

Tue Sanscrit name -is given also to the very large
Ficus Indica, with radicating branches, and to some
other varieties of that species) Van Rueeve has
by mistake transferred the name Aswait’ba to the
Placsba, which is never so called.

45. CARACA:

Syn. Bhauma, Ch’batraca,

Vutec. |

Linn. Funcus Agaric.

Tuis and the Phallus are the only fungi, which I
have yet seen in Juda: the ancient Hindus held the
fungus in such detestation, that Yama, a legislator,
supposed now. to be the judge of. departed spirits,

Vou, IV. » He declares

322 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS

declares ‘“ those, who eat mushrooms, whether
“ springing from the ground or growing on a tree,
** fully equal in guilt’to the slayers of Brabmens, and
*« the moft despicable of all deadly sinners.’’

46. Takeo

Syn. Trinardjan.

Vuuc. Tal, Palmeira.

Linn. Borassus.

Tris Magnificent palm is juftly entitled the king
of its order, which the Hindus call trina druma, O¥
grass trees. Van RueeEpeE mentions the bluish gela-
tinous, pellucid substance of the young seeds, which,
in the hot season is cooling, arid agreeable to the
taste; but the liquor extracted from the tree, is the
most seducing and pernicious of intoxicating vege-
table juices: when just drawn, it is as pleasant as
Powbon water fresh from the spring, and almost equal
to the best mild Champaigne. From this liquor, ac-
cording to Ruzepe, sugar is extracted; and it
would be happy for these provinces, if it were al-
ways applied to so innocent a ‘gel ae
77. NaA’Rice'La:

Syn. Léngalin.
Vutec. Nérgil, Narjil.
Linn. Nut-bearing Cocos.

Or a palm so well known to Pasa: little more
need be mentioned than the true Afatic name: the
water ‘of the young fruit is neither so copious, nor
so transparent and refreshing in Bengal, as in the isle
of Hinzuan, where the natives, who use the unripe
nuts in their cookery, také extreme care of the trees.

78, Gu-

ee ee ee eed

|
|

|

shaving Ceeform ww hich w&

>

Ground Han of the Cadtub Minar
Cupion .

with a delineation

A
oo

LOO

nf
,
|

© Seale of. aoe
Cc

Ma Ul

bittiul

ON SELECT INDIAN PLANTS. 323

98. Guva'ca:

Syn. Ghént'ba, Piga, Cramuca, Capura.
Vu ec. Supyari. |

Linn. Areca Catechu.

Tue trivial name of this beautiful oalan having
been occasioned by a gross error, it must necessarily
be changed ; and Guvéca should be substituted in its
place. The inspissated juice of the Mimosa C’badira
being vulgarly known by the name of Cuzi’h, that
vulgar name has been changed by Evropeans into
Catecbu; and because it is chewed with thin slices of
the Udvéga, or Areca-nut, a species of this palm
has been distinguished by the same ridiculous cor-
ruption, z

A
DESCRIPTION
. OF THE
CUT Te MIN AR.

‘

fe
ENSIGN JAMES T. BLUNT,

z ti or OF THE ENGINEERS.

‘HE base of the Cuttub Minar, is a polygon of
tt twenty-seven sides, and rises upon it in a cir-
Sgdint. form; the diminution of the column, is ina

Ke good

224 A DESCRIPTION OF

good proportion. I do not mean to infer, that the
architect has followed any established rule, for it
does not appéar, that the ancients, in any country,
were tied down to rule; for although we see extreme-
ly different instances of the diminution in their
works, in general they all look well.

Tue ‘exterior part of the Minar is fluted into
twenty-seven semicircular and angular divisions,
upon which ‘is written a good deal of a very ancient
Arabic character ; it is supposed to contain passages
from the Koran; there are four balconies in the
height of the building, the first is at the height of
ninety feet, the second at 140, the third at 180, and
the fourth at 203 feet ; to the height of 180 feet, the
pillar is built of an exceeding fine red Granite, and
the fluting there ends. ‘The balconies are supported

upon large stone brackets, and have had small
battlements erected upon them, as a preventive from
people who may choose to go into them from falling,
and serve likewise, as an ornamental purpose to the
building ; from the height of 203 feet, excepting a
few inconsiderable ornaments, it rises’ with an even
surface, and circular form, built of very fine white
marble ; upon which the date when the Minar was
completed is said to be written. It was a matter of
much disappointment, that I could not approach suf-
ficiently near to the date to copy it; for I found it
was situated at sucha height, -as to put it totally out
of my power; and what'adds to the difficulty is, that
there isnot a bamboo, or wood of any kind produced
in that part of the’ sai calculated to raise a scaf-

folding with.
AN

THE CUTTUB MINAR. 326

Ax irregular spiral stair—case, leads from the bot-
tom, to the summit of the Minar, which 1 is crowned
with a majestic. Cupola of red Granite; there are
many openings during the ascent, for the admiffion
of light and air ;. at‘each balcony, ; an opening to al-
low of people walking into them, but I found the
battlements in many parts entirely ruined, and those
that were standing in such a decay ed state, as to ren-
der it a matter of some danger to venture out from
the stair-case. —

Tue entire height of the Cuttub 96 ai is 242 feet
and six inches: I ascertained it by measuring a direct
line from its base; and, as it may be a matter of
some satisfaction to sée that it is done with precision,
I annex the Trigonometrical calculation.

Tue Base AB being measured ina right line from
the bottom. of the Mz- ©
nar, was found to be!

A402 feet and six inches;

twenty-four feet ore

inch, the semi-diametet He
of the Base of the M:z- ;
nar being added to it, B A
gave a line of 426 feet and seven inches from the ¢en-
tre of the Pillar. At the extremity of the Base A,
a Theodolite was placed, and previously being care-
fully adjusted, by putting the Hné of collimation in
the Telescope, parallel to the plane of the Horizon,
the angle BAC was observed to be twenty-nine
degrees, thirty-nine minutes; thence the height of
“the Cuttub Minar, was found to be 242 feet and near-
ly six inches. Y 2 By

326 A DESCRIPTION OF

By Plane Trigonometry.

Tue Base AB giving 426 feet, seven inches, say
426, 5, the angle BA C is given 29°, 39’, the angle
BAC is a right one; the sum of the angles in all
triangles being equal to two right angles, or 180 de-
grees, by deducting the sum of the two angles CAB
and ABC, from the sum of three angles in the tri-
angle ABC, the angle A C B will be found

CAB = 29. 39
ABC =90.—

180—119. 39 — 60. 21 = Angle ACB.
Then as the angle A C B is to the side AB, so is
the angle CAB to the side CB, or height of the
Minar. |

LogS.of ACB Log of AB Log.S.of CAB Log. of CB
9593905 : 62942 :: 9, 69434 2 242,5
+2, 62942 .
Cc j
10, 32376

-~9, 93905 feet.

2; 38471 = 242,5

Tus Cuttub Minar is situated about nine miles
bearing S. 16 W. from the Fumma Musjid, that was
erected by the Emperor Suaw Jenan in the present
city of Delbi, and appears to have been designed for
a Minavet toa most stupendous mosque, which never
was completed; a considerable part of the second
and corresponding Minaret is to be seen, and many
other parts of this intended immense building, parti-
cularly

THE CUTTUB MINAR.. 227

cularly of the arches. ‘The mosque seems to have
been abandoned in this unfinished state, from causes
at this time entirely unknown; perhaps the original
designer of the fabrick found human life too short to
see it accomplished during his existence. It may not
appear a matter of much surprize that the wealth of
one man should be found inadequate to so arduous
an undertaking, however opulent and exalted in life
his situation may have been. The tomb of Curtus
Suaw, at whose expence the Mizar is said to have
been built, is to be seen a few hundred yards to the
westward of it: the tomb is rather inconsiderable and
of mean appearance, when compared with the many
more magnificent mausoleums that are to be met
with in the extensive ruins of De/bz.

Currus Suaw came to the throne of De/b: in the
Mussulman year 602, corresponding with the Christzaz
vera 1205, and died in the Mussulman year 607, or
Christian wera 1210, a reign of only five years; and
certainly a period not sufficient to erect so large a
building as a mosque, to correspond in magnitude
and grandeur with the Mizar and other parts of the
structure that were began upon, adjoining to it.

I ruHinxit may with some degree of reason be in-
ferred that a stop was put to the building of the
mosque at the decease of Cutruz Suaw, and from
which period we may date the Minar to have been
completed ; conformably with this inference, it is as-
certained that the Minar has ftood at least 580 years.
Excepting the unavoidable and irresistible effects of

‘Heghening; from the goodness of the materials, and the
ya excellent

328 ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

excellent judgment with which they appear to have
been put together, there is every reason to suppose
it would have withstood the ravages of time, for suc-
ceeding generations to behold, with admiration and
astonishment, for yet many ages.

XIX.

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS
| MADE ON
A, N,-O.YtA GUE
TO THE

ANDAMAN awnp NICOBAR ISLANDS,

BY

LIEU. RC CO 2s OO ke

Dramonp Istanp, near Cape Negrais, 1789.
December t4th. By the Sun’s Meridian] Latitude.

Altitude taken on shore, - - -= 15° 49' 33"
By Captain Kyp,~ - - - IS 49 43

Mean ¥5 49 38

Carnicozgar Istanp,1790. On board the Afalanta

Sloop of War, about one mile from the western

shore. | |
Fanuary 2d, Sun’s mer. alt. 67° 44’ 40” Lat. 9° 8' 52”
BEARINGS.

AT THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 329
* BEARINGS,

Northernmost point of the Land, N. 16° E.
Southernmost point of do. Fe ae Os
Nearest shore - N. 70. E.

DANISH POINT, at Nancowry, 1790. Observa-
tions for the Latitude, taken near the Flag Staff:

PE ST CTY Re Me ea iy ae Oe Oe ME PY! |S
| ©, or Stars. |Doub. Mer. Alts.|\Latitude N.
Fanuary rcth |Capella, —- Oe 38 Ol Sea eee
Canopus, GS: 1B, OF 8, Bh19
zoth |« Persei, - 97 5430]8 2 3%
21st |©’s lower limb, | 123 42 0|8 2 29
Capella, - 104. 34.390 | 8 2 36
6 Aurige, - 106 \18 10 | 8 2 49
23d |Capella, - i0# 3H 204 8 '2). 395
2 Aurige, - 106, 37:,30 1.8 -2, zg
Mean of the whole 8 2 26, 8

Ir the first observation by Capella be rejected, the
mean of the remaining seven will be 8° 2’ 32”.

Tue observations were made witha fine Sextant by
TroucurtTon, and Artificial Horizon. The refrac-
tions applied in computing these, and all the follow-
ing observations, were taken from Monsieur Le Gen-
tiu’s Table, published in his “ Voyage dans les Mers
de L’Inde.’” The declinations of the Stars were
taken from Table 7th of the requisite Tables, and

partly from Duwnwn’s Catalogue.

OBsSER-

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE

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AT THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 331
CARNICOBAR ISLAND.
February 15.
©’s Mer. Alt. 68° 5'30" Latitude 9° 5° 31"
The Southernmost point of the Island bore E. 3S.

§ mile distant.

February 16.
©’s Mer. Alt. 68° 26’ 15”
Do. by Capt. Kyp,68 26 30

Mean 68 26. 22 = Latitude 9° 6' 24"

Southernmost point of the Island bore W. 7S. 1; mile
distant.

CHATHAM ISLAND in Port Cornwallis*, at the

Great Andaman, 1799.

'

OBSERVATIONS FOR LATITUDE.

Date. Names of Stars. ID. Alts.on Mer, Latitude.
February 23. \Canopus S132 0 It 41 ©
24.\6 Aurige | 113 36 30 TE142,.'§
« Ursze Majoris 77 49 © Ii 41 49
26.\° Aurige 113 36 0 II 41 50
© Canis Majoris g9 15 0° Il 41 23
® Canis Majoris 104 31 0 II 40 49
28.|8 Aurige {113 36 20 II 42 0
. {Canopus 51 31 10 II 40 55
March 2.\« Canis Majoris 99 15 30 iI 4
3. |Sirius 123 46 30 Il 40 50
9-|- Argo Navis 63 14 40 11 40 37
11.|§ Argo Navis 77 48 30 If 41 40
& Ursa Majoris 88 25 30 Meas 4

----_-- eo

Mean 11 41 2359

* The Old Harbour so called.

OBSER-

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE tN

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TABLE

¢

$98.25

AAT,

E of LATITUDES and LONGITUDES of

some principal Places in India, determined from As~

tronomical Observations.—By Mr. Reuben Burrow.
Communscated by Lieut: R. H. Colebrooke.

PEACES.

Is ne
Russapugly near

Calcutta.

Bygonbarry,.

Dewangunge,.
"Tealcopee,
Shealdoo Nullah

Bakkamarchor
Kazycottah,
Goalparra,
Doobarey,.
}adnachorr,.
Pookereah,
Sagow,

Tingarchorr,,
Diggamabad
Ameerabad,
Sampmartay,
Remateally Nullah
Rajegunge,.

Coweally,
Gonganagor,

Latit. N. jin Time. REMARKS.
22°30'20"| 5453' 30" Mr. Burrow’s
5 Residence.
24 48 14 6 oO 46, The old Factory on the’
| Barrampooter River
25 9 31) 5 58 3
25 19 16 § 58 34
23 58 8 5 59 17 At the Conflux-with the
| River
26 1 44 5 59 ‘
26 g 4,6 0 33
26 11 2116 2 9g The Kotie, or Factory
26 1 6 5 59 42/The Mount
25 3 36 |The large Tree
24 54 6) 5 59 -
24.35 41 Between two large”
Trees, Centet of the
Town
24 18 6) 6 Zz rs\Near the Mouth of the:
Bannar River
24 0 38
O48 est he. 2 “a|Mouth of the Nallah
23 40 i . 2 30
22 65 3 2 Deiat ie with the Megna:
oy River
22,38. .71.6. 0 hg of the Town near
. | Sootaloory
22 Bd Oe) 8, SO J
22 37 39, 5 $9 4

|. Longit.

|

At

TABLE OF LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES.

339

At Cheduba, and on the Arracan Coast.

fie ae 7 "Spot of Observation,
PLACES. Latitude.| Longit. Ome metas jie
‘Tree Island, 18°27 30" 6°16'12"
Cheduba Flag Staff, [18 53 8 6 14 28|
House Island, 18 56 42, 6 14 19 Center Rock
Maykawoody, 18 50 43) 6 15 11\Fort of Cheduba
Jy,, 19 § 46 6 15 11,Fort of Tumbiah
Dumail, 18 §7 40, 6 16 7An Island in the Can-
tabida, or Catabida
River
Jykuna Island, 18 44 40| 6 16 43'N. end of the Island
Chagoo Rock, 18 48 51 ‘Near the mouth of the
Catabida River
Kyaunimo, 18 54 36 6 16 oA Town in the Catabida
| | Harbour
Cedars Point, 18 52 581 6 15 21 A remarkable point in
| Cheduba

On the Ganges, EF c,

Nuddea,

Sackey Fort, 23 40. 0
Gour, 2453 0
Rajemahl, ie: xe
Colgong, 25 16° 6
Mongheer, 20 22° $4
Patna, | ke a
Bankipoor, 25 37 38
Buxar, eo 3a Er

Mouth of the Caram-

_ nassa River, oS ade
Mouth of the Goomty,'25 31 25
Oojear, 25 35 21
Benares, 25 18 36
Chunar Fort, 25 7 40
Chunar Camp, 25. 6 30
Fonse River, 25 16 16

Z2

23°25'49"| s'53/32" Jungtion of the Hoogly

and Cassimbazar Ri-
vers

5 52 13The antient round
Tower

5 50 56 The Marble Palace

5 48 39 Mr. Cleveland’s Bunga-
low

5 45 57 Rocky point of the Fort

5 41 2Chehelsetoon, or Ala-
verdi’s Palace near the
Fort

5 40 40 Granary

5 35 $9\Fort Flag Staff

5. 35.31

5 32 36

5 31 s9!The Hindoo Observa-
tory

§ 31 22/Flag Staff

5 31 12\Captain Bough’s Bunga-
low

5 28 oConflux with the Gan-
ges is

340

PLaces.

Allahabad,

_ Correahcottah,;

Surajepoor,

| Jaujesmow,
Caunpour,

Jj oognagpoor,-
Wanamow,-
Mindi Gaut,
Canouge,

Cussumkhore,,

Keasspore,
Sungrumpore,
Futtyghur,
Jillaiabad,
Berimuiana,,
Kheerpoor,
Cutterah,
yessooah,
Fereedpour,
Bareilly,
Lumberah,
Hafizgunge,
Nabobgunge,
Lillowry,
Pillibeat,

Do. Hafiz Musjid,

Gowneerah,
Barrower,

Shair Ghur;.
Bourkah,
Rampour,

Moradabad,
Mahmud pore,

Sumbul,
Boojepoor,

Bhyrah,’:
Cossipore,
Hazaretnagor

Rair,

25

i
|
t

26

Latitude. | Longit.

TABLE OF LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES.

“Spot of Obfervation,
and Remarks.

135°25 56" | chav'2as. EK. Comnow of the Fort

at Preyag
16| 5 26 28/Close to the Nullah,

higheft part of the

Town

24) 5 21 §8|River side near the mid-
| dle of the Town

25} § 21 ¥5|Seebsmot on the Hill

3} § 20 54|Magazine Gaut

46| g 20 1¢}At the Gaut

o} § 20. ojAt the old Stone Gaut-

IHF: 19% FO

30! § 19 12/The Fort

56| 5 19 SN eet onthe EAH

25

28) 5 13 8 The Gaut

It) ¢ 18 5) The Fort

55 5 18 56; The Fort

22 LS 20| The Well-

22, 5 18 r6iNear the Old Fort

47) ¢ 18 sa he Brick Fort:

17\ 5 17 53/Well

54 § 17 44/The Fort

5} § 17. 5)The Fort

be § 17 §3)The Serat

2g} §- 18.4

By

42! 5 r8 46/The Hdpavt

20, 5 18 47 Center of Pillibeat

3

35 5 IF gsIN. E. end of the Towr
om the Banks of the
Bhagul |

50 5 17 Kort

23° 5 rf 26

50 5 15 34\N. W. Gate of the City

24 5 14 44 Center of Ruftum Khan’s

Palace

Ih G14 12

14] § 13 49/The ancient Fort Gate-
of Kollankee Ootar

39, 5.14 55\Secbs Temple in the

Dice

1m 5 15 6 oe Is i

44 $ 15 24 Fort

5, 5.14 53/Fort

331 5°14 33 Hindoo Moat, thro’ ‘be

| ~ Town

—_ 4

. OF SOME PRINCIPAL PLACES IN INDIA.

Places. | Latitude

| Afzal Ghur,

341
| Spot of Observation,

and Remarks.
Palace-in,the Fort

Longit.

: 29° 23.45"\5> 14' 14"
‘Sheercote, 29 a9 48 Principal dMoggve in
the City ‘ss
Nundenah, \29 27 16) 5 13 19)Brick Fort /
Nidjibabad, 29 36 46 5 12 52|White Mosque '
os pone 2g 36 3 $ 12 sg|High Gate of the Fort
: ndnywealla, 2Q $2 —_—__—
Asoph Ghur, 29 44 14 § 12 19 Center of the Fort
Borunwaua, 29 47 26| == ‘This Village is in the
| large Jungle
Lolidong, 29 50 28|——————| Place where the Camp,
. wasin 17
Joogywalla, 29 58 0] 5 12 £6Bamboo a
handy Gaut, 29 506 24) 5 12 109\Stone. Temple, oppo-, -
; site Hurdwar —
Haurdwar, 29° §7 9) 5 12. g|Northernmost— Build-
on ’ inginthe Town.
gree, 29 $3 10. —/Alsocalled HyderGhur
Nagal, 129 39 40| 5 12 16/The Nawab’s Artillery”
a. Shed | ;
Mundawer, 29 29 «6§| 5 12 2\Dowlet Khan’s Masjid
Pins 29 10 49| 5 12, ojNigib Khan’ Seay
‘Chaundpour, Sake Ee es
a 128 54 22 pa 27\Fort of the Sieds
untpour, 28 44% =
Hussenpour, |28 43 8! 5 22 39)Stone Gate of the Fort
Seersee, 28 28 52) ¢ 12 37, Well of the Town |
Anopshir, |28 22 50 4 12 36,On the steep Bank East
* “4 of the Flag Staf
Donaree, 28 21 10 {Mud Hort
‘Charidousey, |28 26 51| 5 14 45\East-Gateof the Town
Bissoolie, 28 18 $1) 5 15 17|Doondy Khan’sMusjid
Bunneah, 28 12 29/—— Village in a Jungle
Budawun, 28 2 39 5 16 o Large ancient Mosque
of Curtub ud Dien
Betooe, 2b $7 24] 20 soGow Chast
; 24) 5 20 40|\Gow Ghant
Gopalpour, 26 3 49 a: ira
Mobarickpour, 25 31 138; ——— .
Bogwangolah, 24 20 | 5 22 50,.Mouth of the Culcul-
. lia * River :
_Tea Cally Dumdyma,jz4 1 26 5 55 40
Sais 2 af zs ; 3 § 56 27\The Hindoo Temple
Dacca,’ 23 43 0 BY

3
© 6 1 12\The Chief’s House,
| called the Pooshta

' * The entrance of the Culcullee, or Culcullic, River is no longer at Bogwangolah,

but about twelve miles lower duwn, between Murcha and Cutlamary 5
gay have been produced by the encroachment of the Ganges,

which change
Z 3 ,

342 TABLE OF LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES,

Note by Mr. Burrow.

_ As a more particular account will be given hereaf.
ter of the manner in which these Latitudesand Lon-
gitudes were deduced, it will be sufficient here to”
mention, that the Meridian Altitudes of Stars from
whence the Latitudes were derived, sometimes a-
mounted to twenty or thirty, North and South, and
very seldom were less than five or six, and those
mostly on both sides the Meridian; so that, upon the
whole, I believe very few of the foregoing Latitudes
can be more than five seconds wrong, perhaps not
many of them so much, as the aicde observations
with the Sextant seldom differed from one another’
more than fifteen or twenty seconds, and very often
nothalf thenumber. As tothe Longitudes, it is pos-
sible there may in some cases be an error of two or
three miles; but I can scarce believe there is any
great probability of it, as the observations were
made, as well as calculated, in a different and more
exact manner than is generally used at present.

XX. ON

MTS.

ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS,
CUSTOMS, AND PRACTICES
OF THE HINDUS.

BY THE PRESIDENT.

N the preliminary discourse addressed to the Se-
ciety by our late President, Maz and Nature were
proposed as the comprehensive objects of our Re-
searches ; and although I by neo means.think that ad-
vantage should betaken of this extensive proposition
to record every trivial peculiarity of practice, habit,
or thinking, which characterizes the natives of India,
many singularities will be found amongst them which
are equally calculated to gratify curiosity, and to at-
tract the notice of the philosopher and politician.

Or all studies, that.of the human mind is of the
greatest importance; and whether we trace it in ifs
perfection or debasement, we learn to avoid error, or
obtain medels for improvement-and examples for
imitation. In pursuing customs and habits to the
principles from which they are derived, we ascertain
' by the sure rule of experience the effects of natural
or moral causes upon the human mind,

Tue characters of the natives of Jadia, notwith-
standing all that has been published in Europe, are by
po means well understood there; and a careful and

| £4 acourate

344 ON SOME EXTRACRDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS,

accurate investigation of them, with-a due discrimi~
nation of habits and usages, as local or general,
would afford a subject for a curious, useful, and en-
tertaining dissertation.

Ir is not my intention to undertake it. I neither
profess to have ability, nor have I leisure forthe task;
and the preceding remarks are offered to the Society
for the purpose only of introducing the recital of
some extraordinary facts, customs, and practices of
this country, which have occurred to my observation”
in the course of public duty. If the narrative has
too much of the language of office, it may be deem-
ed a sufficient compensation that it is extracted from
oficial documents, and judicial records, and hence
has a claim to authenticity.

THE inviolability of a Brabmen is a fixed principle
of the Hindus; and to deprive him of life, either by
direct violence, or by causing his death in any mode,
is a crime which admits of no expiation. To this
principle may be traced the practice called Dherna,
which was formerly familiar at Benares, and may be
translated Carrion or Arrest. It is used by the
Brébmens in that city, to gaina point which cannot
be accomplished by any other means ; and the pas
cess is as follows: |

Tue Brébmen who adopts this expedient for the
purpose mentioned, proceeds to the door or house of
the person against whom it is directed, or wherever
he may most conveniently intercept him: he there
sets down in Dberna, with poison, ora poignard, or
some other instrument of suicide i in his hand, and
Ships’ Paes : ‘threatening

AND PRACTICES OF THE HINDUS. 245

threatening to use itif his adversary should attempt
to molest or pass him, he thus completely arrests him.
In this situation the Prébmen fasts; and by the rigor
of the etiquette, which is rarely infringed, the un~
fortunate object of his arrest ought alsa to fast; and
thus they both remain until the institutor of the
Dberna obtains satisfaction. In this, as he seldom
makes the attempt without resolution to persevere,
he rarely fails; for if the party thus arrested were to
suffer the Brabmen sitting in Dberna to perish by hun-
ger, the sin would for ever lieupon his head. ‘This
practice has been less frequent of late years, since
the institution of the Court of Justice at Lenares in
1783; but the interference of that Court, and even
that of the Resident there, has occasionally proved
insufficient to check it; as it has been deemed in ge-
neral most prudent to avoid for this purpose the use
of coercion, from an apprehension that the first ap-
pearance of it might drive the sitter in Dberna to
suicide. ' The discredit of the act would not only
fall upon the officers of Justice, but upon the Go-
vernment itself.

Tue practice of sitting in Dberna is not confined
to male Prabmens only. The following instance,w hich
happened at Benares in the year 1789, will at once
prove and exemplify it :—

Beenoo Buai the widow of a manof the Brébmini-
cal tribe, ‘had a litigation with her brother- in-law
BaALkisiten, which was tried by arbitration ; and the
trial and sentence were revised by the court of Jus-
tice at Benares, and again in Appeal.

Tue suit of Beexoo involved a claim of property and

a con-

346 OF SGME FXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS, -

z consideration of cast, which her antagonist declared
she had forfeited. The decision was favourable to
her, but not to the extent of her wishes; and she re-
solved therefore to procure by the expedient of the
Dberna, as above explained, what neither the award of
arbitration nor the judicial decision had granted.

In conformity to this resolution, BEENoo sat down
in Dbernaon Baikisuen; and he, after a perseverance
of several days, apprehensive of her death, repaired
with her to a Avudy temple in Benares: where they
both continued to fast some time longer. Thirteen
days had elapsed from the commencement of Bau-
KISHEN’s arrest, when he yielded the contest, by enter-
ing into aconditional agreement with Bz ewoo, that if
she could establish the validiry of her cast, and in
proof thereof prevail on some creditable members of
her own tribe to partake with her of an entertain-
ment of her providing, he would not only defray the
expence of it, but would also discharge her debts.
The conditions were accepted by Beznoo, who fulfil-
led her part of the obligation ; and her antagonist,
without hesitation, defrayed the charges of the en-
tertainment: but the non- performance of his en-
gacement to discharge her debts, induced BzEnoo
Bai to institute a suit against him; and the prac-
tice of the ‘Dherna, with the proofs of it, were thus
‘brought forward to official notice. taco

Ir is not unworthy of remark, that some of the
Pandits, on being consulted, admitted the validity of
an obligation extorted by Dberna, provided the ob-
ject’ were to obtain a just cause, or right wickedly

withheld

AND PRACTICES OF THE HINDUS. 347

withheld by the other party, but not otherwife. Others
again rejected the validity of an engagement so ex-~
torted, unless it should be subsequently confirmed by
the writer, either 1n whole or in part, after the remo-
val of the coercion upon him.

Or the practice which I have related, no instance
exactly similar has occurred to my knowledge in Ben-
gal or Bebar, although Brébmens, even in Calcutta, have
been known to obtain charity or subsistence from
Hindus, by posting themselves before the doors of
their houses, under a declaration to remain there until
their solicitations were granted. The moderation of
the demand generally induces a compliance with it ;
which would be withheld if the requisition were ex-
cessive. But I have been credibly informed that in-~
stances of this custom occasionally occur in some parts
of the Vizier’s dominions, and that Bréabmeus have
been successfully employed there to recover claims, by
calling upon the debtor to pay them, with a notifica-
tion that they would fast until the discharge of the
debt. The debtor, if he possesses property or credit,
never fails to satisfy the demand againft him.

ANOTHER practice, of a very singular and cruel na-
ture, is called Erecting a Koor. This term isexplain-
ed to mean a circular pile of wood which 1s prepared:
ready for conflagration. Upon this, sometimes a cow,
and sometimes an old woman, is placed by the con-
structors of the pile; and the whole is confumed to-
gether. The object of this practice is to intimidate
the oficers of Government, or others, from importu-
nate demands, as the effect of the sacrifice is f{upposed

. to

448 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS, —

to involve in great sin the person whose conduct
forces the constructor of the Koor to this expedient.

.AN instance of this practice occurred in a district
ef the province ef Benares in the year 1788. Three
Brébmens had erected a Koor, upon which an old wo-.
man had suffered herself to be placed; the object of
temporary intinyidation was fully attained by it, and
the timely interposition of authority prevented the
completion ofthe sacrifice. It cannot be uninterest-
ing to know the cause which urged the three Brab-
mens to this desperate and cruel resource. Their own
explanation is summarily this: That they held Jands i in
partnerfhip with others, but that the public assessment
was unequally im} sosed upon them; as their partners
paid less, whilst they were charged with more than
their due proportion; they therefore refused to dis-
‘charge any part of the revenues whatever, and erected
a Koor to intimidate the government’s officers from
making any demands upon them. ‘Their sole object,
as they explicitly declared, was to obtain an equal
distribution of the public assessment between them-
selves and their partners. :

A woman, nearly blind from age, had in this in-~
stance been placed upon the Aoor: she was summoned
to appear before the Englifh superintendent of the pro-
vince, but absolutely refused to attend him; declar-
ing that she would throw herself intothe first well ras
ther than submit. The summons was not enforced.

Tuts is the only instance of setting up a Koor which
had occurred for many years, previous to 1788, al.
though the practice is said to have been frequent for-

merly,

AND PRACTICES OF THE HINDUS. 349

tnerly. © No information has reached me of the repe-
-tition of this practice in Bevares, or of the existence
of it in any other part of the Company’s pofleffions ;
nor is it pretended that it was ever general through-
out Benares, but is expressly asserted to have been
limited toa very {mall portion of that extensive pro-
vince. 3

Tus last mentioned fact is very opposite to that
humanity and mildness of disposition by which the
author of the historical disquisition, regarding ancient
and modern /ndia, afirms the inhabitants of this coun-
try to have been distinguished in every age. As a
general position, liable to particular exceptions, Iam
not authorized to dispute. it: but it must at the same
time be'admitted, that individuals in Jzdza are often.
irritated by petty provocations to the commission of
acts which no provocation can justify ; and, without
reference to the cdnduct of professed depredators,
examples may be produced of enormities scarcely
credible: the result of vindictive pride, and ungo-
verned violence of temper.

_ In support of these assertions, I shall quote three
remarkable instances, attested by unquestionable evi-
dence. In 1791 Soopisurer Mier,a Bréhmen, the far~
mer of land paying revenue and tenant of tax free land
in the province of Bexares, was summoned to appear
before a native officer, the deputy collector of the dis-
trict where he resided. He positively refused to obey
the f{ummons, which was repeated without effect; and
after some time several people were deputed to enforce
the process, by compelling his attendance.. Ontheir

+s Rae approaching

2&6 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS,

approaching his house he cut off the head of his de-
ceased son’s widow, and threw it out. His first in-

' tention was to destroy his own wife; but it was prov=

ed in evidence that, upon his indication of it, his
son’s widow requested him to decapitate her; which
he instantly did. .

In this case, the process against SOopISHTER Was
regular, his disobedience contemptuous; his situation
in life entitled him to no particular exemption, he
had nothing to apprehend from obeying the requisi=
tion, and he was certain of redress if injury or in-
justice were practised upon him. |

ANOTHER Bréhbmen, named Batoo PauNDEH, in
1793, was convicted of the murder of his daughter.
His own account of the transaction will best explain
it,and his motives; I give it in abstract. That about
twelve years before the period of the murder, he,
Batoo, and another man, were joint tenants and cul—
tivators of a spot of ground, when his partner Batoo
relinquished his share. In 1793 this partner again
brought forward aclaim to a share in the ground:
the claim was referred to arbitration, and a decision,
was pronounced in favour of BaLoo. He consequently
repaired to the land, and was ploughing it, when he
Was interrupted by his opponent. The words of
Batoo are as follows: ‘ I became angry, and en-
*“ raged at his forbidding me, and bringing my own
** little daughter ApmuNnya, who was onlya year and
** a half old, to the said field, I killed her with my
*sword.’’ This transaction also happened in the
‘province of Bexares.

THe

AND PRACTICES OF THE HINDUS. Z5¥

Tre last instance is an act of matricide, perpetrated
by Bezecuuxand Apuer, two Brabmens, and zemin-~
dars, or proprietors of landed estates, the extent of
which did not exceed eight acres. The village in
which they resided was the property of many other
temindars. A dispute, which originated in a come
petition for the general fuperintendence of the reve-
nues of the village, had long subsisted between
the two brothers and a perfon named Gowry; and
the officer of government, who had conferred this
charge upon the latter, was intimidated into a revo-
cation of it by the threats of the mother of BrEcuux
and ApHER to swallow poison, as wellas to thetransfer
of the management to the two Lrdbmens. By the
same means of intimidation he was deterred from
investigating the complaints of Gowry, which had
been referred to his enquiry by his superior autho-
rity.
| Bur the immediate cause which instigated the
Bréihmems to murder their mother, was an act of vio-=
Ience, said to have been committed by the emis-
saries of Gowry, with or without his authority;
and employed by him for a different purpose,
in entering their house, during their absence at
-night, and carrying off forty rupees, the property of
‘Breecuux and Abuser, fromthe apartments of their
women.

Beecuuk first returned to his house, where his
mother, his wife, and his sister-in-law, related what
had happened. He immediately conducted his mo-
ther to an adjacent rivulet, where, being joined in the
hee ag grey

, 382 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS; ‘CUSTOMS,

grey of the morning by his brother Apuer, they
called our aloud to the people of the village, that
although they would overlook the assault as an act
which could not be remedied, the forty rupees must
be returned. To this exclamation no answer was
received ; nor is there any certainty that it was even
heard by any person ; and Bsrecuux without further
hesitation drew his scymetar, and at one stroke se-
vered his mother’s head from her body, with the pro-
fessed view, as entertained and avowed both by parent
and son, that the mother’s spirit, excited by the beat-
ing of a large drum during forty days, might for ever
haunt, torment, and pursue ta death Gowry and the
others concerned with him. ‘The last words which
the mother pronounced were, that she would blast the
said Gowry and those connected with him.

T ux violence asserted to have beencommitted by the
emissaries of Gowry, in forcibly entering the female
apartmentsof Bercnuxand Apusr, might bedeemed
an indignity of high provocation; but they appear
to have considered this outrage as of less importance
than the loss of their money, which might and would
"have been recovered with due satisfaction, by applica-
tion to the Court of Justice in Benares. The act
which they perpetrated had no other sanction than
what was derived from the local prejudices of the
place where they resided: it was a crime against
their religion: and the two brothers themselves quoted
an instance of a Bréhmen, who six or seven years be-
fore had lost his cast and all intercourse with the other

Brabmens, for an act of the same nature. But in
truth

a a

AND PRACTICES OF THE HINDUS. ‘ 352
truth Beecntux and Abuer, although Brabmens, had
no knowledge or education suitable to the high dis-
tinction of their cast; of which they preserved the
pride only ; being as grossly ignorant and prejudiced
as the meanest peasants in any part of the world.
They seemed surprized when they heard the doom of
forfeiture of cast pronounced against them by a
learned Pandit; and openly avowed that, so far from
conceiving they had committed a barbarous crime,
both they and their mother considered their act as a
vindication of their honour, not liable to any religious
penalty. :

Tue Society will observe, with some surprize, that
the perpetrators of the several acts which I have rela-
ted, were Brabmens. These facts took place within
three districts only of the province of Bewares, named
Kuntel, Buddbooee, and Kereat Sekur. 1 mention
these particulars that I may not lead any person into
@ common error of deducing general conclufions
from partial circumstances. In Bengal and Behar,
where the passions of jealousy, pride, and revenge,
sometimes produce very fatal consequences, I recol-
lect no instance where the efforts of their violence
have been transferred from the objects which excited
it to others that were innocent, as in the preceding
cases.

‘Tuar the practice of Infanticide fhould ever be
so general as to become a custom with any sect or
race of people, requires the most unexceptionable
evidence to gain belief: and I am sorry to say that
the general practice, as far as regards female infants,

wou ly. Aa a8

354 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS,

is fully substantiated with respect to a particular
tribe on the frontiers. of Yuanpore: a district of the
province of Benares, adjoining to the country of Oude.
A race of Hindus called Rajekoomars refide here; and
it was discovered in 178g only, that the custom of
putting to death their temale offspring, by causing
the mothers to starve them, had long subsisted, and
did actually then very generally prevail amongst
them. The resident at Levares, ina circuit which he
made through the country where the Rajekoomars
dwell, had an opportunity of authenticating the exist-
ence of the custom from their own confessions: he
conversed with several: all unequivocally admitted
it, but all did not fully acknowledge its atrocity ;
and the only reason which they assigned for the in-
human practice, was the great expence of procuring
suitable matches for their daughters, if they allowed
them to grow up. Itissome satisfaction to add, that
the custom, though general, was not universal, as na-
tural affection, or some other motive, had induced the
fathers of some Rajeckoomar families to bring up one,
or more, of their female issue; but the instances
where more than one daughter had been spared, were
very rare. One village only furnished a complete
exception to the general custom; and the Rajekoomar
informant, who noticed it, supposed that the inhabit-
ants had sworn, or solemnly pledged themselves to ~
each other, to bring up their females. In proof of
his assertion in favour of the village in question, he .
added, that several old maids of the Rajeckoomar tribe
then actually existed there, and that their celibacy

| proceeded -

AND PRACTICES OF THE HINDUS. 256

proceeded from the difficulty of procuring husbands
for them, in consequence of the great expences at-
attending the marriages of this class of people.

Ir will naturally occur to the Society to ask, by
what mode a race of men could be continued under
the existence of the horrid custom which I have de-
scribed. To this my documents enable me to reply,
partly from the exceptions to the general custom,
which were occasionally admitted by the more wealthy
Rajekoomars ; more particularly those who happened
to have no male issue; but chiefly by intermarriages
with other Rajepoot families, to which the Rajecoomars
were compelled by necessity.

A ProuiBition enforced by the denunciation of
the severest temporal penalties, would have little
eficacy in abolishing a custom which existed in op-
position to the feelings of humanity and natural
affection ; and the sanction of that religion which the
Rajekoomars professed was appealed to, in aid of the
ordinances of civil authority. Upon this principle
an engagement, binding themselves to desist in
future from the barbarous practice of causing the
death of their female children, was prepared,- and
circulated amongst the Rajekoomars for their signature;
and as it was also discovered that the same custom
prevailed, though in a less degree, amongst a smaller
tribe of people also, within the province of Benares,
called Rajebunses, measures were adopted at the same
time, to make them sensible of its iniquity, and to
procure from.them a subscription similar to that ex-
acted from the Rajekoomars.

Aae THE

6 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS, ;

The following is acopy of the engagement which
the latter subscribed :—

“ WueEreEAsS it hath become known to the Go-
“ vernment of the Honourable East India Company,
“that we of the tribe of Rajekoomars do not suffer
““ our female children to live; and whereas this is a

35

“* great crime, as mentioned in the Brehbma Bywant
** Pooran, where it is said that killing even a Fetus
“is as criminal as killing a Brabmen; and that for
“ killing a female, or woman, the punishment is to
“ suffer in the xerk, or hell, called Kat Shootul; for
*‘ as many years as there are hairs on their female’s
“* body, and that afterwards that person shall be born
“again, and successively become a leper, and be
- afflicted with the Zukhima; and whereas the British
* Government in Jxdia, whose subjects we are, have
- “an utter detestation of such murderous practices,
““ and we do ourselves acknowledge, that although
“ customary among us, they are highly sinful, we
** do therefore hereby agree not to commit any longer
“* such detestable acts ; and any among us (which God
“ forbid) who shall be hereafter guilty thereof, or
* shall not bring up and get our daughters married,
** to the best of our abilities, among those of our cast,
“‘ shall be expelled from our tribe, and shalk. neither
‘© eat nor keep society with us, besides. suffering
“ hereafter the punishments denounced in the, above
** Pooran and Shaster. We have therefore ¢ntered.
‘* into this agreement. |

© Dated the 17th December, 1789.”
A RE-

iid

AND PRACTICES OF THE HINDUS. 357

A recorp of the various superstitious ceremonies
which prevail throughout Hindustan, would form a
laree and curious volume; but as all the preceding
instances which I have relatéd, are taken from trans-
actions in Banares, I cannot refrain from mentioning
the superstitious notions of the people of that pro-
vince regarding the sugar-cane: which proves an
ignorance that may be admitted in palliation of
grosser errors. The narrative is a mere extract from
an official record, with an omission of some words,
and some trifling verbal alterations.

As it is usual withthe ryots, or husbandmen, to re-
serve a certain portion of the canes of the preceding
year to serve as plants for their new cultivation, it very
frequently happens that inconsiderable portions of the
old cane remain unappropriated. Whenever this
happens, the proprietor repairs to the spot on the
25th of Feyte, or about the 11th of June, and having
sacrificed to Nacze te, or the tutelary deity of the
cane, he immediately sets fire to the whole, and is ex-
ceedingly careful to have this operation executed in
as complete and efhcacious a manner as possible.

Tuts act is performed from an apprehension, that
if the old canes were allowed to remain in the ground
beyond the 25th of Yeyfe, they would in all proba-
bility produce flowers and seeds ; and the appearance
of these flowers they consider as one of the greatest
misfortunes that can befal them.

‘THEY unanimously assert, that if the proprietor of
@ plantation ever happens to view even a single cane
therein in flower after the 25th of Feyre, the greatest

Aa3 "calamities

358 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS,

calamities will befal himself, his parents, his children,
and his property; in short, that death will sweep
away most of the members, or indeed the whole of
his family, within a short period after this unfortunate
spectacle. Ifthe proprietor’s servant happens to see
the flower, and immediately pulls it from the stalk,
buries it in the earth, and never reveals the circum-
stance to his master ; in this case they believe that it
wili not be productive of any evil consequence.
But should the matter reach the proprietor’s | ‘know~
ledge, the calamities before stated must, according to
the prevailing ideas, infallibly happen. ‘

In support of this belief, many of the most aged
zemindars. and ryots in the province of Benares, re~
cited several instances of the above nature, which
they affirmed to have actually happened during their
own time; and moreover, that they had been personal
witnesses to the evils and misfortunes which befel the
unhappy victims of the description alluded to.

WueEn we reflect how generally: credit was given
to the power of witchcraft, long after the revival of
letters in Europe, and that names of great repute for
learning and abilities are found amongst its defenders,
we shall not be surprized that charms and amulets
are worn in this country by men of superior rank and
education; that astrologers are consulted to name the
fortunate hour for commencing a journey or ex~
pedition ; and that the fascinating influence of an
evil eye upon the*human constitution, as well as the
power of witchcraft, is admitted by the vulgar in ge-
neral, Fortunately, however, the practice is not sup-

! a:

AND PRACTICES OF THE HINDUS. 359

posed to bear any proportion to the belief of the
power; although two recent instances occur to my
recollection, of individuals having been sacrificed to
this popular delusion ; or at least the imputation of
witchcraft was made the pretence for ccpriving them
of life.

Bur the judicial records contain a case of great
enormity, in which five women were put to death for
the fupposed practice of sorcery. I shall submit the
circumstances of this transaction, with some detail,
before the Society, premising that it happened in a
district of Ramgur, the least civilized part of the
Company’s possessions, amongst a wild and unlettered
tribe, denominated Svontaar, who have reduced the
detection and trial of perfons day Hh of witchcraft
to a system.

Turee menofthe cast of Soontaar, were in the year
1792 indicted for the murder of five women; the pri-
soners without hesitation confessed the crime with
which they were charged, and pleaded in their defence
that with their tribes it was the immemorial custom
and practice to try perfons notorious for witchcraft.
That for this purpose an assembly was convened of
those of the same tribe, from far and near, and if after
due investigation the charge was proved, the sorcerers
were put to death, and no complaint was ever pre-
ferred on this account to the ruling power. That the
women who were killed had undergone the pre-
scribed form of trial, were duly convicted of caufing
the death of the son of one of the prisoners by witch-
| Aa4 craft,

-

360 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS,

craft, and had been put to death by the prisoners, in
conformity to the sentence of the assembly.

Tue prosecutors, who, agreeably to the forms of the
Mabommedan law, were the relations of the deceased
women, declared they had no charge to prefer against
the prisoners, being satisfied that their relations
had really practised sorcery.

Tue custom pleaded by the prisoners was fully sub.
stantiated by the testimony ofa great number of wit-
nesses, who recited specific facts in support of it,
without any denial or disagreement; and from the
collective evidence exhibited in the course of the en-
quiry, the following curious and extraordinary cir
cumstances appeared :-—

Tar the successive demise of three or four young
people in a village, led to a suspicion of sorcery as
the cause of it; and the inhabitants taking alarm
were upon the watch to detect the witches. They
were generally discovered dancing naked at midnight
by the light of a lamp, witha broom tied round
their waists, either near the house of a sick sek
or on the outside of the village.

To ascertain with a greater degree of certainty the
persons guilty of practising witchcraft, the three fol-

lowing modes are adopted : |

First. Branches of the Sau/ tree, marked with the
names of all the females in the village, whether mar-
ried or unmarried, who have attained the age of twelve
years, are planted in the water in the morning, for the
space of four hours anda half; and the withering of
any of these branches is proof of witchcraft against
the person whose name is annexed to it.

: Secondly.

AND PRACTICES GF THE HINDUS. 361

Secondly. Small portions of rice enveloped in cloths,
marked as above, are placed in a nest of white ants ;
the consumption of the rice in any of the bags, estab-
lishes sorcery against the woman whase name it
bears. : |

Thirdly. Lamps are lighted at night ; water is plac-
ed in cups made cf leaves, and mustard-seed and oil
is poured, drop by drop, into the water, whilst the
name of each woman in the village is pronounced ;
the appearance of the shadow of any woman on the
water, during this ceremony, proves her a witch.
~ Sucu are the general rules for ascertaining those
who practise witchcraft. In the.instance which I
have quoted, the witnesses swore, and probably be-
jieved, that all the proofs against the unfortunate wo-
men had been duly verified: they assert in evidence,
that the branches marked with the names of the five
women accused were withered; that the rice in the
bags having their specific names, was devoured by the
white ants, whilst that in the other bags remained un-
touched ; that their shadows appeared on the water,
on the oil being poured upon it whilst their names
were pronounced; and farther, that they were seen
dancing at midnight in the situation above de-
scribed,

It is difficult to conceive that this coincidence of
proof could have been made plausible to the grossest
ignorance, if experience did not shew that preposses~
sion will supercede the evidence of the senses.

Tue following custom would be too trivial for no-
tice, if it were not strongly descriptive of the sim-

plicity

362 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS,

plicity and ignorance which mark the character of
the generality of the inhabitants of Ramgur.

From habitual neglect in ascertaining the quanti.
‘ties of land held in lease, and in defining with ac-
curacy their respective tenures, frequent disputes
arise between the inhabitants of different villages re-
garding their boundaries: to determine them, a re-.
ference is usually made to one or more of the oldest
infiabitants of the adjacent villages; ‘and if these
should not agree in their decision, other men are se-
jected from the inhabitants of the villages claiming
the disputed ground ; and the trial proceeds as fol-
fows: Holes arevdug in the contested spot, and in-
to these holes each of the chosen men puts a leg,
and the earth is then thrown in upon it; and in this
situation they remain until one either expresses a wish
to be released, or complains of being bitten or stung
by some insect. This decides the contest, and the’
property of the ground is adjudged to belong to
that village the inhabitant of which goes through the
trial with the most fortitude, and escapes unhurt by
insects. . 3

Ir the preceding detail has no relation to science,
it is at least descriptive of manners; and in availing
myself of the opportunities afforded by official occu-
pations (which is all indeed that these occupations
admit} to contribute my portion to the researches of
the Society, my example will, I hope, be imitated by
those who with the same, or greater opportunities,
possess more knowledge, ability, and leisure.

‘

NOT £.

at

AND PRACTICES OF THE HINDUS. 363

NOT E.

Havinc lately received some further documents on
the subject of the Dhurna; which I did not possess
when the preceding paper was read to the Society, I
have extracted from them what appears to me requi-
site to elucidate this extraordinary practice. rom
these documents it appears that several cases of Dbur-
va had been brought before the Provincial Court of
Juttice at Benaves, and as a penalty had been annexed
to the performance of this mode of importunity, it be~
came necessary to define with precision the rules con-
stituting Dhurna, according to the Shaster and Usage.

For this purpose,a question was proposed tq se-~
veral Pandits, inhabitants of the province and city of
Benares ; and the answer subscribed by twenty-three

Pandits is as follows : sat

© Any one who fits Dhurna on another’s door, or
in his house for the realization of a debt, or for other
purpose, in which the party sitting takes with him
some weapon or poison, and sits down; nor does he
eat himself, nor allow the party against whom he is
sitting, or his family, to eat; nor does he allow any
person ingress into that person’s house nor egress from
it, and addressing himself in terms of the strongest
oaths to the people of the house, he says, ‘* If any of
« those of your house shall eat victuals, or go into your
“house, or go out of it, I shall either wound myself
** with this weapon, or swallow this poison;’’ and it
does sometimes happen that both these events take
uae, and that he who sits in Dkurna is not to remove

~

from

34.6 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS, &e.

from it without the intreaty of those on whom He is
sitting, or the order of the Hakim. Whenever al] the
requisites above mentioned are found united, they ©
constitute Dhurna; but if any one of them be want-
ing, that is not Dhurna, but Tuckaza or Dunning’:
and as no text of the Shasier hath been found cen-
cerning Dburna, wherefore we have delivered the re-
quisites thereof according to the common custom and
practice.”

THERE is some difference in the opinions of other
Pandits as to what is understood to constitute Dbur-
na; but the quotation which I have inserted, appears
to me to contain the most authentic information on
this subject. |

Tne Society will observe that the practice is not
specifically pointed out in the Shaster, but has the
sanction of usage only. st

Tue following instance is of late occurrence. In
Fauuary 1794, Mouun Pawnren, an inhabitant of a

district in the province of Benares, sat down in

Dburna before the house of some Rajepoots, for the
purpose of obtaining the payment of Birt, or a cha-
ritable subsistence to which he had a claim, and in
this situation destroyed himself by swallowing. pol-
son. Some of the relations of the deceased retained
his corpse for two days before the house of the Raje-
poots ; who thus were compelled to forgo taking suste-
nance, in order to induce them to settle the B:rt on
the heir of the deceased Brabmen.

XXIEI.

Gs 969%)
1 ty & 3 y

DESCRIPTION OF THE YAK OF TARTARY,
CALLED SOORA-GOY,
| OR THE BUSHY-TAILED BULL OF TIBET.

By Lieutenant Samuel Turner.

HE Yak of T: artary, called Scoray-Goy in Hina
doftan, and which I term the bushy-tailed bull

of Tibet, is about the height of an Exgljh bull, which
he resembles in the figure of the body, head, and legs.
I could discover between them no essential difference,
except only. that the 7k is covered all over witha
thick coat of long hair. The head is rather short,
crowned with two smooth round horns, that, tapering
from the setting-on, terminate in sharp points, arch
inwardly; and near the extremities are a litrle turned
back; the ears are small; the forehead appears pro-
‘minent, being adorned with much curling hair; the
eyes are full and large ; the nose smooth and convex ;
the nostrils smal] ; the neck short, describing a cur-
vature nearly equal both above and below; the withers
- high and arched; the rump low. Over the shoulders
rises a bunch, which at first sight would seem to be the
same kind of exuberance peculiar to the cattle of Hine
dostan ; but in reality it consists jn the superior length
of the hair only, which as well as that along the sae of
the back to the setting-on of, the tail, grows long and
erect, but not harsh. The tail is composed of a pro-
digious quantity of long flowing glossy hair descending
to the hock, and is’so extremely well furnished, that
; not

366 DESCRIPTION OF THE YAK OF .

not a joint of it is perceptible; but it has much thé
appearance of a large bunch of hair artificially set on.
The shoulders, rump, and upper part of the body is
clothed with a sort of thick’ soft wool, but the infe-
rior parts with’straight pendant hair, that descends be-
low the knee; and I have seen it so long in some cat-
tle which were in high health and condition, as to trail
upon the ground. From the chest, between the fore-
legs, issues a large pointed tuft of hair, growing some-
what longer than the rest. -The legs are very short.
In every other respect, hoofs, &c. he resembles the
ordinary bull. There is a great variety of colors
amongst them, but black or white are the most preva-
lent. It 1s not uncommon to see the long hair upon
the ridge of the back, the tail, tuft upon the chest,
and the legs below. the knee white, when all the rest
of the animal is.jet black.

Tuese cattle, though not large boned, from the »
profuse quantity of hair with which they are provided, .
appear of great bulk. They have a down heavy look,
Out are fierce, and discover much impatience at the
near approach of strangers. ‘They do not low loud
(like the cattle of England) any more than those of
Hindostan; but make a low grunting noise scarcely au-
dible, and that but seldom, when under some impres-
sion of uneasiness. These cattle are pastured in the
coldest parts of Tidef, upon the short herbage peculi-
ar to the tops of mountains and bleak, plains., That
chain of lofty mountains situated between lat. 27 and
8, which divide 77et from Bootan, and whofe sum-

‘Mhits are most commonly clothed with snow, is their
: favourite

TARTARY, CALLED SOORA-GOY. 367

favourite haunt. In this vicinity the southern glens
afford them food and shelter during the severity of
winter ; in milder seasons the northern aspect is more
congenial to their nature, and admitsa wider range.
They area very valuable property to the tribes ofilli-
terate Tartars, who live in tents and tend them from
place to place, affording their herdsmen a mode of
conveyance, a good covering, and subsistence. They
are never employed in agriculture, but are extremely
useful as beasts of hurthen; for they are strong, sure
footed, and carry a great weight. ‘Tents and ropes
are manufactured of their hair; and I have, though
amongst the humblest rank of herdsmen, seen caps
and jacketsworn of theirskin. Theirtails are esteem-
ed throughout the Has’, as far as ‘luxury or parade
have any influence on the manners of the people; and
on the continent of ‘/zdia are found, under the deno-
mination of Chowries, in the hands of the meanest
grooms as well as occasionally in those of the first mi-
nisters of state. Yet the best requital with which the
care of their keepers is at length rewarded tor selecting
them good pastures, is in the abundant quantity’of
rich milk they give, yielding most excellent butters
which they have a custom of depositing in skins or
bladders, and excluding the air: it keeps in this cold
climate during all the year ; so that after some time
tending their flocks, when a sufficient stock is accu-
mulated, itremains only toload their cattle and drive
them toa proper market with their own produce,
which constitutes, to the utmast verge of TZ. washes
most material article of merchandize.

R xXEY,

( 368)

XXIV.
‘ A DESCRIPTION OF THE JONESIA,
By Doctor Roxburgh.
Cl. Heeranpria MonocynNia.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER,

(Ae, two-leaved, Corol, one-petaled, Pistil-
bearing; base of the Tube impervious; Sta-
mens long, ascending, inserted into the margin of,a
slandulous nedlarial ring, which crowns the mouth
of the tube, the uppermost two of which more dis-
tant; Style declining. Legume turgid. | |
CoNSECRATED to the remembrance of our late
President, the most justly celebrated Sir Witit1am
Janes, whose great knowledge of this science, inde-
pendent of his other incomparable qualifications,
justly entitles his memory to this mark of regard,
Jonesta As’o'ca.
Asyocam. Hort. Mat..5, P. 117,:Tab.§9.-
As’o’eca, 1s the Sanuscrit name.
VaNJULA, a synonime.
Russux of the Bengalese. |
Founpb in gardens about Calcutta, where it grows —
to be a very handsome middling sized ramous tree ;
flowering time the beginning of the hot season ; Seeds
ripen during the rains: The plants and seeds were,

-. | am informed, originally brought from the interior

*

parts of the country, where it is indigenous.
TRUNK

A DESCRIPTION OF THE JONESIA. 369

Truwk erect, though not very straight. Bark dark
brown, pretty smooth. Branches numerous,
spreading in every direction, so as to form a most
elegant shady head. |

Larves alternate, abruptly feathered, sessile, gene-
rally more than a foot long; when young pendu-
lous and coloured.

LEAFLETS opposite, from four to six pair, the low-
ermost broad lanced, the upper lanced; smooth,
shining, firm, a little waved, from four’ to eiehr

inches long.

PerioLte common, round and smooth.

Stipuve axillary, solitary ;- in fact a process from
the base of the common petiole, as in many of the
grasses and monandrists, &c. ~

Umeets terminal and axillary; between the stipule
and branchlet, globular, crowded, subsessile, erect.

Bracts, a small hearted one under each divison of
the umbel. |

Pepunc te and pedicels smooth, coloured.

FLowers very numerous, pretty large; when they
first expand, they are of a beautiful orange colour,
gradually changing to red, forming a variety of
lovely shades; fragrant during the night.

Catix perianth, below two-leaved, leaflets small,
nearly opposte, coloured, hearted, bracte-like,
marking the termination of the pedicel, or begin-
ning of the tube of the corol.

Corot one-petal’d, funnel-form; tube slightly in-
curved, firm and fleshy, tapering towards the

You. IV; Bb base

37° A DESCRIPTION OF

base (club-funnel-shaped) and there impervious :
border four-parted; divison spreading, suborbi-
cular; margins most slightly woolly: one-third
the length of the tube.

NecTary a stimeniferous and pistiliferous ring
crowns the mouth of the tube. ,

STAMENS, filaments (generally) seven, and seven
must, I think, be the natural number; viz. three
on each side, and one below, above a vacancy, as
if the place of an eight filament, and is occupied
on its inside by the pistil; they are equal, dis-
tinct, ascending, from three to four times longer
than the border of the corol.

ANTHERS uniform, small, incumbent.

Pistit, germ oblong, pediceled; pedicel inserted
into the inside of the nectary, immediately below
the vacant space already mentioned; Style nearly
as long as the stamens, declining ; Stigma simple.

Prericarp, legume scimitar-form, turgid, outside
reticulated, otherwise pretty smooth, from six to
ten inches long, and about two broad.

SzEDs generally from four to eight, smooth grey,
size of a large chesnut.

Note. Many of the flowers have only the rudiment
of a pistil: a section of one of these is seen at D.

REF E-

OW >

as

THE JONESIA, 371

REFERENCES,

- A branchlet natural size.
. A single flower a little magnified, aa the calyx.
. A section of the same, exbibiting four of the stamens,

1.1.1.1. the pistil 2, and bow far the tube is per-
forated. .

. 4 similar section of one of the abortive flowers; 3 7s

the abortive fistil.

. The ripe legume opening near the basé, natural size.

Note, the space between the b and c marks the ort=
ginal tube of the coral,

- One of the seeds natural size.
. The base of the common petiole, with its stipules; aa

the petioles of the lower pair of leaflets.

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(TOU jie ogee
ie > O.O.4 me
A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c.
From the Hindu Sacred Books. &

BY LIEUT. FRANCIS WILFORD.

N the Scanda-purana and. Vis'va-sdra pracdsa, or
declaration of what is most excellent in the world, we
find the following legends, which have an evident
relation to the origin of Semiramis, the Syrian dove,
Ninus, and the building of Niniveh, Hierapolis, and
Mecca, &c.

Maua‘-pe’va and his consort "ike witha
view to do good to mankind, quitted their divine
abode on Cavlasa, and proceeding towards the north,
alighted on the summit of the Nish4da mountains,
where they found the Devétas ready to receive them,
with a numerous retinue of Celestial Nymphs, and
Heavenly Quiristers. MaAta’-pe'va was so struck
with the beauty of some of the Apsaras, and his looks
were so expressive of his internal raptures, that
Pa’avart, unable to conceat her indignation, utter-
ed the most virulent reproaches againft him. Con-
scious of the impropriety of his behaviour, Mana’-
bs’va used every endeavour to pacify her; he hum-
bled himself; he praised her, and addressed her by

| the

A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS, &c. 377)

the flattering appellation of Maua‘-sH4’'Ga; but to
“no pu pose. She fled into Cusha-duzp, on the moun-
tains of Vahuj-vyaépta, and seating herself in the hol-
low trunk of a Sami-tree, performed Tapasyd, (or
austere devotion) for the space of nine years; when
fire springing from her, pervaded with rapid violence
the whole range of mountains, in so much, that men
and animals were terrified, and fled with the utmost
precipitation. Dxr'vi, unwilling that her devotion
should prove a cause of distress to the animal crea-
tion, recalled the sacred flame, and confined it in
the Samz-tree. She made the hollow of that tree her
place of abode and dalliance; and hence she is called
Sami-Ra’ma’, or she who dallies in the Sami-tree.
Tue fugitives returning, performed the Puja in
adoration of her, with songs in her praise. The flame
confined in the Samz-tree still remains in it; and the
Devatds are highly delighted with the fire, which is
lighted from the dran7z (or cubic wood of that tree.)
The Aranz is the mother of fire, and is produced
from the Sami-tree. From that time, this sacred tree
gives an increase of virtue, and bestows wealth and
corn. Inthe month of As'wina, or Cooar, the tenth
of the first fifteen days of the moon is kept holy, and
Puja is made to Sami-Ra’ma’ and to the Sami-tree ;
and those who perform it obtain the object of their
desires. This sacred rite I have hitherto kept con-
cealed from the world, says Maua'px'va, but now
I make it known for the good of mankind; and
whosoever performs it will be victorious over his
enemies for the space of one year.
DuRING

3738 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMiIS,

Durincthesetransactions, Vi/sve/swana-Maua
pu'va,or Ca’st’-part (that is tosay, Maua’-pe'va,
the lord of the world and sovereign of Caés‘: or Benares)
visited the country of Purusnorama, in Ufcola-dé-
sa or Oriffa; which he was surprized to find over-
spread with long grass, and without inhabitants. He
resolved to destroy the long grass, and for this pur-
pose, assuming the diminutive shape of a dove, with
an angry countenance, commenced the performance
Tapasya; his:consort Dx'vt' also transformed herself
into a bird of the same species; and from that time
they were known to mankind, and worshipped under
the titles of Caro’re’swara and Capo’re’si’ or
Iswara and Ist’, inthe shape of a dove. They set
fire to the Cusha, or long grass, and the country be-
came like Vindra-van near (Muttra) and was soon fill-
ed with inhahitants. The spot where they performed
their Tapasya, is called to this day Capéta-st’halt, or
the place of the dove. It is a celebrated place of
worship, and, as lam informed, about five coss from
Favannat’ba.

Aumosvt the whole universe was likewise at this
time overspread with long grass; and to destroy it,
Mana’-pe’va, with his consort, resolved to travel
round the world. They accordingly proceeded into
Cusha-duip, which they found thinly inhabited bya few
Mlech’has, or impure tribes, and the Yavanas, who-
concealed their booty in the grass which covered the
country. |
~ Maua’-pe'va took compassion on them, and con-~
sidering their sufferings in this inhospitable country
as a sort of Tapasyd, he resolved to bestow Mécsha,

| is

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &é. 379

or eternal bliss, on them: for this purposehe assumed
the character and countenance of Mo’csHE’sWARA or
Iswara, who bestows Mécsha ; and directed his con-
sort Capo’re's1, who is also called Mahé—-bhaga, to go
to Vabni-st’han, on the borders of Cusha-dupa; there
to make Tapasyd, in order to destroy the long grass.
Accordingly she went into Vabui-st’han ; and that she
might effect it without trouble to herself, she assumed
another form: from which circumstance she was named
Ana’ya’sa’, Inthis character she seated herself on a
beautiful hill, and there made Yapasya for many days.
At last fire sprung from her devotion, and its presiding
power standing before her, she directed him to destroy
the Cusba; when the hills were soon in a blaze, and
the Yavanas and other Mléch’bhas obtaining Mécsha,
were reunited to the Supreme Being, without labour
or effect on their part; that is to say, they were in-~
volved in the general conflagration and destroyed.

WueEn the grass was consumed, An a’ya’sa order-~
ed the clouds to gather and pour their waters on the
land, which was soon overflowed. The waters then
retired, and the four great tribes came into Cusha-duzp,
where they soon formed apowerful nation, and became
rich and happy. After the conflagration, all sorts of
metals and precious stones were found throughont the
country. The countenance of Ana‘ya‘sa’-ps'vtI is
that of fire ; and a most divine form it is.

Tne inhabitants soon after deviating from the paths
of rectitude, became like the M/éch’has: and the Ya-
vanas re-entered Cusha-duip, plundering and laying
waste the whole country. The four tribes applied to

Ana’ya’sa’

380 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,

Ana’ya’sA’, offered praises to her, and requested she
would protect them against the Yavenas, and dwell
among them. Mana’-sua’ca’ assented, and the spot
which she chose for her abode, is called Maba-thaga-

s? ban, or the place of Maua’-BHa'ca’. |
In the mean timeMana’-pe vawasat Mécsha-si’ han,
or Mécshésa, bestowing Mécsha on all who came to
worship there. It is a most holy place; and there
Maua’-pe'v a laid aside the countenanceand shape of
Carore’swara,and assumed thatof Mocsyr WARA.
AmoncG the first votatiesof MAua’-pe’va, who re-
paired to Mécsha-sP bin, was Vi'rase'na, the son of
Guuyaca. He had been making Zapasya for a long
time, in honour of Maua’-pe’va, who at last appear=
ed to him, and made him king over S/*havaras, or
the immoveable part of the creation. Hence he was
called Sv’Ha’vara-patir; andthe hills, trees, plants,
and grasses of every kind were ordered to obey him.
His native country was near the sea; and he began his
reign with repressing the wicked, and insisting on all
his subjects walking in the paths of justice and recti-
tude. In order to make his sovereign acknowledged
throughout the world, he put himself at the head of a
numerous army ; and directing his courfe towards the
north, hearrived at. Mécsha-st’han, where he perform-
ed the Puja in honour of Mo'csue’swara, according
to the rites prescribed in the sacred books. From Méc-
shésa he advanced towards the Agni-parvatas, or fire-
mountains, in Vabnisrhan; but they refused to mect
him with presents, and to pay tribute to him., Incens-
ed at their insolence, St’na’var-PaTi resolved tode-~
stroy

>

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c. 6.981

stroy them ; the officers on the part of Sam1'-Ra’ma’,
the sovereign of Vabuist’ban, assembledall their troops,
and met the army of St’Ha’var-pat1; but after a.
bloody conflict, they were put to flight. _
Sami'-Ra'ma' amazed, enquired who this new con-
queror was; and soon reflected that he could never
have prevailed against her, without a boon from Ma-
HA’-peE va, obtained by the means of what is called
Ugra-Tapasya, or a Tapasya performed with fervor,
earnestness of desire, and anger.) : She had a confer-
ence with Sr’Ha’var-pat1; andias he was, through
his Tapasyd, become a son of Maua’-pe'va, she told
him she considered him in that light,.and would al-
low himto command over all the hills, trees, and plants
in Vabui-st?héu. The hills then humbled themselves
before St’na’var-pPart, and paid tribute to him.
Tue origin of Ninus is thus related in the fame
sacred books. One day,as Maua’-pr’va was ramb-
ling « over the earth naked, and with a large club in his
hand, he chanced to pass near the spot where several
Munis were performing theirdevotions. Mana’-pz'va
laughed at them, insulted them in the most. provoking
and indecent terms; and lest his expressions should
not be forcible enough, he accompanied the whole
with significant signs and gestures. The offended
Munis cursed him, and the Linga or Phallus fell to the
ground. MaAuna’-pe’va, in this state of mutilation,
travelled over the world, bewailing his misfortune.
His consort too, hearing of this accident, gave herself
up to grief, and ran after him in a state of distraction,
repeating mournful songs. . This is what the Greek
-mythologists

382 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,

mythologists called the Wanderings of Demat ER,
and the Lamentations of Baccuus. 2

Tue world being thus deprived of its vivifying
principle, generation and vegetation were at a stand ;
Gods and men were alarmed; but having discovered
the cause of it, they all went in search of the sacred
Linga; and at last found it grown to an immense
size, and endowed with life and motion.

H av1ne worshipped the sacred pledge, they cut it,
with hatchets, into one-and-thirty pieces, which Poly-
pus-like, soon became perfect Lingas. The Devatas
left one-and-twenty of them on earth; carried nine
into Heaven, and removed one into the inferior regi-
ons, for the benefit of the inhabitants of the three
worlds. One of these Lingas was erected on the
banks of the Cumud-vati, or Euphrates, under the
name of Ba'te’swara-Linca, or the Linga of Is-
wara the Infant, who seems to answer to the JupPi-
veR Puer of the western mythologists. To satisfy
De’vi, and restore all things to their former situa-
tion, Maua’-pe'va’ was born again in the charac-
ter of Bats’swa’ra, or Iswara the Infant. Ba-
un’swa’ra, who fosters and preserves all, though
a child, was of uncommon strength; he had a beau-
tiful countenance; his manners were most engag-
ing; and his only wish was to please every body;
in which he succeeded effectually ; but his subjects
waited with impatience till he came to the age of mas
turity, that he might bless them with an heir to his
virtues. Bate’swa‘ra, to pleafe them,-threw off his
childlike appearance, and suddenly became a man,
under the title of Li’te'swara, or Iswara, who gives

FR | pleasure

ee

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c. 383

pleasure and delight. He then began to reign over
Gods and men, with the strictest adherence to justice
and equity: his subjects were happy, and the women
beheld with extacy his noble and manly appearance.
With the view of doing good to mankind, he put
himself at the head of a powerful army, and conquer-
ed many distant countries, destroying the wicked, and
all oppressors. He had the happiness of his subjects
and of mankind in general so much at heart, that he
entirely neglected every other pursuit. His indiffer-
ence for the female sex alarmed his subjects : he en-
deavoured to please them; but his embraces were
fruitless. This is termed Ase’balana in Sanscrit ; and
the place where this happened was in consequence de-
nominated dsc’halanst’han. ‘The Apsaras, or celes-
tial nymphs, tried in vain the effect of their charms.
At last Sami-Ra‘ma’ came to Ase’halanst?han, and
retiring intoa solitary place in its vicinity, chanted
her own metamorphoses and those of Li'te’swara,
who happening to pass by, was so delighted with the
sweetness of her voice, that he went to her and en-
quired who she was. She related to him how they
went together into Utcoladésa in the characters of the
Caro'reswara and Capore’sr: adding, you ap-
peared then as Mocsue’swa‘ra, and I became
Awnay’asa; you are now Liléswaya, and I am Sami-
Rama, but I shall be soon Liléswar?. Li'ce’swara,
being under the influence of Ma‘ya, or worldly il-
lusion, did not recollect any of these transactions ;
but suspecting that the person he was speaking to
might be a manifestation of Pa'rvari, he thought
it adviseable to marry her; and having obtained her

consent,

384 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,

consent, he seized her hand, and led her to the per-
formance of the nuptial ceremony, to the universal
satisfaction of his subjects. Gods and men met to
solemnize this happy union; andthe celestial nymphs
and heavenly quiristers graced it with their presence.
Thus Sami-Ra’ma’ and Li’tz’swara commenced
their reign, to the general satisfaction of mankind,
who were happy-under their virtuous adminiftration.

From that periodthe three worlds began to know
and worship Li’Le’swara, who after he had con-
guered the universe, returned into Cusha-duipa, L1'-
Le’swaRaA having married Samr-Ra’ma’, lived con-
stantly with her, and followed her wherever she.
chose to go: in whatever pursuits and pastimes she’
delighted, in these alone he took pleasure; thus.
they travelled over hills and through forests to dis-
tant countries; but at last returned to Cusha-duip:
and Sami-Ra'ma’ seeing a delightful grove near the
Hradancita (or deep water) with a small river of the
same name, expressed a wish that he would fix the
place of their residence in this beautiful spot, ‘there
to spend their days in pleasure. |

Tis place became famous afterwards, under the
name of Lila-st’hdn, or the place of delight. . The
water of the Hradancita is very limpid and abounds
with Camala-flowers, or red Lotos.

Sami-Ra’ma’is obviously the Semrramts of the _
western mythologists, whose om eons is derived
from the Sauscrit Sami-Ra'me'st', or 81’, (Isis)
dallying in the Sam, or Fir-tree. The title of Sa-
MI '-RAME’ s1is not to be found inthe Puranas; but it

is more grammatical than the other; and it is abfo-
lutely

|| ‘THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &e. 385

lutely necessary to suppose the word Ist’ or Es1
in compostion, in order to make it intelligible.

Dioporus Siecu.us* informs us that she was born
at Ascalon: the Purdnds, that her first appearance in
Syria was at Ase’halana-st?han, or the place where
Li'te’sia or Ninus had Asec’halana.

Tue defeat of Semiramis by Staurosarss,isre~
corded in the Purdnds with still more extravagant
circumstances; for Sraurozares is obviously
ST’HA'VARA-PATI, OF ST’HA'WARA-PATI, as it is
more generally pronounced. | |

Tue places of worship mentioned in the above le-
gends are Mocshésa or Méesha-st’ han, Asc*hala-st’ han
or Asc’ halana-st’han, two places of the name of Lila-
shan or Lilésa-st’han, Anéyasa-dévi-st'han and Ma-
ha-bhéga-st’ han

Tue Brabmens in the western parts of India, insist
that Mécsha-si’ han is the present town of Mecca. The
word Mécshais always pronounced in the vulgar dia-
Jects, either Moca or Mucta; and the author of the
Dabistan says, its ancient name was Maca. We find it
called Maco Rata, by Protemy, or Moca ¢he Greg
or L/lustrious. Guy Paria mentions a medal of An-
TONINUS Prius with this legend, ‘* Mox. mp axr. arro,??
which he very properly translates Moca, sacra, inviola~
bilis, suis utens legibus, ‘* Moca the holy, the inviolable,
and using ber own laws.’ This, inmy humble opinion,
is applicable only to Mecca, or Mécsha-st?hdn, which
the Puranas describe as a most holy place. The
Arabian authors unanimously confirm the truth of

* Dioporys Sicutus, lib, 3, cap. Ze

Vor. Ly: Ce¢ : the

the Pree:

386 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,

the above legend; and it is ridiculous to apply it to
an obscure and insignificant place in 4; ‘abia Petrea,
called also Moca. It may be objected, that it does not
appear that: Mecca was ever a Roman colony. Ido
not believe it ever was; but at the same time it was
possible that some connection for commercial purpo-
ses might have existed between the rulers of Meccaand
the Romausin Egypt. The learned are not ignorant
that the Roians boasted a little too much of their
progress in Arabia; and even medals were struck with
no other view, apparently, but to impose on the mul-
titude at Rome. It is unfortunate that we do not meet
in the Purdnds with the necessary data to ascertain,
beyond doubt, the situation of Mocshea. ¥F rom the
particulars contained in them, however, it appears to
have been situated a ereat way to the westward, with
respect to Jndia, and not from Egypt and Erhiopia, as
has been shewn in a former dissertation on these.
countries, and inthe third volume of the Asiatic
Researches. | " . |

Ir is declarad in the Puranas that Caro're’swARA
and his consort Caro’re's1, in the shape of two
doves, remained there for some time; and Arabian
authors inform us, that in the time of MoHAMMED,
there’ was in the temple of Mecca a pigeon carved in
wood, and another above this: to destroy which,
MouammMen lifted Att upon his shoulders. These
pigeons were most probably placed there in com-
memoration of the arrival of ‘Mana’-pe'va and
De'v1, in the shape of two doves."

Na

THE

.
THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c. 387

Tue worship of the dove seems to have been pe-
culiar to India, Arabia, Syria, and Affyria. We read
of Semiramis being fed by doves in the desart; and
of her vanishing at last from the sight of men, in
the shape of a dove; and according to the Purdnds,
Capo’re’si, or the dove, was but a manifestation of
Sami-Ra‘Ma’,

Tue dove seems to have been in former times the —
device of the A/fyrian, as the eagle was of the Roman
empire; for we read in Isaras*, “ And the inhabi-
“* tants of this country shall say in that day, such was
** our expectation! behold whither we wanted to fly
¢s for help from the face of the doves but how could
“© we have escaped ?”

I nave adhered chiefly to the translatian of Tre-
MELLius, which appears the most literal, and to
be more expressive of the idea which the prophet
wished to convey to the Fews, who wanted to fly to
Egypt and Eibiopia, to avoid falling into the hands of
the Affyvians; but were to be disappointed by the
fall of these two empires.

ALL commentators have unanimously understood
Affyria by the Dove, and have translated the above
passage accordingly. Cavo’re’s1, orthe Assyrian Dove,
was also mentioned in a song, current in these coun-
tries, and which seems to refer to some misfortune
that had befallen the d/fyrians. The 56th Psalm is
directed to be sung to the tune of that song, which
was known to every body; and for this purpose the

* Isatas, cap. xx, an fine, .
Ce2.. first

388 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,

first verse, as usual, is inserted. ‘ The dove of dis~
Ff fant countries ts now struck dumb.’
Tue Hindus farther insist, that the S/ack stone in the
wall of the Caadza, is no other than the Linga or Phal-~
lus of Mawa’=peva’; and that when the Caaba was
rebuilt by MouamMen, (as they affirm it to have been)

it was placed in the wall, out of contempt; but the ©

new converted pilgrims would not give up the wor-
ship of the é/ack stone; and sinistrous portents forced
the ministers of the. new religion to conniveat it. Ara~
dian authors also inform us that stoves were worshipped
all over Arabia, particularly at Mecca; and A.-suHau-
RESTANI™® says, that the temple at Mecca was dedica~
ted to Zona or Kyevun, whois the same with SA=
rurN. ‘The author of the Dabistan declares possi-
tively that the Hejar al aswad, or the black stone; was
the image of Kyzvuyn. Though these accounts
somewhat differ from those in the Puranas, yet they
shew that this d/ack stone was the object of an idola~
trous worship from NG most remote times.

Tue Mussulmans, in order to palliate their idolatry
towards it, have contrived other legends... KyEvun
is the Cuvun of pcripture, also called REMPHAN,
which is interpreted the God of Time. If so, Cuyun,
or Kyevun, must be Mana’-pe’va, called also MA~
HA'~CA’LA, a denomination of the same import with
Rempuan’; the Lgypiians called Horus, the lord of
time; and Horus is the same with Har Ay or Ma-
HA'-DE'vVAT. |

1
* Saue’s Koran.

+ See Dissertation on Egypt, &c. in the third volume of the 4::-
atic Researches. CA Rigs
/ i

a a

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA; &e. 389

Tur. reason of this tradition is; that the Sabzans,
who worshipped the seven planets, seem to have con—
sidered Saturn as the lord of time, on account of
the length of its periodical revolution ; and it appears
from the Dadistan, that some anciént tribes in Persia
had contrived a cy¢le of years, consisting of the reve=
lution of Sarurn repeatedly multiplied by itself.

Asc’naracst’na’n; or Asc’ halana-st’ han, is obvi-
ously Asculon » there Semiramis was born, according
to Dioporvus SicuLus, or, according to the Pura-
nas, there she made her first appearance.

Mana’~siwa’Ga’-sr’ia’n is the st’hdv ot placé of
Samt'-Ra’ma’,;in the characters of Mana-sua’ca’,
or the great and prosperous goddess. This implies
also that she bestowed greatness and prosperity to
her votaries. |

.We cannot but suppose that thé si’°h4i/ of Mau a’=
BHA’GA’ is the ancienttown of Mabogcalted now Mez-
bigz and Menbig; the Greeks called it Hierapalis, or.
the holy city: it was a place of great antiquity; and
there was a famous temple dedicated to thé Syriar
goddess, whose statue of gold was placed in the cen-
ter, between those of Jupiter and Juno. It hada
golden dove on its head; hence gore supposed it
was designed for Stmrramis, and it was twice every
year carried to the sea-side in procession, This sta-
fue was obviously that of the great goddess, or Ma-
ma’Bia’ca'-pevr', whosé history is intimately con-
nected with that of the Dove in the western mytho-
logists, as well as in the Purénds. .

€c3 te AN

=

390 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,

Aw ancient author * thus relates her origin: “ di-
© citur et Exphratis fluvio ovum piscis Columba adse-
« disse dies plurimos, et exclusisse Deam benignam et
“ misericordem hominibus ad douam vitam.’? “ It
«is related that a Dove hatched the egg ofa fish,
“near the Euphrates, and that after many days of in-
* cubation came forth the Goddess, merciful and pro-
‘© pitious to men, on whom she bestows eternal bliss.””
Others say that fishes rolled an egg upon dry land,
where it was hatched by a Dove, after which appear-
ed the Syrian Goddess.

Her origin is thus related in the Puranas: The
Yavanas having fora long time vexed the inhabitants
of Cy/ba-duip, they at last applied for protection to
Ma‘na’-pHaA’GA=DE v1, who had already appeared
in that country in the characters of Sami-Ra’mMa’
and Carore’s1’, or Ist’, inthe shape of a Dove; they
requested also that she would vouchsafe to reside a-
mongst them. The merciful Goddess granted their
request; and the place where she made her abode
was called the s/’-han, or place of Méabda-bhaga.~

Tue Syrian name of Maéog is obviously derived
from Maua’-sua’ca. This contraction is not un-
common: in the western dialects, derived from the
Sanserit ; and Hesycutvus informs us that the Greeks
pronounced the Hindu word Maba great, Mai. Mabog
is mentioned by Puiny, where we read Magog; but
Mr. Danvitie shews that it should be Madog: 1
conclude from some manuscript copies. This is also

* Lucius Ampetius ad MACRIN,.
confirmed

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c. | 391

confirmed by its present name, which is to this day
Manbig or Manbeg. We find it also called Bambukeb
(Panbyn) Bambyce); andin Nizevur’s Travels it is
called Bombddsche: 1 supposs for Bombaksche or Mom-
digz: but this is equally corrupted from Ma’abbaga.
Inthe same manner we fay Bombay for Momba; and
what is is called in India Bambu or Pambn, is called
Mambu in Thibet.

Tux temple of Mabog was frequented by all na-
tions ; and amongst them were pilgrims from Judia,
according to Lucian, as cited by the author of the
Ancient Univerfal History.

Masoc, or Hierapolis, was called also Old Ninus, or
Niniveh, according to AMMianus MarceELtinus,
and Puirosrratus: and there is no mistake in Di-
ovorus Sicutusand Cresras, when they assert that
there was a town called Nixiveh near the Eupbrates.
Scripture also seems to place Ninrveb thereabout; for
it is said that Rezen was between Niniveh and Calach.
And the situation of Rezen, called also Resaina, by
ancient authors, and Razaiu by the moderns, is well
known, as well as that of Ca/ach on the banks of the
Lycus, now the Zab, to the eastward of the Tigris.
Niniveh, of course, must have been to the westward
of these two places, and falls where the Old Ninus is
pointed out by AMm1anus, Purosrratus, &c.

Two places of that name are mentioned in the Pu-
vanads, under the name of Li/ast’ban, the s?’?ban or
place of Li’te’sa or Ninus. Therecan be no doubt,
in my humble opinion, of their identity ; for Sami’-
Ra‘ma’is obviously Semiramis. Ninus was the son
of Betus, and, according to the Parduds Li'ts’sa

Spe by oe" sprung

392 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS.

sprung from Ba’Le’swara, or Bavesa; for both
denominations, being perfectly synonimous, are in-
differently used in the Puranas.

Ninivenon the Tigris, seems to be the si*hdn of
L1'xe’s a,where helaidasidethe shape and countenance
of Ba’ie’sa, and assumed that of Li’Le’sa. The other
placeof Liresa, which Sami’-Ra‘ma’, delighted with
the beauty of the spot, chose for the place of her re-
sidence, is Hierapolis, called also Ninus or Nineveh:
hence we find her statue in the temple of Mana’
BHA’GA’. It is said to have been situated near a deep
pool, or small lake, called from that circumstance
Hradancita ; and the pool near the temple of Hrerapolis
was described to be two hundred fathoms deep. Sa-
mMiI'-Ra’Ma is represented in a most amiable light in
the Purauds, as well as her consort Lire’swara, or
Lixe’sa.

StTerHANus of Byzantium says that Ninvs lived at
a place called Yelané, previous to his buiding N-
niveb; but this place, I believe, is not mentioned by
any other author. |

Ninus is with good reason supposed to be the
Assur of Scripture, who built Mazveb ; and AssuR
is obviously the Is‘wara of the Puranas, with the
title of Li’:ze’/swara, Li’tesa, or Ninus. The
word I’swara, though generally applied to deities, is
also given in the Purdwds to Kings ; it signifies Lord
and Sovereign.

W iru respect tothe monstrous origin of Be'Ls’sa,
and the thirty-one Phalli; my Pandit, who is an
astronomer suspects it to be an attempt to reconcile

the course of the moon to that of the sun, by divid-
ing

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c. 39%

ing the synodical revolution into thirty-one parts,
which may represent also three hundred and ten years.
As this correction is now disused, he could give me
no further information concerning it. To the event
related is ascribed the origin of the nga or Phallus,
‘and of its worship: it is said to have happened on the
banks of the Cumud-vati, or Euphrates ; and the first
Phallus; under the name of Balefwara-Linga, was
erected on its banks. This is confirmed by Dropo-
RUS SicuLus, who says that Semiramus brought
an Obelisk from the mountains of Armenia, and
erected it in the most conspicuous part of Babylon :
it was 150 feet high, and is reckoned, by some au-
thor, as one of the seven wonders of the world*. The
Fews in their Talmud allude to something of this
kind; speaking of the different sorts of earths, of
which’ the body of Apa% was formed, they fay thar
the earth which composed his generative parts, was
brought from Babylonia. 3
Tue next place of worship is the Ph oF AWARE
SA=-DE vi’: this is obviously the ‘i 4; asus (Heiron tes
Anaias) of StRawo, or the temple of the goddess
Awara, or Anatas, with its burning spring of Na-
putHa. They are upon a hillock, called Corcura by
the antients, and now known by the name of Corcoor:
itis near Kerkook, and to the eastward of the Tigr7s. To
this day it is visited by pilgrims from India; and I have
been fortunate enough to meet with four or five who -
had paid their devotions in this holy place. I consult~

* Diop, Sie, lib, 3. cap. 4.
ed

394 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS.

ed them separately, and their accotints were as satis<
factory as could be expected. They call it Fudlé-
muc’hi, of the flaming mouth.

Tuts conflagration is minutely described by Dio-
porus SicuLus*, who says, that in former times @
monster called ALe1p a, who vomited flames, appeared
in Phrygia ; hence spreading along mount Taurus; the
conflagration burnt down all the woods, as far as India:
then, with a retrograde course, swept the forests of
mount Liban, and extended as fat as Egypt and Africa:
at last.a stop was put to it by MINERVA.

Tue Phrygians remembered well this ie teoatiaai :
and the flood which followed it; but as they could |
not conceive that it could originate from a benevo-~
less Goddess, they transformed her into a monster,
called Atcrpa. Alcida howeveris an old Greek word,
implying strength and power, and 1s therefore syno-
nimous with Séc4 or Séctd=devi, the principal form of
Sa’mi'-~Ra'ma’, arid other manifestations of the fe-

male power of nature.

Inpzep the names and titles of most of the Baby-
lonian deities are pure Sanscrit: and many of them.
are worshipped to this day-in Ivdia, or at least their
legends are to be found in the Purdnds. !

Tuus Semiramis is derived from Sami-Ramést, or
Sami-Ramé, and Sami-Rama-dévi.

Mixirra from Militia~-Devi, because she. brings
people together (Connuba).

™ Drap.. Src. lib. 4. cap. 50.

SHACK As

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c. — 395

SHACKA, or Saca, is from the Sanscrit Sacta-dévi,
prononced Sacé in the vulgar dialects: it implies
strength and power.

StameBa, or Salambo, is from Sarwambéa, often pro-
nounced Salwamba: it signifies the mother of all:
and she is the Magna Mater of the western mytho-
logists. —

De'vi is called also A'ntargati, or Antareata, be-
cause she resides within the body, or in the heart,
and thereby gives strength and courage. This is the
Goddess of Victory in Jvdia, and they have no other :
it is declared in the Purdnds, that she was called A’x~
TRAST’HI (atitleof the same import with the former}
in the forests of Vishdla-van, on the banksof the river
Tamasa, in Chandra-duip: from. A'nirast’hi the old
Britons, or rather the Romans, made Andraste.

Tus Babylonian Goddess was called.also the Quec#.
of Heaven; and to this day a form of Devt, withthe
title of Sverga radni-dévi, or Devi, Queen of Heaven,
is worfhipped in Juda. ne

Ruea is from Hriyé-devi, or the bashful or modest
- Goddess.

Raxu is from Raécéswara: aname of Lunus, from
one of his favourite wives called Raca: it signifies
also the full orb of the Moon. . ;

Naso, or Neso, is I’swara, with the title of
Nava, or Nada, the celestial. | i

Narcat is from Avargaléswara; that is, he who
is independent.

ADRAM-MELECH is from A’dbarm-eswara; for

I'swara

_

396 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,
I’swara and Me ecn, in the Chaldean language;
are prnnee

ADHARME SWARA Is thus éalled: Hegalise he pu-
nishes those who deviate from the paths of justice and
rectitude.

ANAM-MELECH is from Anam-ésward ot Is'WARA;
who, though above all, behaves to all with meekness
and affability. i

Nimgop is from Nima-Redra, bécause Rupra or
Maua’-pe'va gave him half of his own stréngth.

~Vauni-st’Ha’n, called also Agui-st’han is said in
some Puranas to be in Cusha-duzp; and in others, to
be on the borders of it.. It includes all the moun-
tainous country from Phrygia to Herat. Vabni-st’han
and Agni-si’han are denominations of the same im-=
port, and signify the country or seat of fire, from the
numerous volcanoés and burning springs which are
to be found all along this extensive range of moun-
tains. The present 4zar-Baijan is part of it; and
may be called Vabni-sthan proper. Azar, in the old
Persian, signifies fire; and Baijan, a mine or spring:
This information was given to me by Mr. Duncan;
resident of Benares, who was so kind as to consult on
this subject with Menpri-Ari-Kua’n, one of the Au=
mils of the Zemindary of Benares. He isa native of
Kborassan, and well acquainted with the antiquities of
his own country, and of Iran in general. According:
to him, the principal Bazjan, or spring of fire,/is at

a place called Baut-Cubeb *, in Azar-Béijan. Vabnia«

* It ts vul garly called Baku.
}

sUhan

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c. 397

si’ban is called also Vabni-vyapta, from the immense
quantity of fire collected in that country. There are
many places of worship remaining throughout Jran,
still resorted to by devout pilgrims. The ——
are Balk and the Pyreum, near Herat. Hinglaz, o
Anclooje, near the sea, and about eighty miles pn
the mouth of the Judus: it is now deserted ; but there
remain twenty-four temples of Buava’nr. -This
place, however, is seldom visited, on account of the
difficulties attending the journey to it.

Ganeca’wa’z, near Congo,-on the Persian Gulph,
another place of pilgrimage, where are many caves,
with springs in the mountains.

Tue st?ban of Carya na-Ra’ya and GovinDA-=
Ra’ya, two incarnations of VisHNu, is in the cen-
‘tre of Bussora, on the banks of the Euphrates; and
there are two statues carefully concealed. from the
sight of the Mussulmaus. |

ANA’yYa’SA’~DE'vi-stT’HA’N has been steely men-~
tioned ; and the great Fudla-muc’hi is the designation
of the springs of Napbiba, near Baku.

Trere is also another Hindu place of worship
at Babarein (El Katif) and. another at, Astrachan,
where the few Hizdus who live there worship the Vol-
ga, under the name of Su/rya-muc’Hi’-Ganca; the
legends relating to this famous river are to be found
in the Purdnés, and confirm the information of the
pilgrims who have visited these holy places. There
are still many Hindus dispersed through that immense
country ; they are unknown to the Mussulmans ; and
they pass for Guebris, as they call them here, or

5 | Parsise

308 » & DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,

Parfis. There is now at Benares a Brabman of the
name of Ds’/v1-pa's, who is a native of Mefched; he
was introduced lately to my acquaintance by Mr.
Duncan; and he informed me that it was supposed

there were about 2000 families of Hiudus in Khoraf-

fan; that they called themselves Hindi, and are known

to the Mujfulmans of the country under that appel-
jation. | |
TH18, in my opinion, accounts for the whole coun-
try to the south of the Ca/pian sea, from Khoraffan
and Arrokhage, as far as the Black Sea being called
India by the antients; and its inhabitants in various
places Sizdi: it is implicitly confirmed by the Pura-
nds, in which it is said that the Sarya-mue’bi-Ganga,
or Volga, falls into the Sea of Sivd. The Hindus near
Baku and at Affrachan, call it the new sea, because
they say it did not exist formerly. They have le-
gends about it, which, however, my learned friend
Vinuyas’-na’ru could not find in the Purézés.

Accorpine tothe pilgrims I have consulted, there.

are about twenty or thirty families of Hindus at Balk;
and Evsrerius informs us, that there were Hindus
in Baciriana in his time. -There are as many fami-
lies at Gdngdwaz, or Congo; about one hundred at
Buffora; and a few at Babarein: these informed Pura’-
na’-purt, a Yoyz and famous traveller, called also
Urv’nwapa'nu, because he always keeps his hands
elevated above his head, that formerly they corres—
ponded and traded with other Hindus on the banks

of the river Né/a, in the country of Mifr; and that

they had once a house or factory at Cairo ; but

5, | pi? a,

THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c. — 399

that, on account of the oppression of the Turks and
the roving Arabs, there had been no intercourse be-
tween them for several generations. ‘There are no
Findus at Aniydshdévi, or Corcoor; but they com-
pute a large number in the vicinity of Baku, and
Derbend. The Shroffs at Samakhi are Banyans or
Hindus, according to the Dictionary of Commerce,
and of 7: revoux, as cited in the French Encyclao~
pedia*. . st GSH pia ,

Tue Cubanis who live near Derbend, are Hindus, as
my friend Purana-Puri was told at Baku and
Afrachan, in his way to Mofcow; and their Brab-
mens are said to be very learned ; but, as he very pro-
perly observed, this ought to be underftood relatively
ona comparison with the other Hindus in Perfia, who
are extremely ignorant.

Hs relation is ina great measure confirmed by
STRAMLENBERG c, who calls them Cuba and Cublaizin;
and says that they live near Derbend, and are a dis~
tinct people, supposed to be Yews, and to speak still
the Hebrew language. ~

Tue Sanferit characters might easily be mistaken
for the black Hebrew letters by superficial observers,
or persons little conversant in subjects of this nature.
Tue Avani, figuratively called the daughter of the
Samti-tree, and the mother of fire, 1s a cubic piece of
wood about five inches in diameter, with a small hole
inthe upper part. A stick of the same sort of wood
is placed in this cavity, and put in motion by astring
held by two men, or fixed to a bow. The friction

* Ad vecem Cheraffs.

soon

400 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS,

soon produces fire, which is used for all religious
purposes, and also for dressing food. Every Brahmen
ought to have an drazi; and when they cannot pro-

eurc one from the Sami’-tree, which is rather scarce.

in this part of India, they’make it with the wood of

the Asvatt’ha, or Pippala-tree. This is:also a sacred:

tree, and they distinguish two species of it; the Pip-
pala, called in the vulgar dialects Pipal,and the Chalat-
palasha. ‘The leaves of this’ last are larger, but the
fruit is smaller, and not so numerous as in the former
species. It is called Chalat-palasha, from the tremu-
Jous motion of its leaves... It is very common in the
hills, and the vulgar name for it is Pépala; from
which I suppose is derived the Latiz word Populus ;
for it is certainly the trembling Poplar or A/pen-tree.

Tue festival of Simiramts falls always on the
tenth day of the lunar month of Aswina,. which this
year coincided withthe fourth of October. ‘On this
day lamps are lighted.in the evening under the Sami.
trec; offerings are made of rice and flowers, and
sometimes strong liquors ; the votaries sing the praise
of Sami’-Rama’-pevi' and the Sami-tree ; and having
worshipped: them, carry away some of the leaves of

the tree, and earth from the roots, which they keep

carefully in their houses till the return of the festival
of Semiramts in the ensuing year.

ON

‘ ‘
ee Se ae

( gor )

AXVII.

-

‘ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.

BY LIEUT. R. H. COLEBROOKE.

ere a

HE Andaman islands are situated on the eastern

side of the bay of Bengal*, extending from
north latitude 10° 32’ to 13°40. Their longitude is
from 92° 6'to 92° 59’ east of Greenwich. The Great
Andaman, or that portion of the land hitherto. so
called, is about one hundred and forty British miles
in length, but not more than twenty in the broadest
parts. Its coasts are indented by several deep bays,
affording excellent harbours, andit is intersected by
many vast inlets and creeks, one of which has been
found to run quite through, and is navigable for

* Tris perhaps a wonder, that‘islands so extensive, and lying in
the track of so many ships, should have been, till of late years, so
little known; that while the countries ‘by which they are almost en-
circled, have been increasing in population and wealth, having been
from time immemorial in a state of a tolerable civilization, these
islands should have remained in a state of nature, and their inhabj-
tants plunged in the grossest ignorance and barbarity.

Tue wild appearance of the country, and the untractable and fe-
rocious disposition of the natives, have been the causes, probably,
which have deterred navigators from frequenting them; and they
have justly dreaded a shipwreck at the dzdamazs more than the dan-
ger of foundering in the ocean; for although it is highly probable,
thar in the course of time many vessels have been wrecked upon their
coasts, an instance does not occur of any of the crews being saved, or
of a single person returming to give any account of such a disaster.

Vor. IV. Dd smal]

-

402 ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS. |

small vessels. The Little Andaman is the most south-
erly of the two, and lies within thirty leagues of the
island Carnicobar. Its length is 28 miles by 17 in
breadth, being more compact, but does not afford
any harbour, although tolerable anchorage is found
near its shores. The former is surrounded by a great
number of smaller islands.
Tue shores of the main island, and indeed of all
the rest, are in some parts rocky, and ina few places
are lined with a-smooth and sandy beach, where boats
may easily land. The interior shores of the bays and
creeks are almost invariably lined with mangroves,
prickly fern, and a species of wild rattan ; while the
‘inland parts are covered with a variety of tall trees,
darkened by the intermixture of creepers, parasite
plants, and underwood ;, which form altogether a vast
and almoft impervious forest, spreading over the —
whole country. The smaller islands are equally co-
vered with wood; they mostly contain hills of a mo-
derate height, but the main island is distinguished by
a mountain of prodigious bulk, called from its shape
the Saddle-Peak; it is visible in clear weather at the
distance of twenty-five leagues, being nearly twothou-
sand four hundred feet in perpendicular height. There
are no rivers of any size upon these islands, but a
riumber of small rills pour down from the mountains
alferding good water, and exhibiting in their descent
over the rocks a variety of little cascades, which are
— overshaded by the superincumbent woods. |
Tue soil is various in pa parts of these
islands ;

° :

ON THE ANDAMAN ISANDs. 4.03

islands* ; consisting of black rich mould, white and
dark coloured clays, light sandy soil, clay mixed with
pebbles of different colours, red and yellow earth; but ,
the black mould is most common. Some white cliffs
are met with along the shores, which appear to have
been originally clay, with a mixture of sand, har-
dened by time into the consistence of stone, but might
be cut, and would probably answer for building.
Near the southern extremity of the great island, where
it Is mountainous and rocky, some indications of ml-
nerals have appeared, particularly of tin. There is
also a kind of freestone, containing a yellow shining
spar, resembling gold dust. Some of the hills bor-
dering the coasts exhibit blue shistous strata at their
bases, with the Brescia or pudding-stone; and some
specimens of red ochre have been found, not unlike
cinnabar.

Tue extensive forests with which these islands are
over-run, produce a variety of trees fit for building,
and many other purposes. ‘The most common are the
poon, dammer, and oil-trees; red wood, ebony, cot-
ton-tree, and éuddaum or almond-tree; soondry,
chingry, and bindy; Alexandrian laurel, poplar, and
a tree resembling the sattin-wood; bamboos, and
plaas, with which the natives make their bows; cutch,
affording the extract called Terra Japonica; the Me-
lori, or Nicobav bread-fruit ; aloes, ground -rattans,
and a variety of shrubs. <A few fruit-trees have been

* Tam indebted to Major Kyp and Captain Arcuisaitp Brair
for many of the subsequent remarks. The latter was employed by
government in surveying these islands, and ‘has the credit of having
fairnished the first complete and correct Chart of the Avdamans.

Dd 2 | found

404 ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS,

found in a wild state; but it is remarkable that cocoa-
nuts, so common in other tropical countries, are here
almost unknown. Many of the trees afford timbers
and planks fit. for the construction of ships, and
-others might answer for masts. A tree grows here
to an enormous size, one having been found to mea-
sure thirty feet in circumference, producing a very
rich dye, that might be of use in manufactures.

Tue only quadrupeds yet discovered in these islands
are wild hogs, monkeys, and rats. Guanas, and va-
rious reptiles abound; among the latter is the green
snake, very venomous ; seg tie of ren inches long,
and scorpions. |

A variety of birds are seen in the weds the most
common are pigeons, crows, parroquets, king fishers,
curlews, fish-hawks, and owls. A species of hum-
ming bird, whose notes are not unlike the cock; 1s
frequently heard in the night.

The principal caverns and recesses, composing ‘part
of the coast, give shelter to the birds that build the
edible nests: an articleof commercein the China mar-
ket, where they are sold ata very high price. It has.
been thought that these nests are formed from a gluti-
nous matter exuding from the sides of the caverns
where these birds, during their nidification, resort.
It is not known whether they emigrate; but the period
of their incubation takes place in December, and con-
tinues till! May. Not more than two white spotless
eggs have been found in their nests; but they have
been further supposed to’ breed monthly. a8

. Tue harbours and inlets from the sea are plentifully
stockinls with a variety of fish; such as mullets, soles,

ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS. 405

isomfret; tock-fish, skate, gurnards, sardinas, roc~

balls, sable; shad, aloose, cockup, grébers, seer-fish,

old wives, yellow tails, snappers, devil-fish, cat-fish,
prawns, shrimps, cray-fish, and many others: a spe~
cies resembling the whale, and sharks of an enormous
size, are met with. A variety of shell-fish are found
on the reefs, arid in some places oysters of an excel-
lent quality. Of the many madrapores, coralines,
zoophites, and shells, none have yet been discovered
but such as are found elsewhere.

T 12 Andaman islands are inhabited by a race of men
the least civilized, perhaps, in the world; being nearer
to astate of nature than any people we read of. Their
colour is of the darkest hue, their stature in general
small, and their aspect uncouth. ‘Their limbsare ill
formed and slender, their bellies prominent, and, like
the Africans, they have woolly heads*, thick lips, and

| flat

* Tw this respect they differ from all the various tribes inhabiting
the continent of Asia, or its islands. A story is somewhere told of a
ship full of African slaves, of both sexes, having been cast away at
the dzdamans ; and that having put to death their masters and the
ship’s crew, they sptead themselves over, and peopled the country.
This story does not appear to have been well authenticated, nor have
I ever met with the particular author who relates it. They have been
asserted by some to bé cannibals, and by others (wide Captain Ha-
MILTON’s Voyage, and all the Geographical Dictionaries) to be a
harmless and inoffensive people, living chiefly on rice and vegetables.
That they are cannibals has never been fully proved, although from
their cruel and sanguinary disposition, great voracity, and cunning
modes of lying in ambush, there is reason to suspect, that in attack-
ing strangers they are frequently impelled by hunger, as they inva-
riably put to death the unfortunate victims who fall under their hands.

No positive instance, however, has been known of their eating the

flesh of their enemies; although the bodies of some whom they have
killed, have been found mangled and torn. It would be dificult to
account for their unremitting hostility to strangers, without aseribing
this as the cause, unless the story of their origin, as abovementioned,

d 3 should

4.06 ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.

flat noses. They go quite naked, the women wearing
only at times akind of tassel, or fringe, round the
middle; whichis intended merely for ornament, as they
do not betray any fignsof bashfulness when seen with-
out it. The men are cunning, crafty, and revengeful ;
and frequently express their aversion to strangers, in
a loud and threatening tone of voice, exhibiting va-
rious signs of defiance, and expressing their contempt
by. the most indecent gestures. At other times they
appear quiet and docile, with the most insidious in-
tent. They will aifect to enterinto a friendly confe-
rence, when after receiving with,a show of humility
whatever articles may be presented to them, they set
up a shout, and discharge their arrows at the donors.
On the appearance of a vessel or boat, they frequently
liein ambush among the trees, and send one of their
gang, who is generally the oldest among them, to the
_water’s edge, to endeavour by friendly signs to allure
’ the strangers on shore. Should the crew venture to

should be true; in which case they might probably retain a tradition
of having once been in a state of slavery. This in some degree
would account for the rancour and enmity they shew ; and they would
naturally wage perpetual war with those whom they might. suspect
were come to invade their country, or enslave them again. ;

Ir would appear that these islands were known to the antients (see
Major Renneu’s Memoirs, introduction, page xxxix). ‘They are
mentioned, I believe, by Murco Poo; and in the ancient accounts
of India and China, by two Mahomedan travellers, who went to those
parts in the ninth century (translated from the Arabic by EuseBiug
ReNnaupoT) may be seen the following curious account. ‘* Beyond
_* these twoislands ( Ne/abalus, probably Nicobars) lies the sea of Auda-
“* man; the people on this coast eat human flesh quite raw ; their com-
«* plexion is black, their hair frizzled, their countenance and eyes,

‘© frightful, their feet are very large and almost a cubit in length, —

(€€ and they go quite naked, ‘They have noembarkations; if they had,
** they would devour all the passengers they could lay hands on, &c.”’

land»

ee

ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS. 407

/
land without arms, they instantly rush out from their
lurking places, and attack them. In these skirmishes
they displdy much resolution, and will sometimes
plunge into the water to seize the boat ; and they have
been Known even to discharge their arrows while in
the act of swimming. Their mode of life is degrad-
ing to human nature, and, like brutes, their whole
time is spent in search of food. They have yet made
no attempts to cultivate their lands, but live entirely
pon what they can pick up, or kill. In the morn-
ing they rub their skins with mud, or wallow init
like buffaloes, to prevent the annoyance of ‘insects,
and daub their woolly heads with red ochre, or cinna-
bar. ‘Thusattired, they walk forth to their different
‘Occupations. The women bear the greatest part of
the drudgery in collecting food, repairing to the reefs
‘at the recess of the'tide, to pick up shell-fish, while
‘the men are hunting in the woods, or wading in the
water to shoot fish with their bows and’arrows. They
‘are very dexterous at this extraordinary mode of fish-
ing, which they practice also at‘night, by the light of
‘a torch. ‘In their excursions inrbagh the woods, a
wild hog sometimes rewards their toil, and affords
them a ‘more ample repast. They broil their meat or
“fish over a kind of grid, made of bamboos; but use
no salt, or any other seasoning.

Tur Andamaners display at timés much collo-
quial vivacity, and ate fond of singing and dancing
‘in which amusements the women equally participate.
Their language is rather smooth than guttural; and
“their melodies are in the nature of recitative and cho-

Dd4a rus,

408 ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.

rus, not unpleasing. In dancing they may be said to
have improved on the strange republican dance as-
serted by Vo_rairetohave been exhibitedin Exgland:
*< Ox dancant a la ronde, chacun donne des coups de pieds
“© 4 son voisin, et en recoit autant.’’? . The Andamaners
likewise dancing in a ring, each alternately kicking -
and slapping his own breech, ad /ibztum. ‘Their sa-
lutation is performed by lifting up a leg, and smack-
ing with their hand the lower part of the thigh.
Tuer dwellings are the most wretched hovels ima-
ginable. An Andaman hut may be considered the
rudest, and most imperfect attempt of the human race
to procure shelter from the weather, and answers to
theidea givenby Virruvivs,ofthe buildings erected
by the earliest inhabitants of the earth. ‘Three or
four sticks are planted in the ground, and fastened to-
gether at the top, in the form of a cone, over which a
kind of thatch is formed with the branches and leaves
of trees. An opening is left on one side, just large
enough to creep into; and the ground beneath is strew-
‘ed with dried leaves, upon which they lie. In these
huts are frequently found the sculls of wild hogs,
suspended to the roofs. . .
Tuerr canoes are hollowed out of the trunks of ©
trees by means of fire and instruments of stone, hav_
ing no jron in use amongst them, except such uten-
sils as they have procured from the Europeans and
sailors who have lately visited these islands ; or from
the wrecks of vessels formerly stranded on their coasts.
They use also rafts, made of bamboos to transport

themselves across their harbours, or from one island
to

ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS, AOG

to another. Their arms have already been mentioned
in part, I need only add that their bows are remark-.
ably long, and of an uncommon form; their arrows
are headed with fish-bones, or the tusks of wild hogs ;
sometimes merely with a sharp bit of wood, hardened
in the fire, but these are sufficiently destructive.
They use also a kind of shield ; and one or two
other weapons have been seen amongst them. Of
theiriimplements for fishing, and other purposes, lit-
tle canbe said.. Hand-nets of different sizes are
used in catching the small fry, anda kind of wicker-
basket, which they carry on their backs, serves to
deposit whatever articles of food they can pick up. A
few specimens of pottery-ware have been seen in these
islands.

Tue climate of the Andaman islands is rather
milder than in Bengal. ‘The prevailing winds are .he
south-west and north-east monsoons, the former com-
mencing in May, and bringing in the rains; which
continue to fall with equal, if not greater, violence tili
November. At this time the north-east winds begin
to blow, accompanied likewise by showers, but giv-
ing place to fair and pleasant weather dufing the rest
of the year. These winds vary but little, and are in~
terrupted only at times by the land and sea-breezes.
The tides are regular, the floods setting in from the
west, and rising eight feet at the springs, with little
variation in different parts. Onthe north-east coast
it is high water at the full and change of the moon at
8° 93'.. The. variation of the needle is 2° 30’ east-
erly.

Specimen

410 ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.

Specimen of the Andaman Language. ,

—

Audaman island, or i Mi ; Crow, = Nohay
; Mincopie
native Country To cut, Hojeeha
, Ant, - - Ahooda Doors?’ 2 Tang _
. Ant, white in its } Dénglioy . To drink - Meengohee ;
winged state Earth, ‘Totongnangee
Arrow, . - Buttohie Far, * Quaka -
Arm, - - Pilie To eat, 71 Ingelholiah |
Elbow, Mohalajabay
Bat, - Vilvila Eye, Jabay_
Bamboo, - - Otallie . ee a
Bangle, s - Ala Finger, Momay
Basket, - - Tetegay Fire, Mona
Black, = Cheegheooga Fish, _ Nabohee
Blood, - Cochengohee Fish-hook, Atabea
Bead, + 4 ihe sg ane ne Flesb, Woohee
To Beat, - Ingo taheya Foot, ~ Gookee
Belly, Napoy Friend, Padoo —
To bind, Totoba oto Frog, - Etolay ois
¥: goley toha me vee
Bisds Toth Dae Goat, _. Kokee
To bite, - .Moepaka
To go, -' Oosseema
eh gL aeSet Grass, - _Tohobee,
Boar, - - Stohee PA pO Ve OG
wae ee psione! Hair, Ottee |
Dew eaeing, i- ie Hand, - Gonie or Monie
Breast, - ~, ah Roe
; | Bis lapel Head, © = | 'Tabay oo
fi " eh eRe Honey Lorkay. §
Hot, Hoolo
Charcoal, - Wehée vere Bae :

. House, - Beaday
‘Chin, - Pitang . ; LIELISY
cain i ee ree Jack Fruit, © Abay = ©) Jk
tt Aa ; ae latee Jackall _ Omay £2 "6

pra aaag RiLabils Iron, orany Metal, Dohie,; . ~
Tocough- - Ingotahey

Kiss

ON THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.

Kiss, - -
Knee, =

To laugh,
Leaf of a Tree,
Leg, - -

Man, -:. =
Moon, -
Musequeto, -
Mouth, -

MAG
Neck,) = -
Nett! aie)
“Nose, - 9 -

Paddle, or Oar,

Pain, biahaeee
Palm, _
Paper, - =
Pike, - 2

To pinch, -
Plantain tree,
Pot, - -

Ttolie
Ingolay

Onkeomai
‘Tongolie
Chigie

Camolan
'Tabie
Hohenangee
Morna

Mobejedanga
- 'Tohie

Botolee

Mellee

Mecal
Alooda
Dolai

Pangpoy
Woobalay

Ingee Genecha

* Cholellee

Bootchoohie

. To pull, Totobati Gehooa
Rainy uc.-°S 2° Oye
Red, - Gheallop
Ronde”! . Echollee —
To run, -.. Gohabela

(Re I re no A CL I A

4it

Toscratch, - Inkahey aha

Seed, “ - Keetongay
Sheep,* - Neena
Smoke, ~ Boleene¢
To sing, - Gokobay
To sitdown, - Gongtohee
Shadow, - - Tangtohee
To sleep, - Comoha
To sneeze, - Oh-cheka
Tospit, .- Inkahoangy
Toswim, - - Quaah
To swallow, - Beebay
Sky, - - Madamo

, Star, <> - Chelobay
Stone, - - Woolay
Sun, = - Ahay
To take up, - Catoha
Thigh, = Poye
Teeth, = Mahoy
Tongue, - Tahie
‘Thunder & light- 7 Maufay-

ning, Maccée

To wash, - Inga doha
Wasp, - - Bohomakee
Towalk, - Boony-jaoa
Water, - - Migway
To weep, - Oana-wannals
Wind, - - ‘Tomjamay
Wood, - Tanghee.

* It may appear surprising that they should have names for animals that are not
found .in their Islands, This circumstance may tend to confirm the story of theie

origin,

XXVUL

ene

(412

MARVITT:

#

GN BARREN ISLAND, AND ITS VOLCANG.

BY. LEEUT. R. H. COLEBROOKE.

Se

3007 Fi fifteen leagues to the eastward of the An-
daman islands lies an island which navigators,
trom its appearance,-have justly called Barren. On the
12th of May 1787, Captain Kyp and myself, being
on board the Trial Snow, on a voyage to Pulo Pen-
we Barren Island in sight, bearing SSW. seven
eagues distant, saw a column of smoke ascending from
its summit, and by the help of our glasses plainly per-
ceived it to. arise from a hill nearly in its center,
argund which appeared an extensive valley, or crater ;
but being becalmed, we could not approach nearer f°.
examine it.
Tue following account of this rewarkable idle is
given by Captain Buair, in his report of the Survey
of the Andaman islands.
“ T left that Coast March the 21st, and landed on
Barren Island on the 24th.—-The volcano was in
a violent state of eruption, bursting out immense
volumes of smoke, and frequently fhowers of red
hot stones. i Some were of a size to weigh three or
four tons, and had been thrown some hundred
A* yards p past the foot of the cone. There were two

sm ‘

or

=< = Em. ag 3 = = — "ag = >
See 2 SS, ai SS : ——— 4 ——

pit apV ip? GALES “OGLE 4 sags FOC 1, ty tlPY4 VG) “0 OUI) “4 ?
. << a Cc - Ry ‘
ar 72 ; : = — = eee

Y,
———

——

oe -

) fo A? f_-
0. EO

ON BARREN ISLAND, &c. 41%

* or three eruptions while we were close to it; seve-
§ ral.of the red hot stones rolled down the sides of
the cone, and baunded a considerable way beyond
‘us. fhebase of the cone is the lowest part of the
fs island, and very little higher than the level of the
*©sea. It arises with an acclivity of 32°17’ to the
*s hight of 1800 feet nearly, which is also the eleva-
** tion of the other parts of the island.

“From its present figure, it may be conjectured
“that the volcano first broke out near the centre of
“ the island, or rather towards the north-west; and
‘in a long process of time by discharging, consum-
“ing, and undermining, has brought it to the pre-
sent very extraordinary form, of which a very cor-
rect drawing by Lieutenant Waces, will impress a
§* distant idea. |
* Tose parts of the island that are distant from
the volcano, are thinly covered with withered
shrubs and blasted trees. It is situated in latitude
12°15’ north, and fifteen leagues east of the nor-
“‘thernmost island of the Archipelago *, and may be
seen at the distance of twelve leagues in clear wea-
ther. A quarter of a mile from the shore, there is
“ no ground with 150 fothoms of line.’

REMARK.

From the very singular and uncommon appearance
of this island, it might be conjectured that it has
been thrown up entirely from the sea, by the action

* Tue eastermost cluster of the Azdaman islands.

of

414 ON BARREN ISLAND,

of subterranean fire. Perhaps, but a few centu-
ries ago, it had not reared itself above the waves ;
but might have been gradually emerging from the
bottom of the ocean long before it became visi-
ble; till at length it reached the surface, when the
air would naturally assist the operation of the fire
that had been struggling for ages to get vent, and
it would then burst forth. The cone or volcano
would rapidly increase in bulk, from the continual
discharge of lava and combustible matter; and the
more violent eruptions which might have ensued at
times, when it would throw up its contents to a great=
er elevation and distance, might have produced that
circular and nearly equidistant ridge of land we see
around it. |

Ir this conjecture should gain credit, we may sup-
pose not only many islands, but a great portion of the
habitable globe, to have been thrown up by volcanos,
which are now mostly extinguished. Many hills and.
islands now clothed with verdure, bear evident marks
of having once been in this state. A ground plan of
Barren island would so exactly resemble some of the
lunar spots, as seen through a good telescope when
their shadows are strong, that I cannot help thinking
there are also many more volcanos in the moon than
have yet been discovered by a celebrated modern as-
tronomer*. ~ Those remakable valleys, or cavities,
discernible on her disk, have many of them a single

} 7 |

* HERSCHELL,

hill

AND ITS VOLCANO. 415

hill i in their center, and are surrounded by acircular
ridge of a similar appearance.

Query. May not the moon be surrounded by an
aiuipsphare of pure air, which differing essentially in
its properties from the atmosphere of ourearth, might
account for some of the phenomena of her appearance
to us? An atmosphere of this sort might be so trans-
parent z as not to refract the rays of light in a sensible
degree, or to produce the least change in the appear-
ance ofa star passing through i it when an occultation
is observed. “At the same time, it would increase in
a high degree, the inflammability and combustion of
matter, so as to produce volcanos; and if we suppose
the moon to have neither seas nor vegetation on her
surface, the sun’s light would be more strongly reflec-
ted than from the earth, where the rays are liable tg
absorption by water and vegetables.

Extract

( 416)

-

re a

\)

peed te >,

Extrad froma Diary of a Journey over the Great Desart,

From Aleppo to Bussora, in April 1782. Communi-

ated by Sir Wiy Liam Dun KI N, and published weth

@ view to dived the attention of Suture T yavellers to
the Ruins described in ite

APRIL 16.

ET off at five in the morning; encamped at fivein
the evening; the day intensely hot; the soil in
general sandy ; some few shrubs and bufhes, but now
quite brown, and so dry, that with the least touch
they fall to powder; many stalks of lavender and
rosemary ; and in very dry red sand’several scarlet tu-
lips; other sorts new to me, one of a singular kind,
m colour and smell like a yellow lupin, but in figure
like the cone of a fir-tree, from ten to twelve inches

jong.

Arrer about two hours in this sort of country, the

ground appeared more verdant and firm; we then
came to some very extraordinary ruins our Shaikh had
seen, but never had approached them before; we pre-

vailed on-him; he called the place Castrobucim; an-

other drab called it Calmay; our Armenians, who in-
terpreted for us in very bad Jtalran, called it Castro
duo fratilli (1 try to give the names from their mode

of pronouncing); what we first saw was a square, each

side about 400 vards along. The walls forty feet
, high,

DIARY OF A JOURNEY, Ke: 417

high, yet entire in many places; at each angle there
is a circular tower, two others in each of the sides ;
they rise much higher than the walls; the towers and
the walls constructed with very large blocks of cut
stone. Yo what use the hollow of the square had
been applied, I could form no conjecture; init im—-
mense blocks ef cut stone, and segments of arches of
different dimensions, tumbled together in monstrous
heaps ; near to the gateway by which we entered, two
atches remain perfect, a third nearly so; they were
probably cartied all along the inside of (but distinct
at least twenty feet from) the wall. These arches
spring from very slender pillars, each pillar a single
shaft ; the arches are nearly. semiciycular, of the same
beautiful white stone as the pillars. Abouta quarter
of a mile from this square there is another, which ap-
pears to be a fourth: part less; the entrance into this
is under the loftiest as well as the widest arch of stone
I ever saw: I had no means of measuring, which I
much regretted: I cannot draw, which I regretted
much more. The proportions of the pillars, and of the
arch which they support, conveyed to me something
more just and beautiful than I can describe. The
inside of the arch is richly ornamented with sculp-
ture; at the sides there are niches, I suppose, for sta-
tues; the outer face of the building: is composed
of great blocks of stone as the greater square;
and in many places yet entire, appear to be as well
chisseled and jointed as the best constructed mar-
ble building I.ever saw, even at Venice. The
height of the wall seems to be equal to that of
the greater square; the thickness, which from some

Vou, IV. Re breaches

418 DIARY OF A JOURNEY

breaches quite through may be observed, from seven
to eight feet, all through of the same stone, with lit~
tle, ifany, cement: the number and disposition of
the towers the same asin the other; but in this, where
the towers rise above the wall, they are more orna-
mented ; two circles or bands of sculpture at equal
distances appear relieved from the body of each tower;
but as all the tops are broken oil, I could not guess
how they had been closed. ‘The sculpture on the in-
side of the great arch of entrance, and on many of
the fragments of prostrated pillars, appear like those of
Mr. /Vood’s plates of the ruins of Palmyra. Over the
entrance-arch on the inside, are some remains of an
inscription in Arapic ; but so defaced, that our Shazkh,
who reads and writes Araéic, could not make out one
word. All along the inside of this square, arches
formed of the finest brick are constructed; they project
from the wall about thirty feet, and are about twenty
feet high over the arches ; and close up to the wall is a
platform of earth perfectly level, and now covered
with rich and verdant herbage. No vestige of builde
ings appear in the hollow of this square, but many
fragments of pillars lic in ruins; some are of brick,
and so cemented, that it must be as difficult to se-
parate their parts as if they were solid blocks of stone.
There are no openings in_ the walls from which any
thing could have been discharged; in the towers there
are openings, at regular distancés, which seem to have
been designed to admit light only: not for any hos-
tile purpose. Equidistant from each of the squares
is a building of the same sort of stont,.about fifteen

feet

OVER THE GREAT DESART. 419

feét square, though ic appears to have been much

higher, it is still considerably more lofty than the

other buildings: the stairs by which this was ascend-

ed appear perfect from about twelve feet above the

‘ground; what were lower, now a heap of rubbish;

there does not remain the appearance of any commu-

nication between this and the other buildings; alk

the interjacent ground is level, and now verdant ; no

stream or well appears nearer than the well we stopt

at yesterday, about six hours from hence. If this’
district could be supplied with water, it would be

rich indeed; for several miles onward we thought we

discovered, the remains of trenches or cuts for the

conducting of water over the plain. The Arabs

were entirely ignorant respecting these extraordinary
buildings; when, or by whom erected, or when de-

stroyed. The Sbaikb hurried us away, very much

dissatisfied that we had lost so much time; he swears

he never will come near it again: the distance from

Aleppois six days easy journey.. The Shazkh says that

we are now about forty miles from Palmyra, which is

on our right, and about fifty from the Euphrates, on

our left. No person at Aleppo gave me any hint of
such a place. The gentlemen of our factory at Bus-

sora had never heard of it. |

‘

Ee2 PO | XX As

oe : | (sy 290.3
0.0: @
PROSOPIS ACULEATA. KCNIG.

Tshamie of the Hindus in the Northern Circars.

(ee Bea

BY DOCTOR ROXBURGH.

i hewrg grows to be a pretty large tree, is a native

“of most parts of the coast, chiefly of low lands
at a considerable distance from the sea, and may be
only a variety of P. Spicigera, for the thorns are in
this sometimes wanting ; flowers during the cold, and
beginning of the hot seasons. ~

~Truwx tolerably erect, bark deeply cracked, dirty

ash colour.

BRANCHES irregular, very numerous, forming a pret-
ty large shady head.

PRIcKLES scattered over the small branches; in
some trees wanting. .

Leaves alternate, generally bipinnate, from two to
three inches long; pinnz from one to four, when ©
in pairs opposite, and have a gland between their
insertions. -

LEAFLETS opposite, from seven to ten pair, oblique-
ly lanced, smooth, entire, about half an inch long,
and one-sixth broad.

STIPULES none.
Seixss several, axillary, filiform, nearly erect.
Bracts

PROSOPIS ACULEATA. KOENIG. 421

BrRacTs minute, one-flowered, falling.

FLowers numerous, small, yellow, single, approxi-
mated.

Caryx below, five toothed.

FrLvAMENTS united at the base. Anthers incumbent,
a white gland on the apex of each, which falls off
soon after the flower expands, Style crooked.
Stigma simple. | |

Lecume long, pendulous, not inflated.

Seeps many, lodged in a brown mealy substance.

Tue pod of this tree is the only part used. It ig
about an inchin circumference, and from six to twelve
long; when ripe, brown, smooth, and contains, bes
sides the seeds, a large quantity of a brown mealy
substance, which the natives eat; its taste is sweetish
and agreeable ; it may therefore be compared to the
Spanish Algaroba, or locust-tree. (Ceratonia Siliqua
Linn.)

NOTE.

In compliance with Dr. Kan1¢’s opinion, I have
called this a Prosopis, though I am aware that the an-
theral glands give it a claim to the genus Adenan-
thera.

Ke 3 TO

( 422 )

TO THE
RIGHT HON. SIR JOHN SHORE, BART.’
GOVERNOR-GENERAL,
AND PRESIDENT OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETY.

DEAR SIR,
HAVE had irom Mr. Gorpitncuam (one of the
Honourable. Company’s astronomers at Fort Sainf
George, a person of much Ingenuity, and who ap-
plies himself to the study of antiquities) some draw-
ings taken from the cave on the island of Elephanta.
They are the most accurate of any I have seen, and
accompanied with a correct description. This gen-

tleman argues ably in favour of its having been an.

Hindu temple; yet I cannot assent to his opinion.
The immense excavations cut out of the solid rock
at the Llepbania, and other caves of the like nature
on the island of Salsette, appear to me operations of
too great labour to have been executed by the hands
of so feeble and effeminate a race as the aborigines of
India have generally been held to be, and still conti-
nue: and the few figures that yet remain entire, re-
present persons totally distinct in exterior from the
present Hindus, being of a gigantic size, having large
prominent faces, and bearing some resemblance to the
Abyssinians, who inhabit the country on the west side
of the Red Sea, opposite to Arabia. There is no tra-
dition of these caves. having been frequented by the
Hindus as places of worship ; and at this period no
| poojab is performed at any of them; and they are

NE scarcely

=="
i i ~

( 423 )
searcely ever visited by the natives. I recollect par-
ticularly, that RaconatH Row, when at Bombay, did
not at all hold them in any degree of veneration.

I flatter myself that you, Sir, will agree with me in
thinking the accompanying Memoir deserving of be-
ing inserted in our proceedings.

Mr. GotpincuHam acquaints me, that he has paid
two visits to some Curious remains of antiquity, about
thirty-five miles southerly of Madras, commonly
known bythe name of the Seven Pagodas. He promises
to transmit to me his remarks on these curiosities, with
copies of the inscriptions, which are in characters un-
known to the people of the district. He declares
himself highly ambitious of the favor of being admit-
ted into our Society ; and I shall be much gratified
jn being instrumental to his obtaining that favour,
from a conviction that he will greatly add to our
gtock of information, and prove an useful member.

I cannot conclude an address to you, Sir, as the
worthy successor of the gentleman who lately pre-
sided over our Society with so much credit to himself
and benefit to the public, without adverting to the
memory of Sir Witt1am Jones, whose universal |
science and ardent zeal for diffusing knowledge, I
have had so many occasious to admire during the
‘course of an acquaintance of twenty-five years.

I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect,

Dear Sir,
Your most faithful and most obedient servant,
J. CARNAC,
Calcutta,

29th Fuly, 1795.

( 424 )

AAXAT,

“SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CAVE

IN THE ISLAND OF ELEPHANT A,

BY J. GOLDINGHAM, ESQ.

§ Gee Elephanta Cave, which is situated in a smal}
island in the harbour of Bombay, has deservedly —
attracted the attention of the curious; an elephant of
black stone, large as the life, isseen near the landing-
place, from which the island probably took its name:
the cave is about three quarters of a mile from the
beach; the path leading to it lies through a valley ;
the hills on either side beautifully clothed, and, ex-
cept when interrupted by the dove calling to her ab=
sent mate, a solemn stillness ‘prevails ; the mind is
fitted for contemplating the approaching scene. __
Tue cave is formed in a hill of stone; its massy
roof is supported by rows of columns regularly dis-.

ee but of an order different from any. in use with oa
; gigantic figures, in relief, are.observed on the

wale. these as well as the columns are shaped in the.
solid rock, and by artists it would appear possessed of ©
some ability, unquestionably of astonishing perseve-

* See the sketch of one of the pillars.
he , rance.

ya AD pl 7Y 02) fo ge Ss P eta ie AYP Jo pr) {? fifo) PUP fv /ses P YP el? P4707
a
i

*
i

iT

2

_.

t

_

:

J

i

|

iit

z

a

; 4 ab 1
. Siig analy @
AR ey et by

. » i te

Alin of the Clephanti OC awete

/

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CAVE, &c. 4.25

rance. Several of the columns have been levelled,
and the figures mutilated, as I am informed, by the
Portuguese, who were at the trouble (and no small
one) of dragging cannon up the hill, for the better
-execution of this exploit.—Destructive Superstition
seeks not for merit; she commits to the flames and to
destruction, members of a community most valuable,
and structures doing honour to human ability !

*- Tue wall at the upper end of the cave is crowded
with sculpture; the attention is first arrested by a
grand bust, representing a being with three heads;
the middle face is presented full, and expresses a dig-
nified composure ; the headand neck splendidly cover-
ed with ornaments. The face on the left is in profile,
and the head-dress rich; in one of the hands is a
flower, in the cther a fruit resembling a pomegranate;
a ring like that worn by the Hindus at present is ob-
served on one of the wrists; the expression of the
countenance by no means unpleasant. Different is
the head on the right ; the face is in profile, the fore-
head projects, the eyes stares; snakes supply the place
of hair, and the representation of a human scull is
conspicuous on the covering of the head; one hand
Zrasps a monstrous Cobia de Capella (the hooded
snake) the other a smaller; the whole together cal-
culated to strike terror into the beholder. Theheight
of this bust is about e/ghteen feet, and the breadth of
the middle face about four; but the annexed drawing
of this piece of sculpture will give a better idea of it
Nibeag than irae

4 {

FE acu

426 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CAVE >

Eacu side of this niche is supported by a gigantic
figure leaning on a dwarf, as in the drawing.

A nice of considerable dimensions, and crowded
with figures, on either side the former; in the niddle
of the niche, on the right, stands a gigantic figure,
apparently female, but with oxe dreast only. This fi-
gure has four arms, the foremost right hand 1s leaning
on the head of a bull, the other grasps a Cobra de Ca-
pella, while a circular shield is observed jin the inner
left hand; the head is richly ornamented; on the right
stands a male, bearing a pronged instrument, resém-
bling a trident; onthe left is a female, holding a mace
or sceptre; near the principal is a beautiful youth on
an elephant; above this is a figure with four heads, ©
supported by swans.or geese; and opposite is a male
with four arms, mounted on the shoulders of another,
having a sceptre in one ofthe hands. At the top of
the niche small figures in different attitudes are ob-
served, seemingly supported by clouds. i

Tue most conspicuous of the group on the niche
to the left, is a male near seventeen feet in height,
with four arms; on the’left stands a female about
fifteen feet high. The same circular rings,worn by the
present Hindu women, are observed on the legs and.
wrists of this figure; the hair bears a like correspond-—
ence in the mode of putting it up; the countenance
is peculiarly soft, and expressive of gentleness. Inthe
back ground, a figure with four heads, supported by
birds, and one with. four arms, on the shoulders of
another, are also observed. Several smaHer figures in
attendance: one with the right knee bent to theground,

| in

iN THE ISLAND OF ELEPHANTA. 427

jn the attitude of addressing the principal, bears a
crese, exactly resembling that in present use. ‘The
heads of most of the small male figures have a whims
sical appearance, being covered with an exact Fence
blance of our wigs.

Ow each side of these groups is asmall dark room,
sacred in anciesit times perhaps to all but the unpol-
luted Braébmen; but bats, spiders, scorpions, and
snakes, are now in the possession. }

. Lert of the last described group, and nearer the
side of the cave, is another: a male is observed in the
action of leading a female towards a majestic figure
seated i in the corner of the niche, his head covered
like our judges on the bench; the countenance and
attitude of the female highly expressive of modesty
and a timid reluctance: a male behind urges her for-
ward. Several smaller figures compose this group.
- Curiovsitis to observe all the female figures have
ornaments round the wrists and legs, like those worn
by the Hinds women at present, while the males
bearing the same correspondence, have ornaments
round the wrists only, ,
Opposite the last niche, and fifty feet nearer the
entrance, is another of equal dimensions, inclosing a
figure that forcibly arrests the attention: it isa gigan-
tic half-length of a male with eight arms; round ene
of the left arms a belt, composed of human heads, is
seen; aright hand grasps a sword uplifted te sever a
figure, seemingly kneeling (but too much mutilated
to distinguish it properly) ona block, held in the cor-
respondent left hand; a Cobra de Capella rises under
| one

;?

428 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CAVE

one arm; arnong the singular decorations of the head,
a human skull is observed: above are several small
figures, represented in distress and pain. fany of
the figures mutilated, as isthe principal, whose aspect
possesses a great degree of unrelenting fierceness.

Crossinc to the other side of the cave, near one of ©
the small rooms, before-mentioned, a male sitting as
the people of this country do at present is observed ;
a female in the same posture on his left, with an at-
tendant on either side: at the feet of the male is the
figure of a bull couchant ; and in each*corner of the
niche stands a gigantic guard. Opposite is a corre
spondent niche: the figures being a good deal mutilat-
ed, and the situation dark, prevent these being pro-
perly discriminated ; a sitting male figure, having an
attendant on either hand, is however perceived.

A nicue filled with figures, greatly defaced, is ob-
served on each side the entrance. On one side is a
male that had eight arms, which are all destroyed ; in
the back part is the figure with four heads, supported
by birds; and the other figure with four arms, whim-
sically elevated. A large sitting figure is the prin-
cipal in the opposite niche ; a horse and rider in the
back ground; the former caparisoned according te :
the present mode in this country.

Ow the left side and half way up the cave, is an
apartment about thirty feet square, enclosing the
Lingam ; an entrance on the four sides, and each side
of either entrance is supported by a figure seventeen
feet in height, each figure being ornamented in adif.
ferent style.

Tax

IN THE ISLAND OF ELEPHANTA. 429

Tue part of this surprising monument of human
skill and perseverance hitherto described, is generally
called the great cave; its length is 135 feet, and
breadth nearly the same. A plan accompanies this
account, which, however, I cannot venture to pro-
nounce perfectly correct, having mislaid a memoran-
‘dum of particular parts which were deduced, and with
sufficient correctness perhaps from the genera] mea~
sures preserved. But there are compartments on
both sides, separated from the great cave, by large
fragments of rock-and loose earth, heretofore proba-
bly a part of the roof. That on the right is spacious,
and contains several pieces of sculpture: the most re-
markable is a large figure, the body human, but the
head that of an elephant. The lingam is also en-
closed here. Above each of a line of figures, stand.
ing in adark situation, isa piece of sculpture, pointed
out to meas an inscription: however (with the assist.
ance of a torch) I found one an exact copy of the

other, and with little resemblance of characters.

_ Tuecompartment on the other side contains seve-
ral sculptures, and among the rest, a figure with an.
elephant’s head and human body. A deep cavity in
the rock hereabout contains excellent water, which,
being sheltered from the influence of the sun, is al-
ways cool, and deservedly held in estimation by those
whom curiosity leads here through a scorching atmo-
sphere, .A traditionalaccount of the extent of this ca-
vity,and the communication of its waters by subterra-
enous passages, with others, very distant, was given

me

é » °

436 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CAVE

me by a native of the island, which would make a
considerable figure in the hands of a poet.

GicanrTicas the figures are, the mind is not disds
_greeably moved on viewing them, a certain indication
of the harmony of the proportions. Having measured
three or four, and examined the proportions by the
stale we allow the most correct, I found many stood
even this test, while the disagreements were not equal
to what are met with every day in people whom we
think by no means ill proportioned.

The island wherein these curious remains of anti-.
quity are situated, is about five miles and a half from —
Bombay, in an easterly direction; its circumference
eannot be more than five miles: a neat village near the
landing-place contains all its inhabitants, whom, in-
clusive of women and children, number about one
hundred. Their ancestors, they tell you, having been
improperly treated by the Portuguese, fled from the
opposite island of Sa/set hither, cultivating rice, and
rearing goats for their support. In the same humble
road do they continue. The islanders have no boat ;
they cut wood from the adjoining hills, which the
purchasers remove in boats of their own; they are
under our protection, and pay about fifty-six pounds
annually to the government; the surplus revenue fur-
nishes their simple clothing. By persevering in this
humble path, these harmless people continue to re-
joice in tranquillity under their banyan-tree. The
cave, they tell you, was formed by the Gods: and
this is all they pretend to know of the matter.

‘Various have been, and are to this day, the con-

; jectures

IN THE ISLAND OF ELEPHANTA, 43t

jectures respecting the Elephanta Cave. ‘Those who
attempt to deduce its origin from the E¢yp/zaus, from
the Fews, or from ALEXANDER /he Great, appear to
me, with due deference, to give themselves much uns
necessary trouble; which I shall further endeavour
to shew as briefly as the subject will admit of,
though at the same time it must be observed, that re-
sembling features are not wanting in the case of the
Egyptians and of the Fews, to lead towards such de-
ductions; but these resemblances strike me as tending
to the elucidation of a more interesting hypothesis,
viz. That the systems of those people were copies of
an original, found in this part of the world.

The striking resemblance in several particulars of
the figures in.the cave to the present Hindu race,
would induce those who from history, as well as from
observation, have reason to believe they have preserved
the same customs from times immemorial, to imagine
the ancestors of these people its fabri¢ators; but those
who are ina small degree acquainted with their myzho-
logy, will be persuaded of it; nor is a much greater
extent of knowledge requisite to enable us to disco-_
ver it to be a temple dedicated principally to Srva,
the destroyer or changer. | -

- Tue dust is doubtless a personification of the three
grand Hindu attributes of that Being for whom the an-
cient Hindus entertained the most profound venera-
tion, and of whom they had the most sublime concep-
tions.. The middie head represents Brauma, or the
creative attribute; that on the left, Visunv, or the

. preserving ;

f

432 SOME ACCOUMT OF THE CAVE

preserving ; and the head on the right, Siva, or thé
destructive or changing attribute.

Tue figure with one breast has been thought by
most to represent an Amazon; it however, appears te
me a representation of the consort of Siva, exhibiting
the active power of her lord; not only as BAWANI, or
courage, but as Isanr, or the goddess of nature, con+
sidered as male and female, and presiding over gene~
ration, and alsoas Durca. Here we find the bull of
Iswara (one of Siva’snames) and the figure bearing
his trisulc, or trident. The beautiful figure on the
elephant is, I imagine, Cama, or the Hindu God of
Love; the figure with four heads, supported by éirds,
is a representation of Bkauma; and that with fourarms,
mounted on the shoulders of another, is Visunu.~

Tus two principal figures in the niche to the left,
represent, perhaps, Siva and his Goddess as Par-
vATi. Here, as before, we observe BRAHMA and
Visunu in therback ground,

Tue terrific figure with eight arms has been much
talked of; some will have it to represent Sotomon,
threatening to divide the harlot’s child; others, with
more reason on their side, suppose it to represent the
tyrant Cansa, attempting the life of the infant God
Crisuna, when fostered by the herdsman ANanpDa,
To me, the third attribute, or the destroyer in action,
appears too well represented to be mistaken. The
distant scene, where the smaller figures appear in dis-
tress and pain, is perhaps the infernal regions. The
figure about to be destroyed, does not seem to mean
infant, but a full grown person; if, indeed, the de-
stroyer

IN THE ISH AND OF ELEPHANTA. 433

étroyer was of the human size, the figure in question
would bear the proper proportion as an infant ; but
as he is of endrmous magnitude, a human deing, full
‘grown, Would appear but an infant by the side of
him; and thus it is,'I imagine, that people have
been deceived: a case by no means uncommon in
circumstances like the present.

Tue sitting male and female figures, having a bull
couching at the feet of the former, are Stva and his
Goddess; and thus are they’ repecsemre in the pago-
das of the present day.

No person can mistake the figure with the human
body and elephant’s head for any other than Gane’sa,
the Hindu God of Wisdom, and the first born of
Siva; and thus is he represented at present.

From what has beer advanced, it will appear in-
contestible, I imagine; that this is a Hindu temple ;
whence the Lingam is a testimony sufficient of Siva’s —
having presided here, without the other evidences
which the intelligent in the Hindx mythology will
have discovered in the course of this account. ©

To deduce the zra of the fabrication of this struc-
ture is not so easy a task; but it was, no doubt, pos-
terior to the great schism in the Hindu religion,
which, according to the Puranas, 1 learn, happened
at a period coeval with our date of the creation. Be’
this as it may, we have accounts of powerful princes
who ruled this part of the country of a later date,
particularly of one who usurped the government in
“the ninetieth ycar of the Chrtstian sera, famed for'a
passion for architecture.’ Many worse hypothesis have

Vor. lV. 9 F been,

on

A24 AN ACCOUNT OF THE

been, than one which might be formed of his hav-
ing founded the cave; but I am led to imagine, no
certain conclusions on this dark subje@ could be
drawn from the sources of information open at
present.

AXIT.

AN ACGOUNT OF THE PRESENT STATE
OF DELHI.

BY LIEUTENANT W. FRANKLIN.

A, eee once celebrated city of De/bi, the capital
of Mussulman sovereignty in Hindostan, and, in
more early times, the seat of Hindu dominion over
northern Jzdia, has employed the pen of many dif-
ferent authors, Asiatic and European; though of the
latter in a less degree than might have been ex~
pected. |
Tue following account of the present state of this

ancient city, is extracted from a journal of observa-

tions made during an official tour through the
Dovab and the adjacent districts, in company with
Captain Reynoups, of the Bombay establishment, ap-
pointed by the Bengal government to survey that part
of the country in the year 1793.

Ir cannot be supposed to contain much new ine
formation on things already described by others ; but,
as a faithful statement of the actual condition of the

once

PRESENT STATE OF DELHI. 4365

once flourishing metropolis of a great kingdom now
in ruins, it may be acceptable; and in this hope it is
offered, with deference to the Society; who will
judge whether it be deser ving of more general difs
fusion by publication with their more important re-
searches. 3

Tue extent of the ruins of old Delhi cannot, I
suppose, be less thana circumference of twenty miles,
reckoning from the gardens of Shalimar, on the north-
west, to the Auttub Minar on the south-east; and
proceeding from thence along the heart of the old
city by way of the mausoleum of Nizam-u-DEEN,
on which stands Humatoon’s tomb, and the old
fort of Delbion the banks of the Fumua, to the an
meve-gate of Shab Febanabad.

THe environs to the north-west.are crowded with
the remains of spacious gardens and country-houses
of the nobility, which were formerly abundantly sup-
plied with water by means of the noble canal dug by
Aut Mirpan Kuan, and which formerly extended
from above Paniput quite down to De/bi, where it join-
ed the Zumna; fertilizing in its coursea tract of more
than ninety miles in length, and bestowing comfort
and afHuence on those who lived within its extent.
This canal, as it ran through the suburbs of Mogul
Parah, nearly three miles in length, was about twenty-
five feet deep, and about as much in breadth, cut
from the solid stone-quarry, on each side, from which
most of the houses in the neighbourhood haye been
built. It had small bridges erected over it at different

3+F 2 plases,

436 _ - AN ACCOUNT OF THE

places, some of which communicated with — gar
den-houses of the nobility.

In the year of the Hagiree 1041 (A. C. 16774}
the Emperor SHau-JeHAn founded the present city
_ and palace of Shab-Febanabad, which he made his ca-
pital during the remainder of his reign. The new city
of Shah-Febanabad lies on the western bank of the
Fumna, in latitude 28° 36’ north. The city is about
seven miles in circumference, and is surrounded on
three sides by a wall of brick and stone; a parapet
runs along the whole, with loopholes for musquetry ;
but there are no cannon planted on the ramparts. The
city has seven gates; viz. Lahore gate, Ajmere gate,
Turkoman gate, Delhi gate, Moor gate, Cabul gate,
and Cashmere gate; all of which are built of free-
stone, and have handsome arched entrances of stone,
where the guards of the city keep watch. Near the
Ajmere gate is a Madrissa, or college, erected by
GHAZI-U-DEEN Kuan, nephew of Nizam-ute~
Moot tuck: itis built of red stone, and situated at
the centre of a spacious quadrangle, witha stone foun=
tain. At the upper end of the area is a handsome
mosque built of red stone, inlaid with white marble.
The apartments for the students are on the sides of
the square, divided into separate chambers, which are
small but commodious. The tomb of Guaz1 is in
the corner of the square, surrounded by a shrine of
white marble, pierced with lattice-work. The col-
lege is now shut up, and without inhabitants. In the
neighbourhood of the Cadu/ gate is a garden, called

Tees Huxzart Baug, in which is the tomb of the
queen

\

-

PRESENT STATE OF DELHI. 437

queen Marxa-Zemanti, wife of the emperor Mo-
HuUMMUD SHAH: amarble tablet, placed at the head
of the graye, is engraved with some Persian coup! ets
informing us of the date of her death, which happen-
ed five years since, aun. Hagiree 1203. Near this :omb
is another, of the princess ZezEBuL Nissan BEEGuM,
daughter of AuURUNGzEBE. Onarising ground rear
this garden, from whence there is a fine pros; ect of
Shab Febanabad, are two broken columns of brown
granate, eight feet high, andtwoand a halfin breadth,
on which are inscriptions in an ancient character. z
Wiruin the city of new De/bi are the remains of
many splendid palaces, belonging to the great Om-
rahs of the empire. Among the largest are those of
KUMMER-U-DEEN Kuan, Vizier to MoHUMMUD
SHanu; Ati Mirapvan Kuan, the Persian; the Nabob
Guazi-u-pren Kuan; Serpur June’s; the.gar-
den of Coopseau Becum, mother to MenyuMMUD
Suau; the palace of Sapur Kuan; and that of
Suttan Daran SHEKOAH. -All these palaces are
surrounded with high walls, and take up a consider-
able space of ground. Their entrances are through
lofty arched gateways of brick and stone, at the top
of which are the galleries for music: before each isa
spacious court-yard for the elephants, horses, andat-
tendants of the visitors. Each palace has likewise a
Mabal, or Setaglio, adjoining; which is separated
from the Dewan Khaya by a partition-wall, and com-
municates by means of priyate passages. All of
them had gardens with capacious stone reservoirs
and fountains in the centre; an ample terrace extend-
ed round the whole of each particular palace; and
| a Fis within

438 AN ACCOUNT OF THE

within the walls were houses and apartments for sera
vants and followers of every description, besides
stabling for horses, Feel Khanas, and every thing be-
longing to a nobleman’s suit. Each palace was like-
wise provided with a handsome set of baths, anda
Tech Khana under ground. The baths of Saput Kuan
are a set of beautiful rooms, paved and lined with
white marble: they. consist of five distinct apart-
ments, into which light is admitted by glazed win- .
dows from the top of the domes. Surper June’s
Teh Khana consists of a set of apartments, built ina .
light delicate manner ; one long room, in which isa
marble reservoir, the whole length, and a small
room, raised and ballustraded on each side, both
faced throughout with whire marble. |
Suan Jenanasanp is adorned with many fine
mosques, several of which are still in perfect beauty
and repair. The following are most worthy of being
described: the first, the Fama Musjed, or great ca-
thedral. This mosque is situated about a quarter of
a mile fromthe royal palace; the foundation of it was
laid upon a rocky eminence, named Fujula Pabar, and
has been scarped on purpose. The ascent to it is by
a flight of stone steps, thirty-five in number, through
‘a handsome gateway of red stone. The doors of this
gateway are covered throughout with plates of
wrought brass, which Mr. Bernier imagined to. be
copper. ‘The terrace on which the mosque is stuat-
ed, is a square of about fourteen hundred yards of red
stone; in the centre is a fountain lined with marble,
for the purpose of performing the necessary ablu-
tions previous to prayer. An arched colonade of red
‘ stone

PRESENT STATE OF DELHI. 4.39

stone surrounds the whole of the terrace, which is a-
dorned with octagon pavillions at convenient dif-
tance, for sitting in. The mosque is of an oblong
form, two hundred and sixty-one feet in length, sur- |
rounded at top by three magnificent domes of white.
raarble, intersected with black stripes, and flanked
by two Minarets of black marble and red stone alter-
nately, rising to the height of a hundred and thirty
feet. Each of these Miwarets has three projecting
galleries of white marble; and their summits are
crowned with light octagon pavillions of the same.
The whole front of the Fama Musjed is faced with
large slabs of beautiful white marble; and along the
cornice are ten compartments, four feet leng, and two
and a half broad, which are inlaid with inscriptions in
black marble, in the Nusk: character, and are said

contain great part, if not the whole, of the Keran. The
inside of rhe mosque is paved throughout with large
flags of white marble, decorated witha black border;
and is wonderfully beautiful and delicate: the flags
are about three feet in length by one and a half broad.
-The walls and roof are lined with plain white marble;
and near the Kid/ais a handsome faak, or niche, adorn-
ed with a profusion of freeze-work. Close to this is
a mimber, or pulpit, of marble, having an ascent of
four steps, and ballustraded. The ascent to the M:-
uarets is by a winding stair-case of a hundred and
thirty seps of red stone; and at the top you have a
noble view of the King’s palace, and the whole of the
Cuttub Minar, the Kurrun Minar, Humaioon’s tomb,
the palace of Ferose Suan, the fort of old Delbi,
Reiko.” 3 F 4 and

»

A4O AN ACCOUNT OF THE

and the fort of Low, on the opposite of the Fumna.
The domes are crowned with cullises, richly gilt,

and present a glittering appearance from a distance.
This mosque was begun by Suan Jenan, in the
fourth year of his reign, and completed in the tenth;

the expences of its erection amounted to ten lacks
of rupees; and itis in every respect worthy of being
the grand cathedral of the empire of Indostan.

Nort far from the palacei is the mosque of Rosuun-
a-DowLau, rendered memorable to the Delbians for
being the place where Napir Suan saw the massa=,
cre of the unfortunate inhabitants. The cause assign-
ed by historians for this unhurnan act is, that a sedi-
tion broke out in the great market, in which two
thousand Persians were slain. Napir, on hearing of
be tumult, marched out of the fort at night with a
small force to the Musjed of Rosuun-a-Dow1aH;
where he was fired upon in the morning from a
neighbouring terrace, and an officer killed close by
his side. He instantly ordered an indiscriminate
slaughter of the inhabitants; and his squadrons of
cavalry pouring through the streets, before the after-
noon put to death a hundred thousand persons of all
descriptions. ‘‘ The King of Persia,’’ says the trans
lator of Ferisura, “ sat, during the dreadful scene,
“ in the Musjed of RosHun-a-Dowran. None but
“* slaves durst come near him, for his countenance
** was dark and terrible. At length the unfortunate
Emperor, attended by a numbeg of his chief Om-'
rahs, ventured to approach him with downeast
“eyes. The. Omrahs who preceded MoxnuMmMuD,

fe ‘ bowed

PRESENT 8TATE OF DELHI. 441i

*- bowed down their foreheads to the ground. Na-
pir Suau sternly asked them what they wanted;
“« they cried out with one voice, Spare the city.
ss Mouummup said not a word, but tears flowed
© fast from his eyes; the tyrant, for once touched
** with pity, sheathed his sword, and said, For the
** sake of the prince MoxumMMuD, I forgive.’’ Since
this dreadful massacre this quarter of De/bi has been
but very thinly inhabited. The mosque of RosHuUN-
s-Dow tan is situated at the entrance of the Chandney
Cboke, or market ; itis built of red stone, of the com-
mon size, and surmounted by three domes richly
gilt. | }
ZEENUL=AL Mussajip, or the. ornament of
mosques, is on the banks of the Fumna, and was erect-
ed by a daughter of AurnuNGzEBE, ‘of the name of
ZeenuTar Nissa’u. It is of red stone with inlay=
ings of marble, and has a spacious terrace in front
of it, with a capacious reservoir faced with marble.
The princess who built it, having declined entering
into the marriage state, laid out a large sum of mo-
ney in the above mosque, and, on completing it, she
built a small sepulchre of white marble, surrounded
by a wall of the same, in the west corner of the ter-
race. In this tomb she was buried in the year of the
Hegira 1122, corresponding with the year of Curist
1710, There were formerly lands alloted for the sup-
port and repairs of this place, amounting to a lack
of rupees per annum; but they all have been confis~
cated during the troubles this city has undergone.
Exclusive of the mosques above described, there are
in

442 AN ACCOUNT OF THE

in Shab Febanabad and its invirons above forty others;
but as most of them are of inferior size, and all of
them of the same fashion, it 1s unnecessary to pre-
sent any further detail.

Tue modern city of Shab Febanabad is rebuilt, and
contains many good houses, chiefly of brick. The
streets are In general narrow, as is usual in most of
the large.cities in Asia ; but there were formerly two
very noble streets; the first leading from the palace
gate through the city to the De/bi gate, in a diree-
tion north and south. This street was broad and spa-
ejous, having handsome houses on each side of the
way, and merchants shops well furnished with the
richest articles ofall kinds. SHau Jeuan caused
an aqueduct to be made of red stone, which conveyed
the water along the whole length of the street, and
from thence into the royal gardens, by means-of a
reservoir under ground. Some remains of the aque-
duct are still to be seen; but itis choked up in most
parts with rubbish. The second grand street was
i:zkewise from the palace to the Labor gate, lying east
and west: it was equal in many respects to the form-
er; but in both of them the inhabitants have spoiled
their appearance, by running a line of houses down
the centre, and across the streets in other places, so
that it is with difficulty a person can discover their
former situation. without a narrow inspection. The
bazars in De/bi are but indifferently furnished at pre-
sent, and the population of the city miserably redu-
ced of late years: the Chandney Choke is the best fur-
nished bazar in the city, though the commerce is.

| very ~

PRESENT STATE OF DELHI. 443

very trifling. Cotton cloths are still manufactured,
and the inhabitants export indigo. Their chief im-
ports are by means of the northern caravans which
come once a year, and bring with them from Caédul
and Cashmere shaw!s, fruit, and horses; the two for
mer articles are procurable in De/bi at a reasonable
rate. There is also a manufacture at Delbi for beed-
‘ree hooka bottoms. The cultivation about the city
is principally on the banks of the ¥umna, where it is
very good; the neighbourhood produces corn and
rice, millet and indigo. The limes are very large and
fine. Precious stones likewise are to be had at Delbz,
of very good quality, particularly the large red and
black cornelians; and peerozas are sold in the bazars.
Tue city is divided into thirty-six mohauls or
quarters, each of which is named either after
the particular Omrah who resided there, or from
some local circumstance relative to the place. It_
appears that the modern city of Shab Fehanabad has
been built principally upon two rocky eminences ;
the one where the Fania Musjid is situated, named
Fujula Pabar ; and the other, the quarter of the oil-
sellers, called Bejula Pahar: from both of these emi-
nences you have a commanding view of the remain-
der of the city. Ancient De/hi is said by historians to
have been erécted by Rajah Dexvu, who reigned in
Hindostan prior to the invasion of ALEXANDER the
Great; others affirm it to have been built by Rajah
Pretrrouran, who flourished in a much later period. \
It is called in Sanscrit Indraput, or the abode of
Inpra, one of the Hindu deities; and it is also
a | | thus

444 AN ACCOUNT OF THE

thus distinguished in the royal diplomas of the chan-
cery office. Whether the city be of the antiquity
reported, it is dificult to determine : but thi’ much
is certain, that the vast quantity of buildings which
are to be found in the environs for upwards of twen-
‘ty miles in extent, as well as their grandeur and
style of. architecture, prove it to have once beena
rich, flourishing, and populous City.

On the 11th of March we were presented to the
King Suan Attu. After entering the palace, we
were carried to the Dewaun Khanuah, or hall of audi-
ence for the nobility, in the middle of which was a
throne raised about a foot and a half from the ground.
In the centre of this elevation was placed ‘a chair of
crimson velvet, bound. with gold clasps, and over the
whole was thrown an embroidered covering of gold
and silver thread: a handsome Samianab, supported
by four pillars incrusted with silver, was placed over
the chair 6f state. The King at this time was in the
Tusbeab Khaneb: an apartmént in which he generally —
sits. On passing askreen of Jndian connaughts, we
proceedéd to the front of the Tusbeab Abanah, and
being arrived 1 in the presence of the King, each of. us
made three obcisances in turn, by throwing down the
right hand pretty low, and afterwards raising it to
the forehead; we then went up to the Musnud on,
which his Majesty was sitting, and presented our nuz-
zers on white handkerchiefs, each of our names being
annaunced at the time we offered them ¢ the King re-.
ceived the whole, and gave the nuzzers to Mirza

AKBER ‘SHau, and two other princes who sat on his
| left

-~

PRESENT STATE OF DELHI. 445

left hand. We then went back, with our faces to-
wards the presence, made the same obcisance as be-
fore, and returned again tothe Musnud. After a
slight conversation, we were directed to go without
the inclosure, and put on the Abe/auts which his Ma-
jesty ordered for us; they consisted ef light India
dresses ; a turban, jammah, and kummerbund, all
‘cotton, with small gold sprigs. On being clothed in
these dresses, we again returned to the Tusbeab Kha-
nab, and after a few minutes stay, previous to which
Captain Reyno vps received a sword from the King,
we had our dism{sssion ; and some servants were or-
dered to attend us in viewing the palace.

Tue present King, SHan ALLuM, is seventy-two
years of age ; of a tal] commanding stature, and dark
complexion ; his deportment was dignified, and not
at all diminished by his want of sight, though he has
suffered that cruel misfortune above five years. The
marks of age are very strongly discernible in his coun-
tenance: his beard is short and white. His Majesty
appeared at our introduction to be in good spirits ;
said he was happy at our arrival ;.and desired we
would visit his palace and the fort of Selim Ghur.
He was dressed ina rich kheem-khaub, and was sup-
ported by pillows of the same materials.

I 1macinep I could observe in his aspect’ a.
thoughtfulness, as if sufficiently well acquainted with
his present degraded situation, and the recollection
of his former state. we
_ Tue palace of the royal family of Tewek was
. erected by the Emperor Suan Jenan at the time he
finished.

446 A ACCOUNT OF THE

finished the new city: it is situated on the wester®
bank of the Fumuna, and surrounded on three sides by
a wall of redstone. I suppose the circumference of
the whole to be about a mile. The two stone figures,
mentioned by Bernier, at the entrance of the pa-
face, which represented the Rajah of Chztore and his
brother Portaun, seated on two elephants of stone,
are not now to be seen; they were removed by order
of AURUNGZEBE, as favouring too much of idolatry ;
and he enclosed the place where they stood with a
skreen of red stone, which has disfigured the en-.
trance of the palace. ‘The first object that attracts
the attention after entering the palace, is the Dewaun ‘
Aum, or public hall of audience, for all descriptions
of people. It is situated at the upper end of a spa-
cious square, and is a noble building, but at present
much in decay. On each side of the Dewaun Aum,
and all round this square, are apartments of two sto-
ries high, the walls and front of which, in the times
of the splendor of the empire, were adorned with a
profusion of the richest tapestry, velvets, and silks;
the nobles vying with each other in rendering them >
the most magnificent, especially on festivals, and days
of public rejoicings, when they presented a grand
sight. These decorations have however been long
since laid aside, and nothing but the bare walls re-
mained. From the Dewaun Aum, we proceeded thro’
another handsome gateway to the Dewaun Khass, be-
fore mentioned. The building is situated at the up-
per end of a spacious square, and elevated upona

marble terrace, about four feet high. The Dewau
Khass

i

PRESENT STATE OF DELHI. A47

' Khass in former times has been adorned with exces-
sive magnificence, and though stripped and plundered
by various invaders, still retains sufficient beauty to
render it admired. I judge the building to be a hun-
dred and fifty feet in length, by forty in breadth. The
roof is flat, supported by a great many columns of
fine white marble, which have been richly adorned
with inlaid fower-work of beautiful stones: the cor-
nices and borders have been decorated with a great
quantity of frieze and sculptured work. The ceiling
was formerly incrusted witha work of rich foliage of
silver throughout the whole extent, which has been
long since taken off and carried away. The delicacy
of the inlaying in the compartments of the walls is
much to be admired ; and it is matter of heartfelt re~
gret to see the barbarous ravages that have heen made
in picking out the different cornelians, and breaking
the marble by violence. \ Around the interior of the
Dewaun Khas;, in the cornice, are the following lines,
engraved in letters of gold, upon a white marble
ground :

“* Ir there be a paradise upon earth, this is it—’tis
this, *tis this.’? The terrace on which the Dewauxz
Khbanah is built is composed of large beautiful slabs of
white marble; and the building is crowned at top with
four pavillions or cupolas, of the same materials.

Tue royal baths, built by Suan Juan, are situa-
ted a little to the northward of the Dewaun Khass,
and consist of three very large apartments surmount-
_ ed by white marble domes. The inside of the baths
is lined, about two thirds of the way up, with mar-
’ ble,

448 AN ACCOUNT OF THE

ble, having a beautiful border of flower-worked cor-
nelians and other precious stones, executed with
taste. The floors are paved throughout with marble
in large slabs, and there is a fountain in the centre
of each, with many pipes: large reservoirs of mar-
ble, about four feet deep, are placed in different
parts of the walls; the light is admitted from the
roof by windows of party-coloured glasses; and ca-
‘pacious stones, with iron gratings, are placed under-
neath each separate apartment. There is a noble
mosque adjoining, entirely of white marble, and
made after the fashion described above. In the Shab
Bang, or the royal gardens, is a very large octagon
room, which looks towards the river Famua.. This
room is called Shab Boorj, or the royal tower ; it is
lined with marble; and from the window of it the
late heir apparent, Mirza Juwan Buxut, made
his escape in the year 1784, when he fledto Lucknow :
he descended by means‘of a ladder made with tur-
bans ; and as the height is inconsiderable, effected it
with ease. A great part of this noble palace has
suffered very much by the destructive ravages of the
jate invaders. Vhe Rohillas in particular, who were
introduced by Guoraum Kauper, have stripped
many of the rooms of their marble ornaments and |
pavements, and have even picked out the stones from
the borders of many of the floorings. Adjoining is
the fortress of Selim Ghur, which you reach by a stone
bridge, built over an arm of the Fumna. The fort.
is mow entirely in ruins. At the eastern end of.
it we were shewn the sally-port, from which GotauM
Kauper Kuan made his escape with all his re
tinue,

/

‘PRESENT STATE OF DELHI. 449

tinué, when the place was besieged by the Mahrattas
in 1788. The river Jwnna running directly under-
neath this bastion, the tyrant crossed it immediately,
and fled to Meerut, in the Dooab.

Tue Gentur Munter, or observatory, in the vici-
nity of Delhi, has been described by former trayel-

lers. It was built in the third year of the reign of Mo-

hummed Shah, by the Rajah Jeysing, who was assisted
by many persons celebrated for their science in astro-
nomy from Persia, India, and Europe ; but died be-
fore the work was completed 5 and it has since been

plundered, and almost destroyed by the Jes, under

Juwaher Sing. \

I writ only add a short account of the royal gardens
of Shalimar. "Yhese gardens, made by the Emperor
Shah Jehan, were begun in the fourth year of his
feign, and finifhed in the thirteenth ; on which ocva-
sion, according to Colonel! Dow, the Emperor gave
a erand festival to his court. These gardens were laid
out with admirable taste, and cost the enormous sum
of a million sterling: at present vheir appearance does
hot give cause to suppose such an immense sum has
been laid out upon them; but great part of the most
valuable and costly materials have been carried away.
The entrance to them is through a gateway of brick;

and a canal, lined with stone, having walks on each
side with a brick-pavement, leads up to the Dewann.

Khanah, or hall of audience ; most part of which is
now fallen down :- from thence, by a noble canal, hav-

ing a fountain in the center, you proceed to the apart-
! .
ments of the Haram, which embrace a large extent of

VoL. IV. Gg ground,

~

450 THE PRESENT STATE OF DELHYT.

ground. In the front 1s an Ivan, or open hall, with.
adjoining apartments ; the interior of which are deco-

rated with a beautiful border of white and gold paint-
ing, upon a ground of the finest chunam. . At the
upper end of this Jvan was formerly a marble throne,
raised about three feet from the ground ; all of which
is removed. On each side of this van, inclosed by
high walls, are the apartments of the Haram, some of
which are built of red stone, and some of the brick
faced with fine chunam, and decorated with paint-
ings of flowers of various patterns. All these apart-
ments have winding passages which communicate with
each other, and the gardens adjoining by private doors,
The extent of Shalimar does not appear to have been
large: I suppose the gardens altogether are not above
a mile in circumference. A high brick-wall runs
areund the whole, which is destroyed_in many parts of
it, and the extremities are flanked with octagon pavi-
lions of red stone. The gardens still abound with
trees of a very large size, and very old. The pros-

pect to the southward of Shalimar towards Delhi, as
far as the eye can reach, 1s covered with the remains
of extensive gardens, pavilions, mosques, and bury-

ing-places, all desolate and in ruins. The environs

of this once magnificent and celebrated city appear
now nothing more than a shapeless heap of ruins; and

the country round about 1s equally forlorn, |

“XXII

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Lvhamie of the Hindus wrtheNorthern Grcars,

(451)
be » SL.
_ BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS
ON THE SPIKENARD OF THE ANTIENTS:
. intended as a Supplement to the late

Sir WILLIAM JoNEs's Papers on that Plant.

BY WILLIAM ROXBURGH, m. p.

VALERIANA JATAMANSI.

GENERIC CHARACTER,

FLOWERS triandrous, leaves entire, four-fold, the
inner radical pair petioled, and cordate ; the rest

smaller, sessile, and sub-lanceolate ; seeds. crowned

with a pappus. )

‘Y. Jaramanst of Sir William Jones. See Asia-
tic Researches, vol. 2, page 405, 417, and page 118
of this volume.

Novemser 6th, 1794. . i icergaa from the Ho-
nourable C. 4. Bruce, Commissioner at Coos- Beyhar,
two small baskets with plants of thi is valuable drug.
He writes to me on the 27th September (so long had
the plants been on the road) that ‘he had, the day be-
fore, received them from the Deb Rajah of Bootan;
and further says, that the Booteahs know, the plant by .
two names, wz. J/alamansi and Pampé, or Paumpé.

Gg2 I NEED

452 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS ON

I NEED scarce attempt to give any further history_of
this famous odoriferous plant than what is merely bos
tanical; and that with a view tovhelp to illustrate the
learned dissertations thereon, by the late Sir William
Jones, in the 2d and 4th volumes of these Researches}
and chiefly by pointing out the part of the plant
known by the name Indian Nard, or Spikenard: a
question on which Matheolus, the: commentator of
Dicscorides, bestows a great deal of argument; viz

'Vhether the roots or stalks were the parts esteemed for
use? the testimony of the antients themselves on this
head being ambiguous. It is therefore necessary for
those who wish for a more particular account of it, to
be aequainted with what that gentleman has published
on the subject. | | ’

Tar plants now received, are growing in two small
baskets of earth; in each basket there appears above
the earth between thirty and forty hairy spike-like
bodies, but more justly compared to the tails of Er-
nines. or small Weasels*; from the apex of each, or
_ at least of the greatest part of them, there is asmooth |
lanceolate, or lanceolate-oblong, three or five-nerved,
short-petioled, acute or obtuse, slightly serrulate leaf
or two shooting forth. Fig, 1. represents one of them

in the above state; and on gently removing the fibres

* The term spica, or spike, is not so ill applied to this substance
as may be imagined; several of the Jzdian grasses, well known to
me, have spikes almoft-exactly resembling a single straight piece -
of nardys; and when those hairs (or flexible arista like bristles)
are removed, Pliny’s words, “ frutexradice pingui et crassa,” are
by no means inapplicable. See Fig. 2, from «to 4.
Pay or

THE SPIKENARD OF THE ANTIENTS. 453

ot hairs which surround the short petiols of these
leaves, I find it consists of numerous sheaths, of
which one, two, or three of the upper or interior ones
are entire, and have their fibres connected by a light-
brown coloured snembranous substance, as at 2; but
in the lower exterior sheaths, where this connecting
membrane is decayed, the more durable hair-like
fibres remain distinct, giving to the whole the appear-
ance of an Ermine’s tail: this part, as well as the roor,
are evidently perennial*. The root itself (beginning
at the surface of the earth where the fibrous envelope
ends) is from three to twelve inches long, covered
with a pretty thick light-brown coloured bark: from
the main root, which is sometimes divided, there issues

* The above described perennial hairy portion of the plant, is
clearly the Zndiaw spikenard of our shops; but whether the nar-
dus of the antients or not, I leave to better judges to determine ;
however, I believé few will doubt it after having read Sir Wiliam
Fones’s Dissertations thereon, and compared what he fays with the
accompanying drawings of the perennial! hairy part of the stem of
this plant, which are taken from the living plants immediately un-
der my own eyes: the drawing of the herbaceous, or upper part of
the plant, is out of the queftion in determining this point, and only
refers to the place the plant bears in our botanical books. While
writing the above, I desired an Hixdu servant to go and buy me from
their apothecaries shops a little Fatamansi. Without saying more
or less, he immediately went and brought me several pieces of the
yery identical drug I have been describing: a drawing of one of
the pieces is represented at Fig. 4, and agrees not only with those I
have taken from the living plants, but also exceedingly well with
Garcias ab Orta’s figure of the nardus indica, which is to be found
at page 129 of the fourth edition of Clusius’s Latin translations of
his History of Indian Drugs, published in 1693.

: several

454 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS ON

several smaller fibres. Fig. 2, is another plant with
along root; here the hair-like sheaths, beginning at
@, are separated from this, the perennial part of the
stem, and turned to the right side; at the apex ts-seen
the young shoot, marked 6, which ss not sv far ad-
vanced as at Fig. 1; ¢ ec show the remains of last
year’s annual stem. When the young shoot is a little,
further advanced than in Fig. 2, and not so far as in
Fig, r, they resemble the young convolute shoots of

monocotyledonous plants, June #795. The whole of:

the. abovementioned: plants have perished without
producmg flowers, notwithstanding every care that
could possibly be taken of them. The princtpal fi-
eure in the drawing, marked Fig. 3, and the following
description, as well as the above definition, are there-
fore chiefly extracted from the engraving and descrip-
tion in the second volume of these Researches, and
from the information communicated to me by Mr.
Burt, the gentleman who had charge of the plants
that flowered at Gaya, and who gave Sir ilham Jones
the drawing and description thereof,

Description of the Plant.

Root, it is already described above.

Sem, lower part perennial, involved in fibrous sheaths;

&c. as above described; the upper part herbacéous
suberect, simple, from six to twelve inches long.
Leaves four-fold, the lowermost pair of the four radi-
cal are opposite, sessile, oblong, forming, as it were,
a two-valved spathe; the other pair are also oppo-

site

em

THE SPIKENARD OF THE ANTIENTS. 455

~ site petioled, cordate, margins waved and pointed;
those of the stem sessile and lanceolate ; all are
smooth on both sides. .

Corymb terminal, first division trichotomous.

Bracts awled.

Calyx scarce any.

Corol one petaled, funnel-shaped, tube somewhat gib-
bous. Border five-cleft.

Stamens, filaments three, project above the tube of
the corol; anthers incumbent.

Pistil, germ beneath. Style erect, length of the tube.
Stigma simple.

Péricarp, a single seed crowned with a pappus.

I
END OF THE FOURTH yOLUME.

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