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JOURNAL 


OF 

THE  ASIATIC  SOCIETY. 


No.  39- — March , 1835. 


I. — Account  of  a Visit  to  the  Ruins  of  Sirnroun,  once  the  capital  of  the 

Mithila province.  By  B.H.  Hodgson,  Esq.  Resident  in  Nipal. 

[In  a letter  to  the  Editor.] 

I trust  that  the  drawings  and  inscriptions  lately  sent  you  from 
Bakra,  Mathiah,  Radhiah,  and  Kesariah,  will  serve  to  draw  attention 
towards  the  remains  of  Hindu  science  and  power  still  extant  in  this 
direction — the  Mithila,  or  Maithila  Dhsa  of  the  Sastras,  and  North 
Bihar  of  the  Moghuls.  But  it  is  not  merely  on  the  British  side  of  the 
boundary  that  these  astonishing  traces  of  ancient  civilization  exist  ; 
for,  in  the  Nipalese  Tara'i,  also  within  a few  miles  of  the  hills,  where 
now  (or  recently)  the  tiger,  wild  boar,  and  wild  buffalo  usurp  the  soil, 
and  a deadly  malaria  infects  the  atmosphere  for  three-fourths  of  the 
year,  similar  vestiges  are  to  be  found.  The  Nipalese  Tara'i  is  synominous 
amongst  Europeans  with  pestilential  jungle.  It  was  in  the  halls  of 
Janakpur,  however,  that  the  youthful  Rama  sought  a bride  : it  was 
from  the  battlements  of  Simroun  that  the  last  of  the  Deva  dynasty 
defied  so  long  the  imperial  arms  of  Toglak  Shah  ! 

But  the  ruins  of  Janakpur  and  of  Simroun  still  exist  in  the  Nipalese 
low-lands : and  he  who  would  form  a just  idea  of  what  the  Hindus  of 
Mithila  achieved  prior  to  the  advent  of  the  Moslems  must  bend  his 
pilgrim  steps  from  the  columns  of  Radhiah  and  of  Mathiah,  in  the 
British  territories,  to  the  last  but  still  astonishing  vestiges  of  the  cities 
of  Kings  Janaka  and  Nanyupa,  in  those  of  Nipal. 

Of  the  Nipalese  Tara'i  it  might  justly  be  said,  until  very  lately, 
‘ A goodly  place  it  was  in  days  of  yore, 

But  something  ails  it  now  : the  place  is  cursed.’ 

Five  centuries  of  incessant  struggle  between  Moslem  bigotry  and 
Hindu  retaliation  had  indeed  stricken  this  border  land  with  the 


R 


122 


Description  of  the  Ruins  of  Simroun. 


[March, 


double  curse  of  waste  and  pestilence.  Nature,  as  it  were,  in  very 
scorn  of  the  vile  passions  of  man,  having  turned  the  matchless 
luxuriance  of  the  soil  and  climate  into  the  means  of  debarring  his  fu- 
ture access!  Such  was  the  Nipalese  Tarai  until  1816.  But  since  that 
period  the  peace  and  alliance  existing  between  the  two  efficient  Go- 
vernments of  the  hills  and  the  plains  have  given  security  to  the  bor- 
derers, and  man  is  now  fast  resuming  his  ancient  tenure  of  this  fertile 
region.  Still,  however,  there  is  little  temptation  or  opportunity  for  Eu- 
ropeans to  enter  it  ; and  as  chance  recently  conducted  me  past  the  ruins 
of  Simroun,  I purpose  to  give  you  a hasty  sketch  of  what  I saw  and 
heard ; because  these  ruins  are  evidently  disjecta  membra  of  the  same 
magnificent  body  to  which  the  mausoleum  of  Kesriah,  and  the  solitary 
columns  of  Mathiah,  of  Rad  hi  ah,  and  of  Bakhra  belong.  About  15 
miles  from  the  base  of  the  hills,  and  at  a nearly  equal  distance  from 
the  Bagmatty,  south  of  the  former,  and  west  of  the  latter,  stand  the 
remains  of  Simroun,  in  the  Nipalese  district  of  Rotahat,  and  opposite 
to  the  Champarun  division  of  the  British  zillah  of  Sarun. 

The  boundary  of  Nepal  and  of  our  territories  confines  the  ruins  to 
the  south,  and  the  Jamuni  Nadi  to  the  west.  On  the  immediate 
east  lies  the  village  of  Kachorwa,  and  on  the  north,  that  of  Bhag- 
wanpur,  both  belonging  to  Nepal.  Here,  in  the  midst  of  a dense  jun- 
gle, 12  miles  probably  in  circuit,  rife  with  malaria,  and  abounding  in 
tigers,  wild  boar,  and  spotted  axis,  are  secluded  these  wonderful  traces 
of  the  olden  time.  The  country  around  is  well  cultivated  now , both 
on  our  and  the  Nipalese  side,  but  no  one  presumes  to  disturb  the 
slumber  of  the  genius  of  Simroun  ; superstition  broods  over  the  taint- 
ed atmosphere  ; and  the  vengeance  of  Kali  is  announced  to  the  rash 
peasant  who  would  dare  to  ply  an  axe,  or  urge  a plough,  within  her 
appropriately  desolate  domain.  It  was  only  with  difficulty  that  my 
elephants  could  make  their  way  through  the  jungle ; and  when  I had 
reached  a central  position,  and  ascended  an  elevation  of  some  25  feet, 
composed  of  the  debris  of  the  palace,  nothing  but  a wilderness  met  my 
eye.  Yet  it  is  barely  500  years  since  Simroun  was  a pakka,  forti- 
fied city,  the  pride  and  the  defence  of  Mithila  ! After  the  war  with 
Nipal,  Lieutenant  Boileau,  I think,  surveyed  these  ruins,  and  drew  up 
a plan  of  them.  What  is  become  of  it,  I know  not ; and  regret  that 
iry  own  opportunity  of  research  was  limited  to  one  hasty  visit.  In 
this,  however,  I traced  the  northern  wall,  in  all  its  extent : measured 
the  dimensions  of  the  great  Pdkra  or  reservoir  called  Isra  ; and  clam- 
bered to  the  top  of  what  were  once  the  citadel  and  the  Rani-bas  or 
Mahal  Sara'i.  On  my  return  I had  much  conversation  with  an  intelli- 
gent Brahman  of  Bhagwanpur,  who  told  me  that  in  April  and  Mav, 


1835.] 


An  ancient  City  in  the  Nipalese  Tardi. 


123 


when  the  jungle  is  at  its  barest  state,  the  form  and  extent  of  the  city 
may  be  distinctly  traced.  From  his  communications,  and  from  my 
own  observations,  I gather  that  the  form  of  the  city  is  a parallelogram, 
surrounded  by  an  outer  and  an  inner  wall,  the  former  of  unburnt,  the 
latter  of  burnt,  brick — the  one  having  a compass  of  seven  cos,  and  the 
other,  of  about  five  cos. 

On  the  eastern  side,  six  or  seven  wet  ditches  may  still  be  traced, 
outside  the  pakka  wall,  and  three  or  four  on  the  western  side.  The 
Isra  reservoir  or  tank  is  still  perfect.  It  is  333  paces  along  each 
greater,  and  210  along  each  shorter,  face  ; and  its  containing  walls  or 
sides  consist  of  the  finest  burnt  bricks,  each  of  which  is  a cubit  square, 
and  nearly  a maund  in  weight.  50  to  60  yards  of  causeway,  con- 
structed of  similar  bricks  or  tiles,  are  yet  entire  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  palace ; and  vestiges  of  the  same  causeway,  traceable  at 
other  points,  indicate  that  all  the  streets  of  the  city  were  of  this  careful 
and  expensive  structure.  The  remains  of  the  palace,  of  the  citadel,  and 
of  the  temple  of  the  tutelary  goddess,  exhibit  finely  carved  stone 
basements,  with  superstructures  of  the  same  beautifully  moulded  and 
polished  bricks  for  which  the  temples  and  palaces  of  the  valley  of  Ne- 
pal are  so  justly  celebrated.  I measured  some  of  the  basement  stones, 
and  found  them  each  5 feet  long  by  1^  broad  and  deep  : and  yet  these 
blocks  must  have  been  brought  from  a distance  of  25  miles  at  least,  and 
over  the  lesser  range  of  hills ; for,  till  you  come  to  the  second  or 
mountainous  and  rocky  range,  no  such  material  is  to  be  had. 

Some  twenty  idols,  extricated  fron  the  ruins  by  the  pious  labour  of 
a Gosain,  are  made  of  stone,  and  are  superior  in  sculpture  to  modern 
specimens  of  the  art.  Many  of  them  are  much  mutilated  ; and  of 
those  which  are  perfect,  I had  only  time  to  observe  that  they  bore 
the  ordinary  attributes  of  Puranic  Brahmanism.  Not  a single  in- 
scription has  yet  been  discovered  : but  wherefore  speak  of  discovery 
where  there  has  been  no  search  ? I noticed  four  or  five  pakka  wells 
round,  and  each  having  a breast- work  about  three  feet  above  the  ground, 
similar  precisely  to  the  wells  of  this  valley. 

What  I have  called  the  citadel  is  styled  on  the  spot  the  Kotwali 
Clioutara,  and  my  palace  is  the  Rdni-bds.  The  latter  has  a very  cen- 
tral position.  The  Kotwali  Choutara  is  in  the  northern  quarter  ; and 
the  great  tank,  called  Isra  Pokra,  is  about  f of  a mile  from  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  city  wall.  As  already  mentioned,  the  last  is  still 
complete  : the  two  former  exist  only  as  tumuli,  some  20  to  25  feet 
high  ; and  more  or  less  coated  with  earth  and  trees. 

Hindu  tradition,  eked  out  by  a couple  of  Sanscrit  slokas,  copy  of 
which  I subjoin,  asserts  that  Simroun  was  founded  by  Nanyupa  De'va, 

R 2 


124  Additional  information  respecting  the  Sdrun  [March, 

A.  D.  1097  ; that  sixf  of  the  dynasty  reigned  there  with  great  splen- 
dour ; and  that  the  sixth,  by  name  Hari  Sinha  De'va,  was  compelled  to 
abandon  his  capital  and  kingdom,  and  take  refuge  in  the  hills  A.  D. 
1322.  The  Moslem  annals  give  1323  for  the  date  of  the  destruction 
of  Simroun  by  Toglak  Shah.  Of  the  accuracy  of  the  latter  date 
there  can  be  no  doubt  ; nor  is  the  difference  between  the  Musalman 
and  Hindu  chronology  of  the  least  moment.  But,  unless  Nanyupa 
had  more  than  five  successors,  we  cannot  place  the  foundation  of  Sim- 
roun higher  than  about  1200  A.  D.  That  is  clearly  too  recent ; and, 
in  fact,  no  part  of  the  tradition  can  be  trusted  but  that  vouched  by  the 
memorial  verses,  which  only  give  the  date  of  destruction. 

Memorial  verses  of  the  founding  and  desertion  of  Simroun. 

jtwt  i y i 

■JtOnTfwWiKfsr  TRH-iR-Ty;  | 

vj  Ni 

The  following  is  a literal  translation  of  these  memorial  verses  : 

‘ The  wealth  accumulated  by  Rajas  Rama,  Nala,  Pururava,  and 
Alarka,  was  preserved  in  a tank  (that  of  Isra),  and  guarded  by  a 
serpent.  Nanyupa  De'va  destroyed  the  serpent  ; appropriated  the 
wealth ; and  built  (Simroun)  Garh  with  it.  (His  descendant)  Hari 
Sinha,  compelled  by  cruel  fate,  abandoned  his  beautiful  city,  and  went 
to  the  hills  in  the  year  of  the  Saka  1245.’ 

The  kingdom  of  the  Deva  dynasty  in  the  plains  expired  with  the 
destruction  or  desertion  of  Simroun.  It  extended  from  the  Kosi  to 
the  Gandak,  and  from  the  Ganges  to  the  hills  of  Nepal : at  least,  such 
were  its  limits  in  the  days  of  its  greatest  splendour,  when  consequently 
it  embraced  all  the  several  localities  from  which  I have  recently  for- 
warded to  you  such  signal  memorials  of  Hindu  power  and  science. 


II. — Further  particulars  of  the  Sdrun  and  Tirhut  Laths,  and  Account  of  two 
Buddha  Inscriptions  found,  the  one  at  Bakhra,  in  Tirhuf,  the  other  at 
Sdrndth,  near  Benares.  By  James  Prinsep,  Sec.  As.  Soc.  %c. 

[Read  at  the  Meeting  of  the  11th  March.] 

The  following  note,  from  Mr.  Hodgson,  (alluded  to  in  the  preced- 
ing article,)  accompanied  the  drawings  of  Buddhist  monuments,  which 
had  been  promised  to  the  Society  in  his  letter,  read  at  the  meeting 
of  the  28th  May,  1834. 

t 1,  Nanyupa.  2,  Ganga.  3,  Nara  Sinha.  4,  Ra'ma  Sinha.  5,  Sakti 
Sinha.  6,  Hari  Sinha,  all  with  the  cognomen  Deva. 


VjUV.PLVJI 


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( Th»  inscription- on  the  Delju.  Column/ contains  //  bees  more.) 

Jfote  (he- Small.  ItUtrr  between  the  line*  art  taken  from  the DeVu. 
inscription  . letters  not  Joustd.  in  that  i version,  ora  surrounded 
by  as  line  Q and  those  wan/ino  in  the  present,  version,  are 
inserted  with  a caret  a . 


1835.]  and  Tirhut  Pillars,  and  other  Buddhist  Monuments.  125 

“ I have  at  last  the  pleasure  to  send  you  my  drawings  of  the  Bakhra  column, 
and  the  Radhia  column,  with  their  inscriptions,  and  a third  of  the  Kesriah  mound, 
surmounted  with  its  hemispherical  temple  or  Dehgope.  I trust  you  will  animad- 
vert severely  upon  the  barbarous  custom  of  cutting  cyphers  and  names  upon  these 
ancient  monuments — if  there  were  any  inscription  on  the  Bakhra  column,  it  must 
in  this  way  have  been  scribbled  over  and  destroyed.” 

At  one  of  the  very  earliest  meetings  of  the  Asiatic  Society,  held  on 
the  29th  January,  1784,  I find  bv  the  records,  that  Mr.  Law  present- 
ed “ A Short  Account  of  Two  Pillars  to  the  North  of  Patna.”  The 
paper  does  not  seem  to  have  been  printed,  nor  has  it  been  preserved 
among  our  archives  ; we  may  therefore  conclude,  that  it  was  of  a merely 
cursory  nature  : nor  could  we  be  certain  to  which  of  the  three  pillars, 
now  again  brought  to  our  notice  by  Mr.  Hodgson,  the  remark  applied, 
were  it  not  that  the  Bakhra  pillar  of  Tirhut,  and  the  Radhia  or  Arah- 
raj  pillar  of  Sarun  bear  too  palpable  evidence  of  the  visit  of  Euro- 
peans, in  the  names  engraved  over  the  surface  of  the  stone.  In  the 
former  we  find  the  names  of  C.  H.  Barlow,  1780,  General  Brisco 
and  others  in  1799  ; — in  the  other  at  the  foot  of  the  original  inscrip- 
tion is  inscribed  the  name  of  Reuben  Burrow,  1792.  This  practice 
of  scribbling  over  and  disfiguring  ancient  monuments  is  as  barbarous 
as  the  vain-glory  of  Jehangir,  evinced  in  the  zone  of  Persian  cut 
over  the  Allahabad  inscription  ; but  fortunately  in  the  case  of  the  Bakhra 
column,  it  seems  to  have  been  harmless : for  there  are  no  traces  of  an 
ancient  inscription  upon  it,  at  least  on  the  parts  of  the  shaft  aboveground. 
Such  Nagari  characters  as  appear  in  Mr.  Hodgson’s  facsimile  are  all 
modern,  and  record  merely  the  names  and  dates  of  native  visitors  as 
gothic  as  their  European  precursors. 

It  is  quite  unnecessary,  therefore,  to  give  an  engraving  of  the  Bakhra 
transcript  furnished  by  Mr.  Hodgson.  The  view  made  by  his  native 
artist  (see PI.  VII.)  is  very  faithful,  and  entirely  accords  with  two  already 
in  my  possession,  one  by  Mr.  R.  II . Rattray,  the  other  by  Mr.  J. 
Stephenson*,  whose  accurate  description  of  the  monument,  and  of  the 
marks  of  an  ancient  city  in  the  neighbourhood,  as  well  as  his  discovery 
of  a Buddhist  image  there,  form  the  subject  of  a very  interesting  note, 
already  submitted  to  the  Society,  and  to  which  I shall  presently  allude. 

Passing  then  to  the  Radhia  or  Sarun  Lath,  which  is  evidently  the 
one  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Stirling,  (and  not  the  Bakhra  column,  as  Mr. 
Hodgson  supposed,  for  the  latter  bears  no  inscription,)  it  is  satis- 
factory to  discover  that  this  pillar  is  in  very  good  preservation, 
although  it  has  lost  its  capital  and  surmounting  Sinha  or  lion  ; for 

* Dr.  Mill  has  also  favored  we  with  a sight  of  two  paintings  of  the  same 
column  made  by  a native  artist  for  Mr.  J.  R.  Elphinstone  in  1814. 


126 


Inscription  on  the  Rddhia  Column. 


[March, 


it  bears  a long  inscription  in  the  Allahabad  character.  No.  1,  which, 
upon  a careful  comparison  with  the  plates  of  the  7th  volume  of  Re- 
searches, is  also  identical  with  that  of  Fi'roz’s  Lath  : so  that  we  are 
now  in  possession  of  four  copies  of  the  same  inscription,  three  of 
them  perfect,  viz.  the  Delhi,  the  Mattiah,  and  the  present  one,  and 
that  of  Allahabad  mutilated.  The  dimensions  of  the  Radhia  Lath,  are 
thus  given  by  Mr.  Hodgson’s  artist : (see  PI.  VII.) 


ft.  in. 

Height  from  the  ground  to  the  top  of  the  shaft 39  0 

Circumference  at  the  base, 11  2 

Ditto,  at  the  summit 8 0 

Its  locality  is  described  in  the  Persian  memorandum  as  in  the  village 
of  Purnia,  near  Arakrdj,  ^.1^1  zillah  Sdrun.  I find  in  Arrow- 

smith’s  map,  a place  called  Purownah,  between  Gorakhpur  and  Bet- 
tiah,  which  may  probably  be  the  spot  indicated  ; for  Mr.  Hodgson 
himself  states  it  to  be  at  Radhia,  near  Arahraj-Mahadeva,  in  the  dis- 
trict of  Majhuah,  in  the  zemindarv  of  Bettiah,  (Jour.  Vul.  III.  p.  483.) 

Mattiah,  the  site  of  the  third  pillar,  is,  by  the  map,  a good  way  far- 
ther to  the  north. 

In  my  notice  .on  the  latter  pillar  I mentioned  that  it  wanted  the  last 
eleven  lines  of  the  Delhi  version.  The  same  omission  occurs  in 
the  present  copy;  which  corresponds  also  in  some  other  respects 
with  its  neighbour,  such  as  in  having  double  letters,  or  letters  super- 
posed where  they  are  single  on  Fi'roz’s  Lath  : — in  having  the  half- 
moon letter  in  lieu  of  the  triangle  ; in  the  frequent  omission  of  the 
initial  letter  ^{,  and  the  addition  of  the  final  inflection  J(  (See  Vol.  III. 
p.  485).  The  suggested  order  of  the  reading,  on  Fi'roz’s  Lath,  namely 
North,  West,  South,  East,  is  also  confirmed. 

Being  now  in  a condition  to  correct  the  few  errors  of  the  Delhi 
version,  by  collation  with  two  other,  and  in  many  parts  with  three, 
authentic  texts,  I propose  immediately  to  lithograph  a revised  copy 
of  it,  to  assist  in  the  elucidation  of  this  very  curious  monument  of  an- 
tiquity ; while,  in  the  meantime,  I now  annex  a facsimile  of  the  Sarun 
version,  (PI.  VIII.)  with  interlineary  notes  of  its  chief  variations  from 
the  standard  text,  to  be  consulted  in  any  case  of  disputed  reading. 

With  regard  to  the  architecture  of  these  columns,  it  has  been  point- 
ed out  to  me,  that  Lieut.  Burt’s  drawing  of  the  Allahabad  column  did 
not  render  justice  to  the  ornamental  work  on  its  capital,  which  has  a 
decidedly  Greek  appearance.  That  officer  proves  also  in  error  (as  was 
suspected  by  Mr.  Hodgson)  in  supposing  the  mutilated  figure  on  the 
summit  to  have  been  a bull.  I have  been  favored  with  the  following 
note  on  the  subject  from  Lieut.  Kittoe,  whose  architectural  tasce  and 


127 


1835.]  Farther  particulars  of  the  Allahabad  Column. 

peculiar  study  of  the  ornaments  of  Hindu  and  Muhammedan  buildings 
in  such  parts  of  India  as  he  has  visited,  will,  we  may  hope,  hereafter 
contribute  to  our  better  acquaintance  with  the  detail  of  oriental 
architecture  of  various  epochs. 

“ On  perusing  No.  27  of  the  Asiatic  Society’s  Journal,  for  March,  1834,  1 ob- 
served a long  treatise  on  the  Allahabad  column,  which  has  been  lying  partly  buried 
since  1804,  when  wantonly  taken  down  by  that  enemy  to  Hindustani  architec- 
ture, Colonel  Kyd,  at  which  time  the  capital  of  it  (of  which  I am  about  to  treat) 
was  destroyed. 

“ I obtained  my  information  from  a very  old  inhabitant,  a Musalman  classie, 
who  had  seen  the  obelisk  erect,  opposite  the  inner  gate-way  of  the  Jumna  Dur- 
waza  ; he  informed  me,  that  a figure  of  a lion  was  on  the  capital  before  it  was 
destroyed. 

“ I am  sorry  to  say,  that  from  absorption  of  damp  and  saltpetre,  the  outer  crust 
is  fast  caking  off,  carrying  the  inscriptions  with  it  ; though,  at  the  fiat  of  the 
commandant  of  the  garrison,  a working  party  of  a couple  of  hundred  sipahis  could 
be  sent  and  the  column  placed  on  stone  trucks,  or  on  logs  of  wood  cut  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  thereby  be  saved  from  further  destruction. 

“ My  attention  was  first  drawn  towards  this  monument  of  antiquity  by  the  un- 
common ornament  on  the  periphery  of  the  mutilated  capital,  of  which  I enclose  a 
rough  though  correct  sketch,  (fig.4,  Plate  IX.)andupon  examination,  I found  that 
Lt.  Burt’s  bull  was  once  a figure  ofalioncouchant,  the  claws  in  each  paw  being  very 
plain  ; and  the  square  shape  in  which  the  chest  is  cut  between  the  forelegs,  led  me 
to  a supposition  that  there  had  been  a like  figure  to  the  colossal  representation  of 
the  lion  and  elephant  on  the  bridge  at  Jaunpur,  and  which  was  found  in  the  ruins 
of  the  fort  there,  during  the  repairs  of  the  bridge  by  Capt.  McPherson,  who 
placed  it  on  a pedestal — (if  acceptable  I will  at  a future  period  send  a drawing  and 
description  of  it*.)  I am  the  more  convinced  of  the  correctness  of  my  conclusion, 
since  the  perusal  of  October’s  number  of  A.  S.  Journal,  in  which  a drawing  and 
description  of  the  Mattiah  Lath  is  given,  on  which  precisely  the  same  figure  occurs, 
the  elephant  excepted. 

“ The  ornaments  on  the  periphery  of  the  block  will  be  found  to  resemble  those 
common  in  the  cimarecta  of  Grecian  cornices  ; the  astragal  or  beading  of  it  is  also 
of  common  occurrence  in  Grecian  and  Roman  architecture. 

“ On  comparing  Lieut.  Burt’s  copy  of  the  character  No.  1,  I observed  several 
errors  in  the  shape  of  the  letters,  and  in  their  actual  number  ; this  however  has  be- 
come of  no  moment  since  your  discovery,  that  the  three  inscriptions  of  the  Delhi, 
Pryag,  and  Mattiah  pillars  are  each  other’s  facsimiles. 

“ However,  there  is  one  omission,  I consider,  of  great  importance; — that  of  the 
interlineation  of  nearly  the  whole  character  No.  1,  with  one  more  modern,  like  un- 
to No.  2,  and  which  may  probably  be  a translation  into  Sanscrit  of  the  former  ; 
it  is  cut  or  rather  dotted  in  a very  rough  manner,  and  in  some  places  the  letters  join 
into  those  of  No.  1,  to  which  I attribute  the  errors  in  the  copy  of  that  character. 

“ I shall  here  conclude  by  remarking,  that  the  number  of  lineseffacedby  Jehan- 
gir’s  pedigree  are  seven,  by  correct  measurement ; whereas  three  are  the  number 
mentioned  : this  may  probably  be  a misprint.” 

* We  shall  esteem  this  a favor.  There  was  however  no  elephant  on  the  Al- 
lahabad column. — Ed. 


128  Account  of  the  Ruins  in  the  Neighbourhood  of  Bakhra.  [March, 


The  most  important  fact  in  the  above  note,  namely,  that  of  the  ancient 
inscription  No.  1,  being  interlined  with  a more  modern  character,  was 
not  adverted  to  by  Lieutenant  Burt,  in  his  account  of  the  pillar.  I 
accordingly  requested  our  associate,  Mr.  Walter  Ewer,  of  Allahabad, 
to  re-examine  the  pillar,  and  his  reply,  received  a few  days  since,  says, 
“ True  enough,  the  unknown  character  is  interlined  with  Sanskrit,  which 
is  the  least  distinct,  and  appears  to  be  the  older  of  the  two.”  It  is 
possible  they  may  prove  to  be  contemporaneous,  and  there  will  be 
an  end  of  the  mystery  which  has  hitherto  hung  over  this  writing. 
Mr.  Ewer  has  undertaken  to  make  a copy  of  the  interlineation,  and 
to  collate  the  other  printed  inscriptions  with  the  original. 

I may  here  mention,  that  Major  Colvin  of  the  Engineers  has  given 
me  notice  of  two  more  Laths  in  upper  India,  one  at  Hissar,  and  ano- 
ther at  Fatihabad  near  Delhi.  The  former,  though  in  a decayed  con- 
dition, still  contains  a few  characters  : of  both  we  may  hope  to  obtain 
further  particulars  in  a short  time. 

I now  return  to  the  Bakhra  column,  for  the  purpose  of  introduc- 
ing Mr.  Stephenson’s  description  of  the  discovery  of  an  image  of 
Buddha  in  its  neighbourhood.  The  Kesariah  mound,  of  which 
Mr.  Hodgson  has  also  favored  us  with  a drawing  (PI.  VII.  fig.  3.) 
is  situated  about  20  miles  to  the  north  of  Bakhra,  in  sight  of  the 
river  Gandak. 


III. — Excursion  to  the  Ruins  and  Site  of  an  Ancient  City  near  Bakhra, 
13  cos  north  of  Patna,  and  six  north  from  Singhea.  (Extracted  from 
the  Journal  of  Mr.  J.  Stephenson.) 

[Read  to  the  Asiatic  Society  on  the  14th  January,  1835. 

Near  to  this  village  are  the  remains  of  a mound  of  solid  brick-work, 
about  40  feet  high,  and  about  the  same  diameter  at  the  base  : on  the 
top  are  two  Musalman  temples  and  the  tomb  of  a saint,  whose  name 
I was  told  is  Mir- Abdulla,  dead  about  250  years  ago.  On  the  side 
of  the  mound  fronting  the  south,  a large  Burr  tree  rears  its  lofty  branch- 
es to  a great  height,  and  supported  by  about  30  trunks,  forming  a cool 
pleasant  shade  to  the  Musalman  devotees.  A little  to  the  north  are 
the  ruins  of  a large  fort  of  an  oblong  shape,  one  side  of  which  is  full 
1000  yards  in  length.  It  is  surrounded  by  a ditch,  at  this  season  filled 
with  water  and  jungle  grass.  Its  elevation  above  the  common  level 
of  the  country  is  from  6 to  8 feet,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  entirely 
built  of  brick — a circumstance  of  which  the  native  Hindus  have  taken 


1835.] 


Description  of  the  Bakhra  column. 


129 


advantage  to  build  a temple  on  the  south  end  of  the  ruins,  which 
appears  about  half  finished.  The  mound  and  fort  are  no  doubt  coe- 
val with  each  other,  and  of  considerable  antiquity,  for  no  tradition 
exists,  that  can  be  depended  upon  concerning  their  origin. 

At  9h,  arrived  at  a remarkable  pillar,  and  heaps  of  brick  rubbish. 
This  superb  monument  is  the  only  remains  of  former  grandeur,  that 
has  escaped  the  ravages  of  time,  owing  to  the  solidity  of  its  structure. 
The  smooth  polished  shaft  is  an  immense  solid  block  of  a small  grain- 
ed, reddish  coloured  sandstone,  surmounted  by  a singular  and  beau, 
tiful  sculptured  capital,  on  which  rests  a square  tabular  block,  support- 
ing a well  sculptured  lion  in  a sitting  posture,  of  the  same  material. 
This  pillar  seems  to  have  no  pedestal,  though  from  the  soft  and  allu- 
vial nature  of  the  ground,  on  which  it  stands,  it  is  reasonable  to  sup- 
pose, that  it  must  have  sunk  and  buried  itself  deep  in  the  soil*.  If  a 
part  of  the  earth  was  removed  by  digging  round  the  present  base,  its 
pedestal  might  be  discovered,  and  its  real  height  accurately  determin- 
ed. It  is  also  probable,  that  if  it  ever  had  a pedestal,  an  inscription 
might  be  found,  which  would  throw  light  on  its  present  obscure  his- 
tory : I have  no  doubt  but  it  is  anterior  to  the  mounds  of  brick  rub- 
bish by  which  it  is  surrounded,  and  which  extends  for  the  space  of 
several  square  miles  in  all  directions.  The  numerous  magnificent 
(though  old)  tanks,  amounting  to  about  50  in  number,  large  and  small, 
strengthen  the  general  opinion  that  this  place  is  the  site  of  a large 
city,  at  a remote  period  inhabited  by  a numerous  and  civilized  weal- 
thy people.  I found  the  dimensions  of  this  pillar  to  be  as  follows  : 


Length  of  shaft 26  feet 

From  the  top  of  the  shaft  to  the  top  of  the  lion’s  head,  6 do. 

Total  height, 32  do. 

Circumference  of  shaft,  four  feet  from  the  ground, 12  do. 


Such  are  the  present  dimensions,  but  I have  no  doubt  but  half  its 
height  is  at  present  buried  in  the  ground. 

The  sculpture  is  better  than  the  Egyptian,  and  the  general  appear- 
ance striking  and  good.  On  the  shaft  are  cut  the  names  of  a number 
of  Europeans  who  had  from  time  to  time  visited  the  spot.  The 
native  name  for  the  pillars  is  Bhwi  Sink  ket  Lattea,  Lath,  or  Gadd ; 
literally,  Bhim  Sinh’s  walking  stick.  The  following  tradition  is 
prevalent  amongst  the  natives  of  Bassar  and  Bakhra.  I had  it  told  me 
by  several,  without  deviation. 

“ Two  thousand  years  ago  lived  Bhim  Sink  the  great.  The  pillar  was  used  by 
him  as  a walking  stick,  by  which  he  supported  himself  when  carrying  a large  tree 

* Mr.  Rattray  informs  me  that  an  excavation  was  once  made  to  its  base, 
but  no  inscription  was  discovered. — Ed. 

S 


130 


Account  of  the  Bakhra  column , and 


[March, 


on  his  shoulder  as  a bhangl,  laden  with  two  hills.  The  bhangi  however  broke 
with  the  weight  near  to  the  spot  where  the  pillar  stands,  and  two  hills  or  mounds 
were  there  left  by  Bhim  Sink,  and  remain  to  the  present  day,  and  are  to  be 
seen,  one  near  the  pillar,  the  other  at  a distance  of  a few  hundred  yards. 

“ Many  years  after  this  happened,  the  spirit  of  tlie  place  appeared  to  a Bengali 
in  a dream,  and  informed  him  that  there  was  immense  treasure  buried  under 
the  pillar  in  copper  handts  or  vessels  bound  with  chains.  The  spirit  re- 
quested him  to  take  a journey  or  pilgrimage  to  the  spot  and  possess  it.  The 
Bengali  travelled  to  the  place,  and  found  the  pillar  a few  feet  above  the  ground, 
in  the  middle  of  a large  jungle,  inhabited  by  wild  beasts  of  every  description. 
However,  notwithstanding  the  danger,  he  began  to  clear  away  the  jungle,  and  dig 
for  the  treasure.  At  a great  depth,  he  came  to  a well  or  small  tank,  on  the  sur- 
face of  which  floated  a large  silver  chotcl  (or  seat),  and  through  a hole  in  the 
middle,  the  pillar  descends  down  into  the  water  to  an  unknown  depth.  By  the 
side  of  the  well  are  stationed  two  swdms  (large  black  bees),  the  size  of  a man’s 
fist,  to  protect  the  place  and  treasure.  The  Bengali  entered  this  sanctuary,  dis- 
appeared, and  was  never  heard  of  more.  The  pillar  after  this  affair  rose  to  the 
height  of  two  tddl  trees,  and  has  since  been  sinking  at  the  rate  of  an  inch  an- 
nually. Many  years  after  the  Bengali's  disappearance,  an  English  gentleman  came 
to  the  place  and  dug  down  to  discover  the  base  of  the  pillar,  but  when  he  came  to 
the  silver  Choki  he  was  attacked  by  two  swains,  one  of  which  stung  and  killed 
him  on  the  spot : since  that  time,  no  one  dare  venture  to  dig  below  the  pillar, 
which  has  subsequently  remained  unmolested.” 

It  is  easy  to  reconcile  some  parts  of  this  tradition  with  natural  caus- 
es. For  instance,  that  the  place  has  at  no  distant  period  been  a 
jungle,  inhabited  by  wild  beasts,  is  very  probable  ; for  several  that  have 
been  known  to  avoid  the  habitations  of  man  are  now  found  on  the 
spot,  unwilling  to  quit  their  ancient  haunts.  On  the  elevated  part  of 
a heap  of  brick  rubbish  a porcupine  has  now  its  den  : four  holes  lead  to 
its  tenement,  which  is  situated  at  a great  depth  below.  The  quantity 
of  earth  and  brick  rubbish  this  animal  had  thrown  to  the  surface 
might  strengthen  the  idea  that  the  den  had  been  made  by  a larger  aui- 
mal,  had  it  not  been  frequently  seen  by  the  natives  who  live  close  to 
the  spot,  one  of  whom  endeavoured  to  capture  the  animal,  but  his  for- 
midable armour  proved  too  sharp  for  the  man's  hands  and  arms,  and 
he  escaped  into  his  den  with  the  loss  of  a few  quills,  which  I purchased 
of  the  hardy  hunter  for  a few  pice. 

A few  yards  to  the  north  of  the  pillar  stands  a mound  or  tumulus 
of  solid  brick-work,  of  a conical  shape,  similar  to  the  one  above  de- 
scribed, near  Bassar  : the  top  is  surmounted  by  a large  plpal  tree,  to  all 
appearance  many  centuries  old.  The  outward  parts  of  this  mound 
are  dilapidated  by  time.  The  bricks  it  has  been  built  with  are  a foot 
square,  and  have  been  ■well  burnt ; mud  has  been  used  in  place  of 
mortar.  On  the  north  side  an  excavation  has  been  made  to  the  very 
centre,  by  a doctor  (as  I was  informed),  resident  at  Mozafferpur,  30 


131 


1835.]  of  the  Image  of  Buddha  discovered  near  it. 

years  ago,  whose  name  I could  not  ascertain.  The  doctor,  however, 
(according  to  a native’s  account,  who  assisted  in  the  work,)  found  no 
treasure,  but  only  a well  of  great  depth,  situated  immediately  under 
the  centre,  which  I could  not  find  any  vestige  of,  although  I made  a 
search  for  it.  At  present  a Hindu  Faqir  has  availed  himself  of 
the  doctor’s  labours  by  converting  the  extremity  of  the  excavation  into 
a place  of  worship,  making  a few  images  of  clay,  and  fixing  them  to 
the  sides  of  the  cavity. 

One  of  these  images,  coloured  black,  attracted  my  notice  from  its 
singular  grotesque  appearance  : on  closer  inspection,  I discovered 

that  the  lower  part  was  of  stone,  finely  sculptured,  and  altogether 
different  from  the  upper  which  I found  to  be  made  of  clay.  I suc- 
ceeded in  purchasing  the  deity  from  the  Faqir  for  two  rupees,  and 
after  washing,  picking,  and  separating  the  outward  covering  of  clay, 
in  an  adjoining  tank,  a fragment  of  beautiful  ancient  sculpture  was 
brought  to  light.  On  further  inquiry,  the  Faqir’s  artfulness  was 
detected  by  a person  present,  who  recognized  the  fragment  to  have 
been  found  by  the  zemindar  of  the  place  when  digging  among  the 
ruins  for  bricks  to  build  his  present  pahka  house,  a few  hundred  yards 
distant.  This  fragment  of  sculpture  represents  the  lower  part  of  a 
figure  of  Buddha,  sitting  cross-legged,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
east,  with  the  arms  resting  across  the  upper  part  of  the  thigh.  On 
the  soles  of  the  feet  (which  are  turned  up),  and  on  the  palm  of  the  left 
hand,  is  represented  the  lotus  flower*.  The  back  of  this  fragment  is 
beautifully  sculptured,  with  two  lions  standing  in  an  erect  position,  up- 
on two  elephants.  On  each  side  of  the  base  is  cut  a lion  half  cou- 
chant  with  a small  female  figure  in  the  centre.  The  stone  is  the  same 
as  that  of  the  pillar,  viz.  a red  fine  grained  sandstone,  very  hard.  On 
the  lowest  part  of  the  fragment  is  an  inscription  in  Sanscrit,  Which 
the  Pandits  of  this  part  of  the  country  cannot  as  yet  decypher. 

I have  no  doubt  but  this  fragment  is  coeval  with  the  pillar,  if  not 
connected  with  its  history. 

Note  on  the  above  by  J.  P. 

The  mutilated  image  thus  fortuitously  rescued  by  Mr.  Stephenson, 
and  by  him  presented  to  the  Asiatic  Society,  is  represented  in  Plate  IX. 
The  inscription  around  the  pedestal,  which  had  baffled  the  pandits  of 
Tirhut,  excited  considerable  curiosity  on  its  exhibition  to  the  Society, 
from  the  circumstance  of  none  of  the  ancient  Buddhist  images  in  our 
museum,  whether  from  Benares  or  from  the  Bhagelpur  hills,  possessing 
such  a characteristic. 

* The  emblem  always  borne  by  a Chakravartti,  or  universal  sovereign,  and 
4 fortiori  by  Buddha. — Ed. 
s 2 


132  Note  on  the  Inscription  on  the  Pedestal  [March, 

A singular  coincidence  shortly  after  served  very  materially  to  in- 
crease the  interest  thus  raised  regarding  this  short  and  otherwise 
trivial  inscription. 

It  may  not  he  generally  known  to  the  members  of  the  Society,  that 
some  of  my  Benares  friends,  Captain  Thoresby,  Secretary  of  the  San- 
scrit College,  Major  Grant,  and  Lieut.  Alexander  Cunningham, 
of  the  Engineers,  stimulated  by  the  successof  General  Ventura’s  opera- 
tions in  the  Panjab,  have  undertaken  at  joint  expence  with  myself  to 
open  carefully  the  large  Buddhist  monument  at  Sarnath*,  so  frequently 
alluded  to  in  the  Asiatic  Researches,  wherein  it  is  conjectured  from 
the  evidence  of  some  ancient  inscriptions  on  copper,  dug  up  near  the 
spot,  to  have  been  erected  by  the  sons  of  Bhupala,  a Raja  of  Gaur,  in 
the  eleventh  centuryf. 

Lieut.  Cunningham,  who  is  still  zealously  occupied  in  this  interest- 
ing work,  at  such  moments  as  his  official  duties  will  permit,  has  him- 
self promised  me  a full  account  of  his  operations,  when  the  whole  shall 
be  completed  ; but  he  has  permitted  me  to  anticipate  him  in  mention- 
ing the  subject  I am  now  about  to  introduce,  should  I be  able  to  fur- 
nish a full  explanation;  which  the  sequel  will  prove  to  be  the  case. 

At  the  depth  then  of  ten  feet  and  a half  from  the  summit  of  the 
stone  building,  he  extracted  a slab  of  stone  28f  inches  long,  13  inches 
broad, by  thick,  bearing  an  inscription  in  an  ancient  form  of  Devana- 
gari,  of  which,  after  referring  in  vain  to  the  Pandits  of  the  degenerate 
Kasi,  he  sent  me  an  exact  facsimile  by  dak. 

The  stone  w7as  found  lying  with  its  head  to  the  south-west,  among 
the  bricks  and  mud.  It  is  of  a pinkish  hue,  and  all  the  letters  are  in 
excellent  preservation. 

Lieut.  Cunningham  remarked  the  similarity  of  some  of  the  forms 
to  the  Sanscrit  of  the  Manikyala  coins,  Plate  XXL  figs.  10,  11;  and  to 
some  letters  of  the  Allahabad  inscription,  No.  2.  in  the  second  volume. 

The  facsimile,  (represented  on  a smaller  scale  in  fig.  2 of  Plate 
IX,)  reachedme.asl  havebefore stated,  while  the  Tirhut  imagewas  under 
examination,  and  it  immediately  struck  me  from  one  or  two  prominent 
letters,  as  well  as  from  the  general  appearance  of  the  whole,  that  the 

* It  must  not  be  supposed,  that  in  this  enterprize,  the  feelings  of  the  natives  are 
in  any  way  offended.  The  Hindus  are  quite  unconcerned  about  the  tope,  and 
the  two  sects  of  Jains  in  Benares,  who  are  now  at  variance  with  each  other,  had 
joined  in  requesting  me  to  open  the  building  at  their  expence,  that  it  might 
be  ascertained  to  which  party  (Digambari  or  Swetambari)  the  enclosed  image  might 
belong.  My  departure  from  Benares  alone  prevented  my  satisfying  their  curiosity- 
in  1830. 

f See  As.  Res.  vol.  ix.  pp.  "4,  203;  x.  130. 


1885.] 


133 


of  the  Buddha  Image  from  Tirhut. 

two  inscriptions  were  substantially  the  same,  although  the  characters 
of  the  two  differed  as  much  from  one  another  as  the  Nagari  from  the 
Bengali  alphabet.  Upon  shewing  them  to  Govind  Ram  Sha'stri,  Mr. 
Wilson’s  intelligent  Pandit,  and  comparing  the  letters  with  the  Tibetan 
and  Gya  forms  of  the  Sanscrit  alphabet,  the  identity  of  the  two  was 
confirmed,  and  several  words  made  out,  among  them  the  titles  “ Ta- 
thdgata  and  Mahd  Sramana,”  both  of  an  important  Bauddha  accepta- 
tion ; but  the  context  was  devoid  of  meaning.  The  Pandit’s  meritorious 
effortswere  communicated  to  our  learned  Vice-President,  Dr.  Mill,  who, 
recognizing  at  once  the  form  of  the  ancient  dh,  a semilunate  letter,  which 
hadbeen  taken  for  a v,  was  enabled  to  complete  and  give  the  true  meaning 
of  the  inscription,  with  the  exception  of  the  initial  word,  which  (in  con- 
sequence of  the  stroke  at  the  commencement)  was  read  hie,  in  the 
Sarnath  version,  and  y;q,  in  the  other  sentence,  instead  of  § qui,  in  both. 
This  mistake  led  to  the  reading  of  the  word  svrt  prabhavo  in  the  sin- 
gular, in  lieu  of  in  the  plural,  and  connecting  with  it  the  word 

■gf*[  as  part  of  the  compound  instead  of  separately,  thus  : 

^ 'KT^riqvrtT  cPsrrJmT  w v vr  f«UTV  -ett^ 

II 

the  interpretation  of  which  was  thus  given  hy  Dr.  Mill  : 

“ This  is  the  generative  source  of  the  cause  of  meritorious  du- 
ties. For  the  cause  of  these  hath  Tathagata  [or  Buddha]  declared. 
But  as  to  what  is  the  opposing  principle  of  these,  that  likewise  doth 
the  Maha  Sramana  [the  great  ascetic] , declare.” 

The  Tii'hut  inscription  was  found  to  differ  only  from  the  other  in 
the  substitution  of  two  entirely  synonymous  words,  the  transposition 
of  two  others,  and  the  omission  of  the  particle  hi  “ for,”  united  to 
avadat  in  the  second  line.  The  translation  of  the  passage  was  precisely 
the  same.  Introducing  the  corrections  subsequently  made,  (as  it  is 
unnecessary  to  repeat  the  reading  in  its  imperfect  state)  the  text  of  the 
Tirhut  image  will  stand  thus  in  the  modern  Devanagarf  character  : 
a § Trr'  creranr  sswq  ^ vt  tut 

Vi  Vi  x 

wr- 1 

We  shall  come  to  the  corrected  translation  presently. 

It  was  remarked  that  the  latter  part  of  the  passage  being  in  the 
present  tense,  as  compared  to  avadat  and  uvdeha  in  the  former  part, 
seemed  to  imply  a continuation  of  the  sentence  ; or,  at  any  rate,  left 
something  inconclusive  and  unsatisfactory  in  the  translation. 

The  circumstance,  however,  of  two  sculptured  inscriptions  found  at 
distant  places  in  terms  of  the  same  import,  though  varying  in  phrase 


134 


[March, 


Original  of  the  Sarnath  and  Tirhut 

and  in  form  of  letter  so  much  as  to  prove  that  one  was  by  no  means  a 
mere  copy  of  the  other,  suggested  to  my  mind,  that  they  must 
assuredly  contain  some  very  common  text  from  the  Bauddha  scriptures, 
and  I accordingly  hastened  to  enquire  of  my  friend  Mr.  Csoma  de 
Kurds,  whether  he  had  met  with  any  similar  passage,  in  his  extensive 
examination  of  the  Tibetan  volumes. 

He  did  not  at  first  recognize  it,  hut  promised  to  bear  it  in  mind  ; and 
sure  enough,  in  the  course  of  a few  days,  Mr.  Csoma  brought  me  the 
pleasing  intelligence  that  he  had  discovered  the  very  sentence,  agreeing 
word  for  word  with  the  Sarnath  version,  in  three  volumes  of  the  Kah- 
gyur  collection ; being  in  Tibetan  characters,  according  to  their  mode 
of  writing  Sanscrit,  and  without  translation.  Moreover  on  referring 
to  the  corresponding  Sanscrit  originals,  in  the  Lantsha  and  in  the 
modern  Devanagari  copies  of  the  same  work  (forming  part  of  the  trea- 
sures of  Bauddha  literature,  made  known  to  the  world  by  our  associate 
Mr.  B.  H.  Hodgson)  no  less  than  fifteen  examples  were  brought  to 
light,  of  the  verbatim  introduction  of  the  same  text. 

In  all  these  instances  it  was  found  to  occur  as  a kind  of  peroration, 
or  concluding  paragraph  at  the  end  of  a volume.  Thus,  it  is  introdu- 
ced at  the  termination  of  the  first,  second,  and  third  khanda  of  the 
Prajna  Paramita,  (Tib.  Sher-chin,)  each  containing  25,000  slokas ; and 
again,  at  the  end  of  the  5th  khanda,  which  is  an  epitome  of  the  sata 
sahasrlkd,  or  100,000  slokas,  contained  in  the  four  preceding  sections*. 
In  the  Tibetan  version  the  sentence  is  sometimes  followed  by  the  word 
b/cns,  a contraction  for  b kra-skis,  “blessing,  glorvf,” 

and  sometimes  by  its  Sanscrit  equivalent  in  Tibetan  character! 
mangalam. 

Something  however  was  still  wanting  to  remove  the  ambiguity 
of  the  abbreviated  sentence,  and  this  Mr.  Csoma’s  acute  and  assiduous 
research  soon  enabled  him  to  supply  ; for  in  the  Do  class  of  the 
Kah-gyur,  vol.  •£>  or  9,  leaf  510,  he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  with  the 
same  passage  connected  with  another  Sanscrit  sloka,  in  the  Tibetan 
character,  and  followed  immediately  by  a faithful  translation  into  the 
latter  language. 

As  the  development  of  the  passage  has  thus  acquired  importance, 
Mr.  Csoma  has  obligingly  transcribed  the  whole  from  the  Tibetan  vo- 
lume, first  in  Sanscrit,  and  below  in  Tibetan,  with  a literal  version  in 
the  Roman  character. 

* See  Mr.  Wilson’s  account  of  the  Kah-gyur.  Gleanings,  vol.  iii,  pags 
243,  and  Journal,  vol.  i. 

+ See  Csoma’s  Tibetan  Grammar,  page  24. 


Jour.  As.  Soc. 


Vo  i.  nr  pi.  ix. 


IrnaM't  of  Buddha, 

dug  up  in  the  neighbourhood  oj'  the  Bahhrci  L/ith.  in  Tirnul 
with  an  inscription  on  che pedestal 


! 

Inscription,  on  a Stone  extracted  from  the  Sdrndth  Tope,  near  Benares . 


1835.] 


135 


Inscriptions  found  in  the  Bauddha  Scriptures. 


Sanscrit  version  in  Tibetan  characters. 

^’V*f5V$T«TjbS  T *P8T*J£*JTS’*P*'?  1 SCOTS’ TW'STV  T 

<3  " 9 

£*V*T3T  *VSY^5'^AT3|0 1* 

Y6  dharma  hetu  prabhava,  hetun  teshan  Tathagato  hyavadat, 
Teshan  cha  yo  nirodha,  evam  vadl  Maha  Shramanas. 

Sarva  papasyakarani  (?  am),  kushalasyopasapradam, 

Sva  chittam  paridamanum,  htad  Buddhanushasanam. 

Tibetan  Translation. 


*V^NTa^T3ygTQj<V'§sr  TVg/y^ltaT^Kl!VyVTEl3i;<V  1 
§'TQ*fclT*Tal*ri«faT*J  T T T#«I’^’-5T 

W*Tr1  T T 

T T T 


Chhos  reams  thams  cbad  rgyu  las  byung, 

De  rgyu  de-Azlnn  f/shegs-pas  grsung, 

.Rgyu-la  Agog-pa  gang  yin-pa, 

/Adi  skad  grsung-va  dge-sbyong  chhe  : 

Sdigpa  chi  yang  mi  bya  ste  ; 

Dge-va  phun  sum  tshogs-par  spyad ; 

Rang-gi  semsni  yongs-su  pdul ; 

Sangs-rgyas  Astan-pa  Adi  yin-no. 

Here  then  was  the  solution  of  the  enigma.  The  sentence  thus  fre- 
quently repeated  was  the  preamble  to  the  quaint  compendium  of  the 
Buddhist  doctrines,  which  was  so  universally  known  to  the  professors 
of  this  faith  that  it  was  no  more  necessary  to  repeat  it  on  all  occasions 
than  it  would  be  to  insert  the  gloria  patri  at  the  end  of  each  psalm  in 
our  own  ritual.  The  sense  was  now  seen  to  run  on  from  the  present 
tense  of  the  second  part  of  the  sentence  to  the  maxims  which  follow- 
ed: and  the  whole  passage  was  thus  literally  and  intelligibly  rendered 
from  the  Tibetan  by  Mr.  Csoma  de  Kokos. 

“ Whatever  moral  (or  human)  actions  arise  from  some  cause. 

The  cause  of  them  has  been  declared  by  Tatha'gata  : 

What  is  the  check  to  these  actions, 


* In  tlie  last  two  lines  of  this  version  M.  Csoma  proposes  to  read  yy 
afcaranam,  tyzj  t)  samp&dam,  and  y ^ dj°r  paridamanam,  which 

accord  better  with  the  sense  of  the  Tibetan  version.  The  marks  for  i and  am 

c\ 

° are  nearly  similar,  and  are  often  misprinted  in  the  Tibetan  books  : so  also 
the  subjoined  r ^ is  often  confounded  with  the  vowel  mark  d q. 


136 


[March, 


Original  of  the  Sdrnath  and  Tirhut 

Is  thus  set  forth  by  the  great  Sramanas. 

‘ No  vice  is  to  be  committed  : 

Every  virtue  must  be  perfectly  practised  : 

The  mind  must  he  brought  under  entire  subjection  ; 

This  is  the  commandment  of  Buddha.’  ” 

It  is  unfortunate  that  the  Sanscrit  text  of  the  moral  maxim 
has  not  been  any  where  found  in  the  Lantsa  copy  of  the  Prajna  Pa- 
ramita.  Its  authenticity  rests,  therefore,  solely  on  the  Tibetan  version, 
in  which  there  is  apparently  some  error ; for  the  sentence,  as  it  stands, 
is  not  pure  Sanscrit,  and  certainly  will  not  bear  the  interpretation 
which  Mr.  Csoma  has  given  literally  from  the  vernacular  translation 
of  Tibet.  Dr.  Mill  has  favored  me  with  some  valuable  observations  on 
the  passage,  which,  with  his  permission,  I here  insert.  Mr.  Hodgson 
will  doubtless  be  able  to  confirm  the  true  reading  by  consulting  the 

Sanscrit  original  of  the  dPah-var 

Agrovahi  tingd  Msin  (Sans,  shurangama  samddki,  the  heroical  extasy), 
which  may  still  exist  in  some  of  the  monasteries  of  Nepal. 

“ The  interesting  discovery  of  tbepassageinthe  Buddhist  sacred  books  from  which 
the  Sdrndth  inscription  is  taken,  by  M.  Csoma  de  Koros,  removes  all  doubt  as  to 
the  reading  of  the  first  word  which  I unfortunately  took  for  the  demonstrative 
pronoun  whereas  it  is  the  relative  ^ to  which  the  ffijj  in  the  next  line 

refers.  It  follows  that  the  next  word  -yjfr  should  be  read  separately  from 
the  compound  which  is  of  course  plural.  M.  Csoma’s  version  is 

here  perfectly  agreeable  to  the  Sanscrit ; and  my  translation  of  the  former  half 
of  this  sentence  requires  to  he  corrected  by  his. 

I am  by  no  means  equally  well  satisfied  with  the  other  sentence  quoted  by  M. 
Csoma  as  following  the  former  in  some  of  the  places  where  it  occurs  in  the  Bud- 
dhist  scriptures  : the  Sanscrit  text  of  which  is  certainly  corrupted  in  the  copies  he 
cites,  and,  except  in  the  last  line,  exhibits  no  sentence  corresponding  in  form  to  his 
Latin  or  English  version.  I have  also  very  considerable  doubt  of  the  accuracy 
of  the  opinion,  that  this  second  stanza  is  the  clue  to  the  supposed  enigma  in  the 
first,  or  necessary  in  any  respect  to  complete  its  meaning.  That  it  is  even  the 
object  of  reference  in  the  former  stanza,  appears  to  me  doubtful.  The  occurrence 
of  the  former  passage, — not  only  in  the  two  several  inscriptions  of  Benares  and 
Tirhut,  by  itself, — hut  at  the  end  of  chapters  in  the  places  you  pointed  out  to  me 
from  M.  Csoma’s  Lantsh  MSS.,  seem  to  indicate  that  it  has  a complete  meaning 
in  itself  : and  the  xrd  “ thus”  or  “ alike”  of  the  fourth  line  may  as  well  be 
understood  with  reference  to  the  preceding  clause,  as  to  any  sentence  following. 
The  metrical  structure  of  the  two  passages  confirms  me  in  the  idea  of  their  indepen- 
dency : the  latter  being  in  the  ordinary  Anustup  measure,  with  about  the  same 
degree  of  license  as  we  find  that  measure  in  the  Puranas  : whereas  the  former, 
though  approximating  in  places  to  the  measure  of  eight  syllables,  is  as  remote 
from  the  rules  of  Yalmiki’s  sloka  as  are  the  hymns  of  the  Vedas  : and  it  is  equally 
irreducible  to  the  laws  of  the  A'rya  or  any  more  modern  poetical  measure. 

In  the  translation  of  the  latter  passage,  I would  advert  particularly  to  the  line 
which  M.  Csoma  has  translated,  ‘ Every  virtue  must  be  practised.’  1 do  not  see  how 


Inscriptions  found  in  the  Eauddha  Scriptures. 


137 


1835.] 


the  Sanscrit,  however  amended,  can  bear  that  meaning.  The  first  word,  kusalasya , 
ordinarily  means  ‘ of  felicity,’  or  else,  1 of  skill  and  cleverness  while  the  other 
word,  which,  coalescing  with  kusalasya,  makes  up  the  whole  line,  is  certainly  not 
Sanscrit  in  its  present  stare  ; for  there  is  not,  and  cannot  be,  any  such  compound  as 
By  making  the  two  last  letters  i.  e.  mpadas  instead  of  pradam, 

(which  however  seems  clear  in  the  Tibetan  character),  and  reading  the  last 
word  of  the  first  line  efiTHTf  instead  of  gfrrftjf,  I obtain  the  meaning, 


< In  the  abstinence  from  [lit.  non-doing  of]  all  sin,  is  the  attainment  of  felicity.' 

A third  meaning  of  kasala — though  much  less  used  among  brahmanical  Hindus 
— is  pointed  out  in  the  Nuna-artha-varga  of  Amara-Sinha,  who  was  himself  a 
Buddhist,  in  the  following  line,  ( Kosha , lib.  iii.  c.  4,  s.  23,  1.  206,)  which  may 
furnish  us  with  an  approximation  in  ultimate  meaning,  though  not  in  the  structure 
of  the  sentence,  to  the  Tibetan  explanation  given  by  M.  Csoma. 


Wifu  -^yrrjf  fjrfi=c#  f=|tg 

“ Accomplishment,  happiness,  holiness  : in  these  three  meanings  is  the  neuter 
noun  kusalam  learnedly  understood.” 

Adopting  the  last  of  these  three  senses,  that  of  punyam  or  sanctity,  and  taking 
the  word  upasampadas  in  a sense  which  the  Buddhist*  use  of  the  term  points  out, 
we  may  render  the  second  line  in  question, 

“ The  advancement,  or  high  attainment,  of  purity.” 

The  third  line  requires  the  omission  of  the  anusv&ra  over  the  tt  of  the  word 
chitta,  to  make  it  good  Sanscrit,  viz.  ‘ the  subjugation  of  one’s  own  mind,’ 
. unless,  retaining  this  anusvdra,  we  altered  the  other  w’ord 


from  paridamanam  to  paridamamyam,  viz.  ‘ One’s  mind  must  be  subjugated,’ 
I think  the  choice  lies  clearly  between  these  two  readings, 
of  which  the  former  seems  the  best,  and  most  accordant  with  the  last  line,  as  well 
as  with  the  rules  of  Anustup  measure. 

I subjoin  a literal  version  of  both  the  stanzas  according  to  my  notion  of  them, 
dropping  however  the  proposed  emendation  of  for  in  the  first 

line  of  the  latter,  and  adopting  the  reading  as  proposed  by  M.  Csoma. 


if  WT  | 

cnrrci%T  i 

w tr  i 


Quse  quae  officia  exstant  m-causa-  qud - 
vis-oiiginem-habentia , 

Causam  eorum  SIC-PROFECTUS ille 
(Buddhas)  quidem  declaravit. 
Eorum  que  quod  obstaculum  exstat , 

Ita  quoque  dicens  MAGNUS  ASCE- 
TICUS* 


Oranis-peccati  renunciatio, 

Sanctitatis  profectus, 

Propri  i-intellectfts-  subj  ugatio » 

Haec  est  BUDDH^E-disciplina.” 

Dr.  Mill’s  conjectural  emendation  of  the  2nd  line  of  the  second  of 
these  stanzas,  has  been  since  unexpectedly  confirmed  by  the  Singhalese 

* The  word  upasampada  is  technically  understood  of  the  superior  order  of  the  Bud- 
dhist priesthood,  the  supply  of  which,  when  it  had  become  extinct  in  Ceylon,  has  fre- 
quently been  an  object  of  solicitude  to  the  more  religious  of  the  Candian  monarchs, 
and  has  even  been  the  occasion  of  embassies  to  Siam.  For  the  attainment  of  the  or- 
der, the  possession  of  227  separate  gunas  or  virtuous  qualities  is  requisite  : each  of 
which  is  distinctly  mentioned  in  their  treatises  concerning  ordination. 

T 


138 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra.  [March, 

Christian  convert  from  Buddhism,  Ratna-Pa'la  : who  repeats  both 
passages  in  the  Pali  or  Pracrit  form  from  memory — describing  the 
former  especially  as  universally  current  among  the  disciples  of  Buddha, 
His  reading,  however,  gives  upasampadd  (Sanscrit  profectds) 

in  the  plural.  And  in  the  former  passage,  that  of  the  inscription,  he 
omits  the  particle  hi,  and  instead  of  the  verb  avadat  or  uvdcha,  he  reads 
the  synonymous  aha.  His  Pali  reading,  which  will  be  immediately 
recognized  by  scholars  as  good  Magadha  Pracrit,  is  as  follows  : 

“ Ye  dhamrni'i  hetuppabhavd,  Tesdn  lutun  tathayato 
A'hu  tesun  cha  yo  nirodha  : Evan  v/ldi  mahtl  samana. 

Sabba  papassa  akaranan  : Kusnlassa  vpasunpudci : 

Sa  chitta  puridumanun  : Elan  Buddhunusdsunan. 
but  Ratna  Pala  says  that  the  latter  couplet  is  not  necessarily  con- 
nected with  the  former.  On  the  contrary  another  series  of  verses  ge- 
nerally follows  it  in  the  daily  service  of  the  Buddhist  temples  of  Ceylon. 

The  compendium  of  the  precepts  of  Budjjha  certainly  occurs  in  nu- 
merous instances  without  the  previous  couplet.  Thus  it  is  inserted  in 
the  Tibetan  version  of  the  saint’s  letter  to  Ratnava'li,  given  as  one 
of  the  examples  in  Mr.  Csoma’s  new  Grammar,  which  will  also  be 
found  among  the  extracts  published  in  the  third  volume  of  this  Jour- 
nal, page  61  ; and  there  would  have  been  no  reason  to  suspect  that 
it  was  implied  in  the  inconclusive  sentence  engraved  on  the  Tirhut  and 
Sarnath  tablets,  had  not  the  actual  text  been  found  by  our  learned 
Hungarian  guest,  to  whose  laborious  and  willing  investigation  of  the 
volumes  which  are  sealed  to  all  but  himself,  we  are  mainly  indebted 
for  this  probable  if  not  conclusive  solution  of  the  enigma. 

IV. — Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra.  By  Lieut.  J.  R.  Wellsted, 
Indian  Navy,  Assistant  Surveyor. 

The  following  Report  has  been  compiled  from  a daily  journal,  contain- 
ing copious  notices  of  all  that  came  under  my  observationduringadeputation 
of  two  months  on  the  island  of  Socotra,  under  orders  of  Lieut.  Haines,  com- 
manding the  PalinurussurveyingBrig  ; but  as  the  admission  of  minute  details, 
illustrative  of  either  the  condition  and  character  of  the  inhabitants,  or  the 
productions,  topography,  &c.  of  the  Island  can  scarcely  be  deemed  necessary 
in  an  official  paper,  similar  to  that  whichby  my  instructions  is  required  of  me 
in  this  instance,  1 have  considered  it  necessary  to  condensethe  whole  into  as 
brief  a space  as  has  appeared  consistent  with  the  objects  therein  specified, 
notifying  at  the  same  time,  that  I have  preserved  the  original  notes,  in  the 
event  of  Government  requiring  either  more  detailed  or  extended  informa- 
tion on  the  various  points  to  which  my  attention  has  been  directed. 

By  separating  the  various  subjects  contained  in  this  paper  into  sections 
under  different  heads,  I trust  the  Right  Honorable  the  Governor  in  Coun- 
cil will  be  enabled,  without  wading  through  any  extraneous  matter,  to  seek 
at  once  the  species  of  information  which  he  may  require. 


139 


1835.]  Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

The  Island  of  Socotra  appears  to  have  been  known  at  an  early  period 
to  the  ancient  geographers.  Ptolemy  notices  it  under  the  appellation  of 
Bios  Cavedis  Ins:  and  Arrian  specifies,  that  the  inhabitants  of  it  were  sub- 
jected to  the  authority  of  the  kings  of  the  Incense  Country  ; but  from  this 
period  it  appears  to  have  attracted  little  attention,  and  may  almost  be  con- 
sidered as  lost  to  Geography,  until  the  visit  of  Marco  Polo  in  the  13th 
century,  who  does  not  however  make  any  particular  mention  of  its  inhabi- 
tants or  resources.  Vasco  da  Gama,  in  his  memorable  voyage  from  Lisbon  to 
Calicut  in  1497,  passed  Socotra  without  seeing  it ; but  seven  years  after- 
wards, it  was  made  known  to  European  navigators  by  Fernandez  Pereira  ; 
and  Albuquerque,  at  a somewhat  later  period,  took  possession  of  it.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  17tb  century,  when  the  increasing  spirit  of  commerce 
and  enterprise  led  several  of  our  squadrons  to  enter  the  ports  in  the  Red 
Sea,  Socotra  was  frequently  visited  for  shelter  or  refreshment;  and  in  con- 
sequence of  a general  belief  during  the  year  1798,  that  Buonaparte,  who 
was  then  in  Egypt,  contemplated  a junction  of  his  forces  with  those  of 
Hyder  Ali  in  India,  Commodore  Blanket,  with  a squadron  from  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  was  dispatched  to  take  possession  of  it*.  But  notwithstand- 
ing these  several  visits,  our  accounts  connected  with  its  inhabitants,  ap- 
pearance and  produce,  have  been  vague  and  contradictory.  By  one  traveller. 
Captain  Dauntoun,  a notice  of  whose  travels  is  in  my  possession,  it  is  ob- 
served, that  “ its  chief  produce  is  aloes,  though  the  annual  amount  does 
not  exceed  a ton — cattle  may  be  bought  but  exceedingly  small,  according 
to  the  dry  rocky  barrenness  of  the  island — wood  at  12  pence  a man's 
burden,  every  particular  is  a very  dear  penny  worth.”  By  another,  it  is 
described  as  a populous  fruitful  island ; that  the  inhabitants  trade  to  Goa 
with  its  produce,  viz.  fine  aloes,  frankincense,  ambergris,  dragon’s  blood, 
rice,  dates,  and  coral. 

Inconsistent  as  these  statements  appear,  there  is  reason  to  believe  both 
may  have  described  with  fidelity  that  which  at  the  period  of  their  visit 
was  presented  before  them.  Independent  of  the  evidence  which  exists  as 
to  the  former  fertility  of  the  island,  it  is  necessary  to  consider,  that  those 
parts  which  would  be  exposed  to  the  view  of  the  passing  traveller  are  most- 
ly naked  limestone,  parts  of  which  are  indeed  covered  with  a scanty  sprink- 
ling of  soil,  but  that  of  a quality  so  hard  and  bad,  that  it  merely  nourishes 
a feeble  grass,  which  dries  up  almost  as  soon  as  the  rain  ceases,  which  may 
have  caused  it  to  spring  forth.  Upon  our  first  arrival  at  Tamarida,  in  the 
early  part  of  January,  some  recent  showers  had  clothed  the  hill  with  a 
lively  verdure  to  the  very  base  of  the  granite  spires,  and  the  whole  looked 
fresh  and  beautiful ; a month  afterwards  all  was  parched  and  barren. 

More  than  one  vessel  at  different  periods  had  been  dispatched  to  ex- 
amine the  nature  of  its  harbours  and  anchorages  ; but  owing  to  some  cause 
which  I cannot  explain,  our  information  on  these  points  could  in  no  higher 
degree  be  depended  on.  Our  ignorance  on  these  subjects  strikes  us  the  more 

* These  and  the  other  scanty  notices  found  in  this  paper,  are  extracted  from  books 
in  my  possession  on  board  ; other  information  will  of  course  be  found  in  works  to 
which  I have  it  not  in  my  piower  at  present  to  refer. 

T 2 


140 


[March, 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

forcibly  when  we  consider  the  position  of  Socotra,  its  lying  directly  in  the 
route  of  the  trade  from  India,  by  the  way  of  the  Red  Sea:  the  entrance  to 
which,  it  may  be  said  to  command  on  the  one  hand,  and  close  to  the  track 
of  our  ships  by  the  way  of  the  Cape  on  the  other — a position,  the  advan- 
tages of  which  under  an  enterprising  population  and  enlightened  govern- 
ment, could  scarcely  have  failed  at  some  period  to  have  brought  it  into 
great  commercial  notice  and  prosperity.  In  periods  of  antiquity,  Socotra 
served  as  a station  for  merchants  ; and  it  may  be  observed,  that  these 
advantages  were  not  over-looked  by  a maritime  nation  like  the  Portu- 
guese. The  ports  which  remain  in  the  vicinity  of  Tamarida  still  attest  the 
importance  which  they  attached  to  its  possession ; but  since  the  decline  of 
their  power,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  sixteenth  century,  Socotra  has  conti- 
nued to  be  disregarded  by  European  nations. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  year,  various  causes  combined  to  render  the 
establishment  of  a steam  communication  between  India  and  Europe  an  ob- 
ject of  general  interest,  and  discussion  ; and  the  attention  of  Government 
became  particularly  directed  towards  this  island,  along  the  shores  of  which 
it  was  anticipated,  that  some  well-sheltered  harbours  might  be  discovered, 
which  would  serve  at  all  seasons  as  a depot  for  coals.  In  order  to  determine 
this  point,  Captain  Haines  in  the  Palinurus  Surveying  Brig  was  directed 
to  proceed  at  once  to  the  island,  and  to  execute  a minute  trigonometrical 
survey  of  its  exterior,  while  his  attention  at  the  same  time  was  called  to 
“ obtaining  the  fullest  information  regarding  the  government,  population, 
produce,  fertility  and  quality  of  soil,  as  well  as  the  religion,  customs,  man- 
ners, and  wealth  of  its  inhabitants.”  While  Captain  Haines  should  occupy 
himself  with  the  former  of  these  duties,  confining  his  observation  to  the 
sea  coast  and  its  vicinity,  I was  directed  to  proceed  towards  the  interior 
in  order  that  I might,  from  personal  observation,  report  on  the  various 
subjects  on  which  Government  was  desirous  of  possessing  information. 

Providing  myself  with  camels,  and  a guide,  I first  journeyed  by'  the  interi- 
or towards  Colesseah,  examining  the  greater  part  of  the  western  portion 
of  the  island.  After  concluding  my  observations  in  this  neighbourhood,  and 
communicating  with  the  ship,  I returned  to  Tamarida.  A chief,  in  the 
mean  time, named  Hamed  Ben  T ary, arrived  at  Colesseah,  who  after  leaving 
most  positive  directions,  prohibiting  our  further  progress,  again  left  for  the 
continent.  We  were  in  consequence  closely  confined  to  the  town  for  a few 
days,  but  I at  length  got  clear  and  completed  my  survey  of  the  western  end. 
The  map  will  best  exhibit  the  nature  and  extent  of  these  journeys,  and  I 
shall  not  enter  into  any  detail  of  them  here,  or  make  an_v  other  remarks 
than  that  the  Arabs  were  unceasing  in  their  attempts  to  throw  obstacles 
in  the  way  of  my  completion  of  it. 

The  Island  of  Socotra  is  of  the  shape  of  an  acute  triangle,  having  for 
its  vertex,  a fiat  promontory  towards  the  east  called  Ras  Mamse;  the 
coast  line  on  the  other  side  runs  in  a S.  IV.  direction,  and  is  nearly  straight  ; 
the  general  direction  of  the  northern  face  is  formed  by  a succession 
of  small  bays;  the  base  is  also  indented  by  a deep  bay.  Its  length  is  71  £ 
miles,  and  breadth  at  the  broadest  part  21^  miles.  The  whole  island  may 


141 


1835.]  Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

be  considered  as  a pile  of  mountains  of  nearly  equal  height,  which  are  almost 
surrounded  by  a low  plain,  extending  from  their  base  to  the  margin  of  the 
sea  : this  is  of  an  irregular  width,  varying  from  4 to  2 miles,  excepting  that 
between  Ras  Kattany  and  Ras  Shah,  where  the  mountains  rise  up  perpen- 
dicularly from  the  sea,  and  it  there  disappears  altogether.  Throughout  the 
whole  extent  of  this  belt,  with  the  exception  of  those  parts  which  are  watered 
by  the  mountain  streams  in  their  progress  towards  the  sea,  and  some 
spaces  hereafter  specified,  the  soil  is  hard,  and  of  a had  quality,  and  does  not, 
in  its  present  state,  appear  susceptible  of  cultivation.  The  southern  side, 
though  considerably  less  fertile  than  the  northern,  affords,  nevertheless,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ras  Mamse  many  of  its  productions;  but  to  the  westward,  it 
is  as  arid  and  barren  as  the  worst  parts  of  Arabia.  There  the  force  of  the  S. 
W.  wind  has  blown  the  sand  up  from  the  sea  shore,  where  it  is  so  fine  as  to 
be  nearly  impalpable,  and  formed  it  into  a continuous  range  of  sand  hills, 
which  extend  parallel  to  the  beach  for  several  miles : from  hence  it  spreads 
over  the  plain,  and  is  even  in  some  places  deposited  in  vast  quantities,  at  a 
distance  of  three  miles  from  the  sea,  at  the  base  of  the  mountains,  which 
there  form  a barrier  that  alone  could  prevent  it  from  overwhelming  the 
natural  soil  of  the  whole  island  on  the  northern  side.  This  belt  is  stony,  and 
is  covered  with  a dwarfish  bush  about  six  feet  in  height,  the  foliage  of  which 
is  retained  throughout  the  year,  and  gives  to  the  space,  when  it  is  grown,  an 
appearance  of  being  clothed  with  verdure.  Such  is  the  appearance  of  the 
sea  coast ; but  the  high  lands  exhibit  a great  variety  of  soil  and  surface.  As 
a general  remark,  it  may  however  be  observed,  that  nothing  in  the  N.  E. 
monsoon  presents  a stronger  contrast  than  the  western  and  eastern  parts 
of  the  island  ; while  the  former  is  destitute  of  verdure,  has  but  scanty  pas- 
turage, and  has  (with  the  exception  of  a few  places  near  the  sea)  no  other 
water  than  that  which  is  retained  in  natural  reservoirs ; the  latter  or  eastern 
portion  is  fed  by  numerous  streams;  its  valleys  nourish  luxuriant  grass;  herds 
of  cattle  are  numerous,  and  the  scenery  in  some  places  little  inferior  to  that 
of  our  own  country. 

But  we  must  now,  as  the  most  central  and  lofty,  examine  the  granite 
range  of  mountains  in  the  vicinitv  of  Tamarida;  steep  valleys  intersect 
this  chain,  dividing  it  into  narrow  ridges,  which  extend  in  a north-easterly 
and  south-westerly  direction.  Of  these  the  lower  part  is  composed  of  a 
red  aluminous  porphyry,  and  the  upper  of  a coarse-grained  grey  granite 
which  protrudes  several  of  its  spires  to  the  height,  as  was  ascertained 
by  a trigonometrical  admeasurement,  of  five  thousand  feet  ; the  summit 
of  these  is  consequently  seldom  free  from  clouds  ; but  when  the  weather 
is  clear,  their  appearance  is  broken  and  picturesque.  The  lower  part  of 
this  chain  is  covered  with  the  same  dwarfish  tree  which  is  found  on  the 
plains  : higher  up  there  is  a great  variety  of  trees  and  aromatic  plants ; but 
the  granite  spires  merely  nourish  a light-colored  moss,  and  are  destitute  of 
verdure.  Connected  with  the  granite  range,  and  extending  from  it  to  the 
S.  W.  there  is  a lower  ridge,  averaging  in  height  about  1500  feet,  com- 
posed of  a compact  cream-colored  limestone.  From  this  the  hills  diverge 


142 


[March, 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

in  short  ranges  towards  the  southern  shore  : their  outline  is  mostly  smooth 
and  rounded,  excepting  on  the  side  nearest  to  the  sea,  where  it  in  general 
presents  a steep  wall.  The  whole  of  the  western  and  the  greater  part  of 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  island  is  composed  of  hills  similar  in  their  ap- 
pearance, elevation,  and  structure  to  this  range. 

As  the  whole  Island  of  Socotra  may  he  considered  as  one  mass  of  pri- 
mitive rock,  we  cannot  expect  to  find  it  distinguished  by  any  remarkable  fer- 
tility of  soil.  I yet  find  it  so  varied,  that  it  is  difficult  to  speak  of  it  in  any 
general  terms.  The  summit  and  sides  of  the  greater  part  of  the  mountains, 
composing  the  eastern  portion  of  the  island,  present  in  some  places  the 
smooth  surface  of  the  rock  entirely  denuded  of  soil ; in  others  the  rain  has 
worn  the  surface  into  hollows,  and  other  irregularities,  in  which  there  is 
lodged  a shallow  deposit  of  light  earth,  from  whence  a few  shrubs  spring 
forth.  On  the  sea  face  of  the  hills,  on  the  northern  side  of  the  island,  and 
amidst  the  sides  and  elevated  regions  in  the  vicinity  of  the  granite  peaks, 
we  find  a dark  rich  vegetable  mould,  which  teems  with  the  most  luxu- 
riant vegetation.  In  the  plain  about  Tamarida,  some  portions  near 
Cadhaop,  and  several  beautiful  valleys  and  plains  which  I crossed  on  my 
return  from  Ras  Mamse,  the  soil  consists  of  a reddish  colored  earth,  which 
nourishes  at  certain  seasons  an  abundant  supply  of  grass,  and  appears  well 
adapted  for  the  cultivation  of  grain,  fruits,  or  vegetables.  In  those  valleys 
through  which  the  streams  flow,  there  are  now  only  extensive  groves  of 
date  trees  ; but  the  existence  of  a broad  border  of  beautiful  turf,  occasional 
enclosures  of  Dekhan,  and  (though  hut  rarely)  a plantation  of  indigo  or 
cotton,  indicate  no  want  of  richness  or  fertility  of  the  soil. 

Climate. 

Though  this  island  is  situated  but  a short  distance  from  the  con- 
tinents of  Arabia  and  Africa,  and  is  in  fact  on  the  same  parallel  with 
their  most  parched  and  burning  plains,  yet  from  both  monsoons  blowing 
over  a vast  expanse  of  water,  it  enjoys  a climate  remarkably  temperate  and 
cool : a register  of  the  thermometer  which  I kept  during  our  stay,  from  the 
12th  of  January  to  the  11th  March,  exhibits  the  mean  daily  temperature 
at  70|°,  while  several  springs  at  but  a slight  elevation  from  the  sea,  into 
which  the  thermometer  was  immersed,  indicated  the  mean  annual  tem- 
perature at  733.  On  the  hills  it  is  of  course  found  to  be  much  cooler.  Until 
within  a few  days  previous  to  our  quitting  the  island,  the  monsoon  blew 
very  fresh,  and  even  at  times  swept  through  the  valleys  with  a violence  I 
have  rarely  seen  equalled.  The  sky  was  usually  overcast  with  clouds,  and 
while  other  parts  of  Asia  and  Africa,  under  the  same  parallel,  had  yet  some 
months  to  elapse  before  their  termination  of  the  dry  seasons,  Socotra  en- 
joyed frequent  and  copious  rains  ; for  these  she  is  principally  indebted  at 
this  season  to  her  granite  mountains  : their  lofty  peaks  obstruct  the  clouds 
which  strike  against  their  sides : either  depositing  their  aqueous  particles 
near  their  summit,  or  precipitating  them  in  plentiful  showers  on  the  sur- 
rounding country.  It  is  these  also  which  contribute  to  nourish  the  nume- 
rous mountain  streams  which  intersect  several  parts  of  the  island.  Several 


1835.] 


143 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

of  these  are  of  a width  and  depth  that  in  Arabia  would  almost  entitle  them 
to  the  appellation  of  rivers.  They  all  originate  near  the  granite  moun- 
tains, and  rolling  with  a considerable  descent  down  the  rocky  ravines,  they 
generally  unite  several  with  each  other  near  their  extremity,  and  after- 
wards wind  their  way  more  slowly  through  the  valleys  into  the  sea.  Those 
on  the  western  part  of  the  island  have  a rapid  descent,  and  are  in  the  N. 
E.  monsoon  dried  up,  at  but  a short  distance  from  their  source,  while 
those  on  the  eastern  side  continue  throughout  the  year  to  discharge  their 
waters  into  the  ocean. 

I could  learn  but  little  concerning  the  influence  of  the  S.  W.  monsoon 
here  from  the  natives.  They  describe  the  rain  as  being  frequent  and 
heavy,  and  the  showers  in  July  and  August  nearly  incessant.  No  bugga- 
lows  at  this  season  touch  at  their  island,  nor  do  any  of  their  own  boats 
venture  to  sea.  The  trees,  wherever  the  wind  has  reached  them  in  their 
inclined  and  beset  position,  bear  good  evidence  to  its  power.  Thunder- 
storms are  frequent  at  the  setting  in  of  the  monsoon,  and  accidents  from 
the  lightning  are  described  to  be  of  frequent  occurrence. 

Natural  Productions. 

Among  the  few  natural  productions  which  are  found  on  this  island,  that 
which  holds  the  first  rank  is  the  aloe,  “ Aloe  spicata,  and  Aloe  Socotrina,” 
called  in  the  language  of  the  island  Tayof,  and  by  the  Arabs  Subal,  for 
this  plant  has  been  held  famous  from  the  earliest  periods  and  it  is  con- 
sequently too  well  known  to  need  any  description.  They  are  usually 
found  on  the  sides  and  summits  of  the  limestone  mountains,  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  from  500  to  1000  feet  from  the  level  of  the  plains.  The  plant 
appears  to  thrive  only  in  parched  and  barren  places.  Its  leaves  are  pluck- 
ed at  any  period,  and  after  being  placed  in  a skin,  the  juice  is  suffered  to 
exude  from  them.  In  this  state  they  are  brought  in  to  Tamarida  and 
Colesseah,  and  there  disposed  of  for  dates.  From  hence  it  is  mostly  ship- 
ped off  to  Muscat,  where  its  price  varies  very  considerably.  In  1833,  the  best 
sold  for  one  rupee  the  Bengal  seile  (seer  ?),  while  of  that  which  was  more  in- 
different, five  seiles  might  be  procured  for  the  dollar.  The  Socotrina  aloes, 
when  pure,  are  the  finest  in  the  world,  but  owing  to  the  careless  manner  in 
which  they  are  gathered  and  packed,  they  contract  many  impurities,  and 
their  value  is  proportionably  deteriorated.  Formerly  every  part  of  the 
island  producing  the  aloe  was  farmed  out  to  different  individuals,  and  the 
whole  produce  at  a fixed  valuation  was  monopolized  by  the  Sultan,  who 
then  resided  on  the  island.  The  boundaries,  which  consisted  of  loose 
stone  walls,  and  had  been  carried  with  immense  labour  over  hill  and  dale, 
still  remain  under  the  present  unsettled  government  ; the  descendants  of 
the  owners  to  whom  they  were  allotted  have  either  withdrawn  their  claims, 
or  are  forgotten.  At  present  any  one  collects  it  who  chooses  to  take  the  trou- 
ble, and  not  a grain  is  levied  on  account  of  the  Sultan,  as  they  lodge  but 
little  in  ware-houses  and  merely  collect  it  when  the  arrival  of  a ship  or 
buggalow  creates  a demand.  The  quantity  produced  has  been  erroneously 
supposed  to  be  much  less  than  it  is  in  reality  ; but  on  the  western  side  of 


144 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra.  [March, 

the  island  the  hills  for  an  extent  of  several  miles  are  now  so  thickly  stud- 
ded  with  it,  that  it  is  not  likely  even  at  any  future  period  that  the  whole 
of  that  which  might  be,  will  he  collected.  The  quantity  reported  within 
the  last  few  years  has  varied  very  much  ; in  1833  it  amounted  to  83  skins, 
or  about  two  tons.  Next  in  importance  to  the  aloe  comes  the  Dragon’s 
blood  tree,  Pterocarpus  Draco,  the  gum  from  which,  Sanguis  Draconis , is 
also  collected  by  the  Bedouins  at  all  seasons.  As  this  gum  is  known  to  be 
produced  by  several  trees,  and  the  species  on  which  it  is  found  in  Socotra 
may  not  therefore  be  known  in  Europe,  I shall  give  a short  account  of  it. 
Like  the  aloe  it  is  usually  met  with  on  the  limestone  hills,  rarely  at  a less 
elevation  than  800,  and  sometimes  as  much  as  2000,  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea  ; but  it  is  never  found  on  the  plains.  The  trunk  is  usually  about 
12  inches  in  diameter,  and  its  height  varies  from  10  to  12  feet  ; the 
branches  are  numerous,  but  short  and  thickly  interwoven  with  each  other. 
The  leaves  are  of  a coriaceous  structure,  and  about  12  inches  in  length  ; 
they  are  of  a sword-like  form,  pointed  at  the  extremity,  and  somewhat  ex- 
tended at  the  base,  where  they  are  sessile  and  somewhat  resemble  those  of 
the  pine-apple.  In  this  part  they  are  connected  with  the  branch  of  the 
tree,  and  radiating  from  it  an  indefinite  number,  they  assume  a fan-like 
shape.  These  together  form  the  upper  part  of  the  tree,  and  by  the  variety 
in  their  shape  and  distribution,  give  rise  to  most  fantastic  appearances. 
AVre  were  not  sufficiently  fortunate  to  obtain  any  specimen  of  the  flower  or 
fruit,  but  Botanists  describe  it  as  belonging  to  the  17th  class  of  Linnaeus, 
and  to  the  natural  order  Leguminosa. 

The  gum  exudes  spontaneously  from  the  tree,  and  it  does  not  appear 
usual,  on  any  occasion,  to  make  an  incision  for  that  purpose.  Two  kinds 
were  shown  to  me,  of  which  that  which  is  of  a dark  crimson  color,  called 
“ Moselle,”  is  esteemed  the  best;  its  price  at  Muscat  is  from  6 to  8 rupees 
the  seile.  Dragon’s-blood  is  called  by  the  Arabs  Dam  Khoheil,  and  Edah  by 
the  Socotrians.  I was  frequentlyassured,  that  not  more  than  a tenth  of  the 
quantity  which  might  be  procured,  was  ever  collected  by  the  Bedouins;  but 
this,  as  with  the  aloes,  appears  to  be  owing  to  there  being  no  regular  demand. 

From  a tree,  called  in  the  language  of  the  island,  Amara,  they  procure  a 
light-colored  gum,  which  is  slightly  odoriferous,  but  is  much  inferior  to 
that  called  Oliban,  obtained  on  the  Arabian  coast.  Sketches  and  descriptions 
were  taken  of  the  other  varieties  of  trees  on  the  island,  but  as  they  do  not 
appear  available  for  building,  or  any  useful  purpose,  and  are  merely  remark- 
able for  being  indigenous  to  the  island,  I have  not  considered  it  necessary 
to  swell  this  paper  with  any  remarks  on  them.  A large  collection  of  plants 
was  also  made,  and  the  Botanist  on  the  granite  peaks  would  yet  meet 
with  a rich  harvest.  On  the  summit  of  these  mountains  the  Bedouinscolleet 
a grev-colored  moss,  called  Shennah,  which  is  used  by  the  Arab  females  to 
dye  thdir  faces  of  a yellow  color.  It  adheres  firmly  to  the  granite  spires, 
the  whole  surface  of  which  is  covered  with  it ; they  thus  receive  a coloring 
which  is  not  their  own,  but  which  is  not  however  far  removed  from  it.  As 
agriculture  is  almost  wholly  unknown  on  the  island  of  Socotra,  the  only 


1835.] 


145 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

grain  which  is  cultivated  on  any  part  of  the  island  is  called  dekhan ; 
this  is  preferred  to  any  other,  because  it  requires  less  attendance, 
and  if  watered,  will  produce  a crop  at  any  season : provided  there  is 
water  in  its  vicinity,  they  do  not  appear  to  be  at  all  solicitous  as  to  the 
quality  of  the  soil,  or  the  spots  they  select  to  serve  as  fields.  They  mere- 
ly remove  the  loose  stones,  and  with  them  build  up  a well,  to  prevent  the 
inroads  of  the  cattle  ; the  soil  is  then  somewhat  loosened  with  a pointed 
stick,  (for  they  have  no  articles  of  husbandry,)  and  after  being  divided  by 
low  narrow  embankments  into  small  squares,  the  seed  is  thrown  on  them 
much  in  the  same  way  as  it  is  in  England.  In  the  absence  of  rain  these 
squares  are  filled  with  water  twice  a day,  until  the  grain  has  nearly  attain- 
ed its  full  growth,  when  once  is  considered  sufficient.  It  is  now  tied  in 
the  upper  part  into  portions  about  the  size  of  sheaves,  in  which  state  it  is 
allowed  to  remain  until  it  is  ripened  and  is  cut  down.  When  milk  is 
abundant,  and  they  can  obtain  dates,  dekhan  is  rarely  partaken  of ; but 
when  the  supply  of  these  is  but  scanty,  it  forms  the  chief  article  of  their 
food.  It  adds  not  a little  to  the  value  which  they  place  on  this  grain,  that 
they  are  enabled  to  keep  it  uninjured  for  a long  period.  No  dekhan  is 
grown  on  the  west  end  of  the  island  ; but  on  the  east  the  enclosures  in  some 
of  the  valleys  are  very  numerous.  It  is  however  to  their  date  groves,  next 
to  their  flocks,  that  the  inhabitants  look  for  their  principal  means  of  sup- 
port. With  the  exception  of  a small  one  at  Colesseah,  and  another  on  the 
west  side  of  the  granite  peaks,  these  are  also  confined  to  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  island.  Here  the  borders  of  the  numerous  streams  which  in- 
tersect it  are  lined  for  miles  with  them : the  foliage  is  somewhat  more  scanty 
than  that  of  those  of  Arabia,  but  I observe  no  other  peculiarity  in  the 
tree.  Some  are  fecundated  at  the  latter  end  of  December,  and  others  as 
late  as  the  early  part  of  March  ; they  must  therefore  secure  to  themselves 
a supply  of  fresh  dates  for  two  months.  Those  which  are  cultivated 
amongst  the  granite  peaks  produce  the  first  crop.  There  are  however 
some  groves  on  the  sandy  belt  at  the  southern  side  of  this  island,  which  I 
have  been  repeatedly  assured  bear  two  crops  during  the  year ; the  one  in 
May,  after  the  N.  E.,  and  another  in  October,  after  the  S.  W.  monsoon ; 
the  fruit  is  not  held  in  much  estimation.  From  the  other  groves,  though 
a large  quantity  is  collected,  yet  it  is  not  sufficient  for  the  consumption  of 
the  inhabitants,  and  a considerable  supply  is  annually  drawn  from  Muscat. 

In  all  the  other  valleys  which  may  have  contained  water,  or  through 
which  water  may  have  passed,  there  are  an  astonishing  number  of  Nibet 
trees  ( Lotus  nebea,  well  known  in  Egypt  and  Syria)  ; the  fruit  is  about  the 
size  of  a cherry,  of  rather  a pleasant  flavour,  and  is  produced  at  all  seasons. 
The  Bedouins  collect  it,  and  after  bruising  the  berry  between  two  stones 
until  it  forms  a paste,  they  mix  with  it  a little  ghee,  and  devour  the  whole 
with  much  relish.  Their  camels  are  exceedingly  fond  of  the  young  branches 
of  this  tree,  and  from  its  bark  the  Bedouins  extract  a tan  for  their  hides. 
The  tamarind  occurs  frequently  among  the  hills;  as  well  as  the  wild  fig; 
from  the  fruit  of  the  former  the  natives  decoct  a cooling  and  refreshing 


T 


146 


[March, 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

drink,  and  the  umbrageous  foliage  of  the  latter  affords  to  the  Bedouins  a 
most  grateful  shade  during  the  heat  of  the  day.  The  Bedouins  also  eat  the 
inner  bark  of  a tree  so  called,  which  is  found  growing  near  the  sea  shore. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Tamarida,  some  melons,  beans,  and  a littletobacco,  suffici- 
ent for  theconsumptionof  theinhabitants,  are  cultivated ; on  the  granite  bills 
some  few  orange  trees,  a speciesof  wild  grape,  and  a kind  of  wild  pear  (? ) are 
also  found,  but  no  other  fruits  or  vegetables  of  any  description  is  produced 
or  known.  I have  already  noticed  the  fertility  of  the  soil  in  some  parts  of 
the  island,  and  the  extraordinary  advantages  it  possesses  in  its  numerous 
streams  : both  are  utterly  disregarded  by  the  natives.  The  whole  of  the  land 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  granite  peaks  is  in  the  highest  degree  susceptible  of 
cultivation.  Grain,  fruits,  or  vegetables  to  any  extent  might  be  reared  in  the 
plain  near  Tamarida,  and  amongt  the  rich  valleys  in  the  direction  of  Ras 
Mamse.  The  face  of  the  hills  on  the  northern  side  might  be  terraced  and 
cultivated  in  the  same  manner,  as  is  customary  in  Yemen  and  Palestine.  In 
a word,  was  it  not  for  the  prevailing  ignorance  and  sloth  which  exists  among 
its  inhabitants,  Socotra  in  a few'  seasons  might  be  rendered  as  celebrated  for 
the  extent  and  variety  of  its  productions  as  it  is  now  remarkable  for  its 
total  want  of  them. 

Natural  History. 

The  only  animals  wre  saw  in  Socotra  were  camels,  asses,  oxen,  sheep, 
goats,  and  civet  cats.  The  camels  were  as  large  as  those  of  Syria,  and  were 
more  remarkable  for  strength  than  for  speed.  As  they  are  continually 
ascending  and  descending  tiie  mountains  by  bad  passes,  they  become  nearly 
as  sure-footed  as  mules;  but  being  constantly  fed  on  succulent  herbs,  they  do 
not,  if  this  food  is  taken  from  them,  display  the  same  endurance  of  thirst  as 
those  of  Arabia;  when  confined  to  the  parched  shrubs  which  grow  on  the 
low'  land,  they  require  to  be  watered  daily.  Camels  are  principally  used  either 
by  the  traders  while  seeking  ghee  among  the  mountains;  or  by  the  inhabi- 
tants, for  the  purpose  of  bringing  dates  or  fire-wood  from  the  interior  ; the 
whole  number  on  the  Island  does  not  exceed  two  hundred.  For  those  I 
took  with  me  I paid  six  dollars  the  month ; the  price  for  which  theyaresold 
is  usually  from  20  to  30  dollars.  Cows  are  very  numerous  in  the  vicinity 
of  Tamarida,  on  the  granite  range  of  mountains,  and  in  many  of  the  eastern 
parts  of  the  island.  They  are  usually  of  the  same  color  as  that  which 
distinguishes  the  Alderney  breed  in  England,  though  their  size  does  not  far 
exceed  the  Welch  breed.  The  hump  which  marks  those  of  India  and  Ara- 
bia is  not  observed  here.  They  find  an  abundance  of  pasture,  are  sleek  and 
fat,  and  their  flesh  of  a most  superior  quality.  The  natives  prize  them  for 
the  sake  of  their  milk,  with  which  they  make  the  ghee,  that  is  in  so  much 
estimation  on  the  coasts  of  Arabia  and  Africa.  They  are  not  therefore 
solicitous  to  part  with  them,  and  the  price  they  demand  compared  w ith  that 
for  which  they  are  purchased  on  the  Arabian  coast,  is  proportionally  high  ; 
10  dollars  was  the  sum  we  paid  for  those  we  procured.  Their  flesh  was  pro- 
nounced equal  to  our  finest  English  oxen.  Should  Socotra,  as  is  contemplated, 
become  a station  for  our  steamers,  an  agent  would  be  enabled  with  little 


1835.] 


147 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

trouble  to  supply  as  many  of  these  as  might  be  required.  The  number  on 
the  island  at  present  exeeds  1600. 

Vast  flocks  of  sheep  and  goats  are  found  in  every  part  of  the  island, 
the  latter  are  indeed  so  numerous,  that  the  owners  never  trouble  themselves 
with  counting  them ; the  sheep  have  not  the  enormous  tail  which  disfigures 
those  of  Arabia  and  Egypt;  they  are  usually  small,  and  lean,  with  remarka- 
bly slender  legs,  and  their  flesh  is  not  well  tasted.  The  JBedouins  wash  them 
every  two  or  three  months,  to  prevent  them  from  getting  the  rot;  their 
wool  is  manufactured  into  the  thick  cloaks  which  are  so  well  known  in 
Arabia  and  Persia.  There  are  several  varieties  of  goat  on  the  island, 
and  a milch-goat,  of  which  nearly  equal  care  is  taken  with  the  sheep  : ano- 
ther kind,  of  a reddish  color,  with  long  shaggy  hair,  which  is  permitted  to 
rove  about  the  island,  and  which  appears  common  property  ; a third  is  the 
wild  goat,  which  is  only  found  in  the  loneliest  glens,  or  on  the  summit  of 
the  loftiest  hills;  their  flesh  is  much  prized  by  the  Bedouins.  When  the  shep- 
herds are  desirous  of  catching  them,  they  seek  about  for  their  haunts  until 
they  discover  the  track  by  which  they  pass  up  and  down  the  mountains; 
across  this  they  spread  a net.  One  of  their  number  then  ascends  to  the  sum- 
mit of  the  mountain  by  another  route,  and  makes  his  appearance  before  the 
animal,  who  no  sooner  discovers  him  than  he  darts  down  the  path  and 
becomes  entangled  in  the  net,  where  he  is  quickly  secured  by  those  who  are 
stationed  there  for  that  purpose.  Amidst  the  hills  over  Tamarida  and  on 
the  plain  contiguous  to  it,  there  are  a great  number  of  asses  which  were 
described  to  me  as  differing  in  some  respects  from  the  domestic  ass,  but 
after  repeated  opportunities  of  observing  them  I find  there  is  no  reason  in 
such  a distinction.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  introduction  of 
camels  superseded  the  necessity  of  employing  them  as  beasts  of  burden,  and 
they  were  therefore  permitted  by  their  masters  to  stray  where  they  pleas- 
ed. They  now  wander  about  in  troops  of  ten  and  a dozen,  and  evince  little 
fear  until  they  are  approached  too  close,  when  they  dart  off  with  much 
speed.  Although  they  were  not  applied  by  the  natives  to  any  usefulpurpose 
they  would  no  doubt  be  found,  should  occasion  hereafter  require  it,  of  much 
utility.  The  only  wild  animal  that  is  known  among  the  hills  is  the  civet 
cat,  of  which  it  is  needless  to  give  any  description.  This  animal  is  very 
abundant  and  was  frequently  brought  to  me  for  sale,  but  I have  not  been 
able  to  learn  that  the  natives'  take  any  trouble  to  collect  much  of  its  per- 
fume. Hyenas,  jackals,  monkeys,  and  other  animals  which  are  common 
to  the  hills  on  the  shores  of  either  continent,  are  unknown  here;  we  do  not 
even  find  the  antelope,  which  is  the  more  singular  as  it  abounds  on  most 
of  the  other  islands  of  the  Arabian  coast.  The  dog  is  also  unknown,  and 
one  we  had  on  board  was  frequently  mistaken  for  a swine.  I saw  but  one 
snake  during  the  whole  of  the  time  I was  on  the  island,  and  the  head  of 
that  was  too  much  bruised  for  me  to  ascertain  if  it  was  poisonous,  though 
the  natives  assured  me  it  was  so.  From  them  I also  learnt,  that  after  the 
rains  a great  many  made  their  appearance,  and  some  marvellous  stories 
were  told  me  x-especting  their  size  and  fiei'ceness  ; how  true  these  may  be,  I 
u 2 


148 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


[March, 


know  not,  but  on  the  low  land  they  have  an  astonishing  number  of  scorpi- 
ons, centipedes,  and  a large  and  venomous  description  of  spiders,  called  (?) 
the  bite  ofwhic-h  creates  alarming  inflammation,  and  even  withyoungchildren, 
it  is  said, sometimes  proves  fatal.  In  some  places  it  was  a chanceif  a stone 
was  removed  but  that  you  would  find  one  or  more  of  these  insects.  Lo- 
custs have  rarely  been  seen  in  Socotra,  and  those  which  were,  are  said  to 
have  been  few,  and  were  most  probably  stragglers.  Ants  are  numerous, 
and  the  bite  of  one  kind  is  scarcelv  less  painful  than  the  sting  of  a wasp  ; 
near  the  dekhan  enclosures,  field  mice  are  often  observed,  and  on  the  hills 
they  are  much  troubled  with  rats  and  other  vermin.  The  chameleon  is  a 
native  of  this  island.  The  only  birds  I saw  were  cranes,  flamingoes,  wild 
ducks,  a species  of  water-fowl,  wood  pigeons  (very  numerous);  the  swallow, 
the  lapwing,  owls,  bats,  and  four  varieties  of  the  vulture:  the  last  are  par- 
ticularly serviceable  in  cleansing  the  earth  of  carcasses  and  filth.  There 
is  also  a small  bird,  with  a red  beak  and  dark  purple  plumage,  called  in  the 
Socotrian  language  Mabeared,  which  utters  a shrill  and  loud  cry,  not  un- 
like that  which  might  be  produced  by  an  effort  of  the  human  voice.  Cas- 
sowaries are  said  to  have  been  seen  on  the  island,  but  I neither  saw  nor 
could  learn  any  thing  of  them. 

Government. 

It  has  already  been  noticed,  that  the  government  of  the  Island  of  Soco- 
tra, from  a very  early  period,  was  dependent  on  the  kings  of  the  incense 
country,  and  the  early  Portuguese  navigators  found  them,  on  their  first  ar- 
rival, still  in  the  undisturbed  possession  of  their  ancient  patrimony  ; but 
after  Albuquerque  had  conquered  and  overrun  the  island,  he  vested  its 
government  in  the  hands  of  some  of  his  officers,  who,  with  a remnant  of 
his  troops,  was  left  behind  to  retain  it.  The  Portuguese  appear  to  have 
held  possession  until  the  decline  of  their  power  in  India,  when  they  inter- 
married with  its  inhabitants,  gradually  lost  their  ascendancy,  and  Socotra, 
after  this  short  interruption,  again  resumed  its  solitary  dependence,  under 
its  ancient  masters.  From  this  period,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  that  a 
brother  or  some  near  relation  of  the  Sultan  of  Kisbeen,  on  the  Arabian 
Coast,  resided  permanently  on  the  island  as  its  governor,  until  within  the 
last  century,  when  it  has  been  merely  subjected  to  an  annual  visit  from 
Kisbeen.  The  revenue  is  then  collected,  and  any  complaints  which  require 
the  interference  of  the  Sultan,  are  brought  before  him.  When  these  ob- 
jects are  accomplished,  he  again  takes  his  departure.  During  our  stay  at 
Kisbeen  and  on  the  island,  we  made  numerous  inquiries  to  ascertain  who 
at  present  exercised  this  power,  but  this  it  proved  no  easy  matter  to  dis- 
cover. The  old  Sultan  is  blind,  and  incapable  of  managing  the  affairs  of 
his  government,  and  all  has  gone  to  confusion.  Various  claimants  appeared, 
but  Abdullah  was  pointed  out  as  the  influential  individual;  from  him  there- 
fore we  procured  letters  specifying  the  nature  of  our  visit,  and  requiring 
from  the  islanders  every  assistance  which  we  might  stand  in  need  of.  Little 
attention  was  however  paid  to  this  letter,  and  during  our  stay  another 
chief,  IIamed  Bin  Tary  arrived,  and  under  the  threat  of  burning  the  town. 


1835.] 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


149 


he  succeeded  at  Colesseah  in  procuring  about  fifty  dollars  worth  of  ghee, 
with  which,  after  sending  on  directions  to  Tamarida,  forbidding  our  being 
furnished  with  either  camels  or  guides,  he  again  sailed  for  Kisbeen,  and 
openly  boasted  of  what  he  had  done.  During  the  present  year,  no  other 
member  of  the  family  is  expected  on  the  island,  and  as  the  sum  collected 
annually,  at  other  seasons,  rarely  exceeds  in  value  200  dollars,  the  autho- 
rity of  the  Sultan  may  be  considered  as  more  nominal  than  real. 

Abdullah  in  his  visits  has  been  known  to  inflict  chastisement  with  his 
own  hand  on  the  Bedouins,  who  have  neglected  to  bring  him  the  full  quan- 
tity of  ghee,  to  which  he  has  considered  himself  entitled,  and  even  to  im- 
prison them  for  a few  days ; but  I could  not  learn  that  he  possessed  suffi- 
cient power  to  inflict  punishment  of  any  kind  on  the  Arabs,  the  greater 
number  of  whom  are  indeed  exempted  from  contributing  to  any  part  of 
his  revenue.  It  is  from  those  who  collect  the  ghee  at  Tamarida,  Colesseah 
and  Codhaop  that  he  procures  the  greater  part  of  the  only  article  which 
he  now  draws  from  the  island.  The  attention  of  Abdullah  during  his  vi- 
sits appears  solely  directed  towards  this  object,  and  though  complaints  from 
former  usage  are  occasionally  brought  before  him,  yet  the  instances  are 
rare,  and  his  decisions  are  not  much  cared  for. 

At  Tamarida,  an  old  Arab,  who  was  formerly  a sipahi  in  India  in  the 
service  of  Baji  Rao,  by  virtue  of  his  age,  and  long  residence  in  the  town, 
possesses  some  influence.  Another  at  Colesseah  named  Salem,  is  also  quali- 
fied by  the  townsmen  with  the  title  of  Shekh,  in  order  mainly  it  would 
appear  that  he  might  secure  presents  from  the  vessels  visiting  the  port, 
hut  nothing  is  more  certain  than  that  they  do  not  possess  throughout  the 
island  a constituted  authority,  either  civil  or  military,  or  of  any  description 
whatsoever.  Notwithstanding  the  singular  anomaly  of  so  great  a number 
of  people  residing  together  without  any  chiefs  or  law,  offences  against  the 
good  order  of  society  appear  infinitely  less  frequent  than  amidst  more 
civilized  nations ; theft,  murder,  and  other  heinous  crimes  are  almost  un- 
known. No  stronger  instance  can  be  given  of  the  absence  of  the  former 
than  the  fact  of  my  wandering  for  two  months  on  the  island,  without  hav- 
ing during  that  period  missed  the  most  trifling  article.  Some  intelligent 
Arabs,  who  had  resided  there  some  fifteen  years,  assured  me  that  the  only 
disturbances  known  were  occasional  quarrels  among  the  Bedouins,  respect- 
ing their  pasture  grounds,  and  these  were  as  usual  settled  either  by  the 
individuals  fighting  the  matter  out  with  sticks,  or  by  the  interference  of 
their  friends.  It  is  no'doubt  this  security  of  person  and  property,  which 
has  brought  from  the  shores  of  the  continent  on  either  side  so  many  set- 
tlers to  the  island. 

Inhabitants. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  island  may  be  divided  into  two  distinct  classes, 
those  who  inhabit  the  mountains  and  high  lands  on  the  western  extremity 
of  the  island,  and  which  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  are  its  aborigines, 
and  those  who  reside  in  Tamarida,  Colesseah,  and  Codhaop,  as  wellasseve- 
ral  tribes  who  occupy  the  eastern  portion  of  the  island  : the  latter  are  a 


130 


Report  on  the  Islam 1 of  Socotra. 


[March, 


mongrel  race,  the  descendants  of  Arabs,  African  slaves,  Portuguese, 
and  several  other  nations.  Of  the  former  I shall  now  give  as  full  a 
description  as  the  limits  to  which  1 have  considered  it  necessary  to  confine 
this  paper  will  admit.  It  is  however  necessary  for  me  to  premise,  that 
though  from  personal  observations  I have  been  enabled  to  elicit  every 
necessary  degree  of  information  connected  with  the  present  physical  habits 
and  domestic  manners  of  this  isolated  race,  yet  there  were  some  interest- 
ing points  connected  with  their  former  condition,  religion,  and  usages  on 
which  I was  anxious  to  obtain  some  knowledge.  This  however  from  the 
jealous  and  suspicious  character  of  those  with  whom  I was  obliged  to  con- 
verse, I found  to  be  almost  impracticable  ; they  either  declined  answering 
the  questions  altogether,  or  they  only  furnished  replies  which  were  calcu- 
lated to  mislead.  Some  of  this  reserve  melted  away  before  we  left,  but  my 
inquiries  did  not  tend  to  elucidate  facts  of  any  importance.  In  the  sub- 
sequent sketch  1 shall  however  have  occasion  again  to  touch  on  this  subject. 

On  the  Bedouins.  The  Arabs  who  visit  Socotra,  in  consequence  of  their 
pastoral  habits  and  wandering  mode  of  life,  have  bestowed  on  this  class 
the  appellation  of  Bedouin,  to  which  race,  though  they  widely  differ  in  some 
points,  there  is  yet  in  others  a striking  resemblance.  The  principles  of 
their  political  constitution  are  like  theirs  exceedingly  simple  : all  are 
divided  into  families  or  tribes,  each  occupying  a determined  domain  on  the 
island,  and  each  having  a representative  head,  who  formerly  exercised 
what  might  be  termed  a patriarchal  authority  over  them.  In  general,  the 
office  is  hereditary,  though  it  is  sometimes  filled  by  persons  who  have  been 
selected  for  the  supei  iority  of  their  abilities.  It  was  to  this  individual 
that  the  Sultan  formerly,  when  he  resided  on  the  island,  looked  for  the 
collection  of  his  tribute,  and  to  the  Sultan  he  was  also  in  some  measure 
answerable  for  the  good  order  of  the  six  tribes ; but  at  present  his  authority 
appears  to  be  merely  that  of  an  influential  individual,  before  whom  complaints 
are  taken  for  arbitration,  but  who  possesses  no  power  to  punish  a delinquent : 
an  individual  may  also  carry  his  complaint  before  the  Sultan,  or  his  deputy, 
or  he  may,  which  is  the  usual  practice,  retaliate  on  the  injureror  any  member 
of  his  family ; but  these  affairs  are  not  carried  to  the  sanguinary  lengths 
they  are  in  Arabia,  where  the  murder  of  one  individual  is  revenged  upon 
the  person  of  his  assassins  or  their  relations.  I made  numerous  inquiries, 
but  I could  not  ascertain  that  any  of  their  quarrels  terminated  in  blood- 
shed : certainly  this  may  be  owing  in  some  measure  to  their  having  neither 
fire-arms  nor  weapons  of  any  other  description  than  sticks  and  stones  ; but 
these  peaceable  habits  are  forcibly  illustrated  by  the  fact  of  so  many  tribes 
occupying  territories  so  intermingled  with  each  other,  where  the  variable 
nature  of  the  pasturage,  and  the  scarcity  of  water,  compel  them  from  different 
quarters  to  meet  on  the  same  spot,  without  reference  to  the  actual  owners  ; 
and  yet  that  skirmishing  among  them  should  be  of  such  rare  occurrence. 

Physical  Character,  Persons,  Diet,  SfC.  dye. 

The  men  are  usually  tall : their  limbs  appear  strong  and  muscular,  and 
remarkably  well  formed;  the  facial  angle  is  as  straight  as  that  of  Europeans; 


1835.] 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


161 


the  nose  is  slightly  aquiline;  the  eyes  lively  and  expressive;  the  teeth  good, 
and  the  mouth  well  formed  : their  hair  is  worn  long,  and  curls  naturally,  hut 
without  the  slightest  approach  to  the  woolly  texture  or  appearance  of  that 
of  the  Negro;  they  wear  generally  a heard  and  whiskers,  but  no  mustachios: 
their  complexion  varies  a good  deal;  some  are  as  fair  as  the  inhabitants  of 
Surat,  while  others  are  as  dark  as  the  Hindus  on  the  banks  of  the  Ganges. 
They  walk  w'ith  an  erect  gait  over  the  worst  ground,  and  will  hound  over 
the  hills  like  antelopes.  From  constantly  climbing  the  rocks  and  mountains, 
they  have  contracted  a habit  of  turning  in  their  toes,  which  gives  them 
over  the  plains  a slight  degree  of  awkwardness  in  their  walk ; notwithstand- 
ing this  slight  defect,  the  regularity  of  their  features,  the  fairness  of  their 
complexion  (for  those  which  are  very  dark  comprehend  hut  a small  portion 
of  their  number),  and  the  models  of  symmetry,  which  are  occasionally  pre- 
sented to  the  eye,  render  them  a remarkable  looking  race,  far  distinct  and 
removed  from  any  of  those  varieties  of  the  human  race  which  I have  seen 
on  the  shores  of  the  continent  on  either  side. 

Their  dress  consists  of  a piece  of  cloth  wrapped  round  their  waist,  and 
the  end  thrown  over  the  shoulder.  No  ornaments  are  worn : in  their  girdle  is 
placed  a knife ; hut  as  they  have  no  weapons,they  carry  in  their  hands  a large 
stick.  In  their  various  modes  of  dressing  their  hair  they  display  a little  fop- 
pery: some  frizzle  it  out  like  the  Arabs  on  the  coast  of  Egypt;  others 
allow  it  to  curl  naturally  ; while  the  generality  permit  it  to  grow  to  a consi- 
derable length,  and  plait  it  into  tresses,  which  are  confined  to  the  head  by 
a long  braided  cord,  made  from  their  own  hair.  Their  skins  are  clear  and 
shining,  and  remarkably  free  from  eruptions  or  cutaneous  disorders.  Many 
are  however  scarred  from  the  application  of  hot  irons  for  the  removal  of 
local  complaints — a mode  of  cure  they  are  quite  as  fond  of  practising  as 
their  neighbours  the  Arabs  of  the  peninsula. 

Of  the  Females.  The  same  remarks  which  I have  given  to  the  person  and 
features  of  the  men  may  be  applied  with  little  iteration  to  those  of  the 
females:  there  is  the  same  symmetry  of  form,  the  same  regularity  of  features, 
and  the  same  liveliness  of  expression  ; but  their  complexion  does  not  vary 
in  an  equal  degree  : few  are  darker  than  the  fairest  of  the  men,  and  some 
especially  when  young,  were  remarkably  pretty  : the  legs  of  some  of  those 
advanced  in  age  were  of  an  astonishing  thickness ; but  this  defect  is  more 
observable  among  those  who  reside  near  the  low-lands,  and  it  but  seldom 
occurs  among  the  high-land  females.  Their  dress  consists  of  a coarse 
Cameline,  secured  round  their  waist  by  a leather  girdle,  and  a kind  of  wrap- 
per of  coarse  Dungree  cloth,  which  is  thrown  over  their  shoulders:  around 
their  necks  they  wear  a necklace  made  of  red  coral,  colored  glass,  amber, 
&c.  with  sometimes  a string  of  dollars.  In  each  ear  they  wear  three  and 
sometimes  four  large  ear-rings  made  of  silver  and  about  three  inches  in  dia- 
meter; two  of  these  are  worn  in  the  upper,  and  one  in  the  lower,  part  of 
the  ear.  They  go  unveiled,  and  whenever  we  approached  their  houses, 
they  conversed  with  us. 


152 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


[March, 


Of  their  habitations.  In  a moist  climate  like  Socotra,  it  would  be 
impossible  for  several  months  to  live  in  tents  ; and  as  the  variation  of  the 
seasons  compels  the  Bedouins  to  shift  with  their  flocks  in  search  of  pas- 
turage, it  may  he  considered  as  a bountiful  provision  that  they  are 
in  the  numerous  natural  caverns  with  which  the  limestone  hills  abound, 
provided  with  habitations  ready  fashioned  to  their  hands.  A Bedouin 
merely  selects  one  of  these,  which  from  its  size  and  situation  is  best  calcu- 
lated for  his  purpose  ; he  then  by  means  of  loose  stone  walls  portions  off 
different  apartments  for  himself  and  family,  while  the  remainder  is  left  to 
afford  shelter  to  his  flock.  Singular  spots  are  occasionally  chosen  for  these 
places  of  abode:  I have  seen  them  on  the  face  of  a nearly  vertical  hill,  at 
the  height  of  800  feet  from  the  plain.  In  the  valleys,  and  on  the  margin, 
they  have  another  description  of  dwelling  place:  the  rocks  there  whenever 
limestone  occurs  is  equally  cavernous  with  the  hills  : a cave  is  selected  ; they 
widen  if  necessary  the  entrance,  so  as  to  allow  it  to  open  into  an  enclosure  ; 
the  upper  part  is  then  covered  over  with  rafters,  on  which  turf  and  some 
earth  is  placed,  so  that  it  becomes  difficult  at  a short  distance  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  surrounding  country  : a wall  constructed  of  loose  stones  encloses 
a circular  space  about  30  yards  in  diameter,  which  serves  at  night  as  a fold 
for  their  sheep  and  goats.  I visited  the  interior  of  several  of  these  : the 
only  furniture  they  contained  was  a stone  for  grinding  corn,  some  skins  on 
which  they  sleep,  other  skins  for  holding  water  or  milk,  some  earthen 
cooking  pots,  and  a few  Camelines  hanging  on  lines  taken  across  the  roof. 
In  one  of  these  tied  by  the  four  corners  and  suspended  from  a peg  by  a 
string,  you  will  frequently  see  a child  sleeping.  It  also  serves  as  a cradle, 
which  they  swing  to  and  fro  when  they  wish  to  compose  it  to  sleep.  In 
liot-weather,  when  the  ground  is  parched  with  heat,  these  caverns  are  of  a 
clammy  coldness ; the  Bedouins  are  by  no  means  particular  in  keeping  them 
clean,  and  they  usually  swarm  with  fleas  and  other  vermin.  A few  days 
after  my  first  arrival,  I had  occasion  to  ascend  a mountain  on  the  southern 
side  of  the  island,  seeking  for  plants  ; and  other  pursuits  had  detained  me 
until  it  was  too  late  to  descend.  I therefore  took  up  my  quarters  with  a 
Bedouin’s  family  in  one  of  these  caverns.  It  was  formed  by  the  overhang- 
ing of  an  enormous  rock,  which  left  a sheltered  space  of  oO  yards  in  length 
and  10  in  breadth.  In  the  interior  the  surface  of  the  limestone  exhibited 
rounded  masses,  with  cellular  cavities  in  and  between  them  ; hut  1 could 
not  discover  any  stalactitic  traces.  These  were  the  first  Bedouins  we  had 
met  with,  and  none  of  the  party  had  seen  Europeans  before.  Our  coming 
unexpectedly  on  them,  therefore,  created  with  the  females  some  little  aiarm; 
hut  a few  words  of  explanation  from  our  guide  soon  quieted  them  : a few 
needles  to  the  females  and  some  tobacco  to  the  men  set  the  whole  party 
in  good  humour.  Milk,  dates,  and  whatever  their  cave  afforded  was  readily 
placed  before  us,  and  they  cheerfully  assented  to  our  request  of  passing 
the  night  there.  At  our  suggestion,  some  grass  was  collected  for  us  to  sleep 
on,  but  this  unfortunately  proved  an  inducement  for  the  goats  and  sheep, 
which  were  lodged  in  the  same  part  of  the  cavern  with  several  members  of 


153 


1835.]  Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

tlie  family  to  visit  and  run  over  us  repeatedly  during  the  night,  so  that  we 
obtained  but  little  rest. 

The  men  pass  their  time  in  tending  their  flocks,  in  collecting  dragon  s 
blood,  or  aloes,  and  in  occasional  visits  to  the  town,  when  the  two  latter 
with  their  ghi  are  exchanged  for  dates,  dhona,  the  ja  war/  of  India,  and  clothes. 
Accustomed  to  traverse  these  mountains  from  childhood,  they  perform  on 
these  occasions  journeys  of  39  or  40  miles,  climbing  almost  perpendicular 
precipices,  and  crossing  deep  ravines,  without  occasionally  experiencing  any 
fatigue  or  inconvenience.  The  principal  employment  of  the  females  abroad 
is  also  looking  after  their  flocks  ; at  home  they  make  ghi,  curd,  and  spin 
wool,  which  they  afterwards  weave  into  Camelines,  and  attend  to  their  other 
duties.  They  have  a curious  method  of  cleansing  the  wool : they  place  it 
in  a heap  on  the  floor,  over  which  they  hold  a bow,  and  snap  the  string 
against  it,  until  the  whole  of  the  dust  has  flown  off.  Their  method  of 
weaving  is  also  very  simple,  but  a description  of  it  here  would  occupy  too 
much  space.  As  it  is  very  difficult  to  procure  steel  of  any  description  on 
the  island,  the  Bedouins  have  recourse  to  a method  of  obtaining  combustion, 
which  is  practised  by  several  savage  nations.  They  procure  two  pieces  of 
wood,  the  one  hard  Nebek  (if  procurable),  and  the  other  a short  flat  lath, 
from  a date  branch.  The  former  is  about  12  inches  in  length,  and  is 
inserted  into  a hollow,  which  is  formed  for  that  purpose  in  the  latter. 

The  stick  is  then  twirled  briskly  between  the  two  palms,  until  the  dust 
which  is  worn  out  by  the  friction,  and  which  escapes  down  the  side  by  a 
small  grove  cut  near  one  side  of  the  hollow,  ignites.  The  dust  is  then 
placed  on  the  top  of  a palm-branch,  and  a flame  is  soon  produced.  They 
have  a method  of  obtaining  a whiff  of  tobacco  equally  curious  and  simple. 
They  slip  off  a branch  of  the  Luhah  tree  of  the  required  length  and 
thickness  for  the  tube,  the  extremity  of  this  is  then  cut  much  in  the  same 
way  as  we  do  a quill  before  we  split  it : this  part  serves  as  a bowl,  in  which 
the  tobacco  is  placed,  while  a small  wooden  plug,  having  a hole  in  its 
centre,  at  once  prevents  it  from  ascending  the  tube,  and  at  the  same  time 
permits  the  smoke  to  be  inhaled. 

Rood,  8$c.  The  Bedouins  subsist  principally  on  milk,  and  the  grain  and 
dates  which  they  receive  in  exchange  for  their  ghi.  Whenever  occasion 
calls  for  it,  or  a visitor  arrives,  they  kill  a goat  or  sheep  ; their  mode  of 
cooking  is  very  simple:  they  separate  the  meat  from  the  bones,  cut  it  into 
small  pieces,  and  boil  the  whole  in  an  earthen  pot ; they  use  no  dishes,  and 
the  meat  is  placed  on  a small  mat,  round  which  they  seat  themselves  in 
eating.  Contrary  to  the  usual  practice  of  the  Musalmans,  these  islanders 
always  cut  their  meat  with  knives,  which  are  procured  from  the  whalers 
and  other  vessels  that  touch  at  the  island. 

The  moral  character  of  the  Bedouins  stands  high.  The  absence  of  any 
heinous  crimes  among  them  has  already  been  noticed,  and  in  general  they 
may  be  considered  as  a lively  generous  race  ; but  the  most  distinguishing 
trait  of  their  character  is  their  hospitality,  which  is  practised  alike  by  all, 
and  is  only  limited  by  the  means  of  the  individual  who  is  called  on  to 


x 


154 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socolr'a. 


[MakC#, 


exeixise  it.  Nor  is  this,  as  with  the  Socotrian  Arabs,  confined  to  those  of 
their  own  faith ; and  while  with  the  latter  we  were  unceasingly  tired  with 
silly  questions  relating  either  to  our  religion  or  our  views  on  the  island, 
the  Bedouins  gave  themselves  no  concern  either  about  one  or  the  other.  A 
watch  excited  much  mirth  among  them,  and  it  was  long  before  they  would 
cease  to  believe  it  was  a living  animal;  but  unaccustomed  as  they  were  to 
the  sight  of  fire-arms,  what  excited  their  utmost  astonishment  was  a pair  of 
pistols  with  detonating  caps.  Ever  cheerful,  they  were  always  ready  to 
enter  into  conversation, or  to  be  pleased  with  what  was  shown  them.  1 saw 
no  instrument  of  music  during  my  stay  on  the  island,  hut  they  appear  pas- 
sionately found  of  song,  and  on  one  occasion,  at  a wedding,  I observed 
them  dancing.  A party  stood  round  in  a circle,  and  while  one  of  their  number 
continued  to  sing,  two  or  three  others,  without  any  pretence  to  a regular 
step,  by  a succession  of  jumps  or  bounds,  endeavoured  to  keep  something 
like  time  to  it. 

The  Bedouins  have  a great  variety  in  their  modes  of  salutation  : two 
friends  meeting  will  kiss  each  other  on  the  cheek  or  shoulder  six  or  eight 
times,  then  shake  hands,  kiss  them,  and  afterwards,  exchange  a dozen  sen- 
tences of  compliments;  they  have  also  thesame  singular  and  indelicate  mode 
of  salutation  which  is  observed  at  Kisbeen,  when  they  place  their  noses 
together,  and  accompany  the  action  by  drawing  up  their  breath  audibly 
through  the  nostrils  at  the  same  time.  Male  and  female  relations  salute 
each  other  in  public  in  this  manner.  Those  of  different  sexes,  who  are 
merely  known  to  each  other,  kiss  each  other’s  shoulder  or  hand,  except  with 
the  principal  individual  of  the  tribe.  When  the  females  fall  in  with  him,  they 
salute  his  knees,  and  he  returns  it  on  their  forehead.  The  old  men  salute 
children  in  the  same  manner.  With  the  use  of  the  compass  the  Bedouins 
were  totally  unacquainted,  and  they  had  no  terms  in  the  Socotrian  language 
to  express  the  cardinal  points.  The  superiority  of  the  Arabian  numerals  for 
extended  calculations  over  their  own,  has  induced  them  to  entirely  discon- 
tinue the  use  of  the  latter,  and  in  all  transactions  among  themselves,  as  well 
as  with  the  Arabs,  the  Arabian  alone  are  now  used  ; it  was  therefore  not 
without  some  difficulty  that  I was  enabled  to  collect  the  Socotrian  nu- 
merals, they  are  as  follows: 


1 Tand  5 Ilamish  9 Scab 

2 Terean  6 Heitah  10  Ushari 

3 Thedder  7 Ileibah  11  Usharit  and 

4 Urubah  8 Tomani  12  Ushari  terean 

and  so  on  to  20,  which  is  two  tens,  or  usharum,  and  usharin  tand  51  ; 
thirty,  which  is  thedder  ushari,  urubah  or  three-tens;  forty,  which  is 
ushari,  or  four  tens,  and  so  on  to  one  hundred,  which  is  meyen  or  meian, 
which  is  like  the  Arabic  mit  or  meat. 

But  by  this  decimal  mode  of  calculation  they  could  advance  no  further 
than  ten  hundred.  I have  frequently  sought  without  success  for  something 
to  express  a thousand : this  gives  no  very  high  opinion  of  their  mental 
capacity,  and  it  evinces,  unless  they  have  sadly  retrograded,  a strong  proof 


1835.] 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


155 


of  their  never  having  made  any  considerable  advances  in  civilization.  Du- 
ring my  stay  among  these  high  islanders,  I saw  few  cases  of  sickness;  three 
or  four  sufferers  from  cancer,  and  as  many  from  elephantiasis,  were  brought 
to  me  for  medical  assistance,  and  hard  painful  swelling  of  the  abdomen, 
brought  on  by  irregularity  in  their  diet,  was  also  frequent;  hut  this  was  in 
no  way  surprising.  A Bedonin  will  live  on  nothing  but  milk,  and  a little 
Dekhan,  for  several  days,  and  then  feast  most  exorbitantly  on  a sheep,  the 
flesh  of  which  is  but  half-boiled  Some  bad  sores  were  also  shown  me,  occa- 
sioned by  punctures  from  the  thorns  of  the  Nibek.  But  in  general  diseases 
are  of  very  rare  occurrence,  and  the  Bedouins  may  be  considered  a hardy, 
healthy  race.  In  the  most  solitary  and  lonely  ravines  and  valleys  I have 
occasionally  met  with  idiots,  who  are  permitted  to  stray  about  by  them- 
selves. Food  is  given  them  when  they  approach  any  habitation,  but  they 
usually  subsist  either  on  the  wild  herbs,  which  they  gather  on  the  moun- 
tains, or  on  the  wild  goats,  which  they  knock  over  with  stones  near  Ras 
Mami.  I saw  one  of  these  men  going  about  perfectly  naked.  I came  on 
him  unexpectedly,  but  he  fled  with  much  celerity  the  instant  he  saw  me. 

Language.  I am  not  sufficiently  versed  in  oriental  literature  to  ascer- 
tain what  affinity  the  Socotrian  language  may  bear  either  to  the  Arabic 
or  any  other  language.  I have  therefore  subjoined  a copious  vocabulary  of 
words  in  general  use  among  the  Bedouins,  by  which  I trust  the  scholar  may 
be  able  to  proceed  in  an  inquiry  that  can  scarcely  fail  to  lead  to  most  inter- 
esting results.  I may  notice  in  passing  that  the  mountaineers  from  the 
Arabian  coast  are  enabled  to  make  themselves  well  understood  by  the 
highlandex-s  of  Socotra ; but  the  Arabs  from  Muscat,  or  from  any  of  the 
other  towns,  are  quite  unable  to  do  so.  The  Socotrian  language  is  spoken 
even  among  themselves  by  all  those  who  have  permanently  settled  on  the 
island,  and  the  Arabic  is  only  used  by  the  merchants  while  transacting 
business  with  the  traders  who  arrive  in  buggalows. 

At  a period  as  late  as  when  the  Portuguese  first  visited  Socotra,  they 
found  in  it  books  inscribed  in  the  Chaldean  character.  I had  anticipated 
procuring  some  manuscripts  or  books  which  might  have  served  to  throw 
light  on  the  history  of  the  island  ; but  in  answer  to  repeated  applications 
which  I have  made  to  different  individuals  for  them,  I have  always  been 
assured  that  some  which  they  acknowledge  to  have  possessed  were  left 
behind  in  their  houses  when  they  fled  to  the  hills ; and  that  the  Wahabis, 
during  their  visit,  destroyed  or  carried  them  off.  The  latter  is  the  most 
probable,  as  these  sectaries  in  their  various  eruptions  are  known  to  have 
manifested  a strong  desire  to  possess  themselves  of  historical  works*.  The 
only  vestige  which  I have  been  enabled  to  trace  of  any  other  character 
than  the  Arabic  now  in  use,  being  adopted  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  islands, 
are  some  singular  and  interesting  inscriptions,  which  I discovered  on  the 
sea  shore  about  a mile  in  a direction  from  Ras  Mami. 

They  are  inscribed  in  the  horizontal  face  of  a sheet  of  limestone  rock, 
which  is  on  a level  with  the  plain,  and  is  about  300  paces  in  circumference  ; 

* Vide  Burkhardt’s  Travels  in  Arabia,  Yol.  i.  p,  393. 

x 2 


156 


Report  on  the  Inland  of  Socotra. 


[March, 


those  parts  which  by  their  smoothness  are  best  adapted  for  the  purpose 
are  covered  with  inscriptions  and  figures.  I subjoin  a sketch  of  a few  of 
the  most  legible,  which  for  the  sake  of  greater  accuracy  1 copied  a second 
time.  The  resemblance  in  the  character  to  some  I copied  near  W edgi 
in  Arabia,  which  are  supposed  to  be  Ethiopic,  is  so  striking,  that  I am 
tempted  to  believe  they  owe  their  origin  to  the  same  people.  Should  this 
on  further  examination  prove  the  case,  some  interesting  inquiries  would 
suggest  themselves.  Independent  of  these  inscriptions,  there  are  immense 
number  of  rude  representations  of  the  feet  of  men,  camels,  sheep,  oxen, 
asses,  and  cows ; some  of  the  human  feet  were  as  small  as  those  of  an  in- 
fant, while  others  are  treble  their  natural  size  ; they  are  all  placed  in  pairs, 
but  with  no  general  direction.  The  feet  of  the  animals  are  cut  so  as  to 
represent  a soft  rock,  yielding  to  the  weight  of  their  impression.  These 
occur  sometimes  in  line,  in  others  they  are  thickly  crowded  together,  and 
amidst  the  latter  is  usually  found  the  characters.  The  cross  occurs  very 
frequently,  as  well  as  a figure  with  a snake’s  head.  I passed  several  hours 
in  examining  and  sketching  the  most  legible  of  the  characters  ; but  vast 
numbers  are  obliterated.  1 was  at  first  tempted  to  ascribe  these  inscrip- 
tions to  the  work  of  the  shepherds  in  their  leisure  hours  ; but  they  are  so 
numerous,  and  must  withal  from  the  nature  of  the  rock  have  been  execut- 
ed with  so  much  labor,  that  I cannot  on  reflection  refer  them  to  that  ori- 
gin. The  unity  of  design,  exhibited  in  the  constant  recurrence  of  the 
same  apparently  unintelligible  symbol,  would  rather  induce  us  to  suppose 
that  a place  of  worship  or  pilgrimage  must  have  formerly  existed  in  its 
vicinity.  At  present  there  are  half  a dozen  small  ruinous  buildings  to  the 
southward,  and  the  remains  of  a wall  running  along  to  the  northward, 
near  it;  but  nothing  more  to  verify  such  a supposition. 

In  a hill  near  Tamarida,  I discovered  several  caves,  which  contain  hu- 
man skeletons.  A wall  eight  feet  in  length  had  been  built  up  parallel  to, 
and  at  a distance  of  about  seven  feet  from,  the  side,  so  as  to  allow  a suffici- 
ent space  for  the  bodies  to  be  laid  at  full  length ; they  appear  to  have  been 
deposited  in  layers,  though  at  different  periods.  Between  and  above  each 
skeleton,  there  was  a space  of  about  two  feet,  which  was  filled  up  with 
earth  until  the  whole  mass  reached  the  upper  part  of  the  cave.  Among  the 
mountains  in  the  interior,  I was  assured,  that  these  occur  frequently,  and 
there  is  reason  to  believe,  the  Bedouins  deposited  their  dead  in  them,  until 
a late  period  ; but  as  they  entertained  great  dread  of  my  writing  them  down, 
as  they  termed  it,  they  were  never  shown  to  me.  I entered  and  discovered 
these  by  stealth.  Upon  conversing  with  the  Bedouins,  afterwards,  on  this 
subject,  they  admitted  the  fact  of  their  serving  as  cemetries  to  their  ances- 
tors, but  denied  they  had  been  used  since  the  propagation  of  the  Musalman 
religion.  At  present  they  observe  the  same  mode  of  interment  as  the 
Arabs  of  Tamarida. 

Of  many  other  peculiar  customs,  a few  only  are  now  retained,  of  which 
the  most  singular  is  that  they  do  not  circumcise  their  male  children  un- 
til they  are  past  the  age  of  puberty,  while  with  other  Muhammedans,  it  is 


1835.] 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


15? 


performed  at  a very  early  age.  On  the  eastern  part  of  the  islands,  amidst 
the  mountains,  I was  shown  a rude  stone  chair,  in  which  it  was  customary 
for  the  Bedouins  to  seat  their  youths  (who  were  sometimes  brought  from  a 
long  distance)  while  the  operation  was  performed.  They  have  preserved 
the  remembrance  of  a.  singular  trial  by  ordeal,  which  was  formerly  practised 
on  an  individual  supposed  to  have  been  guilty  of  any  heinous  crime  ; he  was 
placed  bound  hands  and  feet  on  the  summit  of  some  eminence,  and  there 
compelled  to  remain  for  three  days.  If  rain  fell  during  that  period  on  or 
near  him,  he  was  considered  guilty,  and  punished  by  being  stoned  to  death  ; 
but  if  the  weather  on  the  contrary  continued  serene,  he  was  acquitted. 

At  first  sight  it  may  appear  singular,  that  while,  as  will  be  shown  by  the 
subsequent  section,  the  population  of  the  eastern  portion  of  the  island 
should  be  found  so  mixed  and  varied,  that  of  the  western  should  have  con- 
tinued pure,  and  should  still  present  the  same  general  characteristics,  but 
the  causes  on  examination  are  almost  self-evident.  The  Bedouins  make  no 
scruple  to  give  their  daughters  to  the  native  Arabs,  and  even  to  visitors 
who  may  pass  but  a short  time  on  the  island.  The  wives  of  the  latter  live 
with  their  husbands;  while  of  the  offspring  by  those  of  the  former,  the  boys 
naturally  follow  the  avocation  of  the  father,  and  rarely  if  ever  turn  to 
the  pastoral  pursuits  of  their  maternal  progenitors  : while  the  females  are 
married  not  to  the  Bedouins  (for  though  the  Arabs  have  no  objections  to 
take  a Bedouin  wife,  they  would  yet  hold  themselves  disgraced  were  they 
to  marry  their  daughters  to  one  of  that  race),  but  to  one  of  their  own  class. 
This  accounts  for  the  great  disproportion  which  may  be  observed  on  the 
mountains  between  the  males  and  the  females.  Independently  of  this,  as 
one  cause,  want  of  water,  which  is  felt  on  the  western  part  of  the  island 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  and  its  general  sterility,  offer  so  little 
inducement  to  the  native  Arabs  to  reside  there,  that  with  the  exception  of 
some  hamlets  on  the  sea  coast,  in  which  they  take  up  their  quarters  for  the 
purpose  of  fishing,  I did  not  in  the  course  of  my  journeying  in  that  part 
meet  half  a dozen  families.  But  of  those  which  are  comprehended  under 
the  name  of  Bedouin,  there  are  a few  distinct  tribes,  of  which  it  is  necessary 
separate  mention  should  be  made. 

Those  most  worthy  of  attention  or  remark  are  of  a small  tribe,  of  about 
150  men,  called  Bahi  Rahom,  in  the  vicinity  of  Ras  Mami.  Their  fore- 
fathers are  said  to  have  been  Jews,  and  the  features  of  their  descendants 
still  retain  a strong  resemblance  to  those  of  that  race.  The  Sari,  the 
Sayffi,  the  Dermi,  and  the  Zirghi  descended  from  the  Portuguese,  under  the 
general  appellation  of  C'ambar  or  Gambar,  occupy  the  granite  mountains ; 
they  are  rich  in  flocks  of  sheep  and  oxen,  and  though  the  resemblance  to 
the  European  cast  of  countenance  may  still  be  traced,  and  even  in  some 
instances  they  have  preserved  their  original  names,  yet  there  are  none  of 
those  symptoms  of  physical  degradation  which  are  observed  in  the  race  of 
the  Portuguese  at  present  in  India.  On  the  contrary,  some  of  the  finest 
figures  and  the  most  intelligent  of  the  natives  I saw  on  the  island  were  of 
this  class.  Though  readily  recognized  by  the  other  tribes,  their  descent 


158 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


[March, 


appears  in  no  way  to  have  been  urged  as  a reproach  against  them.  Tt  was 
told  me  that  a few  families  amidst  the  mountains  continued  to  speak  their 
own  language,  hut  I was  never  sufficiently  fortunate  to  fall  in  with  any  of 
them.  Some  of  the  hills  on  the  north  side  of  the  island  still  retain  the 
appellations  which  were  bestowed  on  them  by  this  nation. 

As  I have  reserved  the  name  of  Bedouin,  bestowed  on  the  mountain 
tribes,  without  regard  to  the  general  application  of  the  term,  it  will  be  as 
well  to  retain  the  name  of  Arab,  with  which  the  remainder  with  no  higher 
claim  have  invested  themselves. 

Under  this  designation  are  included  those  who  occupy  Tamarida,  the 
villages  of  Cadhdp  and  Caleseah,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  island  ; they  may  all  be  classed  as  foreigners,  or  the  offspring 
of  foreigners,  who  have  settled  here.  The  greater  number  are  Arabs,  who 
being  left  by  boats  passing  between  Zanzebar  and  the  Arabian  continent,  to 
dispose  of  cargoes,  take  unto  themselves  a wife,  and  remain  permanently. 

The  others  are  Indians,  Sumaulies,  Nubians,  slaves,  &c.  who  are  attracted 
here  from  various  motives  ; all  are  careful  in  preserving  the  recollection  of 
their  original  country,  and  for  this  purpose  they  subjoin  its  name  to  their 
own.  Thus  our  guide  was  called  Suliman  Muscatv,  or  Suliman  from  Mus- 
cat. Though  so  mixed  a class,  the  Socotrian  Arabs  wear  the  same  dress, 
and  have  adopted  the  same  language  and  customs ; their  colour,  features,  and 
figure,  as  may  be  anticipated  from  their  different  origin,  are  so  varied,  that 
it  is  impossible  to  speak  of  them  in  any  general  terms.  We  have  in  fact  every 
grade,  from  the  flattened  nose,  the  thick  lips,  and  the  woolly  hair  of  the 
Negro,  to  the  equally  well-known  characteristics  of  the  Arab.  Their  dress 
consists  of  a loose  single  shirt,  descending  below  the  knee,  which  is  confined 
to  their  waist  by  a leathern  girdle,  in  which  is  placed  all  the  arms  they  can 
muster.  Tho  lower  classes  wear  nothing  but  apiece  of  striped  linen  round 
their  waist,  with  another,  when  they  are  exposed  to  the  sun,  thrown  over 
their  shoulders ; in  rainy  or  cool  weather,  they  all  wear  a thick  woollencoat, 
sufficiently  large  to  completely  envelope  them.  The  dress  of  the  females" 
consists  simply  of  a long  shirt  of  Indian  cloth,  over  which  is  worn  a loose 
wrapper,  which  after  being  taken  round  their  person,  the  end  is  brought 
up  over  the  neck,  in  order  to  serve  them  as  a veil  when  the}’  are  desirous 
of  concealing  their  faces. 

The  only  employment  in  which  the  Socotrian  Arabs  engage  themselves 
are  either  in  tending  their  date  groves,  or  flocks;  in  collecting  ghi,  or  in 
the  trade  between  Muscat  and  Zanzebar.  Their  date  gx-oves  give  them  but 
little  trouble  ; for  directly  the  owner  can  scrape  together  a few  dollars,  he 
purchases  a slave  to  attend  them,  and  if  his  master’s  wealth  increases,  he 
adds  to  the  number  both  of  his  trees  and  his  slaves.  Traders  proceed  among 
the  mountains  on  camels,  taking  with  them  various  articles  which  they 
exchange  with  the  Bedouins  for  their  ghi.  The  quantity  collected  is  very 
great. 

The  Arabs  who  engage  in  the  trade  to  Zanzebar  and  Muscat  with  this  arti- 
cle receive  in  exchange  for  it  grain  and  slaves.  Contrary  to  the  general  prac- 


1833.] 


199 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

tice  of  the  East,  the  Socotrian  Arabs  treat  their  slaves  with  much  harshness," 
they  are  hard  worked,  and  indifferently  clothed  and  fed.  As  these  pursuits 
can  only  be  engaged  in  during  the  fair  or  N.  E.  monsoon,  it  follows  that  a 
considerable  portion  of  their  time  is  passed  without  employment  of  any 
kind.  To  obviate  the  tedium  of  this  period,  I cannot  learn  that  they  have 
recourse  to  games  of  chance,  or  amusements  of  any  description;  the  time 
appears  spent  in  visiting  each  other,  drinking  coffee,  smoking,  and  sleeping. 
In  place  of  taking  up  their  abode  in  caves,  in  the  same  way  that  the  Bedou- 
ins do,  the  Arabs  who  reside  outside  the  town  live  in  huts,  which  are 
mostly  of  a circular  form ; the  walls  are  constructed  of  loose  stones,  and 
are  cemented  with  a mortar  of  which  mud  is  the  principal  ingredient ; they 
are  rarely  more  than  four  feet  in  height,  and  they  commonly  enclose  a 
space  from  12  to  14  feet  in  diameter.  On  the  top  of  these,  and  projecting 
nearly  a foot  over  their  sides,  a conical  roof,  constructed  of  the  branches 
of  the  date-tree,  is  sometimes  raised,  the  apex  of  which  at  the  point  where 
the  ends  of  the  branches  unite  together,  is  chunamed,  in  order  to  prevent 
the  rain  from  getting  through.  In  others,  though  the  walls  are  of  the  same 
height,  they  first  place  rafters  across  in  a horizontal  direction,  cover  them 
with  date  branches,  and  then  cement  them  over  with  lime,  mixed  with  earth, 
and  sometimes  with  turf:  the  goats  may  frequently  be  observed  grazing  on 
the  grass  growing  out  of  the  latter.  In  several  of  these  which  I visited, 
in  which  it  was  impossible  to  stand  upright,  which  were  swarming  with 
fleas,  and  which  in  size,  it  will  be  remembered,  are  scarcely  larger  than  an 
English  pig-stye,  two  or  three  families,  each  consisting  of  four  or  five  indi- 
viduals, were  residing  under  the  same  roof.  It  is  not  therefore  a matter 
of  any  surprise  that  fever  sometimes  sweeps  off  a whole  hamlet.  Were 
the  materials  of  which  these  wretched  and  miserable  buildings  are  raised 
scarce,  and  to  be  procured  with  difficulty,  we  might  pardon  or  excuse 
the  little  attention  to  comfort,  accommodation,  or  health  which  their 
construction  exhibits  ; but  when  they  are  abundant,  and  when  they  have 
better  models  in  the  town  before  them,  it  furnishes  a strong  proof  of  their 
sloth  and  indolence,  and  warrants  with  many  other  proofs  which  may  be 
adduced,  that  they  have  little  inclination  or  capacity  for  improvement. 

Notwithstanding  Socotra’s  numerous  inhabitants,  Tamarida  is  the  only 
collection  of  houses  which  may  entitle  it  to  the  appellation  of  a town.  Cad- 
hup  and  Calesseah  are  but  small  villages,  and  the  Arabs  on  the  western 
portion  occupy  numerous  small  hamlets,  consisting  of  from  six  to  a dozen 
houses.  Concerning  the  two  villages  of  Cadhup  and  Calesseah,  all  that  is 
necessary  to  be  known  of  them  will  be  found  in  Captain  Haines’  descrip- 
tion of  the  exterior  of  the  island. 

Tamarida.  I have  been  unable  to  ascertain  at  what  period  Tamarida  was 
erected ; but  both  from  its  name  and  the  appearance  of  the  houses,  I am 
inclined  to  think  it  must  have  been  anterior  to  the  first  visit  of  the  Por- 
tuguese, and  most  probably  founded  by  those  who  followed  them.  The 
natives  date  its  existence  from  a much  earlier  period,  but  little  reliance  can 
be  placed  on  their  testimony.  The  nearest  range  of  mountains  in  the 


160 


[March, 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

vicinity  of  Tamarida  approaches  the  sea  in  the  shape  of  an  arch,  on  the 
chord  of  which,  and  nearly  equidistant  from  the  points  where  its  extre- 
mities reach  the  beach,  is  situated  the  town.  It  consists  at  present  of 
about  150  straggling  houses,  which  are  unconnected  with  each  other,  and 
are  surrounded  with  date  trees:  of  this  number  not  a third  is  now  inhabited, 
the  others  remain  in  the  same  ruinous  state  as  they  were  left  by  the 
Wahabis  in  1801.  Though  small,  the  bouses  are  well  constructed,  of  lime 
and  coral,  cemented  over,  and  from  this  being  kept  white-washed,  they  have 
a neat  appearance.  They  are  usually  two  stories  in  height,  of  a square  form, 
and  with  a tower  in  me  corner,  through  which  the  stair-case  is  usually 
built ; the  windows  face  the  N.  E.,  and  they  are  closed  like  those  on  the 
houses  of  Arabia,  with  wooden  shutters,  cut  with  a variety  of  ornaments, 
through  the  insterstices  of  which  the  air  and  light  is  admitted.  The  upper 
rooms  are  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  harem  ; in  the  lower,  seated  on  a 
platform,  of  which  there  are  two,  one  on  either  side  the  door,  with  a passage 
between  them,  the  Ai'abs  receive  their  visitors,  and  transact  all  business. 
Attached  to  each  house  there  is  a small  garden,  in  which  is  grown  a suffici- 
ency of  beans  and  melons  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants — enclosures  of 
tobacco  may  also  be  seen  among  the  houses.  The  number  of  inhabitants 
at  the  period  of  our  visit  did  not  exceed  a hundred:  several  were  absent  at 
Zanzebar ; but  fifty  added  on  that  account  to  their  number,  gives  the  full 
number  of  those  who  at  any  period  reside  here.  The  Arabs  flock  down 
from  the  hills  on  the  arrival  of  a ship,  and  may  induce  the  visitor  to  esti- 
mate their  number  higher  than  I have  done.  There  are  but  two  shops  in 
Tamarida,  and  the  articles  exposed  for  sale  are  grain,  dates,  and  clothes; 
every  individual,  therefore,  on  the  arrival  of  a boat  supplies  himself  with 
whatever  he  requires. 

In  commercial  transactions  among  themselves,  money  is  rarely  if  ever 
used:  certain  quantities  of  ghi,  &c.  are  substituted.  Dollars  are  demanded 
from  strangers  who  visit  their  port,  and  from  my  party  rupees  were  taken 
when  they  were  assured  of  their  value  ; but  there  is  no  small  coin  of  any 
description  on  the  island. 

The  dollars  are  made  into  ear-rings  for  their  women.  Amber  and  ambergris, 
both  of  which  are  brought  from  Abdul  Curia,  were  formerly  substituted  for 
money  ; but  the  practice  for  some  reason  has  been  discontinued.  Amber  is 
occasionally  found  along  the  southern  shore  of  this  island,  but  is  not  of  fre- 
quent occurrence.  The  plain  enclosed  by  the  range  of  mountains  already 
spoken  of,  which  surrounds  Tamarida,  is  watered  by  three  mountain  stream 
flow  ing  fast  close  to  the  houses,  which  are  with  the  others  at  no  period  of  the 
year  wholly  dried  up.  A line  of  date  groves  on  either  side  of  each  of  these 
extends  from  the  base  of  the  hills  to  the  sea  shore,  where  they  spread  out  into 
large  groves.  The  ground  through  which  these  pass  is  composed  of  a few 
sloping  hills,  and  rounded  hillocks,  intersected  by  plains  and  small  ravines : 
these  are  destitute  of  trees  or  bushes,  but  the  grass  which  is  nourished  there 
affords  good  pasturage  to  sheep  and  goats.  The  soil  in  some  of  the  valleys 
and  plains  is  of  a reddish-coloured  earth, and  appears  especially  in  the  vicinity 


i 835.] 


161 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 

of  the  date  grove  rich  and  fertile  ; in  others,  it  is  of  a light  colour,  is  filled 
with  small  stones,  and  looks  of  a poorer  quality.  With  the  exception  of  the 
palm  trees,  a few  melons,  some  tobacco,  and  a few  enclosures  of  dekhan,  no 
part  of  this  plain  is  cultivated ; and  the  traveller  who  may  hereafter  visit 
Socotra  in  the  period  between  February  and  June,  may  from  this  circum- 
stance and  its  then  parched  and  almost  sandy  appearance  form  a different 
opinion  to  mine  respecting  its  fertility.  But  the  least  promising  parts  of 
this  plain,  when  cultivated  for  a single  season,  essentially  alter  their  charac- 
ter for  the  better,  and  others,  on  our  first  arrival  in  January,  wore  a most 
luxuriant  vegetation.  I therefore  repeat  of  the  part  particularly,  what  I have 
only  mentioned  generally  before,  that  not  only  might  grain  or  vegetables 
be  cultivated  here  to  a large  extent,  but  that  the  nature  of  the  climate  and 
the  soil  would  also  nourish  the  greater  number  of  our  tropical  fruits. 

Of  the  Inhabitants  in  general. 

Notwithstanding  the  healthiness  of  the  Bedouins,  the  Arabs  appear  a 
weak  and  sickly  race,  and  dangerous  fevers  are  said  to  prevail  among  them. 
After  the  rains  the  graves  in  the  town  ofTamarida  are  frightfully  numerous; 
and  it  may  be  truly  said  of  Tamarida,  that  it  contains  treble  the  number  of 
houses  that  it  does  inhabitants,  and  of  tombs  more  than  ten  times  the 
number  of  both  included.  In  other  parts  of  the  island,  where  the  vestige 
of  former  habitations  could  be  traced,  there  also  might  be  seen  the  same 
proportion  of  graves.  The  Arabs  formerly  paid  great  attention  to  the  state 
of  their  tombs  : of  three  stones,  one  was  placed  at  the  head,  another  at  the 
foot,  and  a third  in  the  centre.  On  the  former  of  these  was  inscribed  the 
name,  age,  &e.  of  the  deceased  ; but  the  Jobasmus,  during  their  visit,  from 
their  known  aversion  to  any  kind  of  decoration  over  the  remains  of  the 
dead,  broke  and  destroyed  the  whole  of  these,  which  came  under  their  notice 
during  their  stay. 

My  attention  is  particularly  directed  towards  obtaining  information 
respecting  their  form  of  religion.  At  present  every  individual  on 
the  island  is,  or  professes  himself  to  be,  a Mussalman.  The  Bedouins, 
as  in  Arabia,  hold  the  doctrines  but  loosely : many  neglect  the  fast 
of  the  Ramzan,  few  are  acquainted  with  their  morning  and  evening 
prayers,  and  these  few  rarely  trouble  themselves  with  repeating  them. 
Circumcision,  I have  already  noticed,  is  not  practised  until  a late  period, 
and  in  some  families,  I have  reason  to  believe,  it  is  omitted  altogether*. 

The  Socotrian  Arabs,  on  the  contrary,  are  zealous  professors  of  the  Mu- 
salman  faith ; although,  at  the  same  time,  they  are  utterly  ignorant  of  its 
most  essential  doctrines,  and  like  all  those  nations  who  possess  but  a slight 
knowledge  of  its  tenets,  they  are  bigotted  and  intolerant  to  an  insufferable 
degree.  During  my  stay  at  Socotra,  individuals  of  the  party  occasionally 
fell  sick,  and  the  horror  which  they  expressed  on  these  occasions  at  the  idea 
of  its  becoming  necessary  to  bury  a Christian  on  the  island,  convinced  me 
that  if  it  was  ever  done,  they  would  perform  their  threat  of  disinterring 
the  corpse  with  every  indignity,  and  throwing  it  into  the  sea.  The  Ma- 
hara  Arabs,  from  the  Coast  of  Arabia,  a noble  race  of  Bedouins,  who  occa- 


Y 


162 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


[March, 


sionally  reside  for  a few  months  on  the  island,  ridicule  them  unmercifully 
for  this  spirit  of  intolerance,  and  have  assured  us,  even  in  the  presence  of 
the  zealots,  that  theSocotrian  Arabs  were  poor  wretches,  who  had  nothing 
to  plead  in  defence  of  it  save  the  lowest  state  of  ignorance,  and  their  mon- 
grel descent.  After  the  receipt  of  Habied  Bin  Tary’s  letter,  prohibitingour 
further  progress  through  the  interior  of  the  island,  I was  confined  by  the 
Socotrian  Arabs  for  several  days  in  the  town,  and  it  was  principally  through 
the  influence  which  the  Mahara  Bedouins  exercised  on  that  occasion  that 
I was  again  enabled  to  set  forward  on  my  journey.  The  behaviour  of  the 
former  on  this  occasion  exhibited  a mixture  of  irresolution,  timidity,  and 
avarice  which  1 have  never  seen  equalled ; they  wavered  between  dread  of 
the  Shekh  if  they  permitted  us  to  go,  and  their  fear  of  missing  what  they 
might  gain  by  hiring  out  their  camels  if  they  prevented  us.  Exorbitant 
demands  were  at  first  made ; and  when  they  found  that  I would  not  listen 
to  these,  they  continued  to  hold  councils  for  three  days,  during  which  pe- 
riod, whenever  I had  commenced  and  packed  up  all  in  readiness  for  start- 
ing, permission  was  given  and  cancelled  more  than  half  a dozen  times. 

It  is  observed  by  Malte'  Brun  in  his  “ Universal  Geography,”  that  the 
population  of  this  island  might  furnish  a subject  of  lengthened  discussion. 
Henotices  on  theauthority  of  Philostorges,  Edrisse,  and  U bid  a nx.  ah,  that  a 
colony,  sent  here  by  Alexander  the  Great,  remained  for  a long  period  ; 
and  during  the  time  of  Philostorges,  an  ecclesiastical  historian,  who  wrote  a 
history  of  the  church  on  the  Arian  principles  at  the  conclusion  of  the  fourth 
century,  that  they  spoke  the  Syriac  language.  Various  other  authorities  are 
cited  by  the  same  author,  to  prove  the  existence  of  a race  of  Christians  with 
which  the  island  was  peopled  until  as  late  a period  as  1593,  when  the  Xes- 
torians  and  Jacobites  had  each  a bishop  residing  on  it ; and  even  when  Sir 
Thomas  Roe  visited  it  in  161 1,  he  observes,  that  “the  Bedoignes,”ashe  styles 
them,  “ were  of  the  Nestorian  persuasion.”  I n the  absence  of  books  or  manu- 
script of  any  description,  for  1 believe  no  notice  connected  with  the  habits 
or  religious  character  of  the  islanders  has  since  this  period  been  handed 
to  Europeans,  it  might  prove  a hazardous  task  to  venture,  on  the  mere 
traditions  of  the  islanders,  any  observation  on  the  causes  or  events  which 
have  led  to  the  total  abolition  of  the  Christian,  and  the  universal  establish- 
ment of  the  Mohammedan,  creed.  Information  on  these  points  may  possibly 
be  gleaned  from  authors  to  which  I have  not  at  present  any  means  of 
gaining  access;  but  I cannot,  however,  dismiss  the  subject  without  observing, 
that  as  the  channel  of  the  Indian  trade,  at  the  early  period  to  which  the 
above-mentioned  authors  refer,  was  by  the  way  of  Socotra,  and  the  ports  at 
the  entrance  of  the  Red  Sea,  it  can  excite  but  a small  portion  of  surprise 
to  find  proselytes  of  these  persuasions  residing  on  a spot  so  far  removed 
from  where  the  principles  on  which  these  were  founded  were  avow  ed  and 
practised.  It  is  observed  by  Sale,  in  his  preliminary  discourse,  that  the 
persecutions  and  disorders  which  happened  “ in  the  eastern  church,  soon 
after  the  beginning  of  the  third  century,  obliged  great  numbers  of  Christians 


1835.] 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


163 


to  seek  for  shelter  in  that  country  (Arabia)  of  liberty,  who  being  of  most 
part  of  the  Jacobite  community,  that  sect  generally  prevailed  among  the 
Arabs and,  although  it  does  not  appear  that  the  southern  parts  of  the 
peninsula  were  subjected  to  the  ecclesiastical  rule  of  either  the  Nestorian 
or  Jacobite  bishops,  yet  from  the  causes  I have  before  mentioned,  it  is  not 
likely  they  would  have  overlooked  a spot  like  Socotra,  where  there  is  every 
reason  to  believe  they  could  have  indulged  unmolested  in  the  open  profes- 
sion of  their  faith.  With  respect  to  the  disappearance  of  these  primitive 
Christians,  as  well  as  those  which  were  left  on  the  island  by  the  Portuguese, 
the  causes  appear  almost  self-evident.  It  would  produce  an  anomaly  in  hu- 
man nature,  almost  as  striking  as  that  which  is  afforded  by  the  history  of 
the  Jews,  if  surrounded  as  they  were  by  natives  universally  professing  the 
Mussalman  religion,  receiving  no  fresh  influx  from  those  of  their  own  per- 
suasion, and  left  an  isolated  and  neglected  race,  if  they  alone  had  refrain- 
ed from  embracingthe  new  doctrines;  and  although  occasional  skirmishing, 
consequent  to  a difference  of  opinion,  may  have  occurred  between  the  dif- 
ferent sects,  yet  that  this  was  accomplished  by  a gradual  and  silent  change, 
and  not  by  any  violent  or  exterminating  measures,  appears  equally  evident 
by  the  simple  fact  of  their  descendants  existing  as  a distinct  race  to  the 
present  day.  Evidence  to  the  fact  of  numerous  colonies  of  different  countries 
or  persuasions  formerly  existing  on  the  island  may  be  found  in  the  present 
arrangement  and  distribution  of  its  inhabitants  into  distinct  tribes,  many 
of  which  are  still  recognized  as  of  foreign  oi’igin. 

Time  has  not  produced  a greater  change  in  the  government  or  condition 
of  this  island  than  it  has  in  its  ecclesiastical  masters.  In  place  of  an  arch- 
bishop and  two  bishops,  we  have  now  but  a single  priest,  who  combines  in 
his  own  person  the  various  offices  of  Mullah,  Muezzen,  and  school-master. 
A single  Cadi  solemnizes  the  whole  of  the  marriages  which  take  place 
throughout  the  island,  and  I have  on  more  than  one  occasion  met  Bedouins 
seeking  him  for  a license,  when  he  has  been  absent  among  the  hills  culti- 
vating his  date  groves. 

Two  small  and  insignificant  mosques  at  Tamarida,  the  one  called  Mir 
Advance,  and  the  other  Abder  Rahan,  and  one  yet  smaller  at  Calesseah, 
are  now  the  only  places  of  worship  for  the  reception  of  the  faithful. 

It  would  form  a curious  subject  of  enquiry  to  ascertain  what  form  of 
religion  the  establishment  of  the  Christian  faith  displaced.  A ruinous  build- 
ing was  shown  me  on  the  spot,  marked  out  in  the  map,  which  was  said  to 
have  been  an  ancient  place  of  worship  ; but  it  was  in  too  dilapidated  a 
state  to  enable  me  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the  tradition,  nor  have  I been 
able  to  discover  others  that  would  serve  to  throw  any  light  on  the  subject. 

The  population  of  this  island,  as  stated  by  some  travellers  at  a thousand 
souls,  is  evidently  much  under-rated,  but  fromtheir  wandering  modeof  life, 
and  other  causes,  it  became  difficult  from  any  section  of  the  island  to  form  a 
correct  inference  of  the  population  of  the  whole.  The  method  I adopted 
was,  at  the  conclusion  of  each  day,  to  note  the  number  of  individuals  I had 
seen,  and  these  I find  amount  to  upwards  of  two  thousand,  though  I am 
y 2 


164 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


[March, 


confident  it  does  not  comprehend  more  than  half  their  number,  for  in  se- 
veral places  they  concealed  themselves  whenever  we  approached,  and 
though,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  map,  my  rambles  led  me  to  many  parts  of 
the  island,  yet  there  were  necessarily  many  hills  and  remote  valleys  I could 
not  inspect.  I am  further  strengthened  in  this  belief  by  summing  up  the 
number  of  the  tribes,  and  I therefore  fix  the  amount  of  the  population  at 
4,000.  Two  intelligent  Arabs,  who  have  resided  on  the  island  upwards  of 
10  years,  and  have  journeyed  to  many  parts  of  it,  tell  me  they  consider 
this  far  below  the  actual  number  ; but  with  Arabs  an  allowance  should  al- 
ways be  made  for  numerical  exaggeration. 

Comparing  this  calculation  with  the  whole  surface  of  the  island,  which 
amounts  to  about  a thousand  square  miles,  it  gives  four  individuals  to  each, 
which  when  we  reflect  on  the  great  proportion  of  bare  rock,  which  the  sur- 
face of  the  island  exhibits,  appears  very  considerable. 

Although  I have  made  diligent  search  and  constant  inquiries,  I have 
been  unable  (with  the  exception  of  those  which  indicate  the  stay  of  the 
Portuguese)  to  discover  any  ancient  vestiges  or  monuments  that  would 
prove  this  island  to  have  been  peopled  by  a race  further  advanced  in  civi- 
lization than  the  present,  although  I think  there  is  reason  to  believe  the 
population  must  have  been  more  numerous,  and  that  the  island  was  conse- 
quently better  cultivated.  It  is  impossible  to  ascertain  at  what  period 
their  numbers  were  thinned  ; but  that  they  have  not  been  exempted  from 
contagious  fever,  or  some  other  desolating  scourge,  appears  evident  from 
the  existence  of  such  a multitude  of  graves  in  every  part  of  the  island,  many 
of  which  appear  to  have  been  constructed  at  the  same  period ; but  that  this 
period  w as  somewhat  remote,  is  equally  evident,  not  only  by  the  total  disap- 
pearance of  all  traces  of  such  improvement,  on  the  face  of  the  country,  hut 
by  the  present  condition  of  the  inhabitants.  It  must  not  be  referred  to  the 
period  immediately  preceding  the  visit  of  the  Wahabis,  ashas  been  suggested 
in  some  late  discussions  connected  with  the  island  ; for  those  fierce  sectaries 
confined  their  outrages,  and  the  extent  of  their  devastation,  toTamarida  and 
its  vicinity,  and  they  did  not  attempt  to  pursue  the  inhabitants  who  fled 
from  the  tow  n to  the  mountains  at  the  first  intimation  of  their  approach. 

[The  length  of  the  foregoing  Report  prevents  our  giving  insertion  to  the  equally 
interesting  remarks  of  Capt.  S.  B.  Haines  on  the  same  Island.  This  Officer 
was  charged  with  the  examination  of  the  coasts  and  the  circumstances  of  the 
various  harbours,  which  though  more  interesting  to  nautical  men,  and  drawn  up 
in  a most  complete  form,  would  not  perhaps  interest  the  general  reader  so  much 
as  the  view  of  the  interior  of  the  island.  There  are  but  22  boats  on  the  island, 
capable  of  carrying  about  80  gallons  of  water  in  fine  weather.  They  are  sewn 
together  w ith  thongs  of  hide,  or  a kind  of  coir  rope  made  from  the  young  leaf  of  the 
date  tree.  Tamarida  Bay  on  the  north  of  the  island  is  the  principal  port  during 
the  S.  W.  monsoon,  but  Ras  Kourina  lat.  12' 38' 35"  : long.  53°  55'50",  affords 
a better  shelter,  and  is  also  serviceable  in  the  opposite  monsoon. 

In  the  N.  E.  monsoon  Gollonseer  Bay  is  the  best  anchorage  : — the  town  con- 
tains about  130  inhabitants,  and  16  fishing  boats.  There  are  unfortunately  no 
ports  where  vessels  could  ride  in  safety  from  all  winds,  and  opposite  sides  of  the 
island  must  be  resorted  to  with  the  change  of  season. 

We  subjoin  a vocabulary  of  the  Socotrian  languagedrawn  up  by  Captain  Haines 
from  a Town  Arab— it  is  confessedly  imperfect,  and  contains  a large  admixture  of 
Arabic. — Ed.] 


1835.] 


Report  on  the  Island  of  Socotra. 


165 


A few  icords  of  the  Socotnan  Langitaoe. 


Rheeon, 

Tall,  long. 

Kurrhai', 

Short. 

Rheeho  Rhain, 

Salt  water. 

Rheeho  Hali, 

Sweet  orfresh water 

Rheeho  Lahrer, 

Water  to  drink. 

Ustal, 

To  eat. 

Kahr, 

A house. 

Jeerhae, 

Town. 

Eshookko, 

Sword. 

Bundook, 

A musket. 

Rohsahse, 

Musket-ball. 

Hussin, 

Iron. 

Suffur, 

Copper, 

Tekeal, 

Wood. 

Mushhein, 

Day,  fine. 

Alitay, 

Night,  fine. 

Eerah, 

The  moon. 

Kokut, 

The  stars. 

Sheehein, 

The  sun. 

Sahbedah, 

Come  here. 

Setoah, 

Go  away. 

Stahooa, 

Sit  down. 

Saahd, 

Make  haste. 

Ardein, 

To  sleep. 

Kussah, 

Scarce. 

Huhr, 

To-day. 

Kuneree, 

To-morrow. 

Aig, 

Male. 

A jah, 

Female. 

Mobialiee, 

Boy  or  male  infant. 

Aunt, 

Large  timber. 

Cutthaine, 

Small  timber. 

Shaahr, 

A month. 

Anah, 

A year. 

Allef  Ahew, 

One  thousand  years. 

Shoohut, 

A fishing  line. 

Ucklaher, 

A hook. 

Bild, 

Sounding  lead. 

Baroosir, 

Anchor. 

Sinselah, 

A chain  for  anchor. 

Duckhur, 

A mast. 

Tormahl, 

A yard. 

Seerar, 

A sail. 

Deerah, 

A compass. 

Famoose, 

A lantern. 

Bindeerah, 

A flag. 

Teelaher, 

A hill  or  mountain. 

Oubehaine, 

A stone. 

Seerhoc, 

At  a great  distance. 

Shalee, 

At  hand,  close. 

Thermoohen, 

A tree,  forest,  &c. 

Muckedeerah, 

Jewarree. 

Burrh, 

Corn  or  wheat. 

Degig, 

Flower. 

Aishahr, 

Bread  or  cakes. 

Tooklerdee, 

Come  here. 

Tooshdsheioc, 

Go  away. 

Tahdsab, 

Go  to  market  or  ba- 
zar. 

Hairah  Tahr, 

Go  to-day. 

Kuneiah  Teedailivv 

, Come  to-morrow. 
Good. 

Deeah, 

Deah, 

Bad. 

Tashw, 

Well-dressed. 

Sonah, 

Correct,  proper, 
straight. 

Kurrhain, 

Crooked. 

Geih, 

Plenty,  numerous. 

Haralieeme, 

Few,  scarce. 

Yashar, 

Dry. 

Ferhain, 

Daughter,  or  female 
child. 

Adjoose, 

Old  woman. 

Shebah, 

Old  man. 

Ree, 

The  head. 

Shiff, 

TefFcoose, 

The  hair. 

The  eye-brows. 

Tadhn, 

The  eyes. 

Hadjhur, 

The  forehead. 

Eidahen, 

The  ears. 

Nahreer, 

Nose. 

Sheebah, 

The  lips. 

Thetrinsh, 

The  teeth. 

Lissen, 

Tongue. 

Nuhharhur, 

The  throat. 

Konrie, 

The  shoulders. 

Tahdah, 

The  back. 

Meer, 

The  stomach. 

Aiah, 

The  arm. 

Asabak, 

The  fingers. 

Dthulfer, 

The  nails. 

Soab, 

The  feet. 

Ahrur, 

Rice. 

Hammer, 

Ghi. 

Kutmebr, 

Butter. 

Sulet, 

Oil. 

Koof, 

Dthedadjee, 

Milk,  sweet. 

Fowls. 

Baithde, 

Eggs. 

Urhain, 

Goats  or  sheep. 

Elhavten, 

Cows  or  bullocks. 

Kelb, 

A dog. 

Jerback, 

Civet  cat. 

Gemeeher, 

Camels. 

Tahreelier, 

Antelopes. 

Teh, 

Meat. 

Sodah, 

Fish. 

Bussell, 

Onions. 

Serage, 

A light  of  a candle, 
lamps,  &c. 

Scheat, 

Fire. 

Sebhem, 

White. 

Ophir, 

Red. 

Gee  Reeho, 

Plenty  of  water. 

Rheeho  harehen, 

Scarcity  of  water. 

Ebliem, 

A well. 

Knte, 

Rope. 

Sahrev, 

A knife. 

Kullum, 

A pencil. 

Donaiko, 

An  inkstand. 

Koortass, 

Paper. 

Tokoothib, 

To  write. 

Ketab, 

A book. 

Jild, 

Skin  or  hide. 

Kofeiah, 

A cup. 

Ahmateenahe, 

A turban. 

Thobe, 

A shirt. 

Alirahder, 

A sash  or  cummer- 
bund. 

Umekfaf, 

Trowsers. 

Sundook, 

A box  or  chest. 

Koorsir, 

A chair. 

H>6  Ancient  Inscription  on  a rock  south  of  Bhagelpur . [March, 

Sahalim, 

A plate  or  dish. 

Suukab, 

Do  not  bring. 

Merooah, 

A fan  or  punkah. 

Deeah, 

Good  or  well. 

Mcdfar, 

A cannon. 

Deah, 

Not  good,  bad. 

Baroot, 

Gun-powder. 

Ustah, 

To  eat. 

Seloobah, 

Stop,  gently. 

Unetook, 

I have  not  eaten. 

Tahfah, 

To  give. 

Toohtahr, 

Come  very  close. 

Telloo, 

Take  hold. 

Teloosahr, 

Go  awav  to  a dis- 

Sherachah, 

Go  away. 

tance. 

Tuchahtah, 

Come  here. 

Haihhe, 

A man. 

Tahrise, 

Kill. 

Dtkamah, 

Alive. 

Keen, 

Plenty  of  any  thing. 

Sahmee, 

Dead. 

Toahde, 

Make  haste. 

Shohoom, 

The  sun. 

Adilahfaarhar, 

To  be  on  good  terms. 

Meeloa, 

A roof  or  top,  awn- 

Kasuh, 

To  behave  properly. 

ing,  &c. 

Semahto, 

To  converse- 

Shemtahr, 

Dressed  well  or  in 

Aher  or  Urr, 

Take  hold. 

good  clothes. 

Alleh, 

To  ascend. 

Sheekah, 

Close  to. 

Tuekkafah, 

To  descend. 

Seerhoe, 

At  a distance  off. 

Estahel, 

Sit  down. 

Enineshuch, 

What  have  vou  got  ? 

Tukaaee, 

To  read. 

Aahumeh, 

True  or  truth. 

Tennaffer, 

To  mind. 

Toobat, 

Untrue,  a falsehood. 

Teneoash, 

To  spoil. 

Fezaine, 

Take  hold. 

Trasher, 

To  spread  any  mat 

Enlazaine, 

Do  not  take  hold. 

or  bed. 

Tuckahtab, 

Do  not  sit  down. 

Shahleen, 

To  strike  a bargain. 

Tehtooali, 

Do  not  stand. 

Taongah, 

To  beat. 

Ishoop, 

To  sleep. 

Enlajhah, 

Do  not  strike. 

Tessobah, 

To  wash. 

Takassah, 

To  break. 

Tohtatrer, 

To  look. 

Entuftuf, 

Do  not  break. 

An  Tahteher, 

Do  not  look. 

Anelpad, 

Make  no  agreement. 

Taber, 

Broken. 

Entenduff, 

Do  not  give. 

Tekoodaiher, 

Come  near. 

Aahrah, 

Remove  or  take  a- 

Tonde  Sirhoe, 

Go  away. 

way. 

Habra  Rheeho, 

Bring  some  water. 

Arachenooch, 

To  take  any  thing 

Rheeho  Durnaham,  Saltwater. 

away. 

Ustugah, 

To  buv. 

Aldteeaiha, 

Do  not  take  away. 

Kuthooan, 

To  sell. 

Nieliiakn, 

To  bring. 

Esshenal, 

I will  sell. 

V. — Note  on  an 

Inscription  on  the  Mandara  hill  near 

Bhagelpur,  (form - 

ing  a postscript  to  Article  III.  of  the  present  number.) 


On  considering  the  form  of  the  Sarnath  characters,  it  struck  me 
that  they  resembled  considerably  those  of  an  inscription  engraven  on 
the  rocks  above  the  Talao  called  Pouphar,  on  the  Mandara  hill,  of 
which  a reduced  engraving  is  published  in  the  second  part  of  Colonel 
W.  Franklin’s  Inquiry  concerning  the  Site  of  Ancient  Palibothra. 
The  mountain  is  situated  to  the  south  of  Bhagalpur  : it  is  covered  with 
mutilated  images,  fragments  of  stone  and  ruins ; and  although  it  now 
exhibits  images  belonging  to  the  Brahminical  mythology  or  passing  as 
such  in  the  present  day,  it  may  owe  the  abject  condition  of  many  of  its 
temples  to  their  having  been  Bauddha  structures,  destroyed  during  the 
well  known  persecution  of  this  religion.  Colonel  Franklin  gives  no 
conjecture  as  to  the  purport  of  the  inscription,  of  which  he  merely  savs  : 
Descending  from  the  summit  to  Sankar-kund,  we  proceeded  to  view 
some  iigures  cut  in  the  rock  on  the  north-west  of  the  hill  : their  ap- 
pearance was  singular.” 


1835.] 


Notes  on  Natural  History,  &;c. 


167 


I have  introduced  a drawing  of  this  inscription,  as  fig.  3 of  Plate  IX. 
as  from  the  size  and  good  preservation  of  the  original  sculpture  it  fur- 
nishes some  well-formed  specimens  of  the  written  character  of  the 
period.  A moment’s  inspection  of  this  inscription  shewed  me  my 
favorite  land-marks,  the  title  of  a great  sovereign,  maharaja  adhi  rdja 
sr(.  Most  of  the  letters  forming  this  expression  agreed  closely  with  the 
Allahabad  forms: — the  sr{  only  differed  materially,  and  corresponded 
rather  to  the  type  found  on  several  of  our  ancient  Hindu  coins,  especially 
the  remarkable  descendant  of  the  Indo-Scythic  series  discovered  in  the 
cylinder  at  Manikyala  (Plate  XXI.  fig.  9,  of  Vol.  III.  Journ.  As. 
Soc.) 

The  restoration  of  the  whole  sentence,  as  far  as  I have  been  able  to 
convert  it  into  Devanagarf  with  the  assistance  of  Govinda  Ra'ma,  is  as 
follows  : 

tttti  vif  t^jt  *P?rTr5jrfV*:T5T  ^ ^jt 

“ The  mighty  and  venerable,  the  great  king  of  kings,  Sri  Kulya- 
Bharana  Deva,  the  mountain  of  mercy.” 

The  letters  of  the  name,  however,  are  very  doubtful  : — the  first  seems 
more  like  an  ^35;  the  dental  n «T  cannot  follow  the  lingual  r and  the 
letters  read  as  deva  are  uncertain.  Neither  is  such  a name  known 
among  the  sovereigns  of  Magadha  or  Mithila.  I only  introduce  the 
inscription  into  my  plate  to  invite  attention  to  it,  as  every  authentic 
name  of  Hindu  sovereigns  is  of  importance  to  history. 


VI. — Extracts  from  a Journal  kept  during  a Voyage  from  England  to 
Calcutta,  in  1831.  By  JAeut.  T.  Hutton,  37 th  N.  /. 

On  the  19th  August  in  latitude  11°54'  north,  longitude  25°24' 
west.  Thermometer  at  noon  88°;  with  hot,  calm  weather,  the  first 
albatross  was  seen.  Flying-fish,  albicores,  porpoises,  bonitos,  whales 
and  medusae  were  seen  in  abundance  daily. 

On  the  14th  September,  in  latitude  25°5'  south,  longitude  30°38' 
west.  Therm.  70|°;  wind  variable,  we  saw  the  first  Cape  pigeon. 

This  bird,  called  also  the  pintado  bird,  is  known  to  ornithologists  as 
the  Cape  petrel,  (procellaria  capensis.)  They  are  about  the  size  of, 
or  perhaps  rather  larger  than  a teal  (anas  crecca),  and  look  very  beau- 
tiful when  sitting  on  the  water  ; but  their  flight,  although  strong,  is 
rather  heavy  and  ungraceful.  They  are  prettily  spotted  over  with  black 
and  white,  on  the  back,  rump,  and  wings  ; head  and  neck  black  ; under 
parts  pure  white,  legs  and  feet  black  ; beak  shining  black.  Length 
15^  inches,  breadth  with  wings  expanded  2-6  feet. 


168 


Notes  on  Natural  History 


[March, 


They  are  remarkably  fat  and  plump  , thickly  clothed  with  feathers, 
under  which  is  a close  beautifully  soft  down  of  a dark  greyish-brown 
colour. 

The  Cape  petrels  appear  to  be  stupid  unwary  birds,  easily  caught 
by  throwing  aline  out  astern,  and  allowing  them  to  entangle  their 
wings  in  crossing  and  recrossing  the  wake  of  the  ship  ; or,  perhaps 
this  may  he  attributed  less  to  stupidity  than  to  their  great  greediness, 
making  them  more  intent  on  securing  any  morsel  thrown  overboard, 
than  on  avoiding  the  snares  which  are  laid  for  them. 

They  are  also  taken  with  small  hooks,  and  even  crooked  pins,  bait- 
ed with  a little  piece  of  fat,  which  they  greedily  swallow,  fighting  and 
screaming  over  the  savoury  morsel,  until  a sudden  jerk  of  the  line, 
hooks  some  unfortunate  gourmand,  and  proves  even  to  the  poor  petrel 
the  truth  of  the  saying,  “ there  is  death  in  the  pot !” 

When  brought  on  board  they  both  bite  and  scratch  very  sharply,  and 
often  successfully  defend  themselves  by  squirting  over  the  assailant 
an  oily  liquid  of  a deep  orange  colour,  smelling  so  rank  and  offensive, 
as  to  render  the  clothes  so  bespattered  scarcely  bearable  for  many  days 
afterwards,  and  it  is  indeed  very  difficult  to  get  rid  of  it  from  the  hands 
even  after  repeated  ablutions.  Along  with  this  nauseous  fluid,  many 
of  them  restored  the  pieces  of  pork  with  which  we  had  so  treacherously 
supplied  them. 

The  natural  food  of  these  birds  consists  most  probably  of  molluscous 
animals  and  medusae,  particularly  those  which  shine  with  a phosphoric 
light  in  the  night  time,  and  which  light,  if  the  petrels  are  nocturnal 
birds,  as  Professor  Rennie  says  they  are*,  may  be  the  means  of  guid- 
ing them  to  their  prey ; I am,  however,  rather  inclined  to  doubt  their 
being  nocturnal,  for  reasons  which  will  presently  appear. 

In  examining  the  substance  disgorged  by  some  of  these  birds,  I 
found  a number  of  the  interior  cartilaginous  membranes  of  the  “ vi- 
lella  scaphidia,”  qauntities  of  which  had  been  seen  a few  days  before, 
of  a beautiful  blue  colour,  floating  on  the  surface  of  the  glassv  sea. 

Their  numbers  varied  considerably  on  different  days,  sometimes 
following  us  in  large  flocks,  and  coming  close  to  the  ship’s  stern, 
while  at  other  times  there  were  only  two  or  three  to  be  seen. 

I was  much  astonished  at  the  coolness  with  which  they  would  sit 
on  the  swelling  waves  and  even  allow  the  spray  to  dash  right  over 
them  without  rising,  and  seemingly  with  perfect  indifference,  conti- 
nuing their  squabbles  for  the  baited  hook,  and  diving  very  prettilv 
should  the  object  sink  before  they  could  pick  it  up.  They  alight  upon 

* 11  Architecture  of  Birds,”  p.  30. 


1835.] 


made  during  a Voyage  to  India. 


169 


almost  every  thing  that  leaves  the  ship,  and  this  generally  attracts  the 
attention  of  the  albatrosses,  which  keep  at  a greater  distance. 

I am  much  puzzled  to  account  for  the  total  disappearance  of  these 
birds  during  the  night,  and  not  only  of  these,  but  the  albatrosses, 
stormy  petrels  and  blue  petrels  also,  for  although  they  had  continued 
about  us  in  numbers  all  day,  yet  no  sooner  did  the  sun  touch  the 
horizon,  than  all  disappeared  as  if  by  magic. 

The  question  is,  where  do  they  go  ? 

Petrels  are  said  to  be  nocturnal  • but  such  cannot  be  the  case  with 
the  Cape  petrel,  stormy  petrel,  or  blue  petrel,  for  we  had  them  sport- 
ing in  our  wake  the  whole  day,  and  at  night  they  disappeared,  to  rest 
I should  suppose. 

But  where  do  they  rest  ? 

If  on  the  waves,  is  it  not  strange  that  we  never  found  them  sleeping 
in  the  calm,  clear  moonlight  nights,  as  we  held  steadily  on  our  course  ? 
Yet  never  did  we  see  one  after  sunset. 

To  suppose  that  they  could  wing  their  way  to  some  of  the  rocky 
islands  scattered  through  those  southern  latitudes  would  be  absurd, 
for  often  we  had  flocks  of  these  birds  around  us,  when  the  nearest 
land  must  have  been  from  15  to  20  degrees  distant,  and  although 
their  powers  of  flight  must  be  great  indeed  to  enable  them  to  keep  on 
the  wing  with  little  intermission  during  the  whole  day,  even  when 
“ blowing  great  guns,”  yet,  as  they  did  not  leave  us  until  sunset, 
with  what  fearful  rapidity  they  would  require  to  fly,  when  10  or  1200 
miles  at  sea,  in  order  to  reach  their  resting-places  before  the  shades 
of  night  should  overtake  them  ! 

Pigeons  have  been  proved  to  fly  at  the  rate  of  60  miles  an  hour, 
but  the  petrels  would  require  to  perform  a flight  of  3 or  400  miles  in 
the  same  time  ! ! 

That  they  are  not  nocturnal  is  clearly  proved  by  their  continuing 
with  the  vessel  all  day,  and  as  it  is  evident  they  cannot  exist  without 
repose,  we  may  fairly  conclude  that  they  rest  at  night,  and  again  this 
rest  must  be  taken  on  land  or  water. 

That  they  cannot  rest  on  land,  is  plain,  from  what  I have  already 
stated.  There  remains  then  nothing  but  the  water  for  them,  and  we 
may  conclude  I think  with  safety  that  the  reason  of  our  not  seeing 
them  at  night,  is  because  they  are  able  to  descry  the  tall  white- 
robed  masts  of  the  vessel  at  a sufficient  distance  to  enable  them  to 
make  a clean  retreat  before  we  came  upon  the  spot  which  they  bad 
occupied,  and  this  is  the  more  probable,  as  they  would,  like  other  water  - 
fowl  when  sleeping  in  any  number,  have  a watchful  sentinel  to  warn 
them  of  the  approach  of  dangers  to  which  they  must  be  constantly  ex- 
z 


170 


Notes  on  Nutural  History 


[March, 


posed  from  the  monsters  of  the  deep.  I have  repeatedly  inquired  of 
seafaring  men,  whether  they  had  seen  these  birds  at  night,  but  none 
could  recollect  a single  instance.  One  person  mentioned  having 
caught  a stormy  petrel  on  a small  hook,  which  had  been  towing 
astern  all  night,  and  therefore  he  concluded  that  the  bird  was  noctur- 
nal. But  this  is  no  proof  at  all,  since  he  did  not  know  the  hour 
when  the  bait  was  taken,  and  it  is  therefore  more  than  probable  that 
it  occurred  at  early  dawn,  when  these  little  skimmers  of  the  sea  were 
as  usual  on  the  wing  in  their  restless  search  for  food. 

Quere — As  the  albatrosses  and  petrels  must  be  many  days  at  sea, 
without  being  near  land,  whence  do  they  find  water  to  drink,  unless 
it  be  that  of  the  briny  ocean  ? or,  will  their  food,  supposing  it  to  con- 
sist of  mollusca  and  medusae,  supply  them  with  sufficient  moisture  ? 

On  the  28th  October,  these  birds  deserted  us,  and  we  saw  them  no 
more  during  the  voyage,  having  followed  us  from  the  14th  September 
in  latitude  south  25°5'  and  longitude  west  30°38'  down  to  latitude 
south  41°38',  and  longitude  east  33°8',  and  up  again  to  latitude  south 
31°54'  and  longitude  east  80°8'.  A period  of  one  month  and  14 
days. 

Although  we  saw  the  albatross  on  the  19th  August,  wre  were  not 
fortunate  enough  to  procure  one  until  the  26th  September,  in  latitude 
33°38'  south,  longitude  3°5'  west  ; thermometer  54°,  weather  cold. 

This  bird  was  shot  by  a passenger,  and  although  in  all  respects 
agreeing  with  the  generic  description,  and  a true  albatross,  wras  by 
the  officers  of  the  ship  termed  a “ mollimawk.” 

The  plumage  beneath  is  pure  white,  as  also  the  rump,  head  and  nape  ; 
through  the  eye  is  a dark  bluish-black  stripe  ; back  and  sides  of  the 
neck,  as  also  the  back  and  tail  feathers,  slaty-brown  : wings  the  same 
but  darker.  Beak  dark  cinereous  or  greyish-black,  and  the  legs  and 
feet  yellowish  flesh-colour.  Length  3 feet,  breadth  7 feet.  Irides 
yellow. 

On  the  21st  October,  in  latitude  37°14'  south,  longitude  69°8'  east, 
thermometer  63°,  with  a dead  calm,  we  saw  several  albatrosses  appar- 
ently of  different  species. 

One  of  these  birds  came  following  up  the  wake  of  the  ship,  so 
closely  and  with  his  eyes  so  intent  on  the  wTater,  that  at  first  I thought 
he  was  coming  on  board,  but  when  he  saw  me  standing  on  the  poop, 
he  turned  suddenly  across  the  wake ; at  the  same  time  I jerked  up 
the  line  with  which  I was  fishing  for  them,  and  luckily  struck  him  on 
the  wing,  which  throwing  him  off  his  balance,  obliged  him  to  settle 
on  the  water  from  whence  he  might  have  made  his  escape  with  ease, 
had  he  not  in  a fit  of  rage,  and  spite  at  being  struck  with  the  line. 


1835.] 


171 


made  during  a Voyage  to  India. 

turned  round  to  bite  the  innocent  means  of  his  discomfiture  ; by  so 
doing,  however,  be  contrived  to  entangle  his  wing,  and  to  my  great 
joy  I succeeded  in  hauling  him  on  deck,  unspotted  and  unharmed  in 
plumage. 

He  belongs  also  to  the  genus  diomedea,  or  albatross,  but  whether 
a young  bird,  or  a distinct  species  from  the  large  white-bodied  bird 
usually  known  to  sailors  by  that  name,  I cannot  positively  determine, 
as  I have  never  had  an  opportunity  of  comparing  them  ; but  from  the 
description  of  both,  I am  inclined  to  think  them  distinct. 

The  breadth  from  tip  to  tip  of  the  expanded  wings  is  six  feet ; and 
its  length  from  tip  of  beak  to  end  of  tail  2 ft.  5^  in. 

The  whole  of  the  under  parts  are  pure  white,  as  are  the  rump  and 
upper  tail  coverts  ; the  wings  and  back  and  tail  feathers  are  of  a very 
dark  chesnut-brown  ; the  head  and  back  part  of  the  neck  are  white, 
faintly  clouded  with  a tinge  of  bluish  ash,  which  gradually  grows  dark- 
er as  it  joins  and  blends  with  the  dark  colour  on  the  back. 

The  legs  are  of  a very  pale  bluish-white.  The  beak  is  very  beauti- 
fully marked  on  the  ridge  of  the  upper  mandible  with  a line  of  clear 
bright  yellow,  which  is  well  set  off  by  the  rest  of  the  beak  being  of  a 
jet  black,  except  the  hook,  which  is  rosy  flesh-coloured,  and  is  a conti- 
nuation of  the  yellow  line. 

At  the  base  of  the  lower  mandible  is  a small  caruncle,  stretching  on 
each  side  from  the  edge  to  the  bottom  of  the  bill  in  a narrow  line  of  deep 
orange-yellow.  The  eye  has  a narrow  stripe  of  bluish-black  running 
through  it,  and  blending  with  the  plumage  on  the  back  of  the  head  and 
neck.  Irides  hazle. 

On  examining  the  gizzard  of  this  bird,  we  found  the  eyes  of  a fish, 
which,  to  judge  from  their  size,  must  have  been  from  a pound  and  a 
half  to  two  pounds  in  weight. 

Both  of  these  specimens  had  a beautifully  soft  white  down,  very 
close,  beneath  their  feathers. 

Whenever  the  Cape  pigeons  alighted  upon  any  thing,  the  albatross 
immediately  perceived  it,  and  sweeping  over  the  waters  with  out- 
stretched wing,  threw  himself  into  the  midst  of  them  with  a hoarse 
croaking  scream,  and  obliged  them  to  abandon  the  prey  to  him. 

On  first  alighting  on  the  water  the  albatross  holds  his  wings  half- 
folded  high  over  his  back,  and  if  he  finds  any  thing  to  devour,  slowly 
folds  them  in  on  his  sides;  but  if  he  is  disappointed  in  obtaining  prey, 
he  throws  forward  his  head  and  neck,  and  once  more  expanding  his 
long  wings,  runs  with  three  or  four  splashing  steps  on  the  wave,  and 
then  rising  gradually  into  the  air,  skims  along  with  incredible  strength 
and  rapidity. 

z 2 


172 


Notes  on  Natural  History,  &,c. 


[March, 


Nothing  can  be  more  majestic  than  the  long,  sweeping  flight  of  this 
bird,  as  he  skims  closely  over  the  face  of  the  deep,  almost  without 
moving  his  wings,  which  are  kept  at  full  stretch,  until  he  suddenly 
throws  himself  far  above  the  waves,  and  then  with  a long  sweep  dashes 
down  again,  and  skims  away  as  before  for  many  yards  without  any 
apparent  motion  of  the  wing,  save  now  and  then  a slight  bending  near 
the  tip  as  he  avoids  the  foaming  crest  of  a wave.  They  always  alight 
on  the  water  before  taking  their  prey,  holding  the  head  and  neck  very 
erect  when  swimming,  and  looking  both  bold  and  graceful. 

The  sooty  albatross  (Diomedea  fuliginosa),  called  by  the  officers  of 
the  ship,  a “ Peeroo,”  is  both  more  numerous  and  more  familiar  than 
the  other  kinds,  and  flies  rather  differently,  not  sweeping  so  long  and 
steadily  over  the  surface  of  the  deep  as  the  larger  albatrosses,  and  rii-ing 
far  above  the  yards,  impudently  skirting  the  sides  of  the  ship,  and 
looking  down  upon  the  decks*  ; they  flap  their  wings  frequently  in 
living,  which  the  larger  birds  do  not.  If  the  weather  is  calm,  how- 
ever, and  the  wind  very  light,  they  all  flap  their  wings  oftener,  so  that 
the  above  description  is  more  applicable  to  windy  weather. 

The  sooty  albatross  or  Quaker  bird,  was  first  seen  on  the  26th 
September,  latitude  33°30'  south,  longitude  3°5'  west,  thermometer  54, 
weather  cold  wind  variable  ; and  left  us  on  the  26th  October  in  latitude 
33°34'  S.  longitude  77°16'  E.  thermometer  59^°.  Thick  hazy  wea- 
ther ; wind  S.  S.  E. 

The  other  albatrosses  continued  to  be  seen  until  the  29th  October, 
in  latitude  29°37'  S.  longitude  82°28'  E.  thermometer  69°.  Fine  wea- 
ther ; wind  easterly. 

In  GRiFFrTn’s  translation  of  Cuvier,  the  petrels  are  stated  to  “ drop 
upon  their  prey  with  extreme  promptitude,  and  carry  it  off  with  their 
bill,  as  with  a harpoon  : but  they  have  not  the  habit  of  diving  to  at- 
tain it.  They  are  in  fact  never  seen  to  submerge,  and  when  the 
animal  they  are  watching  is  somewhat  below  the  surface,  they  sink  a 
portion  of  their  body  in  the  water  to  seize  it.” 

This  is  not  correct,  as  the  petrels,  or  at  least  the  Cape  petrel,  as  I 
have  already  stated,  can  dive  very  prettily,  and  I frequently  saw  them 
do  so,  after  the  pieces  of  pork  which  we  threw  overboard  to  them. 
They  certainly  alight  very  quickly  upon  their  prey,  but  not  with  the 
sudden  and  headlong  rush  of  the  rapacious  tribes,  as  the  word  “drop” 
would  lead  one  to  expect.  It  must  however  be  remembered  that  I speak 
only  of  the  Cape  petrels,  which  also  devoured  their  prey  before  rising 
from  the  water  : other  species  may  perhaps  act  differently. 

* Perhaps  Coleridge  may  have  alluded  to  this  bird,  in  his  “ Antient  Mariner.” 


1835  ] 


Note  on  Oxygyrus,  and  other  Pelagian  shells. 


173 


I am  happy  to  find  that  my  description  of  the  manners  and  flight  of 
the  albatross  agrees  so  nearly  with  that  of  the  author  just  mentioned. 
He  says,  however,  that  this  bird  constantly  dips  its  head  below  the  sur- 
face of  the  water,  during  its  flight,  in  search  of  food. 

This  I never  saw,  although  I have  sometimes  watched  them  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  day.  Like  the  Cape  petrel  they  always  settled 
before  they  seized  their  prey,  and  never  rose  until  they  had  devoured  it. 

As  truth  is  the  grand  desideratum  in  all  scientific  researches,  I do 
not  think  it  necessary  to  offer  any  apology  for  having  set  forth  my 
remarks  in  opposition  to  those  of  more  experienced  men,  because  I have 
stated  no  more  than  what  actually  passed  under  my  own  observation : 
whereas  the  authors  above  mentioned  have  written  in  a great  measure 
from  hearsay,  and  consequently  may  have  been  obliged  to  take  on 
credit  a great  deal  of  unauthenticated  matter. 

[We  regret  that  we  cannot  find  room  for  Lieut.  Hutton’s  daily  Journal,  kept 
during  his  voyage  to  India.  We  presume  however  that  the  principal  facts  in 
natural  history  observed  by  him  have  been  alluded  to  above. — Ed.] 


VII. — Account  of  Oxygyrus  ; a new  Genus  of  Pelagian  Shells  allied  to 
the  Genus  Atlanta  of  Lesueur,  with  a Note  on  some  other  Pelagian 
Shells  lately  taken  on  board  the  Ship  Malcolm.  By  W.  H.  Benson, 
Esq.  Bengal  Civil  Service. 

The  following  characters  of  a new  Pelagian  shell,  taken  on  the 
surface  of  the  Southern  Atlantic  and  Indian  Oceans,  may  prove  inter- 
esting to  naturalists,  inasmuch  as  hitherto  only  one  genus  of  the 
family,  viz.  Atlanta,  has  been  discovered  ; and  of  the  remaining  fami- 
ly of  the  order,  a single  genus,  bearing  a shell,  is  known,  that  of 
Carinaria,  of  which  scarce  and  beautiful  groupe  we  took,  in  the  Indian 
Ocean,  two  new  species,  which  I hope  shortly  to  describe  and  illus- 
trate. The  shell  of  the  genus  Atlanta  was  first  made  known  by 
Lamanon,  in  a paper  sent  to  France  during  the  progress  of  La  Pey- 
rouse’s  voyage.  Overlooking  the  absence  of  septa,  he  called  it  “ Corne 
d’  Ammon  vivante.”  The  only  specimens  he  met  with  were  dead, 
and  were  taken  from  the  stomachs  of  Bonetas,  which  he  supposed  to 
have  brought  them  up  from  great  depths,  little  dreaming  that  hun- 
dreds of  living  specimens  were  nightly  within  his  reach  on  the  surface 
of  the  Ocean.  Lately  the  genus  has  been  re-  discovered  by  the  American 
French  naturalists,  the  animal  has  been  referred  to  its  proper  place  in 
the  system,  and  a scientific  name  has  been  conferred  upon  it  by  M. 
Lesueur.  I now  come  to  my  description  of  the  allied  genus,  which 


174 


Account  of  Oxy gyrus,  a new  Species 


[March, 


from  its  most  obvious  distinguishing  character,  the  rapidity  of  con- 
volution, I have  named  Oxygyrus.  From  ofus  velox,  and  r vpou  incurvo. 

Class — Gasteropoda,  Cuvier. 

Order — Nucleobranchi,  Blainville. 

Fam.  Atlantidee,  Rang. 

Genus,  Oxygyrus,  mihi. 

Char.  Gen.  Testa  subcartilaginosa,  discoidea,  cito  convoluta,  duo- 
bus  lateribus  similibus,  utroque  latere  profunde  umbilicata  ; anfractibus 
exterioribus  antecedentes  fere  amplectentibus  ; anfractu  ultimo  late  et 
acutissime  carinato  ; carind  ab  ore  usque  ad  dimidium  periferue  extensd, 
illuc  desinente,  extremitate  angulatd ; nperturd  cordiformi,  sinu  carinam 
intrante. 

Operculum  cordiforme,  medio  depressum,  sabcanaliculatum. 

Animal  spirale,  capite  proboscidiformi,  tentaculis  duobus  brevibus 
cylindraceis,  oculo  magno  saliente  ad  basin  exteriorem  munitis ; ore 
terminali  ; branchiis  pectiniforrnibus,  inter  jecur  et  penem  oblique 
sitis ; pede  aid  natnndo  aptd,  foliaced,  lobis  duobus  prceditd ,-  lobo 
majore  versits  extremitatem  dilalato,  cyatho  ad  latus  posito  ; minore 
oblongo-ovato,  membranaceo , tenuissimo,  margine  dentato,  quasi  rvpto, 
operculum  facie  inferiore  gerente ; operculo  corneo. 

Shell  subcartilaginous,  quickly  convolute;  the  first  whorls  being 
nearly  enveloped  by  those  succeeding,  discoid,  symmetrical,  deeply 
umbilicated  on  each  side ; last  whorl  broadly  and  sharply  keeled  from 
the  edge  of  the  mouth  to  about  half  the  circumference  ; keel  angular 
at  its  posterior  termination  ; aperture  sinuous,  heart-shaped,  not  entire, 
being  encroached  upon  by  the  preceding  whorl ; peritreme  acute,  with 
a narrow  slit  or  sinus  on  the  front  edge,  running  into  the  keel,  which 
is  there  double. 

Operculum  heart-shaped,  depressed,  and  channeled  with  a medial 
line. 

Animal  spiral.  Head  proboscidiform,  with  two  short  cylindrical 
tentacula,  having  a large  prominent  eye  on  the  exterior  base  of  each. 
Mouth  terminal.  Branchiae  pectiniform,  lying  obliquely  between  the 
liver  and  the  male  organ.  Foot  a foliaceous  swimmer,  having  two 
lobes,  the  larger  widening  toward  the  extremity,  and  having  a lateral 
sucker  ; the  smaller  lengthened  anteriorly,  extremely  thin,  jagged, 
and  bearing  the  operculum  on  its  under  surface.  Operculum  horny7. 

The  animal  much  resembles  that  of  Atlanta,  but  differs  in  the  form 
of  the  greater  lobe,  the  position  of  the  sucker,  and  the  foliaceous 
appendage  to  the  operculated  lobe  of  the  foot,  which  is  traversed  by 
veins  having  the  appearance  of  tendons,  which  admit  of  the  contrac- 
tion of  the  organ.  The  proboscidiform  head  is  more  swelled  towards 


1835.]  of  Pelagian  Shells,  taken  on  a voyage  to  India.  175 

the  centre  and  base,  and  is  broader  than  that  of  Atlanta  : the  tentacula 
are  much  smaller  in  proportion,  and  the  centre  of  the  spire  is  occu- 
pied by  the  dark  brown  mass  of  the  liver : whereas  in  Atlanta  this 
part  appears  to  be  filled  with  a series  of  forms  resembling  ova. 

The  shell  differs  principally  in  having  whorls  closely  convolute,  and 
partly  enveloping  the  preceding  ones  ; while  in  Atlanta,  the  whorls  are 
loosely  rolled*,  and  the  keel  (which  stops  short  at  half  the  circumfer- 
ence in  Oxygyrus)  runs  on  between  the  whorls,  and  connects  them 
together.  In  Atlanta  the  form  of  the  mouth,  which  is  entire,  is  ellip- 
tical, with  an  operculum  of  the  same  shape.  In  Oxygyrus  the  oper- 
culum is  cordiform,  corresponding  to  the  form  of  the  aperture,  and  in 
the  only  species  yet  discovered  the  shell  is  cartilaginous,  while  in 
Atlanta  it  is  testaceous.  This  cartilaginous  shell  shrinks  in  drying, 
particularly  the  last  whorl,  the  centre  ones  appearing  to  be  of  firmer 
consistence.  In  the  species  described,  the  shell  is  tumid,  herein  widely 
differing  from  the  very  compressed  and  flattened  form  of  Atlanta. 

Having  sketched  the  animals  of  both  shells  while  alive,  under  the 
lens,  I can  speak  confidently  regarding  their  affinity,  which  I had 
noted  as  probable,  before  I had  an  opportunity  of  examining  the 
animal  of  the  new  genus. 

Like  Atlanta,  the  animal  moves  by  sudden  starts,  quickly  agitating 
its  swimmer.  It  occasionally  adhered  to  the  bottom  of  the  vessels  in 
which  it  was  placed,  by  its  sucker,  which  then  was  flattened  out  to 
the  surface  to  which  it  adhered. 

We  first  met  with  the  shell  in  the  Southern  Atlantic  from  S.  Lat. 
15°  to  20°  30'  and  between  W.  Long.  29°  30'  and  23°  30'.  In  the 
Southern  Indian  Ocean,  we  again  met  with  it  in  29°  30'  S.  Lat.  and 
32°  E.  Long.,  and  it  continued  to  occur  at  intervals  up  the  Bay  of 
Bengal  to  N.  Lat.  17°  and  E.  Long.  87°.  It  has  therefore  a very 
extensive  range  of  sea  and  climate,  and  I am  surprised  that  the  French 
naturalists,  who  have  of  late  swept  the  seas  with  so  much  zeal  and 
success,  have  not  met  with  it. 

The  animal  comes  up  to  the  surface,  with  the  Pteropodous  mollusca 
and  the  Firolidce,  shortly  after  sunset,  and  may  then  be  taken  with 
the  tow-net.  With  this  apparatus  I was  extremely  successful,  during 
my  late  voyage  from  England,  in  procuring  Pelagian  shells,  as  the 
following  catalogue  will  shew.  My  example  being  followed  by  two 
other  passengers,  wTe  allowed  but  few  objects  on  our  route  to  escape 
us.  I was  also  enabled,  with  a throwing-net,  to  capture  such  large 
shells  as  were  visible  from  the  poop,  and  which  would  have  otherwise 

* Note. — Oxygyrus  bears  to  Atlanta  nearly  the  same  relation  that  Orbulites 
does  to  Ammonites. 


Account  of  Pelagian  Shells. 


176 


[March, 


passed  at  too  great  a distance  from  the  vessel  to  have  fallen  into  the 
line  of  the  tow-nets. 

Gasteropoda. 

1.  Jantldna , 6 species. 

2.  Litiopa  (Rang.),  2 species. 

3.  4.  Two  new  genera,  which  I have  not  yet  sufficiently  examined. 

5.  Carinaria,  2 new  species. 

6.  Atlanta  (Lesueur),  2 species. 

7.  Oxy gyrus,  mihi,  1 species. 

Pteropoda. 

8.  Limacina.  A single  new  reversed  species,  being  the  second 
discovered  of  the  genus,  hitherto  confined  to  Arctic  regions.  I took 
an  unique  specimen  in  Lat.  40°  S.  Long.  33®  E. 

9.  Hyalcea,  9 species. 

10.  Cleodora,  3 species. 

11.  A new  perforate  genus  allied  to  Cleodora  (rarissimum) . 

12.  Cresis,  (Rang,  Manuel  des  Mollusques,  page  115,)  3 species. 

12.  Cuvieria,  (Rang.)  2 species.  Our  capture  of  two  perfect  spe- 
cimens of  this  shell  will  enable  me  to  correct  the  character  given  by 
Rang,  from  imperfect  specimens.  Out  of  the  number  caught  by  us  we 
took  only  two  perfect  specimens,  one  of  which  I unfortunately  broke, 
its  excessive  fragility  reducing  it  to  the  state  in  which  Rang  has  de- 
scribed it. 

Cephalopoda. 

14.  Argonauta,  1 new  species. 

15.  Spirula  Peronii. 

Cirrhipedes. 

16.  Anatifera,  2 species. 

lacertcc  Sedis. 

17.  Campylonaus  (mihi).  A new  genus,  which  I am  unable  to  as- 
sign to  any  known  class  or  order,  from  the  three  specimens  taken  by 
Lieut.  McNair  being  defective  of  the  animal.  I can  only  conjecture  that 
it  may  belong  to  the  Firolide,  and  that  it  is  probably  related  to  Cari- 
naria. 

It  only  remains  to  give  the  specific  character  of  Oxvgvrus. 

0.  inflatus.  Testa  tumida,  anfractibus  transverse  conjertim  striola- 
tis  ; suturis  profunde  excavatis. 

Shell  tumid,  whorls  transversely  and  closely  striate  ; sutures  deep- 
ly cut. 

Calcutta,  Feb.  21sf,  1835. 


1835.] 


Asiatic  Society. 


177 


VIII. — Proceedings  of  the  Asiatic  Society. 

Wednesday  Evening  the  11  th  March,  1835. 

The  Rev.  W.  H.  Mill,  D.  D.  Vice-President,  in  the  chair. 

Captain  T.  M.  Taylok,  proposed  at  the  last  meeting,  was  duly  elected 
a member  of  the  Society. 

The  Chevalier  General  Ventura  and  M.  A.  Court,  proposed  as  honor- 
ary members  at  the  last  meeting,  were  unanimously  elected. 

The  Honorable  George  Turnour,  of  the  Ceylon  civil  service,  was  pro- 
posed as  an  honorary  member,  by  Dr.  Mill,  seconded  by  Mr.  J.  Prinsep, 
and  referred  to  the  committee  of  papers. 

The  Secretary  announced  that  two  vacancies  had  been  caused  in  the 
committee  of  papers  by  the  departure  of  Captain  Troyer  and  Dr.  Tytler, 
for  Europe;  upon  which  a ballot  was  held,  and  Mr.  H.  T.  Prinsep  and 
Captain  Pemberton,  were  elected  by  the  majority  of  votes. 

Read  a letter  from  C.  K.  Robison,  Esq.  intimating,  with  reluctance, 
that  lie  was  compelled  to  withdraw'  from  the  Society. 

Read  a letter  from  Dr.  J.  T.  Pearson,  stating  that  in  consequence  of 
his  residing  at  such  a distance  from  the  museum  of  the  Society,  he  could 
not  any  longer  perform  the  duties  of  Curator,  and  therefore  tendering 
his  resignation  of  the  situation,  and  proposing  that  a person  be  sent  for 
in  that  capacity  from  England. 

Resolved,  that  the  thanks  of  the  Society  be  presented  to  Dr.  Pearson, 
for  his  past  services,  and  that  the  subject  of  his  present  recommendation 
be  referred  to  the  committee  of  papers. 

Read  a letter  from  Mr.  C.  Trebeck,  on  the  subject  of  his  brother’s 
and  Mr.  Moorcroft’s  manuscripts.  The  Secretary  also  had  received 
a letter  from  Mr.  W.  Fraser  of  Delhi,  offering  to  place  such  papers  as 
were  still  with  him  in  the  hands  of  the  Society,  on  condition  of  their  being 
published  for  the  sole  benefit  of  the  author’s  family. 

Referred  to  the  committee  of  papers. 

Read  a letter  from  Monsieur  E.  Burnouf,  Secretary  to  the  Asiatic 
Society  of  Paris,  acknowledging  his  election  as  an  honorary  member,  and 
noticing  the  receipt  of  the  17th  volume  of  the  Asiatic  Researches  and  1st 
volume  of  the  Journal  of  the  Asiatic  Society. 

Library. 

Read  a letter  from  Captain  H.  Harkness,  Secretary  to  the  Royal  Asia- 
tic Society,  forwarding  the  3rd  part  of  the  3rd  volume  of  the  Society’s 
Transactions,  also  the  first  part  of  the  New  Quarterly  Journal. 

Read  a letter  from  H.  T.  Prinsep,  Esq.  Secretary  to  the  Government  of 
India,  General  Department,  forwarding  on  behalf  of  the  Right  Honorable 
the  Governor  of  Bengal, a copy  of  the  1st  volume  of  Colonel  Beaufoy’s  Nau- 
tical and  Hydraulic  experiments,  with  numerous  Scientific  miscellanies. 

Read  a letter  from  Baron  Silvestre  de  Sacy,  presenting  his  recent 
publications  as  follows : 


A A 


178  Asiatic  Society.  [March, 

De  L’Asie,  ou  Considerations,  Religieuses,  Philosophiques,  et  Litteraires,  sur 
L’Asie,  4 vols. 

Extrait  Du  Sefer  Tahkemoni. 

Notice  sur  La  Vie  et  les  Ouvrages  De  M.  Champollion  Le  Jeune. 

Discours  pronoucd  ii  la  Stance  Generale  de  La  Societd  Asiatique  du  29  Avril, 
1833. 

Alfiyya  ou  La  quintessence  de  la  Grammaire  Arabe,  ouvrage  de  Djf.ma'l-ed- 
di'n  Mohammed. 

The  following  books  were  presented  on  the  part  of  the  Royal  College 
of  Surgeons  of  London,  with  a letter  from  Sir  Anthony  Carlisle. 
Catalogue  of  the  Library  of  the  College  of  Surgeons. 

Descriptive  and  illustrated  catalogue  of  the  physiological  series  of  comparative 
anatomy  contained  in  the  museum,  vol.  1st. 

Catalogue  of  the  Hunterian  collection  in  the  museum,  in  5 parts. 

Memoir  on  the  Pearly  Nautilus,  with  illustrations  of  its  external  form  and 
internal  structure,  drawn  up  by  Richard  Owen,  M.  R.  College  of  Surgeons. 
Alleged  discovery  of  theuseof  the  Spleen  andThyroid  gland,  by  Sir  A . Carlisle. 
The  following  works  were  also  presented. 

Report  of  the  third  meeting  of  the  British  Association  for  the  advancement  of 
science — by  the  Association. 

Madras  Journal  of  Literature  and  Science,  Nos.  5 and  6 — by  the  Madras  Lite- 
rary Society. 

The  Indian  Journal  of  Medical  Science,  Nos.  14  and  13 — by  the  Editors. 
Journal  Asiatique,  No.  78,  September,  1834 — by  the  Asiatic  Society  of  Paris. 
Ciceronis  Opera  Omnia,  printed  in  the  year  1596 — by  Dr.  J.  Tytler. 

A valuable  Aldine  edition  of  Herodotus,  printed  in  1513 — by  Ditto. 

The  following  works,  published  by  the  Oriental  Translation  Fund,  were 
received  from  the  London  Committee. 

Tohfut-ul-Majahideen,  an  Arabic  history,  translated  by  Lieut.  M.  J.  Row- 
landson. 

An  essay  on  the  Architecture  of  the  Hindus,  with  48  plates,  by  Ra'm  Ra'z, 
native  judge,  Bangalore. 

Travels  of  Macarius,  part  5,  translated  by  C.  F.  Belfour. 

Travels  of  Evliya  Effendi,  in  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa,  in  the  17th  century, 
translated  from  the  Turkish — by  R.  J.  Von  Hammer. 

Description  of  the  Burmese  Empire  from  the  MS.  of  father  Sangermano, 
translated  by  W.  Tandy,  D.  D. 

Aliiya,  an  Arabic  Grammar,  by  the  Baron  Silvestre  de  Sacy. 

Fifth  general  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Oriental  Translation  Fund,  1834. 

The  following  books  were  received  from  the  booksellers. 

Lardner’s  Cabinet  Cyclopedia,  Middle  Ages,  Vol.  4th. 

British  Admirals,  Vol.  3rd. 

Illustrations  of  Iudian  Zoology,  Parts  15,  16,  17,  and  18,  (two  in  one.) 
Illustrations  of  the  Botany,  and  Natural  History  of  the  Himalayan  Mountains, 
&c.  Part  4th.  By  F.  J.  Royle,  Esq.  F.  L.  S.  and  G.  S.,  M.  R.  A.  S. 

The  Secretary  reported  the  completion  of  the  Index  of  the  first  eigh- 
teen volumes  of  the  Asiatic  Researches,  and  submitted  a Bill  from  the 
Military  Orphan  Press,  for  Rupees  1210,  being  the  expence  incurred  in  its 
publication,  which  was  ordered  to  be  discharged,  and  thanks  were  voted. 


1835.] 


Asiatic  Society. 


179 


Museum  and  Physical. 

The  Secretary  announced  that  he  had  been  requested  by  Lieut. -Colonel 
Burney  to  beg  the  Society’s  acceptance  of  the  collection  of  fossil  bones 
from  Ava,  exhibited  at  the  meeting  of  the  6th  August,  1834. 

The  best  thanks  of  the  Society  were  voted  for  this  splendid  and  costly 
present. 

A note  was  read  from  Mr.  J.  H.  Stocqueler,  present-;^  for  the  Museum 
a spear,  knife,  and  mallet,  used  by  the  nations  of  King  George’s  Sound. 

These  very  primitive  implements  are  made  by  cementing  sharp  splinters  of 
flint  upon  the  side  or  end  of  a stick  with  a kind  of  tough  pitch.  The  mallet, 
formed  of  two  rounded  stones  attached  in  the  same  manner,  is  used  for  indenting 
the  gum  tree,  up  which  the  aborigines  climb  in  search  of  the  opossum,  and  also 
for  killing  the  animal: — the  pointed  end  of  the  knife  for  skinning  him. 

Three  specimens  of  the  navicella  tessellata  (Lamarck),  found  adhering  to 
piles  in  the  Hugli  river,  Fort  William,  were  presented  by  W.  H.  Ben- 
son, Esq. 

Read,  extracts  of  a letter  from  Lieut.  Wm.  Foley,  dated  6th  January, 
forwarding  some  specimens  of  Sulphuret  of  Antimony,  occurring  in  vast 
quantities  in  a hill  near  Moulmein. 

Extracts  of  various  letters  from  Captain  Cautley  and  Dr.  Falconer, 
describing  the  progress  of  their  explorations  in  the  Siwalik  hills. 

The  rhinoceros,  hitherto  a desideratum  in  their  fossil  cabinet,  had  at  length 
been  recognized  by  seven  veritable  molar  teeth.  The  Museum  at  Seharanpur  is 
now  so  richly  stored  with  subjects,  that  it  will  be  better  to  await  a full  account 
of  it  from  the  meritorious  founders  of  it  themselves,  than  to  publish  the  detached 
notices  we  have  hitherto  ventured  to  glean  from  their  private  correspondence : 
but  we  could  not  refrain  from  announcing  to  the  world  the  rapid  progress  made 
at  the  onset,  in  this  remote  theatre  of  discovery. 

Some  vegetable  stalactitic  kankar  and  fossil  shells  of  the  Gawelgiri  hills 
were  presented  with  notes  by  Dr.  Malcolmson  of  Madras. 

Antiquities  and  Papers  Communicated. 

A letter  from  Dr.  G.  E.  Rankin,  dated  Riewara  7th  February,  1835, 
was  read,  forwarding  a facsimile  of  an  inscription  from  the  ruins  of  a Hin- 
du temple  on  the  hill  of  Harsh  in  Shekawati,  about  40  miles  north  of  Sam- 
bhur,  and  seven  or  eight  south  of  Seekur. 

A letter  from  Lieut.  Newbold,  communicating  a Memoir  on  the  History 
and  Government  of  Naning. 

Also  a sketch  of  the  four  Menang  Cabo  we  States  in  the  interior  of  the 
Malayan  Peninsula,  by  the  same  author. 

The  following  valuable  papers  and  documents  were  submitted  and  pre- 
sented by  Lieut.-Colonel  H.  Burney,  resident  in  Ava. 

A chronological  account  of  the  kings  of  Siam,  obtained  from  the  right- 
ful heir  to  the  Siamese  throne,  now  residing  as  a druggist  at  Ava. 

Translation  of  an  epitome  of  the  kings  of  Prome,  Pagan,  and  Ava, 
drawn  up  by  order  of  the  king  of  Ava  for  Colonel  Burney. 

Translation  of  the  official  registers  of  the  population  of  the  Burmese 
Empire  made  in  1783,  and  revised  under  the  present  king  in  1826. 


180  Asiatic  Society.  [March, 

The  whole  population  of  Burma  proper  from  these  documents,  exclusive  of  the 
“ wild  tribes,”  only  amounts  to  1,831, 4(J7  souls. 

Translation  with  critical  explanation  of  the  proclamation  made  every 
month  in  the  city  of  Ava,  as  noticed  by  Crawfird,  enjoining  the  inhabi- 
tants to  observe  certain  moral  precepts. 

Colonel  Burney  having  kindly  undertaken  to  look  over  these  papers,  and 
prepare  them  for  the  press,  they  were  re-delivered  into  his  charge  for  the  present. 

A description  of  the  ruins  of  an  extensive  ancient  town  called  Pora  in 
Assam,  was  communicated  by  Captain  Westmacott,  Assistant  to  the 
Political  Agent  on  the  N.  E.  Frontier. 

[This  will  be  published  in  our  next.] 

The  following  particulars  of  some  singular  ancient  monuments  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Hyderabad,  were  communicated  in  a letter  to  the  Secre- 
tary from  Dr.  S.  G.  Malcolmson  of  Madras. 

“ Your  remarks  on  the  liquid  from  the  Manikyala  tope  induce  me  to 
think,  that  a notice  of  the  singular  tombs  near  Hyderabad  may  be  inter- 
esting. There  is  an  account  of  them  in  a volume  published  by  the  Madras 
Society  some  years  ago  from  the  pen  of  Captain  Young.  They  differ  in 
appearance  very  much  from  those  figured  by  Mr.  Babington,  and  also 
from  some  in  Mysore,  mentioned  in  Colonel  Welch’s  book;  hut  are  exceed- 
ingly like  the  smaller,  and  ruder  Druids’  circles,  and  in  some  no  square 
coffin  or  “ kiot”  is  found,  their  place  being  supplied  by  the  small  stones 
and  soil,  which  contains  much  clay,  and  some  iron  and  lime,  and  becomes 
naturally  very  hard  when  pressed  together.  In  none  did  any  mortar  seem 
to  be  used.  Captain  Young  found  bones  and  even  skulls.  I was  not  so 
fortunate,  although  very  anxious  for  a skull,  being  in  hopes  of  ascertaining 
that  they  had  been  monuments  of  the  same  people,  whose  remains  are 
found  in  some  parts  of  Russia.  Some  of  the  graves  had  been  opened  be- 
fore, and  I believe  that  in  these  skulls  had  been  found.  In  those  I open- 
ed, there  were  many  of  the  earthen  vessels  of  very  different  shapes,  and 
the  more  perfect  ones  contained  a peculiar  soft  almost  unctuous  looking 
earth,  in  thin  layers  of  a white  and  dark-gray  color.  In  some  places 
there  seemed  to  be  a white  powder  like  ashes  interposed  between  the 
dusky  layers.” 

The  contents  of  two  of  the  jars  were  sent  up  as  first  extracted  ; but  they 
seemed  to  contain  little  or  no  animal  matter  : — the  earth  from  its  stra- 
tification in  their  horizontal  laminae  had  evidently  been  deposited  by 
gradual  infiltration  during  a long  course  of  rainy  seasons,  until  it  had 
completely  filled  the  vessels.  Dr.  M.’s  sketches  of  the  jars  are  engraved 
at  the  foot  of  Plate  VII.  “ No.  1 was  found  inserted  into  one  of  the  long 
jars,  and  probably  answered  as  a cover.  The  mouths  of  it  and  of  No.  5 had 
a more  graceful  curve,  and  in  this  respect  had  a distant  resemblance  to 
some  ancient  vases.” 

Adverting  to  Mr.  Hodgson’s  opinion  that  Buddhism  had  preserved  an 
identity  of  character  in  all  times  and  places,  Dr.  Malcolmson  writes  : 

“ In  May,  1828,  I passed  through  a town  called  Bandock,  18  miles  from 
Chanda,  on  the  road  to  Nagpur,  and  finding  many  Hindu  ruins  well 
sculptured  on  the  sandstone  of  the  district,  I spent  the  day  in  examining 


1835.] 


Asiatic  Society. 


181 


them.  To  the  greater  number  I could  give  names,  but  one  insignificant  head, 
much  injured,  struck  me  as  having  the  composed  sleep-like  appearance  of  the 
Buddhist  sculptures.  This  induced  me  to  make  some  inquiries,  and  I soon 
heard  that  in  a hill  two  miles  off  there  was  a cavern,  and  on  reaching  it 
I found  an  excavation  consisting  of  three  parts,  the  principal  of  which 
penetrated  20  paces  into  the  rock,  but  was  narrow  in  proportion  to  its 
length.  In  a small  apartment  at  its  extremity  was  a sitting  Bauddha 
figure,  six  feet  high.  The  passage  was  arched  with  several  recesses  on 
each  side,  and  near  the  entrance,  the  two  other  portions  of  the  temple 
extended  10  paces  into  the  rock,  like  the  arms  of  a cross,  and  were  in 
every  respect  similar.  A rude  outline  of  Buddha  could  be  traced  on  the 
rock,  where  it  was  smoothed  away  on  each  side  of  the  mouth  of  the  cavern. 
There  was  a figure  of  Durga  inside  the  temple,  and  one  at  the  door,  on 
separate  pieces  of  stone,  and  of  modern  appearance.  The  small  head 
■which  first  attracted  my  attention  was  found  amongst  the  rubbish  of  a 
ruined  temple,  which  some  Jain  Banians  in  the  town  were  engaged  in 
removing  in  search  of  their  images, and  amongst  these  I found  several  of  the 
naked  figures,  (four  or  five  feet  high,)  with  curly  hair, and  differing  amongst 
themselves,  usually  found  in  Jain  temples,  and  also  representations  of 
Buddha  in  the  sitting  posture,  with  the  hands  laid  over  each  other,  the 
palms  uppermost,  the  hair  curly,  the  forehead  wide,  with  little  figures 
kneeling  before  him,  and  others  fanning  him;  amongst  them  was  a figure 
of  Durga.  The  Jains  have  also  a modern  temple  there.” 

Adverting  also  to  the  same  subject,  Dr.  R.  Tytj.er  mentioned  to  the 
meeting,  that  he  had  remarked  while  in  Scotland,  the  close  resemblance  of 
“ the  little  steeple  at  Brechin”  to  a Buddhist  monument.  The  same  remark 
has  frequently  been  made  of  the  Round  Towers  of  Ireland.  He  had  written 
a note  on  the  subject  in  the  Freemason’s  Review,  for  October,  1834,  which 
he  presented. 

“ The  little  steeple  of  Brechin  consists  of  a beautiful  slender  cylinder  or  hol- 
low pillar,  about  80  feet  high,  with  60  rows  of  smooth  stones,  cemented  by  mortar, 
and  is  surmounted  with  a cone  of  masonry  of  a subsequent  period  of  architecture. 
On  the  western  front  are  sculptured  figures  of  an  elephant , having  the  feet  of  a 
lion,  and  a horse:  each  11  inches  long  and  8 broad.  The  combination  of  the 
elephant  and  lion  is  observable  on  the  temples  of  Java,  and  in  many  statues  of 
Buddha  elsewhere.” 

A note  from  B.  H.  Hodgson,  Esq.  Resident  at  Nepal,  forwarded  draw- 
ings of  the  Laths  or  columns  at  Bakra  in  Tirhut,  at  Arahraj  in  Saran,  and 
of  the  mound  at  Kesriah,  in  the  former  district ; with  exact  facsimiles  of 
the  inscribed  characters  on  the  two  pillars. 

Lieutenant  A.  Cunningham,  Engineers,  forwarded  the  facsimile  of  an 
inscription  on  a stone  slab  extracted  by  him  from  the  Buddhist  monument 
at  Sarnath  near  Benares. 

A note  by  the  Secretary  on  the  same  subject,  and  on  the  inscribed 
pedestal  of  the  Bauddha  image,  presented  at  the  last  meeting,  was  read. 

[See  the  foregoing  pages  of  the  present  number.] 

Upon  the  close  of  the  regular  business  of  the  evening,  Dr.  R.  Tyixer 
exhibited  to  the  meeting  several  interesting  experiments  in  Electro-mag- 


182 


Asiatic  Society. 


[March 


netism,  concluding  with  the  experimentum  crude  of  Dr.  Faraday,  by  which 
the  identity  of  the  galvanic  and  magnetic  fluids,  is  considered  to  be 
finally  established.  The  magnetic  spark  was  produced  continuously  by 
Saxton’s  rotating  apparatus,  of  which  a description  will  be  found  in  the 
Arcana  of  Science  for  lSST 


Wednesday  Evening , the.  \st  April,  1 835. 

The  Honorable  Sir  Edward  Ryan,  President,  in  the  chair. 

The  Honorable  George  Turnour,  of  the  Ceylon  Civil  Service,  proposed 
as  an  Honorary  Member  at  the  last  Meeting,  was  unanimously  elected. 

Captain  M.  G.  White,  Sen.  Asst.  Commissary,  Arrakan,  proposed  by 
Mr.  W.  H.  Macnaghten,  seconded  by  the  Honorable  Colonel  Morrison. 

Professor  Lea  and  Dr.  Harlan,  of  Philadelphia,  were  proposed  as 
Honorary  Members  by  Mr.  J.  Prinsep,  seconded  by  Mr.  Macnaghten. 

Read  a note  from  John  Lackersteen,  Esq.  enclosing  a letter  from  the 
Right  Reverend  Jean  Louis,  Bishop  of  Isauropolis,  and  Vicar-Apostolic  of 
Cocliinchina,  Camboge,  and  Ciampa. 

The  Reverend  gentleman’s  letter,  in  French,  stated,  that  he  had  in  his  possession 
a manuscript  Dictionary,  Cochinchinese  and  Latin,  originally  prepared  more 
than  40  years  ago  by  his  predecessor,  Monseigneur  Pigneaux,  Bishop  of  Adran, 
and  revised  and  much  augmented  by  himself  during  14  years’  residence  in  the 
country.  He  had  also  nearly  completed  a second  volume  of  the  same  materials 
reversed,  or  Latiu-Cochinchiuese,  and  he  had  prepared  a grammar  of  the  same 
language  in  Latin,  adopting  for  all  three  works  the  Roman  alphabet,  in  lieu  of  the 
complex  hieroglyphic  characters  of  the  country,  which  somewhat  resemble  those 
of  China,  but  have  different  powers. 

These  three  volumes  he  tendered  to  the  Asiatic  Society,  requesting  to  be  in- 
formed of  its  intentions  in  regard  to  their  publication.  If  it  were  possible  to 
print  them  at  Penang,  where  the  Bishop  and  a fewT  of  his  Cochinchinese  con- 
verts have  sought  refuge  from  the  severe  persecutions  to  which  the  Mission  has 
been  subjected  by  the  present  king  (who  owes  his  seat  on  the  throne  to  this  very 
mission),  he  would  there  undertake  the  revision  of  the  proofs:  or  if  it  should  be 
necessary,  he  would  proceed  to  Calcutta  for  the  purpose  of  superintending  the 
publication  under  the  auspices  of  the  Society.  In  the  latter  case,  he  must  look 
to  the  Society  for  pecuniary  aid,  as  all  had  been  lost  to  the  mission,  through  the 
cruel  treatment  it  had  lately  endured. 

Resolved,  that  this  important  communication  be  submitted  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Papers,  who  will  make  the  requisite  inquiries  regarding  the 
work,  and  report  on  the  expediency,  and  on  the  means,  of  effecting  its 
publication. 

Library. 

Mr.  C.  E.  Trevelyan,  presented,  on  the  part  of  the  author,  a copy  of  the 
Janie  Bahadur. khdni,  an  epitome  (4-to,  600  pp.)  of  European  sciences 
in  the  Persian  language,  compiled  by  Khan  Bahadur,  son  of  Raja  Mitra 
Jita  of  Patna,  including  treatises  on  astronomy,  optics,  and  mathematics, 
and  copious  tables  of  logarithms  for  natural  numbers,  sines,  tangents,  &c. 
Also,  a small  octavo  volume  on  Perspective  ( llm.ul  Mawzarut ),  in  the 
Persian  language,  by  the  same  author. 


Asiatic  Society. 


183 


1835.] 


Mr.  H.  Piddington  presented  a copy  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Geo- 
logical Society  of  Pennsylvania,  for  August,  1834. 

Meteorological  Registers,  for  Jan.  and  Feb.  1835— by  the  Surveyor 
General. 

From  the  Book-sellers. 

Lardner’s  Cabinet  Cyclopedia,  Swainson’s  Natural  History. 

Museum  and  Antiquities. 

Read  a letter  from  Mr.  W.  Dawes,  of  the  Delhi  Canal  Establishment, 
forwarding  at  the  request  of  Lieut.  Kittoe,  a drawing  of  an  image  found 
about  10  years  ago  near  the  Herrod  Ghat,  on  the  western  branch  of  the 
Jumna,  and  offering,  if  desired,  to  send  the  image  itself  to  the  museum. 
Resolved,  that  the  offer  be  accepted  with  thanks. 

A notice  by  B.  H.  Hodgson,  Esq.  of  an  inscription  in  Tibetan  and 
Lantsa  (correctly  Ranza)  characters,  on  a temple  on  the  confines  of  Tibet, 
was  submitted. 

[This  will  be  printed  in  the  next  number  of  the  Journal.] 

Physical. 

The  President  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Society  Dr.  Pearson’s  sug- 
gestion regarding  the  Curatorship.  He  had  conversed  with  the  Baron 
Hugel  (who  was  present  at  the  Meeting)  on  the  subject  of  procuring  a 
competent  person  from  Europe,  and  was  assured  that  a salary  of  150  or 
200  rupees  per  mensem  would  be  ample.  The  funds  were  in  a state  to  war- 
rant the  measure.  He  therefore  proposed,  and  it  was  resolved,  that  a Spe- 
cial Committee,  consisting  of  the  Honorable  Col.  Morrison,  Mr.  W.  H. 
Macnaghten,  Dr.  Pearson,  with  the  President  and  Secretary,  be  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  the  measure  into  effect,  limiting  the  vote  of 
salary  to  200  rupees,  and  empowering  the  Committee  to  arrange  other 
incidental  expences  with  reference  to  the  present  means  of  the  Society. 

Read  a letter  from  Serjeant  Dean,  dated  Delhi,  the  20th  March,  ac- 
knowledging the  receipt  of  the  remittance  of  Rupees  100,  on  account  of  the 
expences  incurred  by  him  in  transmitting  fossil  bones  and  other  specimens, 
and  announcing  further  contributions  from  himself  and  friends. 

A letter  from  Lieut.  N.  Vicary,  forwarding  a small  box  of  fossil  bones 
from  Julalpur,  on  the  banks  of  the  Betwa  river;  also  some  fossils  of  the 
Alligator,  from  between  Chunar  and  Mirzapur  on  the  Ganges ; and  a 
specimen  of  limestone  from  Landour,  with  impressions  or  erosions  by  water 
similar  to  those  alluded  to  by  Dr.  McClelland. 

Some  of  the  bones  from  the  Betwa,  the  metacarpus  and  femur  of  an  ox,  were 
lined  with  beautiful  crystals  of  dog-tooth  spar,  which  was  also  remarked  lining  the 
cavities  of  the  kankar  conglomerate  forming  the  matrix  in  which  they  were  im- 
bedded. 

Mr.  Benson,  who  was  acquainted  with  this  fossil  site,  stated  his  opinion  that 
they  were  of  modern  fossilization,  being  found  abundantly  in  the  bed  of  the 
Betwa  river. 

Mr.  H.  B.  Benson  exhibited  to  the  members  present,  the  collection  of 
shells  made  by  him  on  his  recent  return  to  India,  comprising  many  new 
genera  and  species. 

[Notices  of  this  collection  will  be  given  in  the  Journal.] 


184 


Meteorological  Register,