L I B R A H Y
OP THE
heological Semin
PRINCETON, N. J.
PER AS 472 . A84 v.7:2
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal
1?L
ary.
THE
JOURNAL
OF
THE ASIATIC S O C I E T IT
OF
BENGAL.
— • —
EDITED BY
JAMES PRINSEP, F. R. So
SECRETARY OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL ; HON. MEM. OF THE AS. SOC, OF PARIS ; COR. MEM. OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOC. OF LONDON, AND OF THE ROYAL SOCIETIES OF MARSEILLES AND CAEN; OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA ; OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF GENEVA ; OF THE ALBANY INSTITUTE, &C.
/
VOL. VII.— PART II.
JULY TO DECEMBER,
1838.
“ It will flourish, if naturalists, chemists, antiquaries, philologers, and men of science, in different parts of Asia will commit their observations to writing, and send them to the Asiatic Society at Calcutta ; it will languish, if such commu- nications shall be long intermitted ; and will die away, if they shall entirely cease.”
Sir Wm, Jones.
Calcutta:
PRINTED AT THE BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, CIRCULAR ROAD.
SOLD BV THE EDITOR, AT THE SOCIETY’S OFFICE.
1838.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
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JOURNAL
OF
THE ASIATIC SOCIETY.
No. 79. — July, 1838.
I. — Excursions to the Eastward. No. 1.
Extracts from the Journal of a Political Mission to the Raja of Ligor
in Siam. By Capt-. James Low, M. N. I. and M. A. T. C.
When the Burmese war broke out in 1 824 I had the honor of being deputed by the honorable Mr. Phillips, then at the head of the go- vernment of Prince of Wales’ Island as envoy to the raja of Ligor with the view of obtaining some co-operation of the Siamese with the Ran- goon expedition, and especially by means of a fleet of boats. It is un- necessary here to enter into political details ; but it may be briefly remarked that the Mission returned after a tedious negociation of three months without being able to effect all the objects contemplated. This was owing to the suspicious temper of the Siamese court, which could not for a long while credit that the British arms would finally prevail. At a subsequent period when aware of the mistake, this haughty and ambitious, yet politic court discovered that the dilatoriness of its coun- cils had shut it out from any share in the conquered territories.
The schooner Commerce of 60 tons burden, Capt. Chevers, an American commander, was taken up for the conveyance of the Mis- sion. A native officer with a party of sepoys formed the escort, and camp equipage was provided in case it might be wanted for a march overland.
We sailed on the 7th May, 1824, and proceeded up the Keddah coast. On the right, Gunong Jerrei the Keddah peak forms a very prominent feature of the coast. Its height is about 4000 feet*. It is
* By the Trigonometrical Survey made by Mr. Woore of the navy its height is 3894 feet.
4 D
584
Excursions to the Eastward.
[ J VLY,
very steep where it faces the sea ; and here the streams of water which flow over the smooth dark granite rock, when struck by the sun’s rays, appear like fleecy clouds wreathing the mountain.
The formation of this mountain is primary. The secondary and tertiary formations are not easily discoverable until we reach the small islands called the Buntings, which lie nearly opposite to it. At its base strata of laterite, and other conglomerates and accumula- tions of debris prevail. In the deep narrow valleys lying betwixt the shoulders of the mountain I observed tin ore of an excellent quality in the form of grains. The Chinese were making what they called a mine, which was merely a square excavation about thirty feet wide and from two to three feet deep. The ore was loosely deposited below quartz and schistose gravel.
Suspended from the ceiling of the smelting house were wrooden mo- dels of all sorts of native arms and implements intended to charm away evil spirits.
Jerrei and Cherrei, by both of which appellatives this mountain is known to the Malays, are corruptions of the term Srai which was the ancient name of the Keddah country when entirely peopled by the Siamese race, about A. D. 1340. A commercial colony from the westward under a chief named Marrong Mahawangsa which set- tled near the base of the mountain Srai was the cause of the country becoming a place of greater resort than before that event for traders from India. The above named chief changed the name of the country to Keddah, but the Siamese continue to call it Srai or Chrui. I shall have occasion in a subsequent paper to state some further particulars respecting the condition of this country in former times.
8th. Anchored off the mouth of the Keddah river. The anchor- age is good in the north-east monsoon ; but in the south-west monsoon it is a disagreeable if not an unsafe one, the shore being a lee one and the swell heavy.
The Yokkabat, one of the Siamese government officers, came off to say that the governor would give me an audience next day. I accord- ingly waited on him at his sa/a or thamoneeup or hall of audience. Phra Phak Dee Bareerap is a young man of about twenty years of age. He is an illegitimate son of the raja of Ligor ; he entered the hall immediately on my arrival. He was preceded by two men carry- ing dap deng or swords of state. These are about five feet long and have red velvet scabbards. On the right and left were soldiers bear- ing dap he which are also swords of state having golden hilts. Princes in Siam have generally twenty sword-bearers on each side of them
1838.]
Excursions to the Eastward.
585
when sitting in durbar. I bowed in the English fashion to the young chief and then sat down on a chair which had been placed for me six paces in front of the raised platform, on which he had seated himself with his legs crossed and supported by cushions. Behind me the native officer and havildar with their swords on, stood along with several other attendants. The Siamese interpreter to the Mission placed himself on the carpet at my feet. Close on the left squatted both the minister of the chief and also his interpreter. The object of this interview was to explain to the Siamese the nature and objects of the Burmese war, and to obtain permission to cross the Peninsula to Ligor. The chief posi- tively refused to comply with the latter request until he had the sanc- tion of his father.
The Mission therefore would proceed, I told him, up the coast in order to open a more speedy communication with the Ligoreans. The young governor smoked segars during the whole audience. The minister alluded to is a very fat man, and the uneasy, unnatural posture which etiquette compelled him to keep, gave him the appearance of a huge baboon, the resemblance being heightened by the manner in which, ac- cording to the Siamese fashion, his hair was brushed up in front.
The interpreter passed and repassed betwixt the chief and myself on his knees and elbows, a tedious and disgusting operation, but charac- teristic of the procrastinating nature of Siamese diplomacy.
The governor was naked from the waist upwards. His hair was short and his head uncovered.
The lower half of his person was clothed in a dress of silk and gold. This is the common dress in lower Siam, and the raja of Ligor and his sons atfect simplicity, partly it may be supposed through policy, and the fear of exciting the cupidity of the minions about the court of Eanhok.
Many however of the inferior officers wear silk vests or tunics em- broidered with gold or silver, and also long crape scarfs which they either use like cloaks, or wind round them as sashes. The favorite color for these last is black.
The town of Keddali stands on the south bank of the river, and consists of a single street of mean artap houses*. It is protected by a brick defence, comprising an area of about eighty yards by fifty. With- in are the houses of the governor and his officers and soldiers. The wall of this work varies in height from eight to ten feet. Several large iron guns are mounted on the wall facing the river. There is no
* This term is given to the eastward to houses constructed of light materials and thatched with artap or nipah leaves.
4 d 2
586
Excursions to the Eastward.
[July,
ditch on this side and the space betwixt the foot of the wall and the river’s bank is a gentle slope of a dozen yards. This fort, as the na- tives term it, could not withstand for a quarter of an hour an attack by a regular force.
Piles had been driven into the river below the town leaving only a narrow passage. In descending, the tide carried our boat against these, and it narrowly escaped being wedged in betwixt two of them.
11th. Set sail in the direction of Sittool, a small town on the bank of a river of the same name. Finding that it would delay us did we ascend this river we returned to the vessel. The bason into which it empties itself and which is formed by islands is very shallow'. Pro- ceeding along the coast the general aspect is monotonous. Here and there an open spot covered with long grass and interspersed with fine trees seems to give an earnest of cultivation. But a nearer approach dissolves the spell. In fact the cultivation on the Keddah coast, with a very few exceptions, does not begin until a distance of a mile or two from the sea.
I have in a former paper* described the Lancavy Islands and others adjacent to them, and shall therefore here omit that part of the journal which relates to them.
16th. Having encountered nothing but contrary winds we ran in for Trang harbour, but were forced to come to an anchor before reaching it, after having with great difficulty and hazard weathered two high limestone rocks which lie off the south end of lJulo Tilibong. There being no endurable cabin, the tents wTere got up and spread out so as to shelter us from the torrents of rain which fell during the night.
17th. Finding that no progress could be made, the boat was got out and I proceeded to the island to examine it. There was a very heavy- swell and a double surf at the shore of the small bay on the south side of the island where we landed, and w-e narrowly escaped being swamped. The island is uninhabited, and had been deserted since the Burmese descent on Junkceylon in 1808; several droves of wild buffaloes were seen on a plain in the middle of the island. At these a few shots were fired without much effect. On returning to the Bay no boat could be found. At length the Arab w-ho had been left in charge of it was dis- covered seated in moody silence below a tree. He significantly point- ed to the surf, adding “ she lies there.” As this was our only boat, and the Commerce was hull down, our case appeared somewhat desperate. Fortunately the rope attached to the anchor on shore held fast, and bv help of this and the exertions of all hands after two hours hard work * As. Res. Trans. Pkys. class, part I. p;>per VI.
Excursions to the Eastward.
687
1838.]
the boat was got on shore. It was full of sand and two of the planks were stove in. The jackets of the men were employed to close these apertures, and then by dint of constant baling our party reached the vessel in safety.
19th. Anchored in Trang harbour within bowshot of a small creek. The channel is narrow, and it deepens towards the anchorage at this creek which runs up into the east side of the island. This spot is about three miles distant from the guard house at the mouth of the Trang river, and about twelve from Khoan Tani the chief village of the district which also lies on the banks of the river.
Pulo Tilibong was formerly inhabited, but the wars of Salang which exposed it to Burman ravage scared the people away. On the sandy beach on the eastern side we found the remains of a stockade which had been constructed with shinbeans or roughly planed planks, about two or three inches in thickness, of the wood called by the Siamese mat hheum, and khayu gecim by the Malays. These planks were about ten feet above the ground in height. This is a very hard and durable wood, and of a dark color. Although it had been exposed to the weather in this stockade for upwards of twelve years, it seemed to have only increased in hardness by age.
In a cave in a high rock which guards the northern entrance to the harbour, I discovered twelve human sculls placed in a row ; they proba- bly belonged to some of those men who had fallen in the wars just alluded to. This cave contains many fine stalactitical masses.
There is a channel betwixt the island of Tilibong, and the main shore which is generally used by the Chinese junks which go up from Penang. There is no safe channel for vessels from Tilibong harbour to the river’s mouth. The harbour ends in a deep excavation of 9 feet, being merely the channel which is formed by that portion of the waters of the river which flow in this direction.
Trang is a thinly peopled district. About three thousand persons of both sexes may be taken as the utmost extent of the population.
The river and its adjacent shores are chiefly valuable to the Siamese on account of the facilities which both afford for boat building, and of some tin mines at the skirts of the hills. Trang river bears properly only one embouchure although the maps represent it otherwise. Junks go up it for ten or twelve miles (by the course of the river). About six hours’ rowing up it divides into two branches.
Khoan Tani is the chief village. Poultry and some other refresh- ments can be obtained. The finest kinds of fish swam at the mouth of the river and in the harbour.
588
Excursions to the Eastward.
[July,
The Chinese of Penang export from Trang tin, a little ivory (which is contraband,) bird’s nest, hogs, poultry, and rice. A Chuliah or jaur Pakan* manages the raja’s mercantile transactions. The river is quite undefended. From Khoan Tani Ligor can be reached in seven stagesf . Tigers abound on the route. Expresses are generally conveyed by parties of seven men, who make the best of their way without always keeping together, the strongest carrying the express last and leaving the weaker behind.
21st. About midday the Than Palat or superintendent of the dis- trict with his two colleagues came on board. They appeared under considerable alarm.
Letters were despatched by their assistance to their master at Ligor , for it was found that these men had less authority vested in them than the Governor of Keddnh possessed. The apprehensions of an attack by the Burmese Lad not yet subsided here, and the news of the British having gone to war with that people gave evident satisfaction to these officers. The Than Palat observed, that although the Siamese and the Burmese had a common origin, and have now one religion in com- mon, yet their minds never in any manner allied. The English, they observed, could easily accommodate themselves to Chinese and Siamese customs, because they eat the same kind of food. These men were well dressed in white silk crape vests, with short sleeves. The under dress was composed of chccquered silk. They partook freely of wine and biscuit, and became soon so loquacious that some state secrets escap- ed them, or which they doubtless considered such, although in reality as regarded us amounting to nothing.
We left Trang on the 26th, and after encountering rainy and boiste- rous weather, rendered more annoying from the want of any decent accommodation on board, we reached Junkceylon on the 29th.
The harbour of this island is too well known to require a description here. There is neither village or hut on the beach, and at first sight a stranger might suppose that the island had been deserted. After searching about for some time in the boat for the Tharua stream or creek, we observed a boat with natives in it close to the beach. On see- ing us they took to flight although armed with muskets and other wea-
* The descendant of a Chuliah or Coromandel man and a Malay woman.
+ 1 Tha cheen.
2 Don tharnma praang. |
3 Kiooug mo-au. )» No population.
4 Ivassang.
5 Chong khan. J
; ugof,’ }Sma11 villases’
1838.]
Excursions to the Eastward.
589
pons. They were overtaken, and proved to be a party of Siamese. A shaven priest of Buddha kept the helm. Recovering from their alarm they shewed us the creek we were looking for. The opening into it through the mangrove trees is very narrow, and might be mistaken for a mere inequality in the general line of jangal. Although we had left the ship at sunrise, we did not reach Thee Rua town until about sun- set. This was owing to the narrowness of the stream which prevented oars being of any use. The heavy ship’s boat was towed up by fixing a rope to trees ahead and hauling on it, and by the boatmen dragging it against the current ; they being at the same time up to the neck in water.
Loany Bam Prong the Siamese officer in charge of the island re- ceived me with much politeness and hospitality in his own house*. His wife, a stout good-humoured dame, of about thirty, immediately set to work in the kitchen to prepare me a supper or rather dinner. The kitchen was on the same floor with the apartment allotted to me, and I could perceive the whole process of cookery, which was certainly by- no means of that description which could injure the appetite of any traveller of moderate expectations. The dinner, consisting of poultry, eggs and vegetables, was served up in clean China plates and cups, with spoons of china-ware ; custards, confections and fruits formed the second course. My host declined partaking of the viands. This was done out of respect, not prejudice ; for after I had dined, the dishes were removed to the next room, where he and his lady, who had cooked an additional dinner, dined. By this time the lower part of the house was full of people. But they behaved with much decorum. They all smoked cigars. The conversation was kept up betwixt the chief and me, accompanied by the flare of dammer torches until past midnight, and during it I could perceive that fealty to the emperor was a thing which lay very lightly on the heart of my com- panion. On our arrival the women were but scantily clothed, their busts being for the most part exposed. Next day, however, they all appeared, with the addition of the phre, which is a long piece of cloth, plain or variegated ; one end of it is put partly wound about the waist, and the remainder is brought over the left shoulder and then car- ried across the breast : they wore their hair short. The women bring water from the river in bamboos of ten or twelve feet long closed at one end. They carry them slightly inclined on their shoulders and place them upright against the walls of the houses. This plan is very
* Built in the usual light style of the country and only distinguishable from the cottages around it by being larger.
590
Excursions to the Eastward.
[July,
inconvenient, since the bamboo which is heavy must be lowered when water is required by any of the household. Joints of the bamboo are in general use for carrying water on a journey, and rice can be suffici- ently boiled for food in a green one, without the latter splitting. We returned to the ship on the 31st, after presenting some trifling presents to the chief and his lady, amongst which was some wine and brandy for eye-water, as she was pleased to term it.
Salang is the Siamese name for this island. It seems to have been originally peopled by the Thai or Siamese race, who have not paid that attention to it which policy should have dictated, seeing that it possesses valuable tin mines and forms one of the keys to their coast. Its im- portance as regards British influence has been much exaggerated, and since the fall of Tenasserim and its occupation by British troops the island has become of hardly any political importance to us. It could easily be taken at any time if rendered necessary by war.
Salang or Junkceylon.
ITie most correct account perhaps extant of this island is that con- tained in “ Forrest’s Voyage to the Mergui Archipelago .” But since his time (about 1784) many changes have taken place, not by any means contributing to its prosperity.
Salang is 27* miles long by 10 at most in breadth, lying about E. S. E. and N. N. W. It is diversified by hill and dale. The hills are of moderate elevation, slope gradually, and are clothed with wood to their tops ; while the levels are covered with grass and forest, excepting where cultivation has been carried on. Both the east and west coasts may be closely approached by large vessels, but the west being a lee shore the chief harbour has been chosen on the east side. A dangerous nar- row passage only navigable by small prows separates the north point of the island from the main land, while the most southerlv point is bold and rocky and difficult to clear unless the wind be quite favorablef .
The island abounds in streams, the principal of which is that which leads to Tharooa the residence of the governor.
The harbour is excellent, and it is covered by two islands in front, while a hill sufficiently high to give it the command of a great part of the harbour, juts boldly out from the main island.
* 25 miles according to Horsburgh.
f When returning from Mergui in the latter part of 1825, the vessel I was in was forced by the wind and currents so close on this point, that had the last tack she made not weathered it she must have been wrecked : we were within a cable’s length of the rocks.
1838.]
Account of Junkceylon.
591
Junkceylon was long the field on which the Siamese and Burmans decided their claims to supremancy. This circumstance is alone suffi- cient to account for the desolate condition it has been reduced to. But that the Siamese have yet possession of it up to the period of the war betwixt the British and Burmese is more than might have been expected from the relative power of the contending parties, for the Burmans had long before driven the Siamese out of Mergui and Tavoy*.
The las-t invasion happened about 1S08 headed by a Burman general.
The troops were collected in Martaban, Tavoy and Mergui and amounted about 12,000 men. They were successful at first, but when they endeavoured to retreat with their booty and prisoners they were pursued by the Siamese and the Kedclah Malays who were auxiliaries ; numbers were slain, others were shipwrecked, and only about one half are supposed to have returned to Tenasserim.
The population of Salang is only now about 5,000 souls, which is not half of that rated by Forrest. Tharooa contained in this time eighty houses ; there were only 18 in it when visited by me in 1824.
The Siamese are anxious to encourage the settlement of their own race here. But the genius of their government is better suited to retard than to facilitate the increase of the species. The Siamese court is too bigoted to that stumbling-block to nations, — custom, to per- ceive that artificial means which bear no reference to the first natural and simple maxims of political science can never be effectually employ- ed to increase the population of a country.
The kings of Siam have been taught to look on their subjects as property which may be managed as they like, and they have made them slaves, because they can then best administer to their own luxury, avarice, and ambition. The minds of the Siamese are therefore depressed ; no rank is perfectly hereditary, no private property however arduously ac- quired is safe, every man in the empire is liable to be forced from his family to serve in the army for years without pay, and life itself is of- ten taken away for actions wffiich even under many despotisms, and certainly under no reasonably free condition of society, would be termed faults.
* The Siamese affirm that they conquered the island from the Burmese in 1916 of Buddha., A. D. 1373. The expedition was commanded by Prince Ceiau Nat Tha of Liyor in person.
They had to retake it from the Burmese in 1786, when four thousand of the latter nation were killed and made prisoners. The Siamese were compelled to cede Tavoy and Mergui to the Burmese in 1793.
4 E
592
Excursions to the Eastward.
[July,
To fill up the vacant spaces in their population the Siamese were con- stantly in the habits of kidnapping their neighbours the Peguers and Burmans ; frequently translating the population of whole villages at once. Then having planted them like exotics on a new soil they vain- ly supposed that strength was added to the state.
They did not leave off this practice on the Tenasserim frontier until long subsequent to the occupation of Tavoy and Mergui by the British. They have derived one advantage, yet a dubious one, from this system. It is the organization of a body of mercenary Peguan troops. Were not the families of these men strictly retained as hos- tages they could not for a moment be depended upon.
The population of Salang is almost exclusively Siamese ; the ex- ceptions being Chinese.
The men are stout, and well enough proportioned ; and the women although not handsome, have fair complexions.
There are a few priests on the island and a pagoda. These priests or chankoo do not seem to be fed so well as those of their sect general- ly are in Siam ; for several were observed returning from fishing with nets, an occupation at variance with the rules of the order.
On the east side of the island at Lem phra chaii point, there are rocks which the Siamese affirm have been hewn into the figures of a dog and a crow. Some pieces of rocks perhaps do bear distant resem- blances to such figures*. However it was not in my power to go to the place.
Opposite to this point they also imagine that they can distinguish beneath the wave on a rock a Ru-e teen, or impression of the divine foot of Buddha.
The worship of the dog may be traced to remote antiquity. In Egypt it was prevalent, and in Bruce’s Travels we find that the Kowas or watch dog of the skies is venerated in Abyssinia, not only was he raised by the antients to a conspicuous station in the heavens, but he was placed as the deep mouthed guardian of the infernal regions. In Hindu and Siamese mythology a portion of hell is given over to his power.
This singular species of worship was once openly professed by many Indo-chinese tribes, but now slight remnants of it alone remain. Thus amongst the Siamese there are many persons who on undertaking a journey or upon any unusual occasion invoke the great dog to avert
* But on such vague reports I have frequently been induced to walk many miles in the hope of finding statues, inscriptions, &c- and have generally been quite disappointed.
1838.]
593
Junkceylon — Salang.
all evil from them. The people of Salang had statues of this dog, the last of which was it is said carried olf by some Malays. There is little doubt that the Malays also were once infected by this superstition, and it is worthy of notice that although so many centuries have elapsed ■since they were converted to Muhammadanism, yet it is curious to observe the large number of their former superstitious observances which they still retain and cling to, although denounced by Muhammad.
The animals in Junkceylon are buffaloes, hogs, and deer. There are no wild elephants, but leopards are rather numerous in the wilder parts ; common poultry was procured, but a large supply must not be expected here.
The situation of Junkceylon is sufficiently far to the northward of the line to give it all the advantages which the two regular monsoons afford, without subjecting it to the greatest violence of either.
Its climate is temperate, and the air is refreshed even in the dry season by copious showers. From June until November may be deemed the rainy season. The air is then cooled by the dry northeast monsoon. From February to June the weather is warmest. The soil of the island is various — clayey within the mangrove belt on the east side, sandy along the open beach on the west, and where hilly composed of the debris of the granite rock and vegetable matter. The extensive flats and gentle slopes are fitted for most tropical production, and the lower ranges of hills seem peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of indigo and coffee.
The island might not perhaps furnish grain for a crowded population, but its products would probably ensure a supply to it, under such a state from other quarters.
Many of the hills near the east shore seem to have been once culti- vated to their tops. The harbour and creeks swarm with excellent fish and the shores with oysters.
Salang yields a very scanty revenue to its present possessors, Tut under good regulations it might be rendered more valuable. The reve- nue may perhaps be thus computed.
Yearly duties arising on sales of tin, . . ... Drs. 3000 Customs and profits arising from the services of the subject,
Sps. Drs. 5000
Tin is the product which gives to this island its chief value, for how- ever neglected the mines may now be from deficiency of miners, we find in Capt. Forrest’s account that they yielded in his time about 500 4 e 2
2000
594 Excursions to the Eastward. [July,
tons of tin yearly. It may however, be surmised that several of the best mines have been pretty well exhausted.
This quantity agreeably to a calculation made by me when visiting the smelting-house, and which will be noticed presently, must have afford- ed to the king and the contractor of Siam a clear annual profit of 76,224 Spanish dollars, prices being then from 60 to 65 dollars per bahar. It is however supposed that the above quantity did not form the maximum of productiveness, and that with the long island of Pulo Panjang, containing, (even now) unwrought tin veins and beds of ore, Salang could have been made and perhaps might still be made to yield a much larger supply. The tin of JunJcceylon is now carried to Phoonga where it is either sold to Penang traders or despatched across the peninsula for the Siam market.
The following remarks will be found equally applicable to the tin mining and smelting operations of Saluncj and Phoonga .
The Chinese are the only people employed by the Siamese in the smelting of the ore at their various tin mines, and the former general- ly enter into a contract for a period of a year, at a stipulated rate.
The charges for mining, smelting, &c. stand thus for one bahar *.
1. Price paid at the smelting house for ore, 19 20
2. Charges for furnace and 6 men at ^ dr. per day, 1 50
Prime cost,. . 20 70
3. The king takes at first, 24 0
4. Ditto ditto ditto on the sale, 2 0
26 0
Total cost to the smelterf, Drs 46 70
The operation of mining is quite speculative, but on this account it has greater charms for the natives who require excitation of mind to disturb their indolent habits.
They dig pits from the depth of 10 to 100 feet. The ore is found either in a gritty form, or imbedded in a quartzose gangue. They are contented with the produce which the single shaft yields them, and rarely venture to mine laterally. This ore is then broken and washed. Although there are few parts of the island which do not contain ore,
* A bahar contains about 465 lbs. avoirdupois, so that 5 tons are equal to 24 bahars and 16 lbs.
t Now, 1837, the average price of tin in the Straits is about 48 dollars per bahar. Consequently unless the duty should be greatly reduced the mines must be abandoned.
595
1838.] Phoonja.
yet the mines at the places noted below* are most productive as I was informed.
The furnace used by the Chinese is about three feet high and one foot and a half in diameter at top, and nearly the same below.
Alternate layers of ore and charcoal are put into it, and pump bel- lows are kept incessantly at work during four days less one night ; after ten or twelve hours blowing, the tin begins to run off. The coke is extracted at intervals and is afterwards again subjected to the action of the furnace.
The produce during the above period is from 5| to 6 bahars.
They then take a day’s respite.
It has been stated that the government charges, on tin, an export duty of about two dollars per bahar. This, however, is only the case when return is made in specie. If in goods and provided the quantity purchased exceeds 20 bahars, the duty is 125 dollars, which is not increased although the transaction should be carried to a much larger amount. The contractor, or more properly agent receives one per cent, on the sales when the king does not direct the governor to make a specific contract, and the inferior officers of government and the chief himself must be propitiated by presents.
Eight per cent, is charged on the bartering of goods.
The Siamese possess several small ports northward of Junkceylon, These are now only visited by petty trading native prowsj*.
Although Junkceylon is under the Phoonga government yet being a well known island and one where a considerable trade centered before the British got settlements to the eastward, I have preferred treating it separately.
Phoonga.
On the 1st June, 1824, our captain at my request weighed and stood out of Junkceylon harbour.
Many majestic rocks (laid down confusedly in some maps under the name Tover ), were the marks by which we steered, as no one on board
* Pitlong Takre tin, Sapp am, Ban Ice rim, Ban dawn, Ban na nai, Ban Saphan, Ban nayang, Ban salco, Ban thoongyang, Kamra , Kitoong, Chaloong, Pa/c/cla, Tillong near Papra, and Phoklar. The tin ore smelted at Phoonga is brought from the following places lying on the coast of Tenasserim above Papra, Ta/coa pa, Powung, and Kra. The ores from these places are consi- dered inferior to the Salang ore.
T These places beginning from Junkceylon and at Papra are Naikeerno, Phok- lawe, Bandaun, Banykhree on a small river, (the Bangir or Baniger of the maps,) Nashooee, Takoa Kong, Bandala , Bangklok, Pre Koosoom, Krai, Pook~ hak Takoapa, Rendong.
596 Excursions to the Eastward. [July,
had ever been in this bay. These rocks from their shapes are called by the Siamese the Yot Plioonga, or pyramids of Phoonga.
Just as we approached the rugged chain alluded to, we were much surprised to observe a handsome brig lying at anchor ; this harbour being if not absolutely unknown to European traders is now but very rarely visited by any. She turned out to be an American merchant- man, “ the Hope of Boston,” with a small crew of eight or ten men. The commander was ashore in his whale boat, and had left his crew under a mate ; when we met him afterwards he told us that his crew had taken us for a pirate (although we had English colors up), and had nearly given us a salute , when passing within half pistol shot, with all their guns and fire-arms. To this speech our captain made a suitable reply. He too, although an American himself and one too in heart, coolly said, that it was most lucky for the Hope of Boston that she had kept quiet, since she must soon have become a legal prize to his brig, defended as she was by four six pounders and a party of twenty sepoys, besides lascars and officers. This American trader had many muskets for sale on board, but the Siamese did not seem pleased with their quality. Indeed, they were of a most ordinary description, being hooped round the barrels and stocks, and not resting at the half cock. It is not easy to impose any spurious article of trade on the Siamese, especially fire-arms ; but they will exchange their tin for good ones, although luckily not so much to the advantage of the European or American trader as to render it an object of much importance to him to bring out large supplies.
Our brig having been anchored about a mile off Phoonga river, I decided to go up at once to the town, being aware that should the Siamese governor take alarm he might excuse himself from allowing me to visit the town.
I therefore immediately left the ship with an escort of ten sepoys and rowed up the river. It was found to flow through a level country covered with mangroves and other jungle from wdiich we were saluted by the chatterings of tribes of monkeys.
The tide being partly against us we did not reach the opening to the cultivated plain until after six hours’ rowing. Here some Chinese junks were observed at anchor*, and we were hailed from the custom house and told to stop. On pretence, however, of not understanding them wre pushed up to the town. The people were apparently under considerable alarm, and we were afterwards informed that the gover- nor’s son, who was acting in his father’s absence, had ordered the alarm * From 50 to 60 tons burden.
1838,]
Phoonga.
597
drum to be beat on learning from the American commander, who had got up before us, that a boat manned by British sepoys was on its way to the town. Having reached an open place close to the gover- nor’s house, and supposing from the confusion observable in the crowd on shore, that our visit might be construed perhaps as a hostile one, I directed the boat to be moored, and that no one should presume to quit her without leave.
I then landed and went, accompanied by a native sepoy officer, and four privates with side-arms only, to pay my respects to the governor’s son.
He received me with much politeness, but under manifest restraint and uneasiness in a hall, in the midst of which was a raised platform railed in. On this platform mats, carpets, and cushions were laid.
I accommodated myself there being no chairs as well as might be to the cross-legged position in which the chief reclined. This young man entrusted the first part of the conversation to his father’s colleague, and interpreter, who were seated before him. On looking round I was at a loss to conjecture the cause of the apprehension shewn by him, for there were about an hundred armed men in the hall, their weapons chiefly spears and swords. To calm the young chief I explained to him that my visit was of a friendly kind, and to obtain some supplies of which we were in need ; and I told him that next day when fewer persons would be present we might if he chose have a long interview. Confec- tions were brought in upon brass trays ; and I then returned to the bank of the river where a house had been prepared by the chief’s people for my reception.
It was in the ordinary style of the country constructed of bamboos and leaves, and decorated inside with chintz hangings and couches, mats and carpets.
I had scarcely occupied this apartment when an ample dinner arrived from the governor’s kitchen. It was served up on high metal trays with three and four shelves each, and consisted of pork variously prepared, roasted and stewed ducks and fowls, fish, hard-boiled eggs, plain and seasoned rice and vegetables. The desert was composed of plain and preserved fruits, custards, and confections.
The seasonings to their dishes were pepper and spices, balachong or caviare-oil, salt, and limes. Every part, almost, of an animal is eaten. When a buffalo is killed the common Siamese will prepare the skin for food by scorching it, and then beating, washing and boiling it : after these operations it is cut into thin slices and dressed. Game of all kinds, both birds and beasts, abound in the country, and all of the
598 Excursions to the Eastward. [July,
former, excepting vultures, hawks, and owls, and all of the latter, except beasts of prey, are used as food.
The Siamese, like the Chinese, are great gourmands when they can afford to be so, but while the latter prefer pork to every other sort of food, the Siamese prefer venison and ducks. Some Lau ( samchoo of the Chinese), an ardent spirit, formed part of this entertainment.
Crowds came to gaze at us until it became dark, when the sound of the bugle helped to scare them away.
The governor's interpreter, a native of Coromandel , remained until late, no doubt to sift my real intention in entering the place. With the adroitness of his tribe* he proffered whatever his master's house could afford, not sparing the inmates of the seraglio ! His people in the interim were busied in discovering what profit he could make out of the two stranger vessels.
Phka Piiak dee pho thau the young chief received me at his house next day.
1 informed him that I wras proceeding on a Siamese mission from Penang , and that I was happy of the opportunity chance had given me of informing him that the British had gone to war with the ancient enemies of Siam, the Burmans. His countenance instantly brightened, and with animation he proffered his elephants and attendants to convey me immediately across the peninsula-)-.
It was with real regret that the terms of my instructions did not au- thorize my proceeding to the capital, and had even a latitude in this in- stance been excusable, I was under obligations to enter into conferences with the raja of Ligor, which might have prevented my availing myself of it. But the readiness, with which the route across the peninsula was opened to me contrasted well with the suspicious temper of the warv chiefs of the more wily Ligoriau .
The day after this visit I went to take leave of my hospitable enter- tainer previous to embarking. Having before expressed a desire to see a Siamese theatrical exhibition, I was gratified on being told that the actors and musicians were ready to commence. We proceeded to a thatched house called the Rong Lakhanor theatre.
The piece under performance was the Ramakean, a free version of the Hindu heroic poem Itdmayan. This kind of dramatic exhibition is termed Lcn Ichon.
* Called Chulias to the eastward of the Bay. t First, Penang where the Ban Don and C/iaiga rivers join three stages on one elephant; thence down the Chaiya river in boats three stages to the sea.
From Plioonga to Td Thong a dependency of Ligor on a liver famous for the boats built on it, is a journey of four days.
Exhibition of the drama.
599
1838.]
Phra Ram (or Sri Rama) and his ape general Houlaman (or Hun- numan) attended by his army of apes appear in their proper shapes on the stage. On the right was a throne for the king, and on the left an elevated space for Tliotsakan or the “ ten-headed who was the Hindu Ruvan or tyrant of Ceylon. The tyrant appears attended by his queen and encompassed by his attendants.
As masks are worn in this department of the Siamese drama the actors do not speak, but merely adapt their gesticulation to what is read by the prompter, or speaker rather, placed behind screens. The dialogue i3 frequently lively, but being in verse has too often a monotonous effect on the ear. A band of music was ready to supply breaks in the ac- tion and to accompany certain battle, and other scenes.
This band consisted of drums, trumpets, flutes, the metallic sticcado, musical trough, and kettle drums, cymbals and gongs ; when the ac- tresses, or, as they then happened to be, boys in girl’s clothes, danced, they kept excellent time to the music, and I was particularly struck with the greater ease and elegance which the Siamese dancers possess over those of any people in Hindustan. Here sprightly figures rather prevailed, while in India it requires a dancing girl to have a very great share of beauty to prevent the spectator from becoming speedily relieved by sleep from her display of studied gesture and cramped action.
The dresses of the dramatis personae seemed appropriate, but perhaps rather gaudy.
Phra Ram had a green mask, and Sookkreep ( Soogriva ) his minister a golden one. The tail of the general Houlaman becomes during a skirmish the prize of the opposite party, to the infinite diversion of the audience. The policy of the Siamese government leads it to take ad- vantage of the good nature of its subjects, and in gratuitously admitting them to such amusements, makes them willing to forget for awhile in mirth and song the miseries they endure from the unmitigated tension of its rule*.
We left the theatre much gratified at the novelty of the whole per- formance, and on my return home I found that a sumptuous dinner had been sent by the young chief for myself and party. But perhaps he had not considered that Mussulmans and Hindus would not dare to touch the viands he had sent. No doubt they were discussed by his own people afterwards.
The dinner consisted of the following dishes : a half grown pig roasted whole, several ducks and fowls stewed, hashed and baked, stews of various kinds, a large tray of preserved fruits, including dorians, &c. cus-
* Under the bead poetry will be found some further notices on the subject.
4 F
600
Excursions to the Eastward.
[July,
tards and fresh fruits ; neither coffee, tea, milk or butter seem to enter into the common fare of these people. Butter they never make ; milk is seldom used in its plain state ; and tea is a luxury confined to the chiefs principally. They dress their food with hogs’ lard.
The chief positively refused to receive any present from me for his attentions, but I sent some suitable ones to his father on a subsequent occasion.
Phoonga river.
The east branch is said to be the largest, but the west branch is that most frequented. I was prevented from surveying the former by our accidentally missing our direction in returning, and pursuing the branch by which we had ascended. The windings and creeks of these rivers are so intricate that it requires a long acquaintance with them to render them familiar. The sketches of the valley and the pyramids will shew better than description can the nature of the country. Phooiiga lies in an oblong plain or valley formed by two ranges of rocky hills which approach each other very closely at the north end, but less so on the south. The outlet to the north is therefore very narrow.
The river enters through this opening, and then winding prettily down the valley at length enters a tangled forest of mangroves and other trees, amongst which it finds its way to the sea.
The influence of the tide extends higher than to Phoonga, but at low water a ship’s boat cannot well ascend beyond the place where we landed close on the town.
Its breadth, or rather the breadth of its bed opposite the town, varies considerably but may be stated on an average at thirty yards.
Its banks on the sides opposed to the force of the current, especially on that towards the town, are steep, and iu some places ten feet high, but at and below the custom house they are lowr and covered at high tide.
The valley is about three miles in its extreme length, but the breadth is not more than two miles at the widest part, and the average may be given at three quarters of a mile.
The soil is chiefly a clay mixed with a reddish earth, and seems fer- tile. The greatest part of the valley is occupied by cottages with gardens attached, the rest by rice fields and pasture ground for buffaloes and a few oxen.
Fruits are very plentiful, especially the dorian. They were in season when we were there, and every house having a supply, the air was most strongly perfumed.
The scenery is peculiar and picturesque, and were the banks of the
1838.]
601
Tin mines of Phoonga.
river dressed and improved would be highly so. The towering rocks, somewhat fined down and softened in their rude features by the shrubs which cling to them even where overhanging their bases, produce an agreeable contrast to the mildness of the landscape below. In one place on the east side a chalky cliff obtrudes itself ; I attribute the chalky appearance to the agaric mineral, which seems to be abundant in these rocks, and which oozing from their crevices produces this sin- gular effect. The river itself washes the base of the limestone preci- pices lower down which are seen to great advantage while sailing up.
The dip of the strata of the most northerly of this range was to the south, but behind the town on the west side is a rock the strata of which are regular and horizontal.
The climate is rather warm during midday, but the mornings and nights are remarkably cool. The sea breeze reaches the town some- times, when it blows strongly.
The town does not consist of more than 7 0 houses, as the population is found principally in detached cottages : about 30 of the above number belong to Chinese settlers. Their houses are large and convenient, and are regularly built so as to form a street. The house of the chief is a little larger than the rest, but has scarcely any exterior decoration and is formed of wood and other light materials. The hall is of wood, carved in some places. These are inclosed by a palisade of planks and stakes.
On the south of the chief’s residence is the Chinese tin smelting- house where one furnace was employed.
From such information as was collected by me there, it would appear that the population, independent of Malays, of this place may be estimat- ed at six or seven thousand souls. There are about six hundred active Chinese in this number. Two thirds of these are Macao men, who are considered by the natives both here and at Penang as the most trou- blesome class of Chinese emigrants. Several hundreds of Malays are interspersed in the creeks about the mouth of the river. The Siamese do not permit many of them to stay near the town.
A great portion of this population is employed during the dry season, which is half the year, at the tin mines. They return during the other months to cultivate rice.
The chief sends as many Siamese to the mines as he pleases, or can dispense with, and while there they receive provisions only. The ore which they dig is sold to the Chinese contractor, and the profit of it goes to the chief. The ore is brought down either on elephants or in canoes, which can find their way two or three days up beyond Phoonga. 4 f 2
602
Excursions to the Eastward.
[July,
The Chinese miners, however, are not taxed. Indeed the Chinese always enjoy privileges under the Siamese government, which are denied to the natural subject. They are exempted from the duty imposed on every Siamese of serving the state when called on, either in the capacity of soldiers, artizans, or day labourers, and they are left at more liberty to enjoy what their industry produces than the native is.
The reason is obvious : — the Chinese, independent of their belonging to the dominant nation to which the Siamese pay tribute, are a more intelligent, ingenious and laborious race than the Siamese, to whom also they have the art to render themselves absolutely necessary, and as the religious institutions of both people are free from the unsocial re- strictions of caste, they assimilate easily together. We may likewise suppose that the Siamese would not like to irritate a class of men wdio are so numerous in all their towns, and who have come from a country the supremacy, as just observed, of which over Indo-Chinese nations they acknowledge.
Although the chief of Plioonga takes advantage of the power given him and enriches himself at the expense of his subjects, yet his govern- ment is not so oppressive as that of the raja of Ligor. His people also are more attached to him, than those of Ligor to the latter, or in other words do not hate him so violently as the Ligorians hate their prince. The difference shewed itself in one instance. In the raja’s country every article supplied for my table was extorted from his subjects, but at Phoonga , the chief bought out of the bazar all the provisions. &c, he sent to me.
The females at Phoonga secluded themselves more than those at Salang did, which I attributed to their own modesty, for jealousy is not a characteristic of the men in Siam. Women in this country are allowed much freedom ; but it may be questioned whether they would not willingly part with a large portion of it to get rid of the drudgery it entails. The obligation which the men lie under to serve the state during a certain number of months in a year according to circumstances, throws the labor which they ought to perform on the shoulders of the women. These are therefore driven to the necessity of subsisting themselves during the absence of their husbands ; they prepare the rice- fields, plant vegetables, and attend to the loom, or to keeping of small bazars.
The governor of Phoonga has two associates. His revenue is derived from the available labor of his own private trade, and perqui- sites derivable from transactions of foreign traders at his port. He has three China junks which trade to Penang ; these carry to that island
1838.]
Excursions to the Eastward.
603
tin, rice, and small articles of native exportation, and return with cloth, chintzes, glass ware and other manufactures.
He pays no regular sum to the emperor, but at the expiration of every three or four years he sends, or takes a valuable present to him. The emperor of course receives all the profits that accrue from the sale of tin, the governor making his on the ore sold to the smelter.
Phoonga swarms with priests. They have four monasteries, but no temple deserving of notice. I visited the principal Wat or monastery early one morning. The superior, a man of eighty years of age by his own account, received me very politely. He seemed to think it requi- site to account for the mean appearance of their sacred edifices, by ob- serving that the materials had been collected for the constructing of others, but that the constant dread they were in of Burman invasion prevented them from carrying their intentions into execution. He then complained of -a disease to which he was subject and asked me for some medicines. His complaint however being the irremediable one of old age, consolation was the only relief which could be offered.
The Siamese are very fond of European medicines, and like several eastern nations fancy that every white man is a physician. This con- vent seemed to be a hospital for dogs, which from the smallest to the largest size overspread the court, scarely leaving room to walk. The Siamese are forbidden to destroy life, which may account for this pre- posterous kindness. From what I observed it would appear that in Phoonga there is at least one priest for the cure of every hundred souls ! But the poor people do not benefit much by their advice. If they assist in daily filling the brass jar or Baat which the Chaukoo carries about to receive contributions, and make a few periodical offer- ings at the shrine of Phra Phoot or Buddha, which are afterwards transferred to the houses of the priests, they fancy they have amply fulfilled the duties of their religion ; and leave the priest to repay them- selves by prayers offered up either for success, or to avert some expect- ed calamity. The priests here had some Bali books which few of them comprehended ; most of them can read such with about as much advan- tage to themselves as the generality of Mussulmans in Hindustan do the Koran.
Refreshments can be had here on reasonable terms, such as poultry, hogs and fruits.
They have a few cattle (bovine) but they were unwilling to dispose of them.
They have many tame elephants. The chief gave me the use of his while there, and also of a small pony called a horse which he had got from Penang.
604
Excursions to the Eastward.
[July,
The exports* and imports at Phoonga may be thus stated.
Exports. — Deebook or tin, 600 bahars, and of which an indefinite number of bahars are sent to Siam.
2. Kra tau or tortoiseshell, which is brought from the Lancavies and other islands in small quantity.
3. Rang nok or edible birds’ nests.
4. Nga chaang, ivory.
5. Khau san, rice.
Imports. — Fine English long cloth (white) about 80 cubits long and 2 or 2^ broad.
2. Superfine scarlet broad cloth.
3. English chintzes, 7 cubits long, 2 cubits and 8 inches broad.
4. Bengal ditto.
5. Ditto white long cloth 40 cubits long, 2 cubits and 3 inches broad.
6. Baftas, 24 cubits long, 2 cubits and 11 inches broad.
7. Madras moreis, 18 ditto long, 2 and 8 inches broad.
8. Nagore gaga moreis, 70 cubits long, 2 cubits 21 inches broad.
9. Handkerchiefs 8 to a piece.
10. Carpets.
11. Bengal velvets 24 cubits long, or 40 cubits long, 2 cubits broad with border.
12. Occasionally a box or two of opium can be sold here ; the sale of this article may be increased by improper means since it is forbidden to Siamese.
13. Chrystal ware, cutlery, &c.
These exports and imports are applicable to other Siamese ports on this coast. The common duties on mercantile transactions are here eight per cent, besides the native agent’s fees which are one per cent, (although he will try to charge two or more) ; besides if bales of goods are brought separately on shore the chief claims on their being opened one piece of the goods contained in each. If many bales are opened at once then the charge is the same as if only one had been opened. This regulation is perhaps to induce the merchant to bring his goods quickly on shore. If elephants are sold the agent receives 2\ per cent.
In small transactions not exceeding five or six hundred dollars, duties are not exacted. The chief since I was at Phoonga has shewn a dis- position to diminish these duties to encourage trade with Penang.
The chief and his associates together with inferior officers expect
* Deeboak, is properly a generic term for metals, but her# tin is hardly known by any other name. Takoa is the specific appellation.
Return to Trang.
605
1838.]
presents after the transactions have closed. But it will be to the trader’s advantage to make a handsome present in the first instance.
In all Siamese ports the foreign trader must lay his account with ex- periencing vexatious delays, and trouble arising perhaps more out of the complicated nature of the forms and charges than from their being actually burdensome.
Rice is sold here at the rate of twelve gan tangs per Spanish dollar, but both at Salang and at this port it is of an inferior quality to that at Keddah. Their mode of preparing it for the market is also calculated to diminish its value. The grains are seldom whole and for the most part broken into crumbs. They cultivate all along the coast large quantities of the Khau Neeau of the Siamese, or Malayen braspooloot or Oryza glutinosa of Roxb. which is well adapted for the culinary purposes of the natives, particularly for confections.
We returned to Trang on the 7 th June, and having fired a gun, the signal agreed on betwixt the Siamese chiefs and me, three envoys who had just arrived from Ligor came on board. The head envoy Khoon Arson, I had known at Penang. These men after a conversation which lasted for four hours set off for Ligor. They said they had travelled in coming day and night, on their elephants, and had accom- plished the journey from Ligor in three days and one night. The Siamese compute journeys by nights. Runners can perform it in four days easily.
18th June. The mission debarked on a high neck of land lying on the west bank of the river. The tents were pitched close to the tem- porary house which had been erected for myself by the raja’s people. The schooner was now despatched with letters to Penang. Exercise was enjoined to the escort and people not only to keep them in health, but on the alert, as the temper of the Siamese had not been perfectly ascertained. Indeed the secretary to the government at Penang ac- quainted me by a secret despatch that people from Ligor had informed him that it had been debated at Ligor whether the mission should be cut off either by force or by poison. But I put little faith in this re- port as I discovered that the principal reason why the Ligorian had neither allowed the mission to proceed to Ligor , or had come down in person to receive it, was his having just before been placed in commu- nication with two colleagues who had arrived from Bankok to watch his acts. The reported danger appeared to me a fabrication of the Keddah people ; and small as our escort was, the party of one hun- dred armed men who had been sent to keep a look out on us, would have been easily disposed of in case of treachery appearing. These
606
Excursions to the Eastward.
[July,
men had a few muskets and swords. They practised singly occasion- ally at a mark, using a rest, and that very fairly. When they saw the sepoys also practising, but firing balls by sections, the novelty of the exhibition seemed to have a due effect and deterred them from any future display of their drill.
24th. Until this date we had boisterous weather, volumes of clouds rolling in from the sea and partly breaking in showers in their passage to the hills. About eleven o’clock of this day twenty boats were descried descending the river. These dropped anchor close to opr camp but kept a perfect silence, and the people in them would not answer our questions. This proved to be the advance of a fleet escorting the young raja of Ligor who had been sent to meet me. In about an hour afterwards the sound of kettle drums announced the young chief’s approach. The boat of the latter occupied the centre along with eight others, and the stern was covered by a canopy like a carriage hood. About twenty more boats were divided on the right and left wings.
The large kettle drum in the centre one, the privileged instrument of a governor of the first rank, was now struck louder and louder, and at every pause the crews of all the boats shouted at the full extent of their voices. The right centre boats were each manned by twenty sailors or soldiers (for the Siamese make hardly any distinction betwixt these two classes) dressed in coarse red cloth jackets, and the boats on the flanks had similar complements of men, but these wore blue cloth jackets. In general red is the color used by the near attendants on, or guard of the king and his great officers ; common soldiers, if they do wear any upper garments, which is not very often the case, have them of dark colored woollen or cotton cloth. The chief, being a mere child of about nine years of age, was accompanied by several nursery female atten- dants to take care of his person and cook his food. This boy was ad- dressed by his followers by the titles of Boot [ putra or king’s son] and chao nooee, the little lord*. He was carried from the landing- place to the reception hall in a handsome litter, borne on men’s shoul- ders by means of four poles like the Tellicherry tonjon of India. The whole of his men who had landed, being 300, then arranged themselves in three lines, one line within the open verandah of the building and two without, and in the peculiar attitude of their nation. About one hundred of these men had muskets without bayonets, the use of this last weapon being quite disregarded by the Siamese. The rest had long swords. About one-half of the whole number had triangular woollen cloth caps, the rest were uncovered. Tire whole wrere in fact
* He has since [1837] become a courtier at Bankok the capital of Siam.
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Excursions to the Eastward.
607
squatted with their legs tucked under them. The musketeers with their muskets held up in front the butt resting on the ground ; the others with their sw'ords sloped.
Shortly after the arrival of this youthful diplomatist I proceeded to visit him. The escort drew up in front of the hall with ordered arms, and after exchanging my bow with the Bootha I sat down in a chair which his people had purposely brought. The principal men who had come with him to negociate for him occupied chairs on my right and left. Bootha was richly dressed in a fully embroidered satin or silk pha yolc. This article of dress closely resembles the Malayan sarong and it is worn either with or without trousers underneath it. Upwards from the waist his body was naked with the exception of several massive gold chains, which with their pendent jewels, seemed almost to weigh him down ; he wore handsome golden bracelets and anklets, and he had many valuable diamond and other kinds of rings on his fingers. The crown of his shaven head was surmounted by a skull cap of gold fila- gree of handsome workmanship. This covering is called mongkoot which is a Bali word signifying a crown, and which is applied in histo- rical works to denote a diadem.
So impatient was the boy to see the sepoys perform their exercise, that despite his council of grave men, and before other business could be begun his curiosity required to be satisfied. The crouching troops of the Ligorian had thus an opportunity of witnessing, and with manifest surprise, the precision which discipline bestows. It is doubt- ful if a Siamese soldier can hold himself erect. A slavish submission to their rulers has physically affected the whole of the male population, and a slinking, slouching gait is their most prominent outward charac- teristic.
After the conference I presented the youth with a few articles of British manufacture and two globes, (celestrial and terrestrial.) He was very desirous to learn the use of these last, but there was no time for this operation. The Siamese are pretty experjt according to their own fashion at map-making, although their geographical ideas do not wander far to the south or west of Siam. Some of their plans may be reduced to some degree of consistency and precision by adapting a scale of time to them, as the Siamese carefully note the time occupied in travelling from place to place.
After the conference Bootha shook me warmly by the hand, and took his departure in the same order as he had arrived.
It is needless here to enter into a detail of the conferences which took place. It was proved that the Ligorian would not adventure on his own responsibility to side with the British against the Burmese, and as 4 G
608
Grammar of the Balochky Language.
[July,
I saw that the time would be gone by, wherein co-operation could be useful before the fiat of the government of Siam could be obtained ; and not deeming it prudent to act any further lest that haughty court should consider a compliance with the proposition which had been made to it as conferring an obligation, I returned with the mission to Penang.
Penang, 1824. Revised, 1837.
II. — Epitome of the Grammars of the Brahuiky, the Balochky and the Panj&hi languages, with Vocabularies of the Baraky, the Pashi, the Laghmani, the Cashgari, the Teerhai, and the Deer Dialects. By Lieut. R. Leech, Bombay Engineers, Assistant on a Mission to Kabul.
2. — Grammar of the Balochky Language.
This language is spoken throughout all those parts of the country called Balockisthdn, that are either independent or owe such fealty only to the rulers of the plain, as does not bring them down from their hills for a long enough time to have their language corrupted into Jathfci, by which name they designate the Sindhi.
Alphabet.
The peculiarity consists in the frequent recurrence of the Arabic fftal j the English th in the word those, and the Arabic thai the English th in
the word think. The scheme of alphabet adopted is the same as that employed for the Brahuiky in the last number.
Gender.
There is no gender in Thara cliiai bachhai astain ?
Thara jinkai chiai astain ?
A' mard'aMta.
Ai Barochani aA/itn.
Balochky ; for they say,
Have you a son ?
Have you a daughter ?
That man has come.
Tliis Baroch woman has come.
Number.
Neither is there any number in the substantives even in those that end in a vowel, which are few in comparison with the whole, for they say, yah Icardyd, one hilt, do hardyd, two hilts.
Case.
Declension of a compound noun. Singular.
Nom. Juwin mard a good man
Gen. Juwin mardi of a good man
Dat. § Acc. Juwin mardara to a good man
Abl. Juwin marda thid from a good ma
Comparison
is made in the following manner; This is good This is better than that
Ai sharrind Ai gu i sharrind Ai aj durustan sharrind
This is better than all
Plural. The same.
1838.]
Grammar of the Balochky Language.
609
Nom.
Gen.
Dat. % Ace. Abl.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat. <Sf Acc. Abl.
1st Personal Pronoun. Singular.
Ma Mi
Mana Aj man,iman or mant/iai
an 1
aij
I
my
me
from me
Plural.
ma
mi
mara
aj or ach ma, or marafftai
2 nd Personal Pronoun.
Singular. Plural.
Thau thou shuma
Thi thy shumi
Thara thee shumdra
Aj thau or from thee aj shuma or tharai/iai shuma thaX
3rd Personal Pronoun.
Remote.
we
ours
us
from us
you
yours
you
from you.
Singular.
Plural.
|
Nom. A' |
that |
|
|
Gen. A'hin |
of that |
The same. |
|
Dat. Sf Acc. A'hinyar |
th at |
|
|
Abl. A'hinya tluxi |
from that Proximate. |
|
|
Singular. |
Plural. |
|
|
Nom. Ai |
this |
|
|
Gen. Aishi |
of this |
The same. |
|
Dat. Acc. Aishiyar |
this |
|
|
Abl. Aishiya thoi |
from this |
Reciprocal Pronoun.
Singular.
Plural.
|
Nom. |
Wath |
self |
||
|
Gen. |
W athi |
of self |
The same. |
|
|
Dat. &; Acc. |
W a thara |
to self |
||
|
Abl. |
Ach wa</<iy |
from self |
||
|
Cardinal numbers. |
||||
|
One |
yak |
Fifteen |
phanzdah |
|
|
Two |
do |
Sixteen |
shanzdah |
|
|
Three |
shai |
Seventeen |
habdah |
|
|
Four |
chyar |
Eighteen |
haaAdah |
|
|
Five |
panch |
Nineteen |
nozd |
|
|
Six |
shash |
Twenty |
gist |
|
|
Seven |
hapt |
Thirty |
si |
|
|
Eight |
hasht |
Forty |
chhil |
|
|
Nine |
nuh |
Fifty |
panjah |
|
|
Ten |
dah |
Sixty |
si gist |
|
|
Eleven |
yazdah |
Seventy |
sat tar |
|
|
Twelve |
duazdah |
Eighty |
chyar gist |
|
|
Thirteen |
sainzdah |
Ninety |
navai |
|
|
Fourteen |
chardah |
Hundred |
sa th |
|
|
Ordinal Numbers. |
||||
|
Walin |
first |
Sainwin |
third |
|
|
Donwin |
second |
Chyarwin |
fourth |
4 G 2
610
Grammar of the Balochky Language.
[July,
Uttar
Dukhan
Nom.
Gen.
Dat. iSf Acc. Abl.
Points of the Compass. north Roshasan
south Roshaisht
Inter) ogatives.
Singular.
Hi who
Ki whose
Kivara whom
Aj ki or ldya thni from whom Chi,ai what ?
east
west
Plural. The same.
Peris.
The verbs will be found dispersed through the early part of the dia- logues, or in a future Appendix, as it will require considerable time and labor to collect tenses from men who have never heard of words spoken except in sentences, and who would be confused if asked how to express “thou understandest” in their language. This tense can only be elicited by asking the expression answering to a whole sentence in which that tense is contained, as “thou understandest not what 1 say” — and as it would he time lost, after having ascertained the verb to reject the rest of the sentence, I have left them to be extracted from the dialogues.
Focabulary of Nouns.
|
Naryaii |
horse |
Shakhal |
sugar |
Barochani |
a woman |
|
MatAin |
mare |
Bhyan |
a colt |
Ambra 1 |
• companion |
|
Nay A an |
bread |
Kurti |
a gown |
Ambal J |
|
|
Aph |
water |
Galaim |
a carpet |
Anisha^A |
eyebrow |
|
Rosh |
day |
itTAard |
rug |
Laph |
belly |
|
Shaf |
night |
Darman |
powder |
Khond |
knee |
|
Laidou |
j a camel |
Darman |
wine |
Sharosh |
elbow |
|
Hushtar |
Kdriga |
a bullock |
Cham |
eye |
|
|
Dachi |
J a female |
Go/cA |
a cow |
Nazik |
near |
|
l camel |
Raim |
grass |
Dir |
far |
|
|
Phashin |
a he-goat |
Lo^Awara |
wife |
Khiswa |
language |
|
Buz |
a she-goat |
IAAwa |
a maid |
SafaitA |
white |
|
Juwin |
good |
Mol id |
a slave girl |
Sivan |
black |
|
Gandag |
bad |
Pith |
father |
Sohar |
red |
|
Za |
abuse |
Mkth |
mother |
Zard |
yellow |
|
Gwa th |
wind |
Bachh |
son |
Khatola |
bedstead |
|
A's |
fire |
Jannik |
daughter |
Phut |
hair |
|
Dar |
wood |
Gwar |
sister |
Ksan |
small |
|
Dard |
pain |
BrrUA |
brother |
Draj |
large |
|
Zaham Dhal Tliir |
sword shield bullet |
Kharch Gul | |
knife Dal ' an ornament Jo do on the shieldGiroAA |
stout thunder lightning |
|
|
Vhav |
sleep |
Asin |
iron |
Srumbai |
hoof |
|
Shir |
milk |
Pital |
brass |
MaizayA |
urine |
|
Naiwni/A |
butter |
Post |
leather |
Riya^A |
excrement |
|
Moshin |
ghee |
Nukhra |
silver |
Wash! |
molasses |
|
Grandim |
wheat |
Thangon |
gold |
Pat |
silk |
|
Jav |
barley |
Hit |
thin |
Kardya |
hill |
|
PhindoAAy |
beggar |
Gwand |
short |
Zhuk it |
scabbard |
|
L ay Aar |
poor |
Gudh |
cloth |
Iiupas |
cotton |
|
ShufAa |
gone |
Phall |
turban |
Plum |
wool |
|
AAAta |
come |
Bing |
dog |
Mid |
goat’s hair |
|
Whad |
salt |
Baz |
much |
Zahar |
angry |
1838.]
Grammar of the Balochky Language.
611
|
Nah A |
fish |
|
Lagh |
donkey |
|
Daiuv |
face |
|
Daf |
mouth |
|
Jod |
lip |
|
Dathan |
tooth |
|
Zawan |
tongue |
|
Shalwar |
trousers |
|
Baroth |
mustaches |
|
Rish |
beard |
|
Phonz |
nose |
|
Granz |
nostril |
|
Gold |
flesh |
|
Vkth |
foot |
|
NakAun |
nail |
|
Murda na gh finger |
|
|
Rastai |
right |
|
Chappai |
left |
|
Kammai |
little |
|
Zahar |
salt |
|
Zaptai |
sour |
|
Sund |
ginger |
|
Garam |
hot |
|
Khargushk hare |
|
|
Tola gh |
jackal |
|
Gurk |
wolf |
|
Gurpat |
gurnal |
|
Rich |
bear |
|
HiM |
hog |
|
Mazar |
tiger |
|
Bhola |
monkey |
|
Gwar |
nipple |
|
Sirin |
waist |
|
Gut |
throat |
|
Adth |
flour |
|
Dan |
grain |
|
Hash |
jaw tooth |
|
Drazk |
long |
|
Gwand |
broad |
|
Jahal |
deep |
|
Mazai aph |
deep water |
|
Thir |
arrow |
|
Zaiha |
bow-string |
|
Jo gh |
bow |
|
Laihaiph |
blanket |
|
Piiat |
wound |
|
Maish |
ewe |
|
Toto |
parrot |
|
NaMo |
1 father’s bro- ( ther |
|
Na7rko |
f mother’s ( brother |
|
Bhan |
cow-house |
|
Khophagh Garden |
shoulder neck |
Shanain mirch |
^ black pepper |
|
Gosh |
ear |
Tlium |
leek |
|
Pahnad |
side |
Wasal |
onion |
|
Khasli |
armpit |
Haldra |
saffron |
|
Khunnai |
hip |
( coriander |
|
|
Ran |
thigh |
Dhanya |
1 seed |
|
Pliad |
leg |
Sohraimircli redpepper |
|
|
Piny |
calf |
Bandi/c/i |
thread |
|
Randh |
footstep |
Shishin |
needle |
|
Darashk |
tree |
Kinchi |
scissors |
|
Gaz |
tamarisk |
Istaraaft |
razor |
|
Khan gaz |
the male do. Chi |
article |
|
|
Mih/iin gaz female do. |
Phota |
cardamum |
|
|
Digar |
earth |
Lawang |
cloves |
|
Gap |
mud |
Wash |
sweet |
|
Phoph |
dust |
Hanwagai |
raw |
|
No/i'/i |
moon |
Ask |
a deer |
|
Haur |
rain |
Mushk |
a mouse |
|
Nodh |
cloud |
ChhaiA |
well |
|
Muslit |
fist |
Chahan |
f water- |
|
Chuma gh |
kiss |
\ melon |
|
|
Anas |
tear |
Koh |
mountain |
|
Jathar |
grindstone |
Whan |
plate |
|
Lagath |
kick |
Khada |
saucer |
|
Sinagk |
breast |
Both. |
entrails |
|
Rest |
true |
Lhiph |
a cloth |
|
Dro gh |
false |
Granch |
knot |
|
Gura gh |
crow |
Tubi |
a dive |
|
Murg |
bird |
Gawaish |
buffalo |
|
Raiz |
rope |
Hunhan |
male do. |
|
Sing |
stone |
Gindhar |
naked |
|
Shanha |
horn |
Khor |
blind |
|
Dumb |
tail |
Khar |
deaf |
|
Littav |
shoes |
Gunga |
dumb |
|
Shudh |
hunger |
Lang |
lame |
|
hogh |
house ( a ring in the |
Trizatk |
f father’s sis- \ ter’s son |
|
Bhdl |
< nose sep- |
||
|
Nath |
1 turn Nano do. in nostril |
f mother’s fa- f ther |
|
|
Mudh wha- |
Janwai/t |
son-in-law |
|
|
da |
pearl |
Masi |
f mother’s sis- |
|
Nawarsh |
stew |
\ ter |
|
|
Kavav |
roast meat |
Wad |
sheep-fold |
|
Phakki |
roasted |
Rodh |
a calf |
|
Gur kgh Pup pi |
a crow f father’s sis- |
Gu rand Khimjir |
ram partridge |
|
trih |
\ ter |
Dadi |
f father’s mo. |
|
Na&fto |
( father’s bro |
\ ther |
|
|
zkkht |
\ ther’s son 'f han |
stable |
|
|
w * f husband s mo- 1 1 ther-in-law Amal |
( any intoxi- |
||
|
Wa#kah |
sir |
( eating drug |
|
$12 |
Grammar of the |
Balochky Language. |
[July, |
||
|
Vocabulary of Verbs. |
✓ |
||||
|
By a |
come |
Nindbi |
sit down |
Pat |
dig |
|
Gw auk kani call |
Padaiido |
stand |
Byar |
bring |
|
|
Bil da,i |
let go |
War |
eat |
Birau |
g° |
|
Giri or dar |
seize |
Thingdai |
drink |
Pha<Aa bi |
stand |
|
Akhisti |
asleep |
Whaph |
W haphs |
recline |
|
|
Airld |
place |
shutia |
he is asleep |
Giri |
take |
|
Gir biya |
bring |
Gir biruy |
take away |
Gindh |
look |
|
Shir gwash sing |
Jhan |
beat |
Drush |
grind |
|
|
Phirni |
fill |
Rumba gin |
run |
Phirai |
sprinkle |
|
Zrndvgh |
live |
Shodh |
wash |
Kaji |
cover |
|
Murtosh ) |
he’s dead |
Phivni |
pour out |
Pur |
bury |
|
shu</ta J |
Bo zh |
unloose |
Phash |
boil |
|
|
Grai |
weep |
Dosh |
sew |
Sirbi |
marry |
|
Chao/ial dai throw away Shafshk |
sell |
Thudo |
fear |
||
|
Khuiap/t |
cough |
Zir gir |
buy |
Nangara ba |
plough |
|
ChishapA |
sneeze |
Charr |
walk about |
Phaja bya |
examine |
|
LUchwhlch |
write |
Thash |
gallop |
Kalatha |
assault the |
|
Kband |
laugh |
Juz |
amble |
mil |
fort |
|
Khar |
scratch |
Jir gir |
lift up |
Bhoraith |
flee |
|
Malap/i |
rub |
Naiwad |
stoop |
Dar |
stop |
|
Chad |
mount |
Gwanth |
fall |
Mill |
embrace |
|
Irkav |
dismount |
Chaki 1 |
cover |
Laitai |
open |
|
Bast |
tie |
phirni/ |
Dhak |
shut |
|
|
Vocabulary of Adverbs, Conjunctions, SjC. SjC. |
|||||
|
Maroshi |
to-day |
Zi |
yesterday |
Pangwa |
to-morrow |
|
Nazik |
near |
Dir |
far |
Aida |
here |
|
Burza |
there |
Ni |
now |
Guda |
after |
|
Dari |
out |
Yama |
in |
Inna nadai, |
no |
|
Baiga |
in the eve- 1 ning J |
j- Nishty ai |
in front |
or nah Ai |
and |
|
Di |
also |
Demashta |
formerly |
Nir mash |
midday |
|
A pahnada Burza |
on that side Ai pahnada on this side |
Jhala |
below |
||
|
above |
Navaida |
always |
Buku |
where |
Phrases and Dialogues. Greetings.
Khush dura jod hir kul hir Maihar bachha bia th chuk Chudari dairo daima thimidai Hirain sangta sajohina shal hir ba
Greeting
Hir lotlii tliara ditho khush bitho
Thi halk buku
A istiya biya
Airkab biya
Bazai gwakh
Halka rawan
Thi nam chain
Thi sardar kidam ai
I/rAtar sala chi/cAtar dan pida biifia
Wala juwan ai/ian
Are you well and happy?
Quite well ! sons and brothers Children, house, and all Well ; friends aud acquaintance all well
in Return.
Quite well thank you, I am delighted to see you
Where is your village ?
Come slowly Dismount
Is your city far (literally, a long call) Go to the town What is your name ?
Who is your sirdar How much grain has been produced this year ?
I was well formerly
1838.]
61S
Grammar of the Balochky Language.
Wala thau juwan athai Wala a juwan at ha,
Na salim bkA Ma wala juwan athun Ni hino bh/;a
Wala shuma Hydarawadh a than Wala Pathan Baloch yar athau
Man Sipaithan Thau Sepaithai Mara dafja?Aosht warthi A noukar a th Ma tevga noukar athan Shuma duvust noukar atlian Hanie durust noukar athhn Thou mani sipahi bi Shuma durust mi noukar biyai Ai halka juvvin gathai higain Mi pk/ta barya hamak/ia jangai bi thaga
A is hi ghwara gan Khiwara hachha Ma shaid biya
Hydrabad ma ranvgan hi wa/c/tti
Thau buku maravvgai
A buku maravgai
Ma durust Hidrawad rarvun
Shuma go ma juzzai
A gulkhantharau
A gulk ^/josht
Dratli koshu/fia
Naphtha hakalaksa
Thau kadhin thari kha
Mi bia th janga khushtha
Sakhai duz ai
Khalatha bhorni
Thi bachhar chi/cAta sal bifftaga
Maroslii sakliai haur gwadth
Mi jarr mithaga
Ai shiyar sama naiha th
Si mirosh pai/ia sinvkhi
H amai khiswa malca aishydr jwan na khanath
Sama khani nawan mani baidi ma digara Jalbani jangokhi Jalbani phirai mand lciiftam ai Darya Ichank chiMtarai inam Mulk inam daihgo digara
Akhisma
Maroshi rosh khamin sadthai Zi rosh baza
Marosha chiMtar mahal warth Marosha makoha mi</i baz pida biyagai
Thou wert well before He was well before Pie has become unwell We were well before He has now become a coward We were formerly in Hyderabad Formerly the Pathans and Balochis were friends I will become a soldier Will you become a soldier ?
I am afraid the dog will bite me He will become a servant We will all become servants Will you all be servants ?
They will all be servants Be my sipahy Be all my sipahis
Good cloth is produced in this village In my father’s time there was a bat- tle here
I will visit his sister Thou son of a slave I shall become a martyr I will go to Hyderabad this moment Where art thou going?
Where is he going?
We are all going to Hyderabad Will you go with me ?
He will run away He has run away He has gone out He has fired a musket When will you come back ?
My brother died in battle He is a great thief He destroys forts How old is your son ?
To-day much rain has fallen My clothes have got wet He is not conscious In three days the boundary will reach (literal) us
Don’t mention such a thing, he will not be pleased with it Take care in front the boat will strike
Who are the Jalbani’s enemies?1 Who is the head man of the J albamis ? What jagire has Darya lchan ?
The whole of this city and land is in fief
Don’t delay
The heat is less to-day, it is coed Yesterday there was much How many times do you eat a clay ? How much wool is produced in the mountains in a day ?
614
[July,
Grammar of the Balochky Language.
Mathara inamddhyai) thanmana chiAAtar ghodou diyi majangd Mi part khisgarta ma kapthawa Ai mardon makoha miri aishi ya chaitara purun A halk nnzrtAai
Maroshi sakhai pandaikArton ma- th aga
Whava kiptha Rumbizir juz Darman sakhyai tikhin Nasha wadthi ni khapthiyain
Ai naryanani baha baz ai Mi dast masarra dashtish Katola sarra mi sirandhi i airkain
Baloch go zahama koni/rta midi Gandim baha chi/rttar chotadwa rupiya
Maoja chotadwa baz sir an adtlu Havaida marda mith khaptiyain Tani buAAto khapt Gudhar walafA bukAto khapt
Pagar a A At
Zaham mana makAto bur a<A a Ai madi ranga gindh A rah anjo ain Ai mulaka hakamani sakhai zura th
Biartani midag juwan nin Hanw'a marda khiswa aph na da- rta haw a mard baikar ai
A mard gwasto shurta hawa mar- da kikar
Rindhan Cbandyan moun rtan sang na dartarta
Hamai kirta rastar ain Hatnai kirta chi ain Karti hawe mulka man aAAta hawai marduna mana phajaha nyadrt Tufaki rtir mana mana/rtta
Mi m.ard soudagaria shu<Aa
Thau mana sart rupiyai dai i ma- gotbau niyan
Mana sikh ma/cAta phaloga Mathi daihar domb bazan
Ma Balochiya maniyar chaiasha
Wali zal zindagai dohami khanag liukam astai Phad chai, nai
If I give you a fief, what force will you give me in time of war ?
My foot slipped and I fell How can we bury those who die in the mountains ?
That village is near I have travelled far to-day, I am tired
I feel sleepy Make haste and run The spirits are very strong He is intoxicated w ith drink and is lying down
Is the price of this horse high ?
My hand is burnt by the tire Put the pillow of the bed under my head
The Balochis fight with swords How many chotadas of wheat for a rupee ?
How many seers in a chotada of flour ? There is a man’s corpse lying here The surtout string is loose The plaits of the clothes have come undone
The perspiration has come I have got a sword-wound Look what the man is doing That road is difficult The oppression of the rulers is great in this country
It is not right for brothers to quarrel A man is not worth any thing that does not (water his words) keep his promise
The man has started, overtake him
The Rindhs and Chandyas don’t in- termarry
What animal is that ?
What insect is that ?
When I came into this country the people did not know me 1 have been wounded by a musket- ball
My husband has gone on a mercan- tile trip
I would not accompany you were you to give me a hundred rupees I have become home-sick Are there many minstrels in your country ?
What is “ many” (bread) called in Balochky ?
Is it lawful to marry a second wife when the first is aiive ?
Why not ?
1838.]
615
Grammar of the BalochJcy Language.
Balochani chitarai guf/ian khanath Sara sari ga th gardana phashkma pa</ia shalwar
Ai handa zifanra sono hinnai Adai chho biya
Thau go washai aph warai ki na- horgai aph warai
Manya pa rupiya chiftfttar phanji kaphantha MaunMana muU/iaga Nimaz mail rawan
Thau wa thi daihma ahriya gindh Thau chih mandai i GuiAa wa thi jan sara phirai A chhai,ra a sarbara Sahaib baidi an phalawa maravya
Sahu zora mad i khokho dor bi Havai jwain mandai ki wah wah Hawan/f/itar ki sahaib da hawanM- tar ma giran Hamai sanduk giran ai Giran ai ta zarra thi Hawen/c/itar mana galimiya Ai bar sawakk ai
Hatfnn ma thara dhfta mana sama khapht kithau juwain Baloch, aii Go ma chathara ma kan Mi braiAa go ma radi ki</ia
Ai mard rav khoha sardar salama ai madara rah bi th
Zi mana whava gipthaga maroshi nah
Hamai digara drashk zii/tai ruthi Ni Shah wahi ma mokalanuun Ma hamai hitab durusta laitain^ Gwa th baz rsvkkhtha,
Ai hallc sunya bitta
Rosh airkaphto navashan ai
Adthk drush nagAana zithai pash di
Mirta chiMtar zat bitha ma khoha hala di
Yakai savai^/«, dohrni sohar, simx shank, charmi, savz
Chhid khaya bastaga Ambala bastoda^agapa zaliira^/ti khi bandi
Thau phadchai girai i thau ganda- gai karai ku</ta thara kushan A mada wa^i butar jatha Thau haivai tliarai Applatun 4 H
How do the Baloch women dress?
A sari on the head, a phashk on the neck, and shalwars on the legs There is no beauty in the women of this country Holla ! come here
Do you drink water with sugar or water alone ?
How many phanjis are there in one rupee ?
They quarrel among themselves I will go in the morning — lit. time of prayers
Look at your face in the glass What man are you ?
Put the clothes on He is below, he is above The gentleman’s boat is going to the other shore
Sahu don’t be rough, my ribs ache Oh, oh, he is such a fine fellow !
I will take as much as the gentleman will give
The box is heavy
It is heavy, and must have money in it I don’t require so much This load is light
When I saw you I conjectured that you were a good Baloch Don’t joke with me My brother practised deception to- wards me
If a man were to go into the nioun, tain to visit a chief, would a pas- sage be granted him Yesterday I felt sleepy, but not to- day
Trees grow quickly in this soil God be with you, you have your leave I have looked over the whole book The wind has become strong This town is desolate The sun has set, it is dark Grind some flour and make some bread quickly
Are there many kinds of wool pro- duced in the mountains, tell me ? The first kind is white, the 2nd is red, the 3rd is black, and the fourth green
Who has tied those cories (shells) on ? My lover has tied them on in fond- ness, who else would do so ?
Why are you weeping, you have done something wrong, I will beat you That man committed suicide Are you a kind of Plato ?
616
[JULY;
Grammar of the Balochky Language.
Ai th\go ma gozana di Zi thau mana kisso gvvaslithaga thara liawau kisso gir ain Hawai mung KifAan boli akha nag ain
Khu//ia zath hawai Kisawa Gada bithn
Aph garam bi/fta ni garalAagi Maid giraigh jwan nai zal girai^A kar ain
Zurrtanl jwin avo anth Balochani hidthi liidthi doshan
Panjhi ai hawai Khunar baz anth
Raiz maludaga
Balochan aph tara gh sama nai Balochan ma wa/Ai mulaka mahi na waran
Maroshi ma tamashai di/Aa Kaclio ain gandagai gojd hadsaina wad- #Aa darya bharra mudtho khap. thaga
Lays in 1st.
Kidd Gabol Gadhi Pachalo
Talbur Baiwakai mari Durust ghulam i chakari Banadi bashka thaga.
Da th nazurth Hadhaiyi
Don’t be so arrogant Do you remember the story you told me yesterday ?
What birds are those making that noise ?
God knows such a thing A boil lias appeared The water is warm and effervesces It is not proper for a man to weep, it is the practice of a woman Juwari is very good roasted The Baloch women do fine needle work
How many “ her” berries for a pan- jhi (pais)?
The. rope is shaking The Balochis don’t know how to swim The Baluchis don’t eat fish in their own country
I saw a sight to day, three Kachos lying dead on the river bank who had eaten rotten flesh.
Balochky
Translation.
Kidds, Gabols, Gadhais, Pachalos Tal- poors
and lawless maris
all were slaves of Chakar, (Rindh), And he gave them with (his sister,) Banadi
as a dowry to Hadheyo, (Rindh his son-in-law) who refused to take them.
2nd.
NofAa ki guzith savzaina Bilaizaryan bazaina Chamma ni sari gwazaina Man phathau tajsar Baid charn chiragh paraiwar
Syama chotho drashkabar
Kison chhobiMa Drashka I'sai aMtaga chbar ana Mulko Kichahan golana
Bari difkai mabiwana Chuchu zindagai baidana Askko wari i mana Baria jawav tharaintha Isai dandamanai nisht Rab Kuristhan di</ia Drashk shair digara rusta Gafshai bangwai sarzur/Aa Nair moshai baraibur bifAa Drashk dabai^/ia lal bifAa
Ye clouds that make green,
don’t rain too much ;
or mine eyes won’t close all night ;
I am thine oh crowned head ; the eye light and preserver of the world,
with snake locks like a branching tree.
The story of the tree is this :
I'sa came as he was travelling in the quarters of the surrounding country.
He saw Bari in the desert — tell how do live without grain, whence do you eat truly ?
Bari answered him :
I'sa sat there for a moment ;
He saw the power of God.
A tree grew out of the ground :
At morning prayers it grew up;
At midday berries grew on it ;
In the afternoon they became red ripe.
1838.]
617
Grammar of the Balochhy Language.
Drashk barkuno dubifAa Juwan ai mardamaiw hadfAbitha Chboka gonawayan bifAa Hisi chhotwa hamchoba
Barkat All juwan marda Singo koh aphbifAa Railai zahir darbaisha
Divanbyari Kalamowa
Yad kana pir nou bahara
Hardamai malalc snchara Shaha mardan kiddagara Panchtan pak char yara
Pakhar slier potra wara Bai Masid Rostamara Saringi dawa garara Jumlai shair potra wara Sa Bahrain nar mazara Kaj nishta ba karara Ghodai vai zndta Mazara Kadd gulafAai zwara Sinjku iAant tazi bishara Rahzani nam thawara RaufA Kachi digara Ruthai baggai bai shumara
Adtha shaharan ba karara Barkutha thir dara
Gul Mammad Brahui sunwara AAAt sathi gwar Mazara Di manai bagg katara
Gvrasht daraihan dawaidara
Phok di sari jamara
Gosh Gul Mammad paiMawara
Chandyan honi bishara Bhorai towartha Mazara Gwasht Gul Mammada sachari Gashda Bahram Mazari Hinbara baggai Guzari Haisarai burr Mazari Jath baggada salama Daha gaiAa shair kasava.
Dairvi AAan navava JS'anawa palk gAadiya Tubal waj shafAiya Mir chadfAa watliariya Gothtiman InaiAariya Zor Sultan Arafiya 4 h 2
On one branch two were produced fit for men of rank to eat.
As it happened to him, by my head and locks may it b« so with me.
Ali, you are a hero, in rocks you get water :
The wanderings of the Darvish are these.
Gentles my story is finished.
3rd.
Let me call to mind the Pir of the new spring
always the true master the king of men; the producer Ye five pure-hearted and ye four friends,
Be behind the lion’s son Be both ye Marids and Rostamaris Ye Saringis takers of revenge Be all behind the lion’s son The noble Bahram the male lion In his kingdom sitting at ease The Muzaris mounted their mares Kadu with a few horsemen They all saddled their mares His fame for theft was great He went to the Kachi country And brought away the camels with- out number
And came harmless to his city They divided lots by arrows and straws
The noble Gul Mammad Brahui Came with many to the Muzara Saying give me back my strings of camels
Daraihan the revenger said I will not give them while I live In your ears I tell you Gul Mammad plainly
Many enemies many We Muzaris have bound and ate Gul Mammad the true said Bahram Mazari shall hear I will either take camels in return Or the Muzaris shall have my head By the Jaths he sent a challenge Who petitioned to the assembled lions
The Khans and Navavs of cities Quickly in a moment of an hour The drums beat joyfully The Mir mounts himself With all his brothers By the power of Sultan Arefiga
618
Grammar of the Balochky Language. [July,
Bagg nila gonba/Aiya
Darslianai sbir pharaganai Masara bat hamalani Sa ha vai Mir mansawanai Basth hatyar kimatanai Zin git shihanani Nazaha bor narahanai Sanj thasa dorawani Bithai nal gwank ukahanai
Wanjan dil pijani Ziu git pahalwani Laikhai si giz Mazarai Zudtwai tajai tara Mir Masaraiba subkara
Jatbro kau ra diwara
Adt gondafA mazara Nasbk bishair potrawan Bijalo khan wadhwani Shair shihi bahazuranj Hajiyan sun saiAani Mohrtri btfA suriyani Jangmashkul durghyani Jiwan bor dadhwani Kadliti wada nai badanai Zaham al mas tai durani Bingwa givasht zawani Ghodo paishimidanai Gon zafar khan Jabani
Hakim kinn daihani Sangti Shair potrawani Sujalu Path Maghsi Gonath zahma himati Chandya Gubzar Razi Zaham wakti li khubazi Si gist jang i Mazari Do sa th Braliui Jamali "atti zahma bawali Trada napta buA7italari Dhal daslita but jadi
Hazhda Pandrani Mir Brahui ulkukani Nam nazana ganani
Gadtai shair i turana Hakul ha gandayana Nam Durhyana girana Ishty nashkai majhyanai
Bith samlio gothumana Math bithgo Fauj liya Drokui/ia tai^/ia thiya
I will not give the camels to mine enemies
Start ye citizens and villagers In front with Hamal That great man Mir and hero Bind on your valuable swords Take hold of your saddle bows The bays dance and neigh Saddles, stirrups and worked stirrups The noise of the shoes of the feet was great
Our lord with a glad heart On the saddle of his mare Sixty Mazaris were counted They pushed their mares to speed The Mir is in front, victory will be theirs
At the stream of the Jathro moun- tain
The Muzaris arrive The fame of the lion’s son is great Go on ye great Khans Braver than lions Haji the pilot of a hundred Get in front thou hero Fight Mashkul thou supremely brave Jiwan on his fine mare Kadu hammer of thy enemies Thou sword of the fierce duranis Bingwa uttered this speech I will take my mare before all In company was Jaffer Khan Jal- bani
Governor of the Kinn district- ITere with the lion’s son Sujalo and Path Maghsi Were in company brave swordsmen Gulzar and Razi Chandyas The players at the battle of swords The Muzaris force was sixty Two hundred Brahuis and Jamalis They turned and fled from the swords The guns and swords were used On the faces and jaws of those with shields
Eighteen Pandranis The Mir of the Brahui country His name is unknown that it could be mentioned
Those of the lion’s locks return He came calling aloud lie takes the name of Darjan He quitted this world and kept his vow
'I’liey advanced all together He had closed with Fauj liva His swoid was false for it broke
1838.]
Grammar of the Balochlcy Language.
619
Lutbi yaikghadiya Hajaiyan dawa giriya Go midolca bashkaliya Husain Man mardi raliya Jang manjo bith sardar Suraiha Gul shair Dildar Jan Mahammad Jiwan Khand Gul Makh Taju Jamali Aj phaffta gwank siyali Daimai khandati jamali Kusht.i Gul Mamraad Gist chara Da fatteha kidd gara Mishkada sari jamara Diwan byari kalamova
They were killed in an hour Haji entered into a dispute And quarrelled with Bashkaliya Husain Khun was among men In the battle were these sardars The brave Gul shair Dildar Jan Mammad Jewan Khan Gul Makh and Taju Jamali Called them retreating enemies Hereafter the Jamalis will laugh Gul Mammad and 24 were killed God gave the victory He became musk in the world Gentles my lay is finished
A Balochlnj Love Song.
Sohwan yadkana Sehwana
Bashk lal mana imana Kahni kahev murgani Hal mahram dostani Gaishtar birsari hotliani
Lodi zaihmaran aMta Dast dast nishani adtha
Monj darin dil hothahhtk
Kadzi baraigain singaiMa Paishi mullawao banga Phulai sarmaharai shiptha Yakpati shalana kanyun Ganja bailo nurwaha
Jathanai binindai jahain Kulan gorgina gath Dost amsaro phalchhat Jaidi amsaro lhiwi
Shasht mardamai papudsai Rindhi baidagai sa^/ibandan Kul banzara laitaina Bhounri wazgir lalinya Shi mahi zaihir tbalambi Riizi bahmani balaifta
Barkat Aly juwan marda Railai zaharai darbaisha Diwan biyari ltalamowa
Rindhai kachari ai kutha Gwasht mirain chakara Dushi giroMan cbumbara
Kasa gwahi na da£&
Gala murid daiwangai
In the morning Sehwan comes before me
Endue me O Lal with truth She’s a pigeon a peahen in walk The state of my love is a secret That very modest and beautiful creature
The minstrel has come with his lyre And brought a token on his hand from my love
My heart that was dry as wood be- came glad
My bay mare was got ready Before the evening call to prayers I put ornaments on the head stall Without halting at speed I will come To the flourishing Beilo on the Nur- waha
Where my Jathani is residing The huts of reeds are crowded My love is fairest of all Among her companions and play- mates the fairest I sent a man secretly My Rindh dress arranged I opened the curtain of the house As the tree smells the flower The pain of six months is removed May you be pleased with no one but me
Aly is a great hero Such are the wanderings of the bard Gentles my lay is finished 5th.
The Rinds were all assembled Mir Chakar spoke
“ To night how many times has it lightened”
No one had witnessed it The fascinated Murid spoke
620
Grammar of the Balochky Language. [July>
Agai jan maid Koshinabai
Rastai nishana raz dyan Dushi giro&Aan sibara Da dubara shamal ku</ta Gal Amirai chakara Bhalo Mubarak pusaga Hikhai i zi th rawan Dir banai mulkai kawan Gali murid daiwangai O Sharra bawa mani Sharrai na dhAai dost mani Kitai sarra barai kula Macharragan garkuMan Man dan kuran danwa/Aa Man nailagati yaniyan Lohar pa basa phadan Gudakhan gwath dhaivan
Pachomanai daiwanaga Phama byarai /Aawadan Mulla bazai khaga dan Malamni haufainai Mulla Munshi ai naban Mak nimaza na padan Dast bastago sirai buMtaga Gud Amir mojga
Kaulai trashan chothwa Mirai salaihain irkana Jan kada ko/f/i gudhan Phadkalav pahaliya Dast khama pa Psiya Rilaph Mira Chakara Bora ila bastga Kul dhwa a baizaga Makli malang wagadha Tahki o ra hijja rawan Hijja dara zarat khana Hiini marManai murid Ma kutwaiya thaka/Aa Mast murid cho laidhawa Chhakai janai hanala Narmaga do rakhanai Hanai khwanka phaphada Chakar Amidi banda Log athi a askhawa Bara thiya duz bars Diwan biyari kalamowa
“ Formerly lover and mistress were not killed
Mark well and consider it as true To night it has lightened thrice No twice it has become light”
Mir Chakar spoke “ Very well Mubarak’s son At this instant begone Remain in the far Ban country”
The fascinated Murid spoke “ Oh my own father Tis well you did not see my mistress With bare head in the wide desert I will wander and make my grave With only a Quran with me Don’t put manacles on me At work is the cruel ironsmith With the breeze of the south in his bellow's
They are for me who am mad Bring for me a potion The Mulla may give me many charms lie doesn’t know my disease I am not a Mulla or Munshi I will not repeat prayers I will now stoop my back is broken And to be struck with the Amir’s shoes
I vow to cut off my locks”
The Mir took off his weapons
Took off his starched clothes
Left his carpet with Aliya
His bow with I'sa
“ Mir Chakar may take all
My mare her picket pegs and ropes
She will stand starving at her stall
I will go begging with beggars
I will certainly go on the pilgrimage
And offer at the door of the temple”
Hani and the noble Murid
Were shut up in a room
Murid like a wild camel
Bites Hani’s cheek
And her soft lips
Hani is called from behind
From Mir Chakar’s house
May his house take fire
And his mare be stolen away
Gentles my lay is finished
1838.] Native account of washing for gold in Assam.
621
III. — Native account of washing for gold in Assam. By Moneeram, Revenue Sheristadar, Bur Bundaree.
[Communicated by Capt. F. Jenkins to the Coal and Mineral Committee.] There are no old papers of the Assam time relative to the above subject, but the following is compiled from the hearing of respectable people and shews the present state of gold washing on this country.
Before the British took possession of this country, the Assam rajas used to take from the sonwal’s of Upper Assam a yearly tribute of 4000 tolahs of gold, and in the time of the Boora Gohynes 2000 tolahs used to be taken : when the Government had possession of Upper Assam, a tax was levied on the north bank of the river from 400 son- wal pykes, and at present there are about 150 or 160 gotes of pykes in all Upper Assam, from whom the raja collects a tax. Besides these there are about 250 or 300 of these pykes (old and new) in the Bur Senaputtee’ s country. There are also about 10 or 15 gotes* of these sonwals in Bishnath, and Sonaree Chopree ; and some in Lithure, Gorokhia, Kaloneecholee, and Morung, and there are 50 or 60 houses of them in Sadiya and Soeekhown. In the raja’s country the great- est number of his sonwal pykes reside on the north bank of the Bur- rumpootur : there are only about 26 houses of them on the south bank.
|
Assamese sonwal pykes during the time of Government. |
During the present raja’s time. |
Living now and on which bank of river. |
Kunaway sonwal pykes where living. |
|
|
Gotes. Bur Burooah’s Bhag, 1 |
Muttuck |
|||
|
Seering Phookun’s Bhag, .. |
29 |
16f |
South bank |
It |
|
Tupomeea Pliokuns Bhag, .. |
64 |
,, |
) f |
Muttuck |
|
In Seesee Tangonee, |
26 |
t 1 |
tt |
Ditto |
|
In Lokimpoor, Soolpauee, Nomel and Charengeed Buroo- ah’s Bhag, |
69 |
44 |
North bank |
) t |
|
In Bunscotta, |
124 |
7 |
Ditto |
tt |
|
In Narainpoor, |
8 |
3 |
Dilio |
|
|
Cackaree sonwals, in Seesee, Lokimpoor and Majalee, |
250 |
90 |
Ditto |
It |
|
Cackaree sonwals on the south bank |
11 |
4 |
South bank |
Muttuck, &c. It |
|
Near the DehiDg river, .... |
15 |
Ditto |
Muttuck |
|
|
Belieea sonwals, |
44 |
5 |
North bank |
|
|
457f |
1844 |
The kheldars object to the 1841 gotes of pykes at present put down by the raja, but admitting all their objections, there are not less than 150 gotes of these sonwal pykes in the raja’s country.
* A gote of sonwals consists of four pykes or individuals.
622 Native account of washing for gold in Assam. [July,
Gold washing is the occupation of the sonwal pykes, but other pykes sometimes join with them and receive their share. The tax is levied on the sonwals only at the following rates. At the time of the washing, the Burahs, and Sykeas with their sonwal pykes go in a body to the place selected by them, and at the close of the year each pyke gives ^ a tolah of gold for his share of tax ; but there is an extra cess levied for melting, &c. according to the quality of the gold ; for the best kind (or votom) they give 3 rattees more than the ^ tolah, for second best (or modom) 4 rattees, for third sort (or norrom) 6 rattees or 1 anna ; be- sides this there is a commission of one rupee’s weight in every 20 taken by the Phookuns and Burrooahs, half tolah in 20 by the Teklahs and Burrahs, ^ tolah by the Bhundar Kagotee, and when the tax in gold is presented to the raja, the Chung Kagotee, the Bhundaree Leekeerah, the Pachonee, and the Kookoorah cliow'ah Burrah, take altogether 1£ tolahs of silver for each tolah of gold.
In the time of raja Rajeswur Sing, the sonwals of Upper Assam alone used to give 6 or 7000 tolahs of gold in addition to the moheea or tax that was levied on them, and in raja Goureenath Sing’s time the sonwals of Upper Assam used to give 4000 tolahs of gold every year ; besides this there was gold received from the following places of Lower Assam, Chingah, Sondhonee, Chooteea, and Chatgarree, and it was also brought from the Bhooteahs by a sunzattee sent by the raja. The best kind of gold is that found by the jongol sonwals, and the Kacharee sonwal’s gold is the worst.
The hill streams produce the best gold, and the stronger the current of the stream the better the gold ; very' slow running streams do not pro- duce good gold. The gold found in the Burrumpootur is not good, it is washed by the Kacharee somvals, and this is the reason why the Ka- charee sonwals have no good gold.
List of rivers in Assam which produce gold.
|
1 Lohit |
'1 Kakoee |
1 Sonsiri |
I Doha Jooree |
|
1 Diliing |
*1 Kuddum |
*1 Jongloong |
In the east 2 Jooree, if |
|
I Tengapanee |
*1 Somdiri |
*1 Jajee |
the gold is washed with the |
|
1 Paroorah |
*1 Doosra Deejoo |
*1 Desoee |
consent of the Dulia, |
|
1 Dehong and |
1 Dikrung |
Under the Dufla |
each party can collect f of |
|
Dibong |
hills in Chardoar |
a tolah daily. |
|
|
1 Deegaree |
1 Kharaee |
||
|
1 Diiol |
1 Boorooee |
1 Doobeea |
I Pomahs |
|
*1 Seedang |
1 Bor Gang |
1 Pormaee |
1 Garroah |
|
1 Dibooroo |
1 Bor Deekoree |
1 Roydeng |
Besides the above there |
|
1 Soobuu siri |
*1 Bhoirobbee |
1 Bechumae |
are several other small |
|
1 Deejoo |
1 Mansiri |
1 Kallee Jooree |
streams. |
The names of rivers marked thus * produce the best gold.
623
1838.] Native account of ivashing for gold in Assam.
There are other rivers falling into these which produce gold, hut the best gold is found in the most winding streams with the strongest currents.
Not having any old papers on this subject there may be some trifling errors in the above estimates, but it is a positive fact that 4000 tolalis of gold at the very least were received annually by the Assam raja.
There are four methods of collecting gold as follows : —
1. The Kacharees wait until the river rises and when it falls again suddenly they scrape up the sand and wash for gold.
2. All other sonwals collect and wash for gold during the dry sea- son.
3. The sonwal of the Rydegeea Phookun’s Bhag go up into the hills and collect the copat, which they burn to produce gold.
4. The gold-washers in the Seedang river get the gold by washing the moss and slime which they scrape off the rocks in the bed of the river.
These are the four methods by which gold is collected, but the gold- washers generally collect the gold during the dry season.
Method of washing and collecting gold from sand
Wherever the current is strong with a falling bank above it ending in a sharp turn of the river, the sonwals examine the opposite shore where the sand from the falling bank is thrown, and if this should contain gravel mixed with the sand it is accounted a good place to find gold in.
Each party consists of a patoee and 4 pallees, who wash in one trough (or dorongee No. 5) ; when they find a proper place to commence operations they begin by working about in the sand with a sharp pointed bamboo (No. 1, or sokalee) to find the depth at which the gravelly sand is, they then take it up in a piece of split bamboo, (No. 2, bans chola) and examine whether there is any gold dust in it ; if they see 12 or 14 bits they immediately build their houses and comme.ice operations. They first bund up the deep part of the stream, if it be a small one w'ith sand, and if large with stakes and grass : the stream then takes a differ- ent direction over the sand ; they allow it to wash away the upper sur- face of sand so as to expose the gold sand, when the bund is re-opened and the stream returns to its original bed. The upper sand is then scrap- ed off and the good sand collected with a kind of wooden spade (No. 3, kater dohtal) ; this shovel is ll cubits long by 1 cubit in breadth, with a handle 4 cubits long ; the blade is of the form of a crescent with holes at each corner through which a string is passed and two men lay hold of and pull this string, while a third person keeps pressing the spade 4 I
624 Native account of washing for gold in Assam. [Julv,
down in a perpendicular position ; the sand is then taken up in small baskets with handles (No. 4 called cookees) and thrown on a bamboo lattice work or strainer (No. 6 ban) which is laid over the trough by a (dorongee No. 5.) This trough is made of wood and 3 cubits long, 1 cubit broad and 1 span high all round, with a slit 3 fingers wide at one end. Water is now thrown over the sand with a calabash having a large piece scooped out at the bottom, beside a very small hole on one side (No. 7, lao) ; the water is thrown on with one hand while the other hand is employed in moving the sand about and sweeping off the larger particles of gravel from the surface of the strainer ; in this way the sand is spread on and water poured over it ; and as the trough fills the water and dirty sand run off through the slit in it, while the clean sand and gold remain at the bottom of the trough. I forgot to say that the trough is placed at a small angle to assist the water and dirt to run off quicklv. When 40 or 50 baskets of sand have been thus washed into the trough the sonwals call it a slieea, and if a ruttee of gold is produced from one sheea they think themselves very fortunate indeed, for during the long days they get about 30 sheeas or washings producing one ruttee each, and during the short days about 25 sheeas, each party thus making on an average about £ of a tolah of gold daily. When they happen to fall on a good old stream that has not been disturbed for 5 or 6 years they get 2 ruttees of gold from every sheea or washing, and then each party makes about ^ a tolah daily.
The gold and sand of the last washing is collected into pottles (or chongas) by spreading a leaf of copat or some other plant at the end of the trough, and dropping water very gently on the sand through the small hole in the calabash, which causes a parting of sands and gold to be thrown on the leaf ; when the whole is collected in this way it is put into the pottle and tied up and the next washing is commenced on. As soon as they have collected enough in the pottles they give up wash- ing the common sand, but pour out the gold and sand from pottles into the trough again, and putting in about an anna’s weight of quicksilver for each tolah of gold dust, they pour water over the sand to keep it in motion while the quicksilver remains below with the gold dust and forms it into a lump ; this lump is then put into a shell and on a fire of nahar wood charcoal ; when the quicksilver evaporates and the shell be- comes lime ; it is then carefully taken up in a spoon and thrown into water when the gold falls to the bottom ; if it be of a brass color it is wrapped in a paste made of clay from the cooking choolas mixed with a little salt and burnt in a fire, w'hich gives it a proper color*.
* This process causes an absolute refinement of the surface of the gold : — it is the same used in gold refining by the natives, but in the latter case the
1838.] Further information on the gold washings of Assam. 625
The gold is washed for in all streams during the months of Maug, Falgoon, and Choit, and also in a few streams in the month of Assin and Cartick, but during 4 days in each the sonwals do no work, viz. at the new and full of the moon, on the first of the month and on a gene- ral holiday all natives have once a month called ekadosee, (the 11th.)
The Kacharee sonwals use the same instruments as above.
The Rydengeea Phookun’s sonwals burn the copat leaf and thus produce gold from the ashes as written above.
The gold-washers in the Seedang dry the moss and slime and then wash it in the usual manner.
This is the way in which gold is washed, which is so uncertain that an unfortunate set of men sometimes get only about a tolah after a whole months labor.
IV. — Further information on the gold washings of Assam, extracted from Capt. Hannay’s communications to Capt. Jenkins, Agent to the Governor General in Assam.
It is the general belief of the inhabitants of the surrounding coun- tries, that the rivers of the valley of Assam abound in gold, and this is in a manner corroborated by the numbers of the inhabitants of Assam, who are gold-washers by profession ; and judging from this fact, and the compacts which existed between the gold-washers, and the state in regard to revenue payments, the quantity of gold received into the public treasury must have been considerable.
The gold-washers of Assam are designated sonewahls, but as they were distributed in different parts of the country and placed under the authority of Phokans, Boorooahs, and other chiefs, they were generally known only by the names of the “ Khel” or tribe of chief, under whom they resided. They were of all the classes and castes found in Assam, the Beheeahs (a tribe of Ahoms), and the Cassarees, being however the most numerous. The sonewahl Cassarees, who formerly occupied Sydiah and its vicinity, were a distinct class from those residing, as before mentioned, under the orders and authority of different chiefs ; they were entirely under the orders of the raja himself, and they supplied him with gold when called upon to do so.
The whole of the rivers* in Assam contain (as formerly noticed)
metal has to be reduced in the first instance to very thin leaves to allow the muriatic acid fumes to penetrate and unite with the alloy. — Ed.
* A list has been given in the foregoing paper; but many names differ: Capt. H. states that in fact it comprehends all the rivers and torrent streams in Assam. — Ed.
4 I 2
626 Further information on the gold washings of Assam. [July,
more or less gold in their sands, and the soil of which their banks are composed ; the most noted however are the Bor-oli, Subon- shiri, Desue, and Joglo, the two latter containing the purest and best gold, and in the Joglo it is said that this precious metal is found in large grains, about the size of a grain of rice. The color of the gold also in both the last named rivers is of a deep yellow, and it was so much prized, that the jewels of the raja’s family of Assam were inva- riably made up from what was collected in them.
The gold of the Buramputer is considered the worst, and it seems to be a general opinion, that the gold is best, and in greatest quantities, when the bed of the rivers is composed of a mixture of sand and small pebbles. I cannot however speak with confidence on this point, further than to observe, that the whole of the rivers I have enumerated have their sources in the mountains, and they have naturally for a consi- derable portion of their course a pebbly and stony bed.
The Desue is a small river, and has sometimes little or no water in it ; it has a short course from the mountains south of Jorehaut (where it rises) to the Buramputer , and a heavy shower of rain near its source causes it to rise suddenly. The gold-washers carry on their ope- ration one and a half days’ journey above Jorehaut , where the bed is Stony.
The Joglo rises in a range of small hills, which stretch across from Jaipore towards Sudiya , and after a very short course of a few miles falls into the Booree Diking ; it has throughout a pebbly bed, and towards its mouth the banks are high, and composed of yellow-colored clay, similar to the soil of the hills and the tract of country through which the Joglo passes. At the mouth of the last named river the bed of the Diking is conglomerate rock, rich in iron* and the hills in which the Joglo has its rise, abound in iron and coal.
The sonewahls endeavour to keep their art as secret as possible, and wish to make people believe that they have particular methods of washing for gold, and that they alone know the most favorable spots for carrying on their operations. A few of these peculiarities however have been pointed out to me.
The best time to wash for gold is after a rise of the waters in the rivers, and the most favorable spots are where beds of the rivers are composed of small rounded pebbles of quartz and sandstone, with a mixture of sand, and also in spots, where from natural causes, there is an extensive deposit of this. In the Joglo however the soil is scraped from the banks, and washed, and I am told that the soil and sand which has collected about the roots of trees on the banks, is considered rich
1838.] Further information on the gold washings of Assam. 627
in gold, but particularly when it lias collected in considerable quantities round the fibrous roots of the gigantic fern.
Hollows and cavities in the loose ferruginous sandstone (which abounds in many of the rivers) are likewise cleared of all sand and gra- vel, the outer coating of the sandstone scraped off, and all is carefully washed. This last is said to be sometimes a prolific source of the pre- cious metal.
I have only twice witnessed the process of gold washing, once in the Erawaddie, and once in the Booree Dihing, and although the method by the gold-washers differed, the soil washed was the same. The resi- due left, after the sand was washed out, was in both cases, a black metallic looking sand, which contained the gold, and this blackish sand is invariably met with, excepting in washing the outer coating of the ferruginous sandstone above mentioned*.
3rd April , 1838. Experiments. — In the Buramputer or Lohit which it is called above Delong Moukh, and in the vicinity of Tengapannee Moukh a party of Cassarees 60 in number, washed for five days, and realized 25 rupees weight of gold. Also twenty men for one month who collected half a tola, or eight rupees worth of gold each, And fifteen men for one month, collected each eight rupees worth of gold. The above operations have been performed within the last few years.
In the Noa Dihing both above and below the present village of Beesa, a party of twenty Cassarees, washed during three months in the latter end of 1837, for gold, and realized eight annas weight each, in all ten tolas, which was sold at Sydiah, for twelve rupees per tola of gold dust.
In the Booree Dihing a party of Cassaree traders in salt, 24 in number, washed for gold during their stay at Jaipore for one month, and realized in all twelve annas weight of gold.
In the cases above mentioned there is a considerable difference in the quantities of gold collected. The last named however, being realized when the party were on a trading visit to Jaipore for salt, can hardly be considered as a fair specimen, as the washing for gold was looked upon more as a pastime and the labour by no means constant. But the first mentioned instance may be taken as a very fair specimen of what can be earned by gold washing in the Lohit, when the numbers of the gold- washers are considerable, and when the object is to procure as
* Capt. H.’s account of the process and implements is omitted, as a tolerable description has already been given in the preceding paper. Might not the gal- vanic magnet be advantageously employed in freeing the washed sand of its fer- ruginous particles ? We have frequently employed the common magnet in the examination of small specimens of these sands with advantage. The use of mer- cury might thus be avoided. — Ed,
628 Further information on the gold washings of Assam. [July,
much gold as they possibly can within a short period, which was the case in the instance above alluded to.
The only peculiarity I can find worthy of notice, in regard to the foregoing information is, that in washing the sands of the Noa Dihing , a quantity of beautiful and minute crystals of quartz are left after the dirty portion and larger pieces of gravel have been throw n aside, and this description of residue is not observed in any other rivers of the upper portion of Assam.
I have also to remark that it is the custom with the sonewahl Cassa- rees of Sudiya to reckon four men to a gote, their method of washing for gold requiring for each durrunee, or trough, Tour men to keep the operation constantly going on, the distribution of them, being, one man to wash, two to bring the soil, and the fourth to dig — and all relieving each other at intervals.
5th May — The information which is herein given may be depended upon as correct ; it w'as taken from the head of a party of sonewahl Cassarees now residing at Burgohain Pokni , on the south bank of the Booree Dihing who make a yearly visit to the known sources of the precious metal. The dates are not specified, but the washing for gold took place at different periods.
1. In the Luhit or Buramputer above Sudiya, a party of gold-wash- ers consisting of 12 men washed for 20 days, and realized 7 tolas of gold.
2. In the Dholjan or A. B. Buramputer, a party of 20 men washed for 16 days and realized 1 tola.
3. In the Jungi, 15 men washed for 20 days and realized 7| tolas.
4. In the Desue or Jorehaut river, 15 men washed for 12 days and realized 7| tolas.
5. In the Dhunseree river, 15 men w'ashed for 12 or 15 days and realized tolas.
With reference to the above I have been told that the quantity of gold obtained in the three last mentioned rivers or rather hill streams, may be taken as a good average of what can be procured from them ; they are considered rich with reference to other streams in this province which are washed for gold, and the quantity which could be obtained must depend upon the number of people employed. In my inquiries regarding particular localities, soil, &c. w'ashed, I can obtain nothing additional to what I have already laid before you, a sudden turn in the river where there is a deposit of loam sand and small round stones or pebbles, and a situation w'here the level of the country commences to ascend towards the hills, seem to be considered the most favorable loca- lities with reference to the small streams W'hick I have noticed here.
1838.]
629
Inscription on the Delhi Iron pillin'.
V. — Lithographs and translations of Inscriptions taken in ectype by
Captain T. S. Burt, Engineers : and of one, from Ghosi taken by
Captain A. Cunningham, of the same corps.
Delhi Iron pillar.
In last month’s Journal I commenced the agreeable task of laying before my readers that, portion of Captain Burt’s budget of in- scriptions (gleaned in the short interval since his return to India], which was couched in the old Pdli character. I now take up the second division, containing those in what has been designated by himself the ‘ No. 2 character of the Allahabad pillar :’ to which series belongs three very interesting inscriptions, two entirely new from central India ; and one, known far and wide certainly, as far as its existence and its sup- posed illegibility are concerned, but hitherto never placed before the learned in its true condition, so as to allow a fair trial at its decipher- ment. I allude to the short inscription on the celebrated iron pillar at Delhi, of which I published in 1834, an attempted copy taken by the late Lieut. Wm. Elliot at the express request of the Rev. Dr. Mill ; but it was so ingeniously mismanaged, that not a single word could be made out ! and there can be no wonder at this, if the reader will take the trouble to compare Lieut. Elliot’s plate (PI. XXX. Vol. IV.) with the accompanying reduced lithograph of Capt. Burt’s facsimile I I should perhaps remark that I lithographed the present plate before transcribing it for the pandit, so that there could be no partial bias to- wards a desired construction of any doubtful letter. Nothing of the kind however was necessary : the letters are well formed and well preserved notwithstanding the hard knocks which the iron shaft has encountered from the ruthless invaders of successive centuries. I have been promised by Capt. Burt an account of this and the other mo- numental remains visited in his journey across India ; I need not there- fore enter upon the history of the Delhi iron pillar, but shall confine myself to the restoration and explanation of the record it contains.
The language is Sanskrit ; the character is of that form of Nagari which I have assigned to the third or fourth century after Christ, the curves of the letters being merely squared off : perhaps on account of their having been punched upon the surface of the iron shaft with a short cheni of steel, and a hammer, as the absolute engraving of them would have been a work of considerable labour ; but this point 1 have not the means of determining.
The composition is poetical, consisting of six lines, or three slokas, in the sardula vikridita measure : — it is observable that the first line is written in a much smaller hand than the remainder.
The purport of the record is just what we might have calculated to
630
Translation of Ancient Inscriptions. [July,
find, but by no means what was fondly anticipated, or what wdll satisfy the curiosity so long directed to this unusual and curious remnant of antiquity. It merely tells us that a prince, whom nobody ever heard of before, of the name of Dhava, erected it in commemoration of his victo- rious prowess. He was of the Vaishnavi faith, and he occupied the throne he had acquired (at Hastinapura ?) for many years ; but he seems to have died before the monument was completed. As there is no men- tion of royal ancestry we may conclude that he was an usurper.
The only interesting piece of information it contains, is that Dhava’s arms were employed against the Vahlikas of Sindhu, who were com- bining their forces to invade his territories.
The B&hlikas are generally admitted by the learned to be the Bactri- ans, or people of JBulkh : — but here the expression sindhorjita vah- lilca, the ‘ conquered Vahlikas of the Sindhu’ proves, that at the time of Dhava the Bactrian principalities extended into the valley of the Indus, — and it further proves what we have been led to suspect from the numerous coins with unknown Greek names in the Panjab, that instead of being totally annihilated by the Scythians 120 years before Christ, the descendants of the Greeks continued to rule perhaps for a century or two after Christ, in the regions south of the Paropatnisan range. If the authority of a graven monument of high antiquity be received as preferable to the variable readings of books, we should cor- rect the and of the Ramdyana and of Hemachandra’s
lexicon, to
As in the Allahabad inscriptions, the pillar is called ‘ his arm of fame,’ and the letters engraved thereon are the typical cuts and wounds inflicted on his enemies by his sword writing his immortal fame ! Raja Dhava has left behind him at any rate, a monument of his skill in forging iron, for the pillar is a well wrought circular shaft of iron, longer and nearly as large as the shaft of the Berenice steamer !
Here follows the text as corrected by Kamalakanta, in a few. letters, which will be seen on comparing it with the plate ; the trans- lation I have kept as nearly literal as it can be rendered, which makes it difficult to follow.
Transcript of the Delhi Iron pillar Inscription.
1 Hell 3THfa(cTTH)
HfrfYrT fafrlferi | ^
\\ \ w ^
ASCRIPTION oh-i
IRON PI LLA R
tj ijw ^ ^ 6, 2 \j * *j ^ f ^ j£j 4j "1=L^ ^ Sj"^ e ^ i f; ^ :
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^ <f&a $ j'^n aK§|j.^/ e:,^2/7s:
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■>;;°3«- ^f^wl?i'^w|;^v(z">''‘" *//**■■<;
V/M- ah-, •”S«,>
631
1838.] Inscription on the Delhi Iron Pillar.
3 7TT ^TT^TmfsTcT^ljTTR; 3TWT WtftfcTT
^OnraTcP f^WT I ^
4 ^cpfr^^ ncn^TFr^i^i^iw^^fcj'Er^T
feOr II ^ II 8
5 inK«T f^r ^i^sar ^tt
si
f%^cTi i ^
6 nfjs^rre vTftnifw^T ^t?*t f^wr wf?r
c\ ^
t^TWra^lf^WT^: ^ufira: II ^ II <
Translation.
“1. By him, who learning the warlike preparations and entrenchments of his enemies with their good soldiers and allies, a monument (or arm) of fame engraved by his sword on their limbs, — who, a master of the seven advantages*, crossing over (the Indus ?) so subdued the Vdhlikds of Sindhu so that even at this day his disciplined forcef and defences on the south (of the river) are sacredly respected by them.
2. Who, as a lion seizes one animal on quitting hold of another, secured possession of the next world when he abandoned this, — whose personal existence still remains on the earth through the fame of his (former) deeds, the might of whose arm, even though (he be) now at rest (deceased), and some portion too of the energy of him who was the destroyer of his foes, — still cleave to the earth.
3. By him, who obtained with his own arm an undivided sovereignty on the earth for a long period, who (united in himself the qualities of) the sun and moon, who had beauty of countenance like the full moon : — by this same raja Diiava, having bowed his head to the feet of Vishnu and fixed his mind on him, was this very lofty arm of the adored Vish- nu (the pillar) caused to be erected.”
Inscription from, a temple of Varaha and a Dhwajastambha in the vicinity of Erun or Airan in Bhopal.
Lieutenat Conolly and Captain Burt started from Mhow, on an exploring journey. They continued in company as far as Sehore, where some copper-plates in Mr. Wilkinson’s possession occupied the atten-
• The Sapta sukhani are the same as the saptdngani or seven limbs of govern- ment, explained in the last inscription.
f Janc.vidhi, the pandit thinks to be ‘a military post.’ — I prefer simply dis- ciplined body of men, or discipline.
4 K
632 Inscriptions on an image of [July,
tion of the former, while the latter hearing of a pillar at Airan hastened off by dak to visit it, and was rewarded with the two inscriptions which follow, and a few insulated names in various styles from the Airan pil- lar and temple. Of the monuments he has kindly promised a full de- scription ; the history of their origin as derived from the inscriptions themselves however may be succinctly told : —
The temple was built by Dhanya Vishnu the confidential minister of raja Ma'tri Vishnu the son of Hari Vishnu, grandson of Varu'- na Vishnu and great grandson of Indra Vishnu ; in the first year of the reign of raja Tarapani of Surashtra (?) : and
The pillar was erected by Vaidala Vishnu the son of Hasti Vishnu, also grandson of Varuna Vishnu, and at the cost of Diianya Vishnu on the 14th of Asarh in the year 165, in the reign of Budhagupta in Surashtra, comprehending the country between a river whose name, though partially erased, may be easily made out as the Kalinda or Jumna and the Narmada, or Nerbudda.
Here is a new scion of the Gupta race of kings to be added to our lists, and a well defined date, if we could but determine by what era it should be interpreted. As yet however we must leave this point un- settled, until, by comparison with other records, we may be able to arrive at the solution of the problem.
Transcript of the inscription on the Varaha image.
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1838.] Varuha and a pillar at Eran near Sagar.
638
Translation.
“ He is victorious ! the boar-shaped god, who at the time of deliver- ing the earth whirled round the mountains by thej erk of his tushes ; from the increase of whose body have proceeded the three regions.
When the great raja Ta'rapani, the very famous and beautiful, the king of kings, governed the earth ; in the first year of his reign, on the tenth day of Phdlguna : — before his time the well known Dhanya Vishnu the doer of many virtuous deeds, follower of the injunctions of the vedas, obedient to his brother the late great raja Matri Vishnu (since departed to heaven) and favored by him — who obtained the g*ood fortune of the regency by public election, and through the grace of God famous as far as the four oceans, ever respectable, and victorious in many battles with his enemies, the devoted worshipper of Bhagavan , — who was the son of Hari Vishnu, resembling his father, — the grandson of Varuna Vishnu, possessor of his father’s qualities, — great grandson of Indra Vishnu of the Maitr dy andyakripab h a race, the illustrious and distinguished, observant of his religious duties and sacrifices with Sulcta (a hymn of the Rigveda) — a regular sacrifice!*, well read in the vedas, and a rishi among the brahmans. — By him (Dhanya Vishnu) was caused to be erected this new temple of Jagan-Nardyana* Nardyana, in the form of Vara'ha (the boar incarnation) at his own village of Nerikona, in the reign, year, month, and day aforesaid.
Glory to the mistress of Brahmanapura and the king to whom all the people belong ! (?)”
Inscription on a pillar near the same.
snrfH *nrcp fearer
(^) i wrai xr
,5rirTTS5rtf' ***
* Or Nar&rayan who is himself the water of the universe.
f The word is written corruptly tryordasydn in the original.
+ In the original it appears, on whomis the splendour of Yatnuni>
§ In the original corrupted to
4 K 2
634
Inscription on the Eran pillar. [July,
'tftfewr- wnr^fW^rx fraxgft^mx ^snhrcTire
^ gwproshfrafaii sraren ^^fai*rr*r*x^i T^f^wp- ■shxtsp Tn<2rf%w:w^igwii^
[cT^X^V ] ipf 4TTcnfq^T: iXWTffcm^XX
■1 OTTO ^T^TT^W T^^WT2*gf^?T- |
¥R5T5irg^T^ *x4st5i^j [>] rft \
Translation.
“ He is victorious ! (Vishnu) the four-armed, omnipresent, the crea- tor and preserver of the world, whose bed is the immense water of the four oceans and whose ratha-hetu (chariot standard) is Garuda.
On Thursday the thirteenth lunar day of the month of A'shadha of the year 165 when the king Bu'dha Gu'pta who was the moon of good administration, and resplendent in fortune and fame, governed the beau- tiful country situated between the Kalindi (Jumna) and the Narmada, by his good qualities (derived) from the Lokapdlas* . In the afore- said year of his dynasty, in the very month and day aforesaid : one named Vaidala Vishnu who was famous as far as the four oceans, ever respectable, who by public election and through the favor of God obtained the good fortune of the regency, wrho was devoted to Bhaga- vdn — the son of the father-resembling Hari Vishnu; grandson of the father’s-talent-possessing Varuna Vishnu, — the great grandson of Indra Vishnu, of the Maitr cyanayakripabha race, a strict observer of his religious duties, regular in sacrifices, reader of the veda, a very rishi among brahmansf. By him (Vaidala Vishnu) this banner- pillar was erected at the expense of Dhanya Vishnu, — for the pros- perity of his race, in honor of JanardanaJ the distresser of the Punyajanas ( Rakshas ) .
Glory ! to him who is a patriotic (prince) and to whom belong all the people 1”
Besides the principal inscription on the Eran pillar, there are as usual several names scratched in different hands and at different times ; four of which I have selected as specimens, being the only ones in the more ancient form of Nagari. They are inserted at the foot of Plate XXXI.
A, the first, wants something at the end : supplying a 7T conjectural- ly it will run —
* Upholders of the universe.
t These several epithets are almost literatim the same in both inscriptions.
I Vishnu'.
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1838.]
635
Inscription from, Ghosi near Jaunpur.
v* 'J
“ Well executed in sculpture, by Kalabhuja Shamlhu the Shanka or stone-cutter.”
The second, marked B, is hardly legible in the middle, but I think it may be read :
*ra*»nrr^s!
“Written by Samanta pautra (the grandson of the general) — the captain.”
The third, C, is very plain and distinct «H*T, “ the name
of Samanta Dosha but I should be inclined to think the ’q intended for a and the name Samanta deva, as dosha, (a fault) would hard- ly be applied as a name.
The fourth, D, is insignificant ; the letters are all plain, but the sense incomplete («r faferf) ‘ written by Khata the son of the
unfortunate.’
Inscription from Ghosi near Jaunpur.
Captain Cunningham has furnished no further particulars of this fragment than are contained in the heading of the facsimile, a long slip of paper taken from a detached stone stated to be broken off at either end. After an invocation to Hari Vishnu, it commences the usual eulogy on the glorious exploits of a raja named Dharani Vara'ha, and from the style there must evidently have been a long sequel, which if it could be recovered might give us some new information on a period not long anterior to the Muhammadan invasion.
Being in verse, the pandit who assisted me in deciphering it has been easily able to supply the hiatus in the first line. I have blundered in copying the facsimile, but by the letter references the order of the lines may be traced.
«T7T* H WT Wt 35irsft
«
H \ ||
xrf<<ir«reiwp snzir torero
^ II ^ II
636
Additions to Bactrian Numismatics
[July,
^T^5TT
^f¥%Tf?TcTmTf%VlTiT ^T^fttTT ^
II ? II
*r*rrf *TTwf^tT f^rarr tt* otsto
- .fw f*WTi %r
Translation.
“ Adoration ! (May he) who, when on all sides all earthly things were destroyed (by the deluge) floated under the semblance of a sleeping yogi to the insulated fig-tree which alone remained for the redress of the calamity ; — who with ever increasing strength subdueth the sun-scorched earth at the end of every halpa ; — may he, girding up his loins, remove from you the fear of the world, — Hari the god of gods !
There was a raja named Dharana Varaha illuminating the hori- zon with the fame of his appropriating the prosperity of his enemies ; — satisfactory in qualities ; without blemish ; and renowned for subduing other kings.
By his army whose elephants, well trained and of moistened temples, darkened the horizon, as they rushed to the battle-field miry with the blood, marrow and serum of mangled limbs, — whence the sparks of the concussing battle-axes (peti) flashed like lightning on all sides — by this army has he brought back the royal Lalcshmi with the respect due to the wives of his enemies !”
(The rest mutilated and unintelligible).
VI. — Additions to Bactrian Numismatics, and discovery of the Bac- trian Alphabet. By James Prinsep, Sec. As. Soc. fyc.
It is not an easy matter to gratify my numismatological readers with a plate of entirely new Bactrian coins so frequently as they would wish ; for, independently of the time and labour requisite for engraving them, the subject, as to new names at least, maybe looked upon now as near- ly exhausted. Opportunities however still occur of verifying doubtful readings, of supplying names where they wTere erased or wanting in former specimens, and of presenting slight varieties in costume, atti- tude, and other particulars, which tend to complete the pictorial history of the Bactrian coinage.
For these several objects I enjoyed a most favorable opportunity during the visit of General Ventura to Calcutta last winter; his second
1838.] and correction of Bactrian Alphabet. 637
collection, though possessing few types or names absolutely new, boast- ed of many very well preserved specimens of the small silver coinage of Menander, Apoleodotus, Lysias, Antxmachus, Philoxenes, &c. The General most liberally conceded to me, from his abundant store, several that were wanting to my own cabinet both of silver and copper, and he placed the rest also at my disposal, to draw, examine and describe as I might feel inclined- Unfortunately I refused to take charge of the Indo-Scythic gold series for examination, finding nothing particularly new among them, the consequence of which was that the whole were stolen by some sharper at the hotel where the General was residing, and none have been since recovered! I am now speaking of last January ! — Since then I have received a coin and drawings of seve- ral others from Genl. Court ; — also two or three fromGenl. Allard; and latterly the whole produce of Capt. Burnes’ search in the neigh- bourhood of Cabul has been entrusted to my care. It is the very latest arrival from him, (or rather from a valuable member of his expedition, Dr. Lord,) consisting of two beautiful coins of Eucratides, that stimulates me at once to give forth all that have accumulated in my Bactrian drawer since I last wrote on the subject. I must give Dr. Lord’s coins the first place because one of them is perhaps the most curious and important that has yet fallen into our hands.
Plate XXVII. contains etchings of both of these coins to which I would thus draw prominent attention : — they are copied from sketches faithfully executed by M. Masson, aided by sealing-wax impressions enclosed in Capt. Burnes’ letter to me, which were however partially injured by their long journey. Dr. Lord thus describes the place and circumstances of their discovery.
“ I do myself the pleasure to forward drawings, of two coins which (with many others of less value) I have been so fortunate as to find during my late visit to Turkistan. The drawings have been made by Mr. Masson but should they not prove sufficient I shall be happy to forward you not only these but all my stock for examination. The double-headed coin I found at Task Korghdn , the other at Kunduz."
Having been kindly promised a sight of the coins themselves, I have purposely reserved space in the plate for the insertion of facsimiles to be hereafter executed by my medal-ruling machine.
Figure ' 2 . I need not particularly describe as, though new to us, it has been published from other specimens in France. The reverse has a naked figure of Apollo in lieu of the Dioscuri.
Fig. 1. Is an unique medallion (that is, a tetradrachma) of Eucra- tides.
638
Additions to Bactrian Numismatics
[July,
Obverse. A fine youthful head and bust of the king wearing a plain steel helmet, with the bands of the diadem protruding behind. On the area above and below — BA2IAET2 MErA2 ETKPATIAH2 in the nomina- tive case.
Reverse. Busts of a man and a woman looking to the right : hair sim- ple and without diadem ; legend above haioKaeote, below kanaoaikh2.
Supplying the word vcos, we have here the parentage of Eucratides developed in a most unexpected way : ‘ The great king Eucratides, son of Helioclks and Kanlodjce.’ The former is a well known Greek name, but it is evident from the absence of title and diadem that he was a private person, and yet that his son having found his own way to the throne, was not ashamed of his unregal origin. The name of his mother, Kanlodike however, is unknown and is decidedly not Greek. From the sound I have little hesitation in hazarding that it is the Sanskrit name 3TW«nfheffT Kamaladhikti, — meaning ‘ superior to Kamala, or Venus, (alias ‘ fairer than the lily.’) This name in the vernacular of the present day would be pronounced exactly as the Greek legend has it, kaunla a lily, kauhladhiki , and I think, bearing in mind our other evidence of the state of the vernacular dialects in the date of Asoka, there can be little doubt of such being the correct derivation of the anomalous name thus adopted into the Greek.
Eucratides then was the son of a Greek officer married to a lady of the country, whom we may set down as of Hindu parentage and language ; and we may thence argue that a dialect mainly derived from the Sanskrit was then used in Bactria, or at least in the Panjab, as in the present day, though now diluted to a large extent with Persian and Arabic introduced along with the Muhammadan religion.
In further proof of this position, we can now also adduce a Pali in- scription in the old character procured by Captain Burnks from the northern side of the great chain of mountains, near Badukshan ; (which will be published in Plate XXXV. of the next number,) to say nothing of the Puli reverses of the Agathocles and Pantaleon coins from the same region.
The natural inference is that we should seek the explanation of the legends on the reverses of the Bactrian coins rather through the medi- um of Pali or Zend, as I attempted in 1835, than as has been preferred by M. Jacuuet of Paris, through the medium of Syriac and Chaldaic, with what success I have not the means of judging*.
* It will be proper here to notice that in 1836, M. Jacqukt, obligingly for. warded to me a lithographed page of his readings of the Bactrian alphabet and
Is. Soc.
Vol.VZ.F.JSM
JBACTRIAN COINS.
ft. Sc.
. : ■ V / •
* 1 «
V*
*
i‘ •
• * • ‘ -k.
.
> '
-
’
i ->• .
1838.]
Revision of the Bactrian Alphabet.
639
I have long been pledged to my readers (and to the critics of the Meerut magazine in particular) to give them a new alphabet for these Bactrian legends, and I think the time has now arrived when I may venture to do so ; or at least to make known the modifications which have been elicited by the abundance of fresh names and finely preserved specimens which have passed under my eye since that epoch. It must be remembered that the only incontestable authority for the determina- tion of a vowel or consonant is, its constant employment as the equiva- lent of the same Greek letter in the proper names of the Bactrian kings. Beyond this we have only analogies and resemblances to other al- phabets to help us, and the conjectural assumption of such values for the letters that occur in the titles and epithets of royalty as may furnish an admissible translate of the Greek in each and every case.
It will be my object presently to shew that this can be done, as far as the coins are concerned, by means of the Sanskrit or rather the Pali language ; but in the first place it will be more convenient to bring forward my revised scheme of the alphabet as far as it is yet matured. Unfortunately the exceeding looseness of orthography and kalligra- phy which could not but prevail when one foreign language, (for such it was to the Greek die-cutters), was attempted to be rendered by the ear in another character, equally foreign to the language and to the scribes, that with abundance of examples before me it is impossible to select the true model of some letters for the type-founder !
I begin with the initial vowels :
9, a. This symbol continues to occupy the place of the vowel a in all the new names, lately added to our list, beginning with the Greek A, of which we have now no less than seven examples. The other short initials appear to be formed by modifications of the alif as in the Arabic : thus.
O', T e, is constantly employed for the e of Greek names.
1 u, is found following it in the word Eucratides, as though put for the Greek Y, but other evidence is wanting.
9-, i ? though seldom met with on the coins is common in the in- scriptions, and by analogy may be set down as i.
.9 and % d, an, is employed in words beginning with an.
The medials seem to be formed in all cases by a peculiar system of
names. In the modifications I now propose, however, I do not borrow one letter from his list, because in fact he has followed quite another track. His reading of TiL'lT'J is, myrvi, a Syriac word I believe for prince or noble. It was this which led to the expression of doubt of my own former alphabet, and to the just satire thereon in the Meerut Magazine.
4 L
640
Revision of the Bactrian Alphabet.
[Jolt,
diacritical marks ; of these the i is the best determined, being found applied to almost all the consonants in the form of a small stroke cross- ing the letter. The a is uncertain ; it may be a prolongation below in the r, — a foot stroke or matra. The e, I judge from the Manikyala inscription, to be a detached stroke behind and above ; in a few cases only joined. The u may be the loop so often seen at the foot of the written letters. Thus we have "b ka, ka, +h ki, In ke, Ti ko ? f ku, &c. I feel it to be a little premature thus to assign sounds without any positive authority : but it was from a similar assumption of the value of its vowel marks, that I was led to the discovery of the Indian pillar alphabet.
With regard to the consonants, I ought perhaps to follow the order of the Hebrew alphabet, but as the language to be expressed is allied to the Sanskrit, it may be more convenient to aualyze them in the order of the latter.
''n, ka. This letter on farther scrutiny I find invariably to represent K ; and its place is never taken on the coins by 1 as I formerly sup- posed. It occurs also with the vowel affix i as "*>1 ki ; also, but seldom, with the u, as f ku ; and with the subjoined r as ll kra. In the compounds, kla, kli, a form is adopted more like the Hebrew q p, (quere ^.) T?, ~2 : there are two or three examples in support of it.
S, kh, is limited as such to the name of Antimachou — but I find it also representing the g in Abagasou. In the written tablets we have 9 and *1 and p seemingly identical with it, yet the latter with the vowel i, f, is used in some places for dhi (intended for the inflected t. — There is no small affinity between P, S, and Q, the kh of the old Sanskrit written invertedly.
T, , g or gli ? — I place these forms here because they occur se- veral times in the tablets and they bear some resemblance to the g of the Pehlevi.
Of the Sanskrit palatials neither the Greek nor the Cbaldaic alphabets contain any proper examples — the ch and j are modified to z and ts — . which letters we must expect to find substituted for the Sanskrit class
T, V, cha ; L, chha. The first of these forms is found at the close of a series of words terminating each in the same vowel inflection, ', e ; which makes me suppose it to be the Sanskrit conjunction cha, uniting a string of epithets in the locative case. As yet I have no stronger argu- ment for its adoption.
iL, or N,/« (tsa? J. The form of the Chaldaic ts s, agrees well with the first ; indeed in many coins of Azes the Bactrian form is identical with
1838.]
Revision of the Bactrian Alphabet.
641
the Chaldaic ; I find that in every case this letter may be best represented -by the Sanskrit 51 j, and indeed in the early coins of Apollodotus, &c. its form 3 seems to be copied from the ancient Sanskrit reversed in conformity with the direction of the writing. The only inflection I have met with of this letter is ^ ju.
I can make no discrimination between cerebrals and dentals ; because the Greek names translated have of course no such distinctions, but from the variety of symbols to which the force of d and t must be ascribed, I incline to think the alphabet is provided with a full comple- ment, though it is in the first place indeed almost a matter of option which letter to call d, t, r, or n, they are all so much alike — thus for t we have ~|, A, A, and “1, and with the vowel i, A, f.
As the equivalent of d again we have the same % “1, A, and also i, £, F> : and for dhi and the former evidently A with A subjoined; the latter quasi tti or ddi : sometimes it is nearer "K ri.
I do not attribute this ambiguity to the letters themselves so much as to the carelessness and ignorance of the writers, who might pronounce the foreign name Apollodotus, indifferently Apalatada, Apaladata, and even Apalanata. Being obliged to make a choice, I assume as in my former paper ; —
~1, A, for ta, whence A td, A ti, or T te, and A tra ?
f, tta, tha, ^ thi, J, or j, the , but in fact these forms are as com- monly used for dh, and its inflections.
? A, y, for da, nda : A, A., di ; f de, du ; ^ , dh, ^ dhi.
% £, na. I do not perceive any indications of the other nasals, and indeed they seem to be omitted when joined to another consonant : but I find some thing corresponding to the anuswarci attached below the vowel a, and before consonants it seems represented by m, as 'i. mcha ? W, mri, SI mba ?
f1 pa. The first of the labials is one of the best established letters. It has been discovered also inflected as h pi, fi pe ; pu ; and united with either h or 6- in 'h pha or spa : also with li in *h,pli, and in other combinations which will be noticed as they are brought forward. I suspect further that in Ji, -l1, we have pa, and in t], pra : but the data are uncertain.
q>, If, pha or fa ? I have no stronger reasons than before for continuing this value to Is : — it seems in some few cases to usurp the place of v ; it is inflected also, as ^ fe, 'f fu, f fra.
A or a, bu ? is still undetermined ; in the doubtful name above quoted ABArASOT, it seems to be replaced by A or Ti — the aspirate is also unknown.
4 l 2
642
Revision of the Bactrian Alphabet.
[July,
U ma 2. This letter admits of no doubt whatever ; but in the Menander form, u;, I now recognise the inflection me, corresponding with the Greek name more closely. — Mi is written Y ; ma, V or V ; and y may be mu. The second or what may be called the printed form of m has a consi- derable affinity in form with the old Sanskrit y or y, whence it may be almost as readily derived as the Burmese form of Pali, y.
A pa. This letter is unchanged : it invariably replaces z , and y, and sometimes j where the latter would be expressed by the Sanskrit or Jj. It may perchance have been modified from the letter, for in some examples it is turned up on the sides thus, ul. ; the inflected form A yi is of common occurrence : ^ yu , less common.
S, f, ra. It is necessary to preserve these three representatives of r ; I incline to think that the prolongation below may be the matra or the long d inflection, ra; for the first form is used in Ermaiou where there is no intervening vowel. It is only distinguishable from d by the foot-mark of the latter, which seems to be often omitted notwith- standing: its inflections are t), i, ‘j, ri, re, ru.
*-(, la. Further acquaintance has taught me that this is the only representative of A in Greek names : the instances wherein the l before appeared to be replaced by \ have been disproved by duplicate coins. The inflected form ffi, li, has numerous examples among our new ac- quisitions. d le, also occurs in inscriptions.
1 va, and Y vi, rest on strong but not undisputable authority, as will be seen below.
rv, 1, ha, has been removed from its former position as l on ample grounds ; and the value now assigned has I think equally strong support — though as far as Greek names are concerned it rests solely on the initial syllable of Heliocles, X, he. There is, again a similarity worthy of remark between ru inverted, and the old Sanskrit ha, lr> dv
*P, sa. To this letter I gave the sound of o on the former occasion> because I found it the general termination of nominatives masculine in Zend and Pali — replacing the Sanskrit visarga, ah or as. Since then I have found the same letter (affected with the vowel i) in two Greek names as the equivalent of si, p, and I am too happy on other considerations to adopt this as its constant value ; whether the dental s of the Sanskrit will best represent it remains to be seen, but the nearest approximation in form occurs in the Hebrew vs: there are certainly two other characters, T, or T, and n, having the force of s or sh. The former I should presume to be the Sanskrit sha si from its likeness to the old form m. The latter, 71, may be a variation of A for which it is sometimes used, but rather by change of the Greek z to 2, than as. being the same letter, for elsewhere it takes the place of the Greek s
1838.]
Titles on the Bactrian Coins .
643
as in AZIAI20T, while A occurs for Z in the same ivord. In form it seems to be the Chaldaic n> or th soft. The inflections of these letters yet observed are, f si, ~P se, P su ; ft shi, Q shu ; and their combinations with consonants are numerous, — ^ sta, ^ std ; g sma? ; ^ sta, 3> §mi?
It will be naturally expected that the alterations I have been compelled to adopt in the value of many of the above letters must produce consi- derable modifications in my former interpretation of the Bactrian legends. Indeed when I look back at my attempt of 1835, I must confess that it was very unsatisfactory even to myself. I was misled by the Nak~ shi-rustam trilingual inscription, wherein the title of king of kings has been uniformly read as malakdn malaJca, though I balanced between this and the term maharao, having found pao on the Indo-Scythic series. But, once perceiving that the final letter might be rendered as sa, which is the regular Pali termination of the genitive case, I threw off the fetters of an interpretation through the Semitic languages, and at once found an easy solution of all the names and the epithets through the pliant, the wonder-working Pali , which seems really to have held an universal sway during the prevalence of the Buddhist faith in India.
The best test of the superiority of a Pali interpretation will be found in its application to the several royal titles of the Greek kings, which were previously quite unintelligible. The first of these is simply BA2IAEf22 which is constantly rendered by TT'l'lu maharajasa , the Pali form of It is true that there is some doubt whether the long
vowel a, is here applied to the h and r ; but we have long since been accustomed to the omission of this and even other vowels in the Satrap coins of Surashtra. The word is often written 'PN^.'lu, whence I have supposed the dot or dash below to stand for a.
The next title is BA2IAEH2 BA2TAEHN, which we find replaced by mahardjasa rujarajasa, a perfectly sound and pro- per expression according to the idiom of the Sanskrit. But in one class of coins, that of Azes, there are some very well preserved specimens in which the second part of the title is ‘PflA'dT'l which is evidently rdjdtirdjasa (or adhi for the letter has a turn at foot and may be meant for \ dhij, the regular of the paramount sovereigns of
India. The syllable dhi is often written ti, ri or even f U or gi (?) but the vowel i shews what is meant.
To the title of king of kings is generally added on the Greek side the epithet metaaOt, for which we have an addition in Bactrian of the word mahatasa, one of the forms of the Pali genitive of mahan
(or mahat ) great, which makes only mahatah : in Sanskrit. The full title then is thus found to be maharajasa rajadhirajasa mahatasa ,
644
Regal titles on the Bactrian Coins.
[July,
which is far preferable to the clumsy and unsatisfactory malakao kak- lcao maluko of my former paper, now rectified by the rejection of “1 as ka.
The next title in the list is 2HTHP02, for which we have rather a dubious word of four letters either 'P'1?? dadatrsa, or "P~l?.£ nandatasa, the for- mer equivalent to the bestower of d in'i, a word comprehending
protection as well as charity ; — the latter to «T^rT : ‘ pf the giver of pleasure.’
The epithet of next frequency is anikhtOt the unconquered, which is translated by 'P~lV+lf19 apavihatasa (Sans. the unbeaten,
or invincible. It is this word principally which leads me to make b va, and to distinguish it from 1 ti and li, with the latter of which I before confounded it.
Next in order comes the somewhat similar expression NIKHfcOPOT; but the correct definition of this epithet is preserved in ja -
yadharasa , the bearer of victory. In one instance the dh is written separately 'Ph?'lA'l; in others (like the dh of adhi) it is 'PI'lA $.,jaya- darasa, but there can be little doubt of the sense ; and this word is a strong confirmation of the value of the letter N, or il ja.
There is a second epithet of nearly the same signification which is common enough on the Seleucidan coins, but comparatively rare in those of Bactria, NIKAT0P02- This epithet was found on the unique coin of Amyntas of which Col. Stacy was unfortunately robbed, and on one or two others. In the Bactrian translation the same word is used in every case as for nikh$>OPOT> namely, 'P~\'l\'±jayadharasa, the pos- sessor of victory, or the victorious.
There remains but one epithet to be accounted for (for $iAOnATOPOS of the Apollodotus unique coin does not seem to be translated): — it occurs on the coins of Heliocles, Spaluumes, and Archelies; I mean AlKAlOT ‘ the just’ — a rare epithet in any but the Arsacidan line of kings. — This is everywhere rendered by "PTf ■? dhamikasa (Sans.
the exact expression required, and one constantly applied to Indian kings.
I am wrong in saying that the epithets are here exhausted, for on the unique coin of Agathocleia in Dr. Swiney’s possession, there is a singular epithet ©EOTPOnOT ‘heavenly dispositioned,' yet unaccounted for: of this the two or three first letters are lost, and the last two "P“l tasa may terminate devamatasa or some such simple translation. It is a curious fact that the name of the queen does not appear to be feminine in the Bactrian legend ; and the title malidrajasci is also in the masculine.
There is another expression on a coin of Spalurmes, viz. “ king’s brother,” 2IIAATM02 AIKAIOT AAEAtOT TOT B A2IAEA2, the Bactrian
1838.]
645
Bactrian transcript of Greek names.
translation of which at first seemed inexplicable, but by means of another coin I think I have solved the enigma, as will be presently explained.
Another expression for the ‘ great king of kings’ is met with in one example only, as far as my information goes ; namely, in the rude square coin of Spalirises, of which four specimens have passed through my hands : — here the expression runs 'P'Ti'1'lu'PiLh'lU maharajasa mahata- kasa (quasi ; but no great stress can be laid on such rude
specimens.
Having thus satisfactorily disposed of the regal titles, we may place once more under review the whole of the Greek names with their Bac- trian transcripts collated from a multitude of specimens.
|
Greek name. |
Bactrian. |
Bactrian in Roman character. |
|
Azor |
“PA9 |
Ayasa , (pronounced Ajasa.) |
|
AZIA120Y |
‘prirtiAO |
Ayilishasa. |
|
AnOAAOAOTOT |
'Pil'Hf19 |
Apaladutusa. |
|
ATAQOKAEnS |
(found only in the old Sanskrit) Q -f- £ £ |
|
|
ATA0OKAEIA2 |
Fakasaqlitasa, (or yasa .) |
|
|
ANTIMAXOY |
TSu'+rj |
Anti-makhasa. |
|
ANTIAAKIAOT |
Anti-alikidusa. |
|
|
AMYNTOY |
TTf9 |
Amitasa. |
|
APXEAlOr |
(unique, Bactrian name erased) |
|
|
ABArASOY |
TTlsa9 |
Abakhashasa. |
|
EYKPATIAOY |
Eukratidasa. |
|
|
epmaioy |
“PAU'-oT |
Ermnyasa. |
|
HAI0KAEH2 |
'PA'DArtiX |
Helayaqlayasa. |
|
AIOMHAOY |
T'lUtAl |
Tayamidusa. |
|
AY2IOY |
'P913'tl or 'P'ti’M |
Lisiasa, or Lisikasa. |
|
MATOY |
T9-V |
Ma-asa. (or *P/^ -V mdyusa.) |
|
MENANAPOY |
'P£fo> or 'PEEut |
Medanasa or Menanasa. |
|
3>IAOEENOY |
’P£7f3'ihor'P£^T*b |
Pilasinasa or Plijasinasa. |
Then follow a class of coins in which the names are either quite dif- ferent on either side, or the Greek is intended for a transcript or trans- lation of the native appellation.
ONHNOr (of Vonones) Th.H'b Spalahdrasa( or Balahdrasa ? )
2nAATPI0T (or 5IIAATM02) 'PuK-t'h Spalafarmasa.
ShaaIpisOy Spalirishasa.
Then the group of the Ferres, or Phr antes dynasty if we may so call it, of which some new specimens will be introduced presently YNAO$EPPOY 'PTiE 'P'lTfM5 Farahetasa nundatasa.
rONAO^APOT ‘P'l^'TT1 ’P'VUf'f Farahetasa gandudhar as a.
HPONA24.EPPOT 'Pb?£ Fharateklisunadharasa ?
64G
Legends on Bactrian Coins.
[July,
but it may be doubted whether all these are not in reality the same name Farahetasa coupled with the title corresponding to
2X1THP02 written in a loose manner.
On the reverse of the coins of the second Herm;eus (or perhaps the third) having a Hercules for reverse, commences another series of native names, forming what weliave designated theKadphises or Kadaphes group. After the change fromEPMAIOr on the obverse, to kaa<HZOT, we have still precisely the same reverse as before, and it is preserved through a numerous series ; — the title of maharaja is not to be found, nor is it easy to see where to commence either the Greek reading KD2DYAD Kaa<h- ZDV xaParov or the Bactrian 'P'P’lTiPT'l'P •fruj? which
may be transcribed dhama •H' rata Kujulakasa sabashakha (?) Kada- phusa : — in this reading if we can make out nothing else there are at least the two names Kosoula (also written Kozulo and Rozola) and Kadphizes (also written Kadaphse and Kadphises ) accounted for. The distinctions on the small coin of KOPANOT ZA0OT Kaa$EC I am una- ble as yet to make out for want of further samples.
Connected with the same family we then come to the long inscription on the Mokadphises coins which may be read by comparison of a great many examples : —
nit'pTiji'w \ •p'wtu -phyio
3Iahdrajasa rajadhirajasa sabatracha ihacha mahiharasa dhi ma- fcadphi?asa nandata.
‘ Of the great sovereign, the king of kings both here and every where seizing the earth, &c. Mokadphises, the saviour?’
I do not insist upon any of these epithets sabatra mahidharasa, for in fact they vary in every specimen. The dhi also looks in many coins more like dha, quasi dhama Kadphisasa. On some the reading is ra- ther sabalasa saviratasa mahichhitasa (*tTtf%7r: sovereign ?) On some gold coins again the name more resembles vavahima Kad-
phisasa, agreeing with the Greek OOHMO KAA$iCHC.
It remains only to apply my theory of the Bactrian alphabet to the inscriptions on the cylinders and stone slabs extracted from the topes at Manikyala, &c. but this is a task of much more serious difficulty and one not to be done off hand as all the rest has been ! — I must therefore postpone the attempt until I am better prepared with my lesson ; and meantime I will proceed to describe briefly the contents of Plate XXVIII.
Fig. 1. is a small silver Euthydemus in Captain Borxes’ collec- tion : it resembles exactly the medallions already published of the same prince. Weight, 62 grs. See PI. XXV. Vol. IV. fig. 1.
1838 ]
New Bactricin Coins, Plate XXVIII.
647
Fig. 2. is a hemidrachma of Demetrius also belonging to Captain Burnes. See one figured from General Ventura’s collection, Vol. IV. PI. XXV. fig. 2.
Fig. 3, a silver coin of Antialcidas, presented to me by General Ventura. Execution very good. Weight 10^ grains.
Obverse. BA2IAEB2 NIKH-tOPOT ANTIAAKIAOT. Head of the king with a flat helmet shaped like a cocked hat : — chlamys on the shoul- ders, and diadem seen under the hat.
Reverse. Bactrian legend 'P'l+hfH9'99 PiPi.Tu mahd-
rajasa jay adharasa Antialikidasa. Jupiter seated holding a small figure of victory : — at his feet to the right, the forepart of a small elephant with trunk elevated. Monogram on the left composed of P and «< *.
Fig. 4. a similar drachma of Lysias, belonging to General Ven- tura : unique.
Obverse. BA2IAE02 ANIKHTOY AY2IOT. Head of the king, with the Demetrius helmet, shaped like an elephant’s head.
Reverse. Bactrian legend, T9tiftl 'PTl'+ll'i9 Tl'llu mahdrajasa apavihatasa Lisiasa. (The copper square pieces have Lisikasa ) . Hercules naked standing, with club and lionskin, as on the coins of Demetrius.
Figs. 5, 6. Two varieties of Menander, not yet depicted in the journal, given to me by General Ventura, who has many of a similar nature. In one the prince wears a handsome helmet, in the other he has the simple diadem. The reverse of both agrees with the one engraved in PI. XXVI. Vol. IV. except that Minerva looks in the contrary direction.
Heliocles, king of Ractria.
Fig. 7. The first coin of Heliocles which I have yet seen in India. It belongs to General Ventura : a square copper or bronze piece in excellent preservation.
Obverse. BA2IAEH2 AIKAIOT HAI0KAE0T2. Diadem’d head of the ‘just king, Heliocles,’ somewhat similar in features to Eucratides,
Reverse. Bactrian legend, 'PA'EAffl'tf mahdrajasa
dhamikasa Heliyahlayasaj : an elephant equipped with howdah and trappings walking to the right, monogram 2.
Fig. 8. A less perfect coin of the same king presented by the Gene- ral to myself.
* N. B. The etching of this coin is a total failure : the plate was laid by for several months and the acid would then barely touch it. In retracing it the native engraver has quite wandered from my original, and I perceive it too late for alteration on more than half the edition of the plate.
f The letter "[} might be better read Sra; Sri : which would give a San- skrit version of the name, — helyasriyasya , 1 having a sun-like prosperity.'
4 M
648
Additions to Bactrian
[Jolt,
In lieu of the head of Heliocles, the obverse bears an elephant, naked, walking to the left, Greek legend as above. Tire reverse is irrecoverably lost.
It is perhaps unnecessary here to retract my former doubts of the existence of a Heliocles in the Bactrian dynasty, since they have long been removed by the account of silver medals in France. We have as yet seen none but these two copper specimens in India, but the probability is that both silver and copper might be found in Bactria proper, to the north of the Hindu Kush or Imaus.
An opinion has been started by Mionnet in opposition to many European numismatists that Heliocles was no other than Eucra ti- des the second, the parricide. The surname of AIKAI02 so unsuitable to such a character he supposes given through fear or adulation ; which I agree with M. R. de IIochette in thinking too great an anomaly to be allowable : but without seeking to account for this staggering cir- cumstance, we can now help M. Mionnet to a very powerful argument in his favor from the unique coin of Dr. Lord described in a former part of this paper, which proves that Eucratides’ father was a Helio- cles ; and we know that it was common to call an eldest son by his grandfather’s name, as is indeed universally the custom to the present day both in eastern and western countries.
Fig. 9. I have introduced this duplicate of the single mutilated coin depicted in fig. 8. PI. XXI. Vol. IV. among the then doubtful group, because General Ventura’s present specimen exhibits the name in the Bactrian, “Pa9, ayasa, and thus proves it to belong to the abundant series of AZES’ coins.
Fig. 10. is a square copper coin of Lysias kindly added to my cabi- net by General Ventura.
It is in better preservation than any before published.
Obverse. BA2IAEH2 ANIKhtOt AT2IOT. Head of Lysias, with dia- dem. Mionnet says of a similar coin ‘ represente en Hercule, la massue sur l’epaule gauche’ — but I do not perceive these characteristics very distinctly.
Reverse. Bactrian legend "PiPVlu maharajasa
opavihotasa Usifcasa, ‘ of the unconquered king Lisi/ca.’
I perceive that both Mionnet and M Raoul de Rochette give to Lysias the square coins of Spalyries or Spalurmes ; though there is no resemblance whatever between them. M. Raoul de Rochette writes in the Journal des Savants : Mars 1836, p. 136 :
“ Cette autre medaille de Lysias diflfere sous tous les rapports de celles que nous possedions d6j& du m£me prince: elle est restie incon-
649
183S.] Numismatology, Plate XXVIII.
nue* a tous les savants et voyageurs Anglais qui, depuis plusieurs anndes se sont appliques avec un z£le si louable & recueillir ces pre- cieux monuments de la civilization Grecque enfouis dans le sol de l’lnde ret l’exemplaire que nous devons at M. le general Allard, et que je publie, est encore unique. La fabrique, qui ressemble k celle de la medaille du roi auonyme, que j ai fait connaitre\ , accuse sensible- ment une epoque de decadence, d’accord avec la forme carrde du c et de F a qui commencent a paraitre sur la monnaie des Arsacides, k partir de Phraate III. a une epoque qui doit s’eloigner bien peu de F age de notre Lysias. On pourrait voir un autre rapport entre cette monnaie Bactrienne et les medailles du mgme prince Arsacide, dans le titre de juste, AIKAIOT) qui se lit habituellement sur les medailles de Phraate
III mais ce qui constitue ici la particularity la plus remarquable
et la plus neuve, e’est la qualification d’ Adelphe, AAEA$Or, afiectee par Lysias, &c.”
When the mistake of attributing this coin to the wrong person is corrected, it is curious how perfectly the observations of the learned antiquarian of Paris confirm the conjecture to which I have been led by the deciphering of the Bactrian legend : — the coin is that of the ‘ son of a king Spalahara or Balahara in bearing the effigy of Hercules it agrees with the corrupted coins of HERMiEUS II. and others of the Pherres or Phrahetasa (Phraates ?) type, which appear to belong to one family. M. R. de R. agrees with our discoverer Masson in locat- ing them in an Indo-Greek dynasty at Nysa, — or near Jelaldbdd, where their coins are found in the greatest abundance.
I have purposely introduced an engraving of a very perfect speci- men of this coin given to me by Mr. Trevelyan who got it from Mohan Lal, as figure 3 of Plate XXVII. It it ruled by the medal- ruling machine and is of course perfectly accurate, though indistinct.
It may be remembered that the name of Vonon es is not found on the Bactrian side of his coins, but a totally different word, ‘P'l'l'l'h Baldha- rasa as I read it, or perhaps Balaharasa the patron of
* The drawing of the very coin described by M. R. de R. was published by myself in June, 1835, but I did not deem the name legible, nor has it proved so at Paris, by their making Lysiou out of Spalurmou. 1 stated my reason for not publishing earlier to be, that I might not forestal the As. Soc. of Paris in describing General Ventura’s splendid collection.
+ It is not obvious in what this great resemblance consists? — one coin is square, the other round : — one has a Greek legend only ; the other a bilingual one — the equestrian figure is the obverse in one, the reverse in the other. The anonymous coin was first published in the Asiatic Researches in 1831, and in the Journal for 1833 and 1834.
4 m 2
650
Additions to Bactrian
[July,
champions, a term nearly equivalent to 4 Satrap.’ Now on all the coins of Spalyries (or Sjjalurmes J hitherto found, the initial letter has been unfortunately cut off; but the three next are ... lahdra the same as above, wanting only the final genitive inflection : the next letters may be read "Pri J1 putasa for (qM^sj) 4 of the son.’ Putting the whole together we have Tuiip'i'h f'hBa) Idharaputusa dhamikasa
Jduh fur am asa ‘of Balafarama (either for Balaparuma, or whose strength is his armour) the just, the son of Balahara.’ There- fore as he was brother of the cotemporary of Vonones, 4 the then king’ must also have been a son of the same person : and we should expect to find another coin of a somewhat similar type struck by him. These conditions are satisfactorily combined in the rude square coin of Spalirises, depicted in Plate XXI. vol. IV. and PI. XXXV. of vol. V. fig. 7. He has the same flowing mantle from the shoulders, the sceptre of royalty, and his native name appears to be 'pTVfiri'h Balirishasa : thus the father’s native name is Balahara ; the eldest son’s Bulirisha, and the second son’s, Balavarma, and the copper money of the whole triad is distinguished for its exceeding rudeness no less than its confor- mability of type ! The silver money of Spalurmes and Spalirises has not yet been found, or we might probably find that it maintained the name of Vonones the Parthian king, or his successor, on the obverse.
The style of these three names commencing with Bala, — and the title in particular of the first, Balahdra, — call to mind the Balhdra dynasty of north-western India, of which the epoch cannot be said to be yet well defined. One of the earliest foreign authorities the historian Masoudi, who wrote in 947 A. D. says : — 44 The dynasty of Phoor who was overcome by Alexander (had) lasted 140 years : then came that of Dabschelim, w'hich lasted 120 : that of Yalith was next and lasted 80 years, some say 130. The next dynasty was that of Couros, it lasted 120 years. Then the Indians divided and formed several kingdoms ; there was a king in the country of Sind ; one at Canouj ; another in Cashmir ; and a fourth in the city of Munich' ( Minnagara ?) called also the great Houza, and the prince who reigned there had the title of Balhara*.”
120 -j- SO + 120 = 320 years estimated from Alexander’s time brings us to B. C. 3, or allowing a fewT more years to Porus say 10 or 20 A. D. Now the reign of Vonones I. as king of Parthia is dated by Vaillant, from A. D. 6 to A. D. 20, so that the accordance of time is here perfect, and wre need seek no other explanation of the paramount Persian sovereign’s name and effigy on one side, while the other mo- destly bore that of his tributary, because we have witnessed the same * Wilford’s Essay, Asiatic Researches, IX. 181.
Jur. sh . See.
VoL XXI I//
1838.]
651
Numismatology, Plate XXVIII.
in the Satrap coins of Surushtra. The native kings were apparently allowed to have the copper coin to themselves. The religion here how- ever is polytheistic, the effigy that of Hercules or Baladeva.
Without insisting upon their being the same person, I cannot help mentioning that the name of Balarishi is found as one of four brothers by different mothers who cut a conspicuous figure in Indian fable. Balarishi, Vicramarka, Bali, and Bhartrihari ; the second of these is the celebrated Vicramaditya, whose reign falls 56 years before Christ, and he was the son of one Gandha-rupa or, as the fable has it, of a gundharva in the mortal disguise of an ass : Wilford interprets the tale by making Vicramaditya the son of Bahram Gor of Persia by an Indian princess, and, to account for the anachronism of 400 years, is forced to imagine there were several kings of the same name, — . which would be likely enough if he admitted (as seems certain from our coins) that Vicramaditya is a mere title. We shall presently allude again to this circumstance.
Fig. 11. From General Ventura’s collection. A more perfect specimen of a hitherto illegible coin. It is now seen to belong to Mayes.
Obverse. BA2IAEG2 BA2IAEHN METAAOT MATOT. Front figure of the king seated on a chair or throne, a shawl (?) on his should- ers, and a club or knotted sceptre in his right hand like that given to Mokadphises.
Reverse. Much worn and indistinct, a female holding some object like a scarf with both hands, and having a flowing robe behind, like that of the Vonones group. Bactrian legend 'P')V 'Pl'lu rdjadhi
rajasa mahatasa maasa, and on the field uA used numerically (?).
The discovery of this rare specimen, only the third known of the prince whose name it bears*, will be highly gratifying to the numisma- tists of Paris. It will in the first place remove the doubt entertained by M. Raoul De Rochette himself whether the un-Greek appellation Mayes might not be used for Mao, the moon, as a divinity and not as a king ; or whether united to the title BA2IAET2 the compound may not be equivalent to the name of Apollodutus ; “ ce n’est lk, du reste, qu’une conjecture que je soumets avec beaucoup de defiance aux lumieres de nos philologues iudianistes, desquels seuls il est permis d’es- perer la solution de ce curieux probleme.”
The problem is now solved so far that we find him an earthly sove- reign with similar titles to those of Azes, — and that he is not Apollo- dotus ! The native name composed of three letters, I should have for-
* I have just received another Mayes of different type from Capt. Burnes, too late for insertion here. — J. P.
652
Additions to Bactrian
(Mult,
merly lead mao, but on the new, and I think correct, system now adopted, it must be read Md-asa, or Mayusa , as near an approach to the Greek, or by the Greek to it, as the relative alphabets would allow. Of the name itself, I am inclined to identify it neither with Maia the mo- ther of Mercury (though the caduceus favors this idea, and the Indian
Mayi is also the mother of Buddha) nor with Mao as lunus, though
Chandra is a common name enough ; — but rather with Mayu (WftTTfsiT") the son of Kuvera, the god of riches, (whose name also is frequently adopted by princes*) and it may have been borne by a contemporary or successor of Apollodotus who swayed the sceptre but a short period in some part of the Panjab, if it is necessary to suppose them of the same age.
Philoxenes.
Fig. 12. A square copper coin in most respects agreeing with the former one, also of General Ventura’s collection, but having apparently a difference in the orthography of the Bactrian name. On comparing the drawing of the silver Philoxenes in the Journal des Savans with the rapid sketch I had taken of the same coin while in Calcutta, I perceive that I read the name and title wrong ; which is mv reason for inserting this better preserved coin : — the legend is clearly
’PiCl'lu maharajasa apavihatasa plijasinasa (or Philasi~ nasaj. On the silver coin the epithet is apavihasasa (quasi — not to be laughed at ! but I think the s must be a blunder.
M. Raoul de Rochette judges from the military aspect of Philoxenes that he was a satrap placed with a regal title on the north frontier of the Bactrian kingdom when threatened by the Scythians, but the circumstance of none of his coins having been found by Masson in the upper field, while several have come to light in the Panjab , would tend to contradict this hypothesis, as much as the ‘ Ceres Carpo~ phore, or Abundance personified, and humped bull of his copper coin. This learned critic does not allow that the brahmany bull has any reference to India, because it is seen on the Seleucidan coins ; but in the only specimen I have in my cabinet of a Seleucus with a bull reverse, the animal is altogether of the European breed.
Coins oj the Azes group.
A great deal remains to be done ere we shall be able to clear the history of this numerous and interesting series of coins. Every day new types and varieties spring up, generally of tiuned copper or bronze.
* See notes on the Allahabid inscription November 1837, page 972 — Pdlaka Ugrasena, devardshtraka Kuvera. As the Parthian kings were styled devajanita, this country of the devas may have been in the north, as was indeed the fabulous country of Kuvera the god-king.
653
1838-3 Numismatology, Plate XXVIII.
Fig. 13, is a specimen in good relief lately sent down to me by General Allard ; there was another in the collection sent home by General Court under care of M. Meifredy, of which I was favored with a sL,ht of the drawing. On this the name on the Greek side was entire, and thence I am enabled to complete my description.
Obverse. BACTAeuic BAClAeiilN MerAAOV YNAO^ePpOV, — raja in a brahmanical dress, upper part of the body naked — on the head a turban (?) with flowing fillets. The small figure of victory holding a chaplet over him forms the peculiarity of the device of which there are yet but three samples. The monogram which was before so unintelligible to us, I now recognise as a combination of two letters of the old Sanskrit alphabet y and J_ m and n*.
Reverse. Whether the figure in a brahmanical costume holding a trident in the right hand and a palm branch in the left is Neptune, Siva, the river Indus, or the king, I am not sufficiently initiated in the art to determine. No two reverses seem to be exactly alike though formed of the same materials ; the legend on the present in Bactrian is ‘P'VU’I'P 'P'liE 'PiCnu
Maharajasa rajarajasa nandatasa jayadharasa (?) Farhetasa.
1 do not pretend to be satisfied with the last epithet, nor with the name, which however I collate with M. Court’s. I have conceived it possible on a former occasion that it referred to Phrahates the predecessor of Vonones, or another of the same name : but there are too many uncertain letters in it to build theories safely upon. At any rate the same name of five letters here seen below the figure of Siva, is found on all the rude coins ascribed formerly to Unad (now corrected to) Undo-pherres, with exception of the penultimate letter which is there always formed like an f. Tf fara-etisa, (?) to which "p-liE nandatasa (soteros) is invariably added — on M. Court’s coin this epithet may be preferably read 'P'llu great !
On the area are two Bactrian letters S' f , which might be profanely taken for 1 six shillings’ by an uninitiated handler !
Fig. 14. A variety of the same group, in General Ventura’s recent collection. In this the horseman looks in the opposite direction, and the beginning of the name tnaO 4>eppo is visible. The monogram is composed of y and J_,, — y my a.
On the reverse, a well clad female holding still the trident (though it looks more like the cross) walks to the left — a Greek and a Bac-. trian monogram on either side, of complex form : legend as before, the name below, 'P'l'tfW.
* I may here note that fig. 14, PI. XLVI. of vol. V. is also a coin of Farheta, with the letters y as a central symbol.
654 Additions to Bactrian [July,
Fig. 15. Another novelty from General Ventura’s store, of which a duplicate has been sent to France by M. Court.
In all respects but the name the obverse corresponds with the fore- going. The name in the two coins yet brought to light of this species is quite distinctly rcNAC<I>APCT, which is either another member of the family or a corruption of the last.
The erect front-faced figure on the reverse is dressed in the Hindu dhoti — and extends his hands over a new symbol of gridiron fashion — • in his left hand is the trident. This figure has been conventionally styl- ed ‘ Siva when he appears with his bull on the Indo-Scythic coins. The native name is as before 'PTtf'P Farahetasa with the addition of netadharasa ‘ the bearer’ of something not very intelligible unless we make the first syllable Ail jaya, victory.
Referring to the observations in a preceding page about the brothers of Vicramaditya, I cannot forbear mentioning that in Gondrphures we might almost recognize the father of Vikramadltya himself ; for in the word Gondo-phares we have a signification not very remote from Gandha-rupa ; <papos being pallium, vestis exterior, — the compound may mean ‘ having a cloak made of the skin of the gandha, gonda, gor, or wild ass.’ Whence may have originated the fable of the Parthian king doomed to assume the guise of an ass during the day.
These are speculations certainly much in the Wilford strain, but the curious coincidence in so many names is enough to lead even a matter of fact man aside from the justifiable deductions of sober reason.
Fig. 16, like the last adds a new name to the Bactrian list. The coin, a thick copper piece in tolerable preservation was sent down to me by General Allard a short time ago : it is as yet I believe unique.
Obverse. {^a<ri\tus f)a(ri\euv ixeya\ov) ABATASDV — * of the great king of kings Abagases :’ there may perhaps be another letter before the A. The king, known by the flowing fillets of his diadem, seems dressed in a petticoat, raja fashion — and he sits sideways on a richly caparisoned horse, looking to the right. Monogram y as before, but with the Bactrian letter 1 beneath it.
Reverse. The same royal personage (by the fillets) as if performing the functions of high priest. The dress is so precisely Indian that I feel disappointed in not finding a regular Sanskrit name below ; nor can I produce much of accordance between the Bactrian and Greek names — the letters are 'PtlTS'l't or 'PHTSh? abakhafasa. On the field are various insulated alphabetic symbols, — Bactrian and Greek, and under the latter, one which looks like a modern Xagari n, *T, but is more probably the Bactrian 71 .
1838.]
Bates Medal-ruling Machine.
655
The last figure in the plate (from General Ventura’s store) is a duplicate of the Azes coin published as fig. 22 of PI. XXIII. vol. IV. (1835). Between the two one important fact is established, namely that at this period of the Azes dynasty the use of the Greek was entirely lost, while the native character was written with greater correctness in the same or rather the inverse ratio. The Greek legend is a mere jumble of letters, but the Bactrian reads continuously
'pa') ‘EUh'un p^h yj v'nu 'pa'iiv
Maharnjasa mahatasa dhamikasa rajatirajasa Ayasa.
‘ Of the great king, the mighty, the just, the king of kings, Azes.’
The figure of Abundance with her cornucopia has a compound symbol on the left which might be read Sri, her Indian name; and on the right the two letters ^ S Icha and dha, used numerically ?
The perfect Greek medals of Bactria proper, however beautiful as works of art, ought not to turn away our attention from these corrupted and ‘ barbarous’ specimens which mark the decadence of Greek dominion and Greek skill. These are the most precious to the student of Indian history: — through their native legend he may yet hope to throw light on the obscure age of Vikramaditva, — and the Scythian successors of the Greeks on the north of India. Hitherto these classes of rude coins, though very numerous, have been much disregarded, and on that account I now invite attention to them, and promise to return to the task myself when I have fresh materials collected and arranged ; my text being ‘ those coins on which the native and Greek legends differ, or record different names.’
P. S. My readers will perceive that two coins in the foregoing plates are engraved with a ruling machine, and will judge therefrom that my long cherished expectation of having such an instrument from England has at length been realized.
Such is indeed the case — the medal ruler promised by Bate and Co. to be even superior to their own is come after two years’ delay but instead of being their patent instrument, warranted to correct a1 1 distortion in the engraving of the object ruled, it is precisely the origi- nal defective instrument which has long been discarded as unfit for use.
It is hardly possible to believe that a respectable optician so high in his profession as Mr. Bate would wish to impose on the credulity of an Indian customer, albeit we { Nabobs’ are frequently looked upon as fair game for inferior articles and extravagant charges* : — yet there
* Of this I have myself had several examples. Some Wollaston’s Baro- metric Thermometers were sent out by a first-rate houge to a Civilian, war- 4 N
656
Bate's Medal-ruling Machine.
f July,
are many strong points of internal evidence which would bear me out in asserting that the instrument now before me has been made a long time — has been patched up for experimental trials by its maker — has been thrown aside in favor of his new invention, and has been now been finally brushed up for exportation to India!
After bringing so serious a charge forward, it becomes my duty to support it with proof: — and this I can do from Mr. Bate’s own written instructions, which bid me “ where the coin is in high relief, to lessen the angle of axis B. to diminish the effects of distortion;" whereas in the following description of his patent, he prides himself on his son’s having obviated all distortion*. He begins with a description of the original or American instrument illustrated by a diagram, which I have introduced as fig. 1 . into the accompanying Plate XXIX.
“ a, being the medal; b, the copper plate covered with an etching-ground; c, the tracer ; and d, the etching-point at right angles to it.
“ The arm c d having a ruling motion horizontally across the surfaces of a and b, and likewise moving freely in the direction c d. Also vertical motion being given to a and horizontal to b by the same screw : a series of lines traced over the medal were described upon the plate in the following manner-, so long as the tracer moved over the plane surface or ground of the medal, the point d de- scribed equidistant straight lines upon the plate; but so soon as the tracer touched a part of the raised surface or relief of the medal, it was raised above its plane a quantity equal to the height of such relief, and the line described by the etching-point was no longer equidistant, but deviated an equal quantity upon the horizontal plate: in the succeeding line, the tracer being raised off still further by the increased height of the relief, the etching-point deviated still further from the former line described upon the plate: the continuation of this process produced a succession of deviating lines upon the plate, which opening as the tracer rose above the plane of the medal, and closing again as it approach- ed that plane gave the effect of light and shade in the printed impression of the plate. But however pleasing the effect of these impressions, they were all distorted representations of the original, just so much as the lines producing the representation deviated from the straight line upon the medal — and I found that this distortion had suspended the use of the process which had been described 14 years before in the Manuel de Tourneur. The most valuable subjects, those having the highest relief, being most distorted.”
Here let me pause — the defects above condemned, are possessed in the fullest degree by the ruler sent to me : — the tracer describes straight lines only across the medal, while the diamond engraving point traces curves deviating in proportion to the relief of each part : — so that if the relief of the central point of the medal be one-tenth of an inch raised, and the angle of axis b be fixed at 45°-J-, the same point will be
ranted not to break ! — the bulbs were so thick that when heated even to 300* Farh., there was no chance of the mercury making its appearance in the tube ! It was doubtless calculated by the makers that they would never even be tried, much less used!
* See Philosophical Magazine 1833, vol. 2, page 288.
+ Without a drawing of the instrument it is almost impossible to explain what is meant by aj is A and ajtis B. The first is the axis upon which the rod holding the tracing point turns in rising over the raised parts of the medal, and
Bates Mesial Ruler
Jtur sis Sec.
iw. m pi xxix
I'iy J
1838.]
Bates Medal-ruling Machine,
657
misplaced one-tenth of an inch out of the centre of the picture. As an example I have engraved two ruled images of a medal of Homer, be- longing to Mr. Lang, C. S. with the deviation or distortion thrown in opposite directions. Few will believe that they represent the same object! In running down the relief (as in the cavity of the ear, and the front of the forehead,) it will be seen that the engraved lines return and cover a part of the plate already engraved ! There is to be sure an attempt to diminish the fault by lessening the deviation of the en- graved lines : — thus, the one-tenth altitude may be made to give a devia- tion of only one-twentieth or one-thirtieth in the engraving (by lessening the angle of axis B — but the light and shade will be thus equally dimi- nished, and the whole effect destroyed.
The mode in which Mr. Bate junior got rid of this difficulty in his patent instrument is then described — and it was its ingenuity which alone led me to send for one of the instruments to rule my Bactrian coins, rather than attempt to make one for myself, which I shall now be compelled to do.
“ My son, observing, that the thing to be desired was, a means of bringing the tracer down upon the medal, a quantity equal to the deviation of the etching- point from the straight line upon the plate; observing also that the process he was employing, transferred vertical sections of the medal to the plate, — pro- posed taking inclined sections of the medal. A little consideration determined the selection of 45°, as being equidistant from the vertical and horizontal posi- tions employed and this inclination completely fulfilled the purposes required, removing the distortion altogether, and so far from impoverishing the effect of light and shade, improving that effect, inasmuch as without diminishing its quantity it threw the light upon the representation of the medal at an angle of 45° to its plane, instead of as before in the direction of the plane of the medal*. The arrangement finally adopted is represented in fig. 2.
“ The tracer c being now attached to the right-angled triangle efg and a friction roller substituted for itat h, the triangle (the motion of which was strictly confined to the plane of the diagonal e g,) moved d a quantity always equal to the distance of the tracer c from the perpendicular p, so that the etching-point described precisely the same line upon the plate h as the tracer described upon the surface of the medal a.”
Nothing could be more simple, efficient and correct than this im- provement, and though the merit of it has been contested by the French and by the Americans, I thought Mr. Bate justly entitled to his patent (of which by the way I have seen no specification yet in the Repertory) and willingly acceded to the terms he enjoined to my friends in Eng- land on consenting to make me one, — namely, that I should not make
B i3 a second axis fixed on A at any convenient angle, carrying the arm which holds the diamond point or graver.
* This is not so comprehensible — the effect of light and shade depends merely upon the amount and direction of the deviation : and the smaller the relief of a medal, the more horizontally the light is required to fall on it in order to exhibit parallel effects to those of more angular light on a high relief.
658
[July,
On traces of a fossil Giraffe
use of it in England. It is so far fortunate that I am now driven to my own resources, and compelled to invent and to make an instru- ment which, though quite on a different plan from that depicted in Bate’s diagram, will I hope produce the same correct effects, with the additional advantage of being adjustable as to angle of the guiding plane e g, so as to regulate the force of light and shade ad libitum ; while I shall moreover be at liberty to use it wherever I please.
I find that impressions in hard sealing wax answer perfectly for ruling, in cases where parties are afraid of trusting original gems or coins under the tracing point. But it should be remembered that the casts must be in relief like the coins, or their image will be revers- ed in the engraved representation.
VII. — Note on a fossil Ruminant genus allied to Giraffidce in the Si- walik hills. By Captain P. T. Cautley.
When we look at the number of species of Proboscidan Pachyder- mata which swarmed in the primeval forests ; when we see that in the present day nature appears to have left but solitary species to attest the gigantic form of primitive existence, the imagination naturally places before our eyes forms of corresponding magnitude in other genera ; wTe picture to ourselves gigantic ruminants and gigantic carnivora only to be revealed by' the remains which nature has placed in its own keeping to exhibit to inquiring man the wisdom of design and the systematic chain of organization established throughout the whole of the animal kingdom.
Amongst the Ruminants the discovery of the Sivatherium gigan- teum has most amply tended to prove the truth of this induction, exhi- biting a ruminating animal bearing the same proportion to the rest of its genus, as the Mastodon and Elephant do to that of the Pachydermata. Amongst the Carnivora we have the Ursus Sivalensis, an animal far ex- ceeding in dimensions its congener of the present period, or the Ursus Spelaeus and bears of the German caves ; with a species of hyaena at least one-third larger than that now existing. The reptiles also have their gigantic representative in an entirely new genus of the tortoise, for which we propose the generic name of Megalochelys, from the enormous proportions of its remains as yet discovered, and the size of its femoral and humeral extremities equalling those of the largest rhinoceros. The question however does not appear to he whether the animals of former periods were larger than those now existing, but
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in the Siwalik hills.
659
whether the genera of larger animals were not more numerous ? We appear to be gradually losing all the larger forms of the creation. The Elephant and Giraffe of the present period will in all probability share the same fate as the Mastodon and Sivatherium of former eras, and be only recognised in the proofs exhibited by the researches of the geolo- gists.
Having discovered the type of a gigantic Ruminant amongst the fos- sils of the Siwaliks in company with the remains of the larger Pachy- dermata, and having at the same time proved the existence of the Camel, with other numerous species of the Cervine and Caprine families of Ruminants, it was not by any means improbable that the present tribe of Giraffidae should have its representative, so that the connection of the chain of existing and fossil ruminants might be still more per- fect. The discovery of the Sivatherium and Camel in conjunction led to the probability of the existence of the Giraffe, giving this genus the first position amongst the family of Cervidae. The fossil now to be described appears to throw some light on the subject, and should further research tend to corroborate the contents of this paper, it will be inter- esting to remark on the co-existence of the Sivatherium, Camel and Giraffe, with Quadrumana, Anoplotheria, Mastodons, and reptiles so closely resembling those of the present rivers, that it is not possible to discover in their osteological pictures at least, any remarkable deviation from the type which has been left to us.
The remain which I wish to describe is the third cervical vertebra s it was cleared out of a block of sandstone, and as is usual in similar cases, is very perfect in all its parts and proportions, and sufficiently armed with processes for the purpose of recognition and comparison.
The dimensions are as follows.
Length in the barrel, Inch. 7.8
Breadth in centre ditto, 1.7
Depth ditto ditto, 2.2
There are marked differences between this fossil and the correspond- ing vertebra of the existing camel, and in comparing them together the following appear to be the most worthy of notice.
In the fossil the oblique processes are much shorter, and stouter than those of the camel, with articulating surfaces at a greater angle : the barrel of the vertebra is much longer : the hollows or depressions which appear directly under the anterior oblique processes, and the ridges radiating from the extremity of the spinous process towards the expanded surface of the posterior oblique processes so well marked in the camel, are altogether wanting in the fossil : the upper surface
660 Kittoes illustrations of Cuttack sculpture. [July,
with the exception of the spinous process being altogether flat and unmarked.
On the inferior or lower side of the vertebra, there is also a consi- derable difference, that of the camel being much curved and hollow, unin- terrupted by ridge excepting in the vicinity of the posterior extremity, where there is a knob or round process : in the fossil this knob is want- ing, but in its place there exists a well defined sharp ridge from one extremity to the other. The transverse processes of the fossil are im- perfect, but the form and angle of departure from the barrel of the vertebra differs from those of the camel.
The foramina for the transmission of the vertebral artery are well defined in the fossil, the space between the entrance and exit occupy- ing the central third portion of the whole length ; a prominent well defined ridge runs obliquely across the plane of the side connecting the upper anterior oblique process, with the lower and posterior extre- mity of the transverse process, a very marked peculiarity, which with the position of the foramina, separates the fossil from the camel.
It would be a great assistance to us were the Curator of the museum to draw up a monagraph on the Giraffe, including measurements in de- tail of the skeleton, a specimen of which exists in the room of the Asia- tic Society. The dimensions given in English and French measure would enable us, under the impossibility of obtaining the skeleton itself, of forming accurate conclusions as to the existence or not in the fossil state of the true Giraffe* *.
Northern Doah, July 15 th, 1838.
VIII. — Sketch of the sculptured images, on the temple of Grdmeswara, near Ratrapur : extracted from Lieut . Kittoe’s Journal.
Thursday the 8th December we marched at i past 4 a, m. and reach- ed our ground a little before eight o’clock, having travelled over 9 miles of road, though the actual distance from camp to camp at Ratrapur must be but 6 miles ; the distance measured in tolerably direct lines (as in vesterday’s march) was 8m. Of. 183y. The road winds a great deal, partly to avoid nullahs and uneven ground, and most of all, cultivated lands and villages ; we passed under mango topes for nearly the whole way, some entire plantations, others the remnants of what had formerly been such : most of them are choked with underwood and rank vegeta-
* The Society’s museum does not possess the skeleton of a Giraffe. or we should have readily complied with our correspondent’s request. The remains of the animal which died some years since at Calcutta came, we believe, into Dr. Pear- son’s possession, but were not included among the collection presented to our museum by Haji Kerbalai Muhammad. — Eo.
1838.] Kittoe s illustrations of Cuttaclc sculpture.
661
tion ; the “ bent” or ratan plant is the most conspicuous ; the country in this respect resembles the terai of the Himalayas. It would appear from the numerous topes and mounds of earth strewed with pottery, hewn stones and bricks, which mounds rise above the surrounding low lands, that the country had been thickly inhabited in former years, as was likewise tbe terai in Upper India. When and why, all these valleys have been forsaken, is a matter which it would be difficult to attribute a cause to ; there are however less bricks and stones on the mounds or “ Tan- ghees” (as they are here called) than on those of the Upper Provinces ; from this I should infer that the huts of former times were just the same as those now constructed ; namely, of a timber framework to support what is known in Europe by the name of “ wattle and dab,” which, from the swarms of white ants that (I may say) infest these regions, cannot be very durable : some however are more substantial, being built with mud and unhewn stones.
But to return to our route : for near a mile at the commencement of the march, the road winds through the narrow lanes of the villages men- tioned yesterday, beyond the furthermost of which and on the banks of the river running 100 yards from the road, stand the ruins of a small and once highly elegant temple dedicated to Maha'deo by name Gram. - eswar ; it is of white sandstone of a very fine grain ; what remains of the sculpture is truly elegant, the figures and idols are very graceful ; they are in the style of the temple of Anrung Vasudeba and others of the same era at the famous Bhuvaneswar* . It is said to have been built by raja Parsuttem Deo who reigned from A. D. 1478 to 1503 A. D., and that it was destroyed by the apostate and spoiler, Kala Pahar, who invaded Orissa from Gaur in A. D. 1609. This person waged a war of de- struction against all the temples that came in his way; the natives believe him to have been a “ rakshas” or demon, that he possessed a magic kettle drum at the sound of which the noses and arms of all the idols dropped off, as well as the tops of the temples ; it was in vain I attempt- ed to persuade the ignorant brahmans of the different temples I visited, that Kala Pahar was but a man like themselves.
The superstition and timidity of the people of these provinces exceeds any thing I have ever witnessed in any part of our presidency from Ludiana downwards.
***********
***********
A quarter of a mile above the villagef, is an island separated from the rocks on the main land by a broad and exceedingly deep channel of the river flowing between. On this island (which is well wooded) are the remains of a very ancient temple dedicated to Maha'deo by the name of “ Pachameswar ,” also “ Manji thakur”, or the Steersman Lord. The style of the temple is that of those in the Carnatic (if I mistake not), and like a few of the more ancient temples of Bhuvaneswar ; it has evidently never been completed, the stones are laid without mortar and are fixed with iron clamps, which have aided in no small degree to destroy the edifice. It is much to be regretted that the Indian architects of olden
* Vide PI. XXXII. t The Village of Khandhurptir .
662 Kittoes illustrations of Cuttack sculpture. [July,
times had recourse to such an indurable method of fastening their ma- sonry, many of the most elegant buildings at Agra , Dehli and elsewhere have been destroyed by this ill judged practice ; the iron after the lapse of a few years expands from corrosion and splits off large masses of the masonry.
The Tdj has suffered greatly from this cause, which was discovered even before the work was half finished; copper and brass fastenings were then substituted, these have saved the dome from injury : brass clamps have however been used in other public works of antiquity in India, for several have been found in the masonry of the fort of G 'uttack during its demolition for the use of the False Point lighthouse.
It appears that it was formerly the practice to build the temples with the material rough wrought, and to sculpture them afterwards : this tem- ple is one of the many instances of such a custom.
Towards the top of the conical tower are several words cut on the unfinished surfaces of two of the compartments ; the character is Gaur Sanskrit ; the letters are clearly cut, and very large*.
The temple has evidently been consecrated in former years to De' vi' or Durga, Fig. 1, p. 2, xxxvii. There is a legend connected with this curious place which was told me by the attendant priest or Sevaka.
The story is as follows. Many years ago when the Hindu deities performed their miracles and deigned to appear unto a favored fewr, a rich merchant was coming from the western provinces in a large vessel (for in those days the Malianadi flowed narrow and deep) laden with goods of great value. The vessel on approaching the rock was about to be dashed against it, but being drawn into a whirlpool was being equally threatened with destruction : the merchant who had an only offspring with him, invoked the goddess Devi' that if she would save their lives and property he would offer up his child as a sacrifice to her bounty. The boat remained fixed and unhurt, when the merchaut lamenting, fulfilled his vow by throwing the child into the river ; it sunk, but instantly Devi' in the form of a mermaid rose from the water with the child unhurt (standing on the palms of her hands) which she restored to its father, demanding as an acknowledgment that he should build and endow a temple to Siva and present it with a golden bell. This he ac- cordingly did ; however many years after a thief was tempted to swim to the sacred island and to steal the golden bell, which he was deprived of by the deity, who, as he was descending the rock, annihilated the sacrilegious mortal, and converted the bell into stone. I proceeded in a boat to see this spot where the credulous Ooriyas fancy they can dis- cern the bell and clapper ; it is a hollow place in the rock, just above the watermark of the dry season, with a nodule of quartz (of which there is a great quantity imbedded in the coarse sandstone) projecting down- wards from the upper surface of the cavity ; this they call the clapper ; the whole surface is besmeared with red lead and oil, and offerings are constantly made there, for which purpose it is necessary to go in a boat.
* The reading in Nagree is thus, vide
Journal As. Soc. No. 60 of December 1826. “The divine Lord of beauteous variety.” “ The variegated ornament.”
Jour. /is. for.
Kcm.nxxwi
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IX. — Proceedings of the Asiatic Society.
Wednesday Evening, the 1 st August, 1838.
The Honorable Sir Edward Ryan, President, in the chair.
Mr. William Edwards, C. S. and Major William Gregory, Bengal Army, proposed at the last meeting were elected members of the Society.
Sir Graves Haughton wrote to thank the Society for the Sanskrit works presented to him.
“ It was my good fortune, he writes, to be in London at the time the council ap- pealed to the home authorities against the sweeping and extraordinary decision of the Bengal Government regarding the publication of native works by the Committee of Education ; 1 made a point of collecting all the documents I could, and of laying them before our President. I have reason to think that my efforts were of some use in preparing the way for the success of the deputation which afterwards waited on the President of the Board of Control.”
Read the following report of the special Committee appointed for con- sidering the expediency of printing the Sarira Vidya.
Report.
The Committee appointed in your letter of the 20tli instant, beg leave to state that they have duly investigated the several questions you have proposed and that they consider,
1st. That the translation of Hooper’s Anatomist’s Vade Mecum having been al- ready made and paid for, that work should be adopted as the basis of the proposed volume for the use of the native medical pandits of India
2nd. That several additions, alterations and explanations are indispensable to render the volume accurate or instructive.
3rd. That a few lithographic drawings on the scale of the wood cuts in Paxton’s work would materially add to the value of the publication.
4th. The Committee have had the advantage of the advice and opinion of Dr. Goodeve on the subject, and Dr. Goodeve has kindly offered to examine the cor- rections proposed by Modhusodun Goopta and to give his general superintend- ence in the progress of the work. This liberal offer the committee consider should be at once thankfully accepted.
For the labor of correction and supervision the Committee think Modhusodun Goopta should receive a moderate remuneration, the amount of which the Commit- tee scarcely think it their province to suggest.
Medical College, Calcutta, l W. B. O’SHAUGHNESSY,
31 st July, 1838. J Secretary to Committee.
The President thought that the report omitted to touch upon one point of consi- derable importance, viz. the estimated expense of the publication. The Committee seemed to concur in recommending the Sarira Vidya, because the translation had been paid for, and because Mr. Muir’s bonus of 1000 rupees would cover the printing : — but he perceived from the Secretary’s notice at the last meeting, that 2000 rupees more might still be required to complete it, including the plates and additions it was proposed to supply. Under these circumstances the aspect of the question was ma- terially changed ; and he would put it to the meeting whether it would be justifiable for the Society to expend so much upon a Sanskrit translation which but a very limited class could read, when the money might be so much better employed in im- parting the same or other knowledge to the great body of the people in their own vernacular tongue. He therefore moved, seconded by Mr. Hare,
That a fresh reference be made to the special Committee begging their opinion, whether it be expedient for the Society to expend any portion of its funds on publishing a Sanskrit translation of the Vade Mecum, rather than to devote the amount to the imparting of instruction to the mass of the people in the Hindustani language, even though in so doing it forfeit the advantage of Mr. Muir’s bonus, and of the translation already made.
The Secretary explained that the Sarira Vidya had become the Society’s pro- perty by transfer from the Committee, on condition of its being printed. He had merely reserved it until the more important Sanskrit works should be completed. He could not have anticipated any objection on the score of inutility. Itwas in- tended to convey to the medical pandits throughout India, who are an exclusive caste of hereditary monopolists in their profession, and all study their art in San- skrit, a more correct notion of human Anatomy. Originally the Sarira Vidya had been also destined to become a class-book in the medical branch of the Sanskrit College, but that class had since been abolished, and the teaching of the medical art limited exclusively to English.
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What stronger argument of the utility of the book could be adduced than the ten- der of a bonus of 1000 rupees to effect its publication by a gentleman who had for two years in vain held out the same premium for an essay in English and the ver- nacular, on the advantages of science ! Once placed in a Sanskrit dress, the Euro- pean system of anatomy would be accessible all over India for subsequent transfer into the Hindi dialects of every province if requisite, and it was no trivial argument that the same work had been already printed in Arabic, and thus made available for the Musalman practitioners and for translation into Urdu when called for. If doubt existed as to the propriety of publishing in the learned languages, he submitted that the special Committee of medical men consulted on a purely professional point, were hardly competent judges, and he moved, as an amendment,
That the question of the propriety of publication, be referred to the Committee of Papers in the ordinary course.
The President objected to the Committee of Papers because he thought they were more likely to have a leaning in favor of Sanskrit*.
On taking the votes on the question by shew of hands the amendment was lost and the original motion carried by a majority, the name of Babu Ram Comul Sena being added to the committee on the motion of Mr. Hare.
Read, the following reply from Government to the reference made in virtue of the resolution of last meeting on the subject of the Oriental publication grant.
No. 844, General Department.
To James Prinsep, Esq.
Sir, Secretary to the Asiatic Society.
1 am directed by the Honorable the Deputy Governor of Bengal to ac- knowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 12th instant with its enclo- sure, and in reply to state that under the circumstances represented his honor the Deputy Governor is led to believe that he shall only conform to the wishes of the honorable the Court of Directors by giving to their or- ders on the subject of Oriental Publications so much retrospective effect as slrnll relieve the Society from the debt it has incurred in completing the publication of the works made over to it by Government. A Treasury order will accordingly be issued in favor of the Sub-Treasurer to enablo him to pay to your receipt, on a bill to be drawn in the name of the Asiatic Society, the sum of 2,500 Company’s rupees, which appears to be the amount advanced by the Society as stated in Para. 3 of your letter under replv.
2. The completion of the remaining volume of the Mahabharata will fall within the natural appropriation of the monthly allowance prospective- ly assigned.
I remain, &c.
H. T. Prinsep,
Secretary to ths Government of Bengal.
Fort William, the \tith July, 1838.
The Secretary to Government in reply to the Alif Leila reference, wished to learn the cost of the translation, and the number of volumes, previous to determining on the amount of patronage to be bestowed.
Library.
The following books were presented :
The Bulletin de la Socidt6 de Geographic, 2nd series, vol. 8— by the Geograph. Society of Paris.
Result of astronomical observations made at the H. E. I. C. observatory at Ma- dras, by Thomas Gi.anville Taylor, Esq. H. C. Astronomer, vol. IV, 1836, 1837 — by the Government.
Defence of Colebrooke’s exposition of the Vedanta philosophy —by Sir Graves C- Haughton.
Recollections of the Deccan — by the Author.
* Wemust apologize for the imperfection of this report as we kept no note. Mr. E. Sttfli t>-« and others spoke on their experience of the Hindi Vaidvas up the country receiving their instruc- ton in Sanskrit, whatever it might be in Bengal, — (where every one knows Sanskrit is more read and better understood than elsewhere, because it is more closely dependent on ih# Sanskrit for all abstract terms.) — Eo,
1838.]
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Proceedings of the Asiatic Society.
The Quarterly Journal of the Calcutta Medical and Physical Society, No. VI.— by the Editors, Prof. Goodeve and O’Shaughnessy.
Rapport annuel sur les travaux de la Society d’ Historie naturelle de 1* ile Maurice, 1837 — by M. Julien Desjaudins.
Meteorological observations for Dec. 1837 and 3 months of 1838, at Maurice — by the same.
Ditto at Calcutta, for June — by the Surveyor General.
Observations meteorologiques faites a Maitepolliam, et a Kotigherry aux Neilgher- nes, en Mars, Avril, May et Juin 1838,— by M. Adolphe Delessert.
The following purchased at the suggestion of the Museum Committee.
Jardine and G. Velby’s Illustrations of Ornithology, 1st fasc. N. S.
Lardner’s Cyclopedia — Russia vol. I. from W. Allen and Co.
A letter from Government forwarded for deposit in the Society’s library, an account book and map belonging to the late travellers Moorcroft and Trebeck, which were lately recovered with 50 other volumes from the chief of Kunduz, Meer Moorad Beg by Dr. Lord.
The following information respecting the fate of these unfortunate tra- vellers is extracted from Captain Burnes’ report on the subject to the Governor General, dated 1st May, 1838.
Memorandum regarding books and papers of the late Mr. Moorcroft, by Mr. Lord.
1. I have the honor to present you a list of books and papers belonging to the late Mr. Moorcroft which 1 have been so fortunate as to recover during my recent journey to Toorkistan.
2. For the greater part of them I am indebted to Meer Mahomed Moorad Beg who, immediately on my arrival at Koondooz, wrote to the khan of Moozar desir- ing that all such relics ofthe European traveller should forthwith be sent. In re- ply to this, 50 volumes all of printed works were immediately forwarded, the re- mainder including the maps, Mr. Moorcroft’s passports in English and Persian from the Marquis of Hastings, and a MS. volume with several loose MS. sheets, chiefly of accounts, I was enabled to recover when by the Meer’s permission, I my- self, made a visit to Khooloom and Moozar.
3. I think the evidence 1 have received proves, as strongly as the nature of ne- gative evidence will admit, that no MS. papers of any value belonging to that ill- fated expedition remain to be recovered. I paid every person who brought books, and always explained that I would give double reward for any thing that was writ- ten, and though in consequence of this, several sheets of MS. were brought me, they never appeared on examination to contain any thing beyond accounts and such routine matters. Now as the natives must be uuable to make the distinction, the chances evidently are that if any papers Of importance existed, one or two of them at least would have found their way to me amongst the numbers presented.
4. I append a letter from Mirza Humee ood deen, the principal Secretary to the Khan of Muzar and a man who attended Mr. Trebeck in his last moments, saying that two printed and one MS. volume are in existence at Shuhr Subz, and that he had sent a man to recover them for me. As 1 have since been obliged to leave the country, and all communication is by the present state of affairs at Gabool rendered impossible, I mention this fact as one worthy the attention of some future traveller.
5. The map is in itself a document of much interest as containing Mr. Moor- croft’s route traced, evidently with his own hand, and continued as far as Akcha within one stage of Audkhoee, where he is know'n to have fallen a victim, not more,
I believe, to the baneful effects of the climate than to the web of treachery and in- trigue by which he fouud himself surrounded and his return cut off. On the back of the map is a MS. sketch of the route through Adkhoee to Meinuma and back through . Sireepoor to Bulkh, as though he had planned a tour through these little independent states, partly perhaps to see the horses for which they are famed, and partly to wile away the weariness of expectation till a safe conduct should be grant- ed him through the territories of the ruler of Koondooz.. We can thus almost trace the last object that engaged his mind and in the prosecution of which he laid down his life.
6. Connected with this I beg to subjoin a slip of paper which I found amongst a pile of loose accounts and which bears in Mr. Trebeck’s writing, the following entry.
“ Date September 6th 1825. Arrived at Bulkh August 25th, Mr. M. died August 27th,” placing the date of Mr. Moorcroft’s death beyond a doubt, and alsol think affording negative evidence against the supposition of its having been caused by any unfair means.
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6. But the same paper is further interesting from an accidental coincidence. The Meerza 1 have before mentioned accompanied me from Task Koorghau to Muzar, and in the course of conversation, which naturally turned in a great mea- sure on the melancholy fate of Moorcroft’s party, he said that about a month be- fore the death of Trebeck he had one day gone to him, by desire of the Khan, to purchase some pearls which he heard he had. Trebeck produced the pearU but when questioned about the price said in a desponding tone, Take them for what you please, my heart is broken, what care I for price now 1 The entry is this : “ Total on the strings, 280 grs. Oct. 15th. Taken by Meerza, 131 grs. or 4 miskals. 16th. Taken by Dewan Beghee 33 grs. or 1 miskal.” It will be observed no price is affixed ; — probably none was received. A stranger in a foreign land far from the sooth- ing voice of countrymen or kinsfolk, surrounded by rude hordes who looked on him as the only obstacle to possessing themselves of the countless treasures which they believed to be in his charge, his youthful spirit pined and sunk. The bright visions with which he had commenced his career had long since vanished : — where he had looked for pleasures he had found toils, where for rest, he had to guard against dangers : sickness had carried off many of the companions with whom he had set out and when at last it struck his guide, his own familiar friend to whom he had looked for support under every adversity, and for rescue from every difficulty, and when in addition he found that all hopes of return to his native land seemed if not cut off at least indefinitely deferred, his heart as he too truly said was broken, and in a few short weeks he sunk into an untimely grave. I should apologize for a digression unsuited I confess to the character of an official paper, but it is impossible to hear the warm terms in which poor Trebeck is still mentioned by the rude natives amongst whom he died without feeling the deepest sympathy in the fate of one who fell “ so young and yet so full of promise.”
7. It is only necessary 1 should add one or two more observations. The account book, which 1 now forward, is a valuable document in more respects than one. It contains an accurate list of the stock originally purchased by Mr. Moorcroft when starting for his journey, and will serve to modify considerably the extravagant idea s that have been entertained of the quantities of goods wdiich he carried. Taken in connexion with the loose MS. accounts it will serve also to evince that the greater part of this stock was sold off previous to his leaviug Bokhara , and as far as my in- formation goes I am inclined to believe the proceeds were chiefly expended in the purchase of horses, of which I understand he had when he died somewhat under a hundred, including specimens of all the best Uzbek and Turkooman breeds.
8. The account book is further interesting as containing in Mr. Moorcroft’s own handwriting a list of the articles which he offered on his presentation to the king of Bokhara, and a note at the end to the effect that the king had, in return ordered him a remission of the duties of his merchandize rather more than equalling the estimated value of the goods. It is further satisfactory to be able to add, on the authority of several Bokhara merchants who w'ere on terms of intimacy with him during his stay in that city, that his character was highly appreciated by the king, who frequently sent for him to enjoy the pleasure of his conversation, and conferred on him the high privilege, never before granted to a Christian, of riding through the city and even to the gate of the king’s palace on horseback.
9. In addition to the list of his merchandize this account book contains also a list of his private property, which it appears Mr. Moorcroft was obliged by order of the Koosh Begee to make out on entering Bokhara: from this list we learn that he possessed 90 volumes of books. The number I have recovered and which I have now the honor to place at your disposal is 57 ; amongst them are several odd volumes of which the sets if complete, would give an addition of about 30 — total 87, so that there are probably not more than two or three volumes of which we may not consider ourselves to have ascertained the fate. As to MSS. I have already shewn the high improbability that any of consequence have eluded my re- searches.
10. Scattered through the printed volumes numerous notes and corrections in Mr. Moorcroft’s own handwriting will be found. Of these some referring inci- dentally to the dangers of his journey, or layiug down plans as to the route by which he meant to return, cannot be read without emotion.
11. In conclusion it is but justice to add that the impression every where left by this enterprizing but ill-fated party has been in a high degree favorable to our national character.
Peshuwvr, 2 6/A May 1838. (Signed) P. B. Lord.
Translation of a letter from Mirza Humee ood Deen to P. B. Lord, j Esq.
“ A. C. Iwo books and one manuscript are in the city of Shuhr Subz. 1 have sent a person to bring them and when they reach me I shall send them to you. In all things I will never forget your good offices. Let me always hear of your wel- fare. Believe what the man says and that I am your well-wisher. Dated Mohurrum 1254 A. II.”
1838.]
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[The list of books, principally medical, it is unnecessary to insert. — Ed.]
Literary and Antiquities.
The revised copy of the Girnar inscription made with the utmost care by hand, was received from Lieut. Postans, who had since been deputed to Baroda on duty.
This copy satisfactorily clears up almost all the passages at all dubious in Captain Lang’s original, — it will be necessary to publish a revised translation in consequence.
Captain Burnes forwarded copy of, 1st a short Buddhist Pali inscription, from the country of Shah Kuttore, or Chitral south of Badakhshan, on the river Kooner (the Kaure of Elphinstone, a principal feeder of the Indus) ; 2, facsimiles and ectypes of a Bactrian inscription from Kapurdiyheri, the same of which a sketch was formerly taken by M. Court ; and 3, a small inscription, in a modification of the same character, under the other.
[We shall publish these immediately, but we fear without interpretation.]
Mr. H. T. Prinsep, Secretary to Government, forwarded copy of a voca- bulary of the language of the Moghel Aimeks, by Lieut. Leech, for such notice as the Society might deem it to merit.
This is the eighth language or dialect of which Lieut. Leech has made himself master in the course of his present journey.
Captain Burnes also forwarded for inspection 5 gold coins dug out of the tope of Khaiber.
They were found a few feet below the surface by a party of Afgh&ns who were dig- ging a trench on the mound to protect themselves from the attack of another party. O ne coin was of Molcadphises ; the others were varieties of the Kanerkes group.
With reference to the legend of the Mokadphises coin, the Secretary announced that he had been fortunate enough to discover a scheme of the Bactrian alphabet, which enabled him to read the whole of the Bactrian legends with much greater facility, and semblance of truth than he had before been able to obtain. The lan- guage he now perceived to be Pdli, although somewhat disguised by being written in an alphabetical system as foreign to its structure as the Persian would be to the modern Bengali.
[The paper is published in the present number.]
Mr. Maddock proposed that the Society should take steps to procure some fragments of the richly carved sculpture of the Kanarali temple, now thrown on the ground and in danger of destruction.
It seems that permission having been given by Mr. Wilkinson to the Kurda raja to supply himself with stones (meaning probably the loose detached stones) from the black pagoda, the r&ja had commenced deliberately dismantling the temple and carrying off all the images to ornament his own house ! — in moving one large figure he had been obliged to take down the beautifully carved door depicted by Stirling, and unless stopped there would soon cease to exist this venerable monu- ment so long the principal landmark on the coast.
Resolved, to address Government to suspend if possible the further demolition of the Kandralc temple, or otherwise at least to secure some of its sculpture for preservation in the museum.
Mr. J. P. Grant, presented for the museum in the name of Mr. Church of Penang, two bows and a bundle of arrows from that island.
Col. Stacy presented on the part of Major Yule an ornamental Litho- graph of a gold medal of Shah Jehan, weighing 70 oz, dated 1064 Hej.
Statistical.
Dr. Spry laid on the table various tabular statements which had been prepared under his predecessor and himself, — but, at the request of the President, he withdrew them in order to embody them in a formal report by next Meeting.
Physical Department.
The following extract of a letter from Lieutenant Hutton, on his return from deputation to the Spiti valley, was read.
Soongnum, 5th July, 1838.
I am now again at Soongnum in Kunaumr, having recrossed the Hungrung Pass yesterday, on my return from Speetee, and bid adieu to the Tartars. The Passes to Ludak from Speetee were quite impassable from the great depth of snow which had fallen full two months later this year than usual, throughout the hills. Every
668 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society . [Jclt,
thing is very backward in consequence, — and in the higher parts of the Spec lee valley, there is great distress from the loss of last year’s crops, which were beaten down and buried beneath an early fall of snow. I experienced the greatest difficulty in reaching the fossil ground owing to the want of supplies and the unwillingness of the Kiladar at Dunkur to allow me to proceed. On my arrival beneath the fort, he sent me orders to return, as he had received instructions from Ludak to oppose my advance. In this emergency, finding myself within a few miles of the desired object, and unwilling that the wishes of the Society should be frustrated, particularly after the fatigues and discom forts 1 had experienced on my way; J bethought me that it is sometimes expedient when ‘‘at Rome, to do as the Romans do ^’ conse- quently finding that I had about as many men, and better arms than my opponent, 1 sent him back threat for threat, and told him that it was my intention to proceed by force if necessary, and that if lie offered to oppose me, I would burn his castle about his ears. The threat had the desired effect, and I received answer that his highness would pay me a visit, which he did, and having thus dismounted him from liis high horse, I made him furnish me with six days’ provisions for my people, by which means alone I have been able to visit the fossil ground and determine the geological formation of those dreary and melancholy looking regions. The fossils themselves as specimens are certainly not worth one quarter of the trouble they have occasioned me, and partake of the same decomposing nature as the shales in which they occur. Such as they are, however, I have collected them, and they will be interesting when taken in connection with the geological specimens of the whole country travelled over. In natural History this is the most barren country I have ever seen; of birds there are scarcely any, and of beasts none but the wild sheep. If the season be not against me, however, I may yet procure good specimens in the lower hills. Here there is no covert for living creatures, but lower down in Kuna- t cur where the forests are thick, I shall be able to make up a collection. The geolo- gy is however, I think very interesting and may perhaps cover the imperfections of other branches of my work. I have the “ Bhair or gigantic partridge ;” the com- mon chough, and another of the genus, which I am inclined to think is new ; pigeons and college pheasants also. The tragopan and monal are not found up here, but occur from Wangtoo downwards. Of the wild sheep I have been able to procure only one specimen, which the heat has spoiled in spite of lbs. of arsenical soap ; the thermometer at 1 lOo was almost enough to have spoiled me too. At Nako in Hungrung at sunrise on the 3rd July 37°, — at Lceo at noon, J]0° in sun, 100° in my tent ; and sunset 70°. — I am worn to the bones with fatigue, and anxiety lest the Society should feel disappointed with the results of my journey but I feel conscious of having done my utmost and must therefore wait patiently the decision of my judges. I shall halt here for a day or two to rest, as there are some things worth seeing in the neighbourhood, such as copper mines. &c. Poor Gerard’s ac- count of “ excellent limestone in this neighbourhood,” was premature ; he failed in his attempts to burn it, so say the people, and so says the stone, for it is a secondary limestone containing clay and sand and burns to a slag in consequence.
Three more specimens of Indus jet coal were received, through Govern- ment, from Captain Burnes.
Mr. H. B. Hodgson, addressed to the Society’s care through the Honor- able Col. Morison, a further roll of drawings illustrative of the zoology of Nipal.
The Secretary noticed as an omission on his part in the steps taken to pro- mote the success of Mr. Hodgson’s undertaking by the Society, that it had not yet solicited the usual patronage of the Government to his elaborate and costly publication. Having recommended the Royal Asiatic Society to solicit the patronage of the Court at home, he had deemed it superfluous to do so here, but as nothing had apparently been done there he thought it was now incumbent on the Society to do it at once.
Resolved, that the present roll of zoological drawings be submitted to the Hon. the President in Council with a solicitation for such-degree of public patronage, as the national character of the publication may seem to entitle it from the Government of British India.
Lieutenant E. Conodly, 6th Cavalry, communicated the following parti- culars of the recent fall of an aerolite in Central India.
Three aerolites fell during a heavy storm and after a vivid flash of lightning, on the same day, i. e. about the 23rd June. — One at Burnuggur (also called Nolai) the other two near Oujein. The three are said to weigh two rnaunds (together) and to be of three colors, green, yellowish red, and French grey, but on such points native authority is questionable. There seems no cause to doubt their having really
689
18;: 8.J Proceedings of the Asiatic Society.
fallen, the fact having been officially reported to the Resident of Indore by the Oujein akhbar navis. I also heard of it from private letters.
Mr. Bax has ordered them to be sent to him, and lias promised to forward them on to me when he shall have satisfied his curiosity by the sight of them.
Should they not be required by superstition for gods, which is more than pro- bable, specimens shall be sent to the Asiatic Society and to yourself.
A note on the geology of the desert and the navigability of the Loni river was communicated by Captain Bgrnes, in consequence of a remark in the Report of the Coal Committee, on the want of such information.
Natural History.
The following presentations to the museum, were noticed by the Cu- rator.
Skeleton of the Bengal Bustard, Otis Benga/ens'is.
Skeleton of the Negro Money, Semuopithecus Mounts.
This monkey preserved in spirits, was on a former occasion presented by Dr. Pearson, but falling into a state of decay, it was thought advisable to prepare and articulate the bones for a skeleton rather than allow the specimen to be lost to the Society’s museum.
Crania of the Red, or Asiatic Orang Otang. ( Pithecus Satyrus, Geoff.) one from Borneo, the other from Sumatra *.
These valuable relics of what appear to have been most extraordinary gigantic monkeys were presented by Major Gregory. They are those of adult males each exceeding in size even that of the large one killed on the N. W. coast of Sumatra, figured and so admirably described by Dr. Abel in the Society’s Transactions and which is stated to have measured 8 feet when suspended for the purpose of being skinned, parts of the spoils of which are now deposited in the museum. As no very marked differences are perceptible in the general conformation of the skulls of these two animals, and they exactly correspond with each other in their dental systems, it is evident that the individuals to which they belonged must have been of the same species. The one from Sumatra is the larger of the two and must have been a most formidable and stupendous animal in the living state. The skulls may be considered a valuable enrichment to the Society’s collection, for they probably surpass any thing of the kiud yet seen.
Inflated and dried stomach and ccecum of the Semuopithecus Entellus, or Hanuman monkey.
This is intended to show the sacculated and complex form of the first named viscus, in this group of monkeys, which in this particular respect differs most essentially from the Orangs and most of the other Simiae where the organ is of the usual simple construction, as may be seen by comparing it with the stomach of the Pithe- cus Satyrus placed with it in the museum.
Distended and dried stomach of a wild cat, Felis Catus.
Exemplifying the simple form of the organ in this genus of Carnivora.
Specimens of the head, wings and legs of the Flamingo ( Phcenicopterus ruber J, Cranium and imperfect skin of the Crested Porcupine ( Histrix cristatusj, and a dried skin of a large Armadillo, Dasypus ? pre-
sented by Mr. Kittoe on behalf of Mr. Colquhoun.
A Centipede, ( Scolopendra morsitans J, of large size, captured at the mint and presented by the Secretary.
Skull and skin of a Civet Cat, Viverra Ziheta, or Indian variety of that animal, presented by Colonel Stacy.
A fine and perfect specimen of the Silhet mole (a variety of the Talpa Europcea ), preserved in spirits, presented by Mr. J. Taylor.
The existence in India of this little obscure animal having been doubted by some and denied by others, it affords 'pleasure in being able to set the matter beyond the power of contradiction by the exhibit of a fine specimen, and the mutilated skin of one of former receipt, one from Silhet, the other from Assam and which may lead to the belief of their habitat in our move immediate possessions.
From the circumstance of its so completely .resembling the European mole in almost every particular it may reasonablv be considered a variety of that animal.
G. E.
* The latter is reserved by Majoi Gregory, as the Society possesses one jaw of the same species.
Meteorological Register, kept at the Assay Office, Calcutta, for the Month of July, 1838.
670
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