Sra ba ” ot . 2 ee TWEEDDALE. ey Gea gp MEd Princne. y ty oe Aon che. 12) See Semin ig Pees: eh |. fe han pita ale sy won ees pil BP THE JOURNAL C. w OF Ie, p\ Se. THE ASTIATIC SOCIETY OF Nee > EDITED BY JAMES PRINSEP, F. R. S. SECRETARY OF THE PHYSICAL CLASS, ASIATIC SOCIETY. VOL. I. JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 1832. ~ PRINTED AT THE BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, CIRCULAR ROAD. SOLD BY MESSRS, THACKER AND CO. ST. ANDREW’S LIBRARY. 1832. : nmi ort et rk skteibe, pie eg! "% : . : 4 | ' v a , od o ‘ io d Y vam," Th 4 af ’ Jae, Te vy - i . ~ A a en a i. ie on : Oh Ae i ; ¥ wt ; eit ie al org biatcn! gee vlad, a a be <-! leis REE eve af. Ae! 18 pe winte Rae Lav rte: sig 1 iat Se aes * a fornrie Pour are Fe aa Pratt tae £4 ae * Cag 7 anette eRRS: ear ‘ta OY SKK ah sf tee TEX hint Saad eee. ate 4 at ‘we tei 4 7a t a> ] ; a . om , ro Pe i , c a — t, * e¢ > a ; ray a > - - ea =” a 7 cat '] * 4 « t= t es ~ J ae ah a ae ; Ye ick te Tae h ' - q iy TO CAPTAIN JAMES D. HERBERT, Bengal Xnfantry, LATE DEPUTY SURVEYOR GENERAL OF BENGAL, AND SUPERINTENDENT OF REVENUE SURVEYS; AT PRESENT HOLDING THE APPOINTMENT OF ASTRONOMER TO HIS MAJESTY The Hing wf Oure: WHOSE JUDGMENT ORIGINATED 3 WHOSE PERSEVERANCE AND EXERTIONS SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED; AND WHOSE SUPERIOR ABILITIES SUPPORTED FOR 3 YEARS, THE FIRST JOURNAL IN INDIA DEVOTED TO THE EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION OF GLEANINGS IN SCIENCE; THIS VOLUME, IN ALL RESPECTS, BUT TITLE, A CONTINUATION OF HIS OWN WORK, Is Musceribey, BY HIS ATTACHED FRIEND, ‘THE EDITOR. CatcuTtTa, January 1, 1833. : AOD: 5s aor rn hah Gan "ahh, aA Set: : at Sp Pho aives ebrncieite ot lit #8 Ait ee rt = ’ ai . ee som See pattie if ah 1. “e iin awis PREFACE. const Bh Cet ctane The Asratic Socraty, on the 7th March, 1832*, passed a reso- lution, that the montlily journal hitherto published under the name of “ GLEANINGS IN SCIENCE,” should be permitted to assume that of JourNAL oF THE AsIATIC SociETY, and to continue it as long as the publication remains under the charge of one or both of the Secretaries of the Society. This privilege has, as it was anticipated, been the means of extending very considerably its circulation, while it has given a character and authenticity to the work,by its connection with an institution of established literary reputation, which no ano- nymous magazine, however well conducted, could hope to command. The advantages of extended circulation have reacted to the benefit of subscribers, by enabling the Editor to increase the quantity of letter press from 400 to nearly 600 pages ; and yet so constant has been the growing support of its contributors, that the pages of ruE JourNnat have been devoted, with few excep- tions, to the insertion of original communications. To many readers it would doubtless have been preferable that THE JourNnat should contain more copious extracts from Eng- lish scientific periodicals, which are not procurable in the interior of India; but conceding that, as an organ of Indian scientific intelligence, it must obviously derive its only merit among the ma- ny similar periodicals of the present day, from its stores of oriental literary and physical research, it will be generally acknowledged, that the first object of the work should be to give publicity to such oriental matter as the antiquarian, the linguist, the traveller, and the naturalist may glean, in the ample field open to their industry in this part ofthe world. While acting * The January number was not published until the middle of March.— Since then exertions have been made to bring up arrears, and in future each monthly number will appear with regularity on the 10th of the following month ; the insertion of the meteorological register rendering an earlier issue impossible. Vill PREFACE. on this principle, however, the Editor has not lost sight of the great utility of following, as far as means would permit, the progress of the various sciences at home, especially such as are connected in any way with Asia; the only limits thereto being want of space, and want of time to peruse and extract from the vast number of publications of the present day. - Want of room also precluded the possibility of republishing the proceedings of the Medical and of the Horticultural Societies ; but this had become less urgent since both of those useful bodies adopted the excellent rule afl giving early publicity to their own proceedings and records. Yo theAsiatic Society rue Journat has naturally looked for its most frequent and interesting communications; and in consequence of its more intimate connection with that Institution, the proceed- ings of that body have been given in greater detail than heretofore, so that absent members may learn exactly what passes at its meetings, and what accessions are made from time to time to its library and its museum. Many absent members have complained of the quarterly subscriptions they were hereto- fore called upon to pay, while they remained in ignorance of what was going forward; this source of objection is now obviated, and perhaps a still greater amendment may yet be ef- fected for their benefit, by an arrangement that all members of the Society shall receive a copy of the Journal gratis, which will reduce their annual payments nearly one fourth. It is unnecessary to recapitulate the contents of the present volume, or to allude in anonymous praise to those who have favored its pages with their assistance; since the authors have, in most cases, on suggestion, permitted their writings to be authenticated by the insertion of their names, as should always be the case in matters uf fact, observation, and research. One il- lustrious name however must not be passed over without a tribute of gratitude for its valued and frequent contributions, a tribute more sincerely paid, since India has now lost the power and the claim to their continuance ; she has resigned her most eminent oriental scholar to climes where his talents may find more genial appreciation, but where they cannot excite more respect or ad- miration, than they will ever command in the land which called forth their energies and directed their application. PREFACE. 1X The learned Societies at home will be proud to publish the + continuation of the Analyses of the Puranas, of which the four first have appeared in these pages. Abstracts of four only were ready for the press, but translations of the remainder of the eigh- teen Puranas themselves had been completed under the superin- tendence of Professor Wilson before he quitted India. Mr. Alexander Csoma’s indefatigable labour, in opening to us a first acquaintance with the literature of Tibet, will be estimated as it deserves by literary men—a contracted circle perhaps, because deep erudition and study are requisite to form critics capable of appreciating the nature and bearing of his peculiar researches upon the history, languages, and religions of other nations, both ancient and modern. All may however feel sensible of the devotion, zeal, and perseverance which are necessary to lead a man, alone and unpaid, into a distant and wild country, to learn its language and study its people at the fountain head. ‘The volumes of notes which Mr. Csoma has presented to the Asiatic Society, will, it is hoped, be published in their Researches at length. In furtherance of the desire of the Government, the greater part of Dr. Buchanan’s Statistics of Dinajpur has been printed in a detached form, as commenced by the Editor of the GLEANINGs; and to complete the work more speedily, two extra numbers have been issued in the course of the year. It will be remarked, that there are many plates referred to in the text: the drawings alluded to are in possession of the Honorable Court of Direc- tors, along with the original manuscripts; it was thought better to preserve the references, in case the Hon’ble Court might here- after be persuaded to publish them, either in a separate form or of a size adapted to the present edition. It must not be forgotten that it is this undertaking which gained to the GLEANINGs, the valuable privilege of free postage through the Bengal Presidency. The Editor is happy to announce that the same boon has, in the most liberal manner, and without any solicitation, been extended to the Presidency of Bombay and to the Government of Ceylon, by their enlightened Governors, His Excellency Viscount Ciare, and His Excellency Sir R. W. Horton, to whom his thanks are thus publicly and respectfully addressed. x PREFACE. To his numerous correspondents the Editor can but proffer thanks for past, and solicitations for future, support, bidding them remember that, the scope and object of this publication embraces the literature, the manners, the geography, physical and mineral, the arts, the natural productions of Asia, the phenomena of its climate, and observations of the heavens. In the words of the illustrious founder of the Asiatic Society, ‘“ the bounds of its investigation will be the geographical limits of Asia; and within these limits its inquiries will be extended to whatever is performed by man or produced by nature.” ~ CONTENTS. No. 1.—JANUARY. Page. I. Abstract of the Contents of the Dul-va, or first portion of the Kah-gyur, from the Analysis of Mr. Alexander Csoma de Koros. By H. H. Wilson, Sec. A.S... 1 TI. On the Native Method of making the Paper, denominated in Hindustan, Nipa- lese. By B. H. Hodgson, Esq. Acting Resident, Nipal, 4c 8 11J. Account of anew Genus of Land Snails, allied to the Genus Cyclostoma, ng Lamarck ; with a Description of a Species found on the outlying Rocks of the Rajmahal range of Hills. By W. H. Benson, Esq. Bengal Civil Service, .. I1 Y IV. Examination of Minerals from Ava. By J. Prinsep, Sec. Ph. Cl. oe Va V. New Bridge over the Mussi, at Hyderabad, o 3" SAiel 7/ VI. A Method of rectifying a Route Protraction, ive wi Sepp VII. Comparison of the Indus and Ganges Rivers, de Bare VIII. Summary of Meteorological Observations made at the Saree IGenemils Office in Calcutta, during the years 1829-30-31, ae ae «. 20 IX. Screntiric INTELLIGENCE. 1. Account of an Earthquake at Lahore, 23rd Jan. 1832, th PRY Bu! 2. Population of Allahabad, sie oes i in ees X. PROcEEDINGs OF SOCIETIES. 1. Asiatic Society, He is 4s -- 39 2. Medical and Physical Society, : te or .. 37 3. Société d’Histoire Naturelle of the Mauritius, ae Aes] No. 2.—FEBRUARY. I. Account of the Honorable Company’s Botanic Garden at poner By J. F. Royle, Esq. late Superintendent, S. anal Il. Further Illustrations of the Antilope Hodgsonii. By B. a. Eien, Esq. .. 59 ¥ TI. Note relative to the Account of the Jarai, published in the Gleanings, No. 14. By the same, 50 ee ae IV. On Modes of obtaining asortanl Results by Simple “Mears: By Capt. G. Twemlow, Bomb. Ar ty, dy as ite ae -. 68 VY. ScrentiFic INTELLIGENCE. 1. Progress of the Indian Trigonometrical Survey, ate a 3 wk 2. Climate of Vera Cruz, z cf oe ben Seen 3. Range of the Barometer at Borhatege BPE a i3 4. Hourly Observations of the Barometer in the Bdicod of eevite, .. 74 5. Dr. Wise’s Ice Manufacture at Hiagli, bof Bien a oegtOe VI. PRocEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 1. Asiatic ‘Society, ; oe is Bie As 2. Medical and Physical Siticty, é : ve a Savas | 3. Société d’Histoire Naturelle of the Manritins, - ay SoA No. 3.—MARCH. I. Analysis of the Puranas. By H. H. Wilson, Sec. As. Soc. Bi ea ek: | 1]. On the Poetry of Madagascar. By the Rev. Mr. Baker, 86 TE. Extr racts from Dr. Royle’s Explanatory Address on the Exhibition of his Collec- tions in Natural History, at the Meeting of the Asiatic Society on the 7th March, 96 > xil CONTENTS. IV. On the Utility of Cess-pools in Calcutta, V. On the Temperature and Saltness of the River Hagli, ds Calcutta to the Sea. Fa Ass . 104 By G. A. Prinsep, Esq. VI. Scientiric INTELLIGENCE. . Burmese Varnish, . Fishes of the Ganges, . Carton-pierre, am . Progress of Impr myaments’ in France, Mode of conducting the Meetings of the Aleddaniis, . Caoutchouc, INH Om ew = J. Hooker, L.L.D. Reg. Prof. Bot. at Glasgow, 8. Explanation of the Sketches of the Horns of the Jarai, Plate v. VII. ProceEDINcs or SoOcIETIES. 1. Asiatic Society, 2. Medical and Physical Societys : 3. Natural History Society of the Maunitins, No. 4.—APRIL. Page. . 100 2 LG oe Fit 2b. 2b. 2b. . 112 . Directions for Selleapins and preserving Plats 3 in Fereige Couaiiell By W. . 113 . 115 ee lay Boks vil d9 1. Geographical Notice of Tibet. By Mr. Alexander Csoma de Koros, I]. Account of Barren Isiand, in the Bay of Bengal. Drawn up by the Jate Dr. ‘TL Adam, Il. Flora Indica, or "Weseripieen of iedtan ipigna ee the we yall fae burgh, M. D. F.R.S. E. &c. &c. Vols. I. II. and IIT. TV. A Sketch of the Route and Progress of Lieut. A. Burnes and Dr. Goaae By a recent Traveller, V. Some Account of the Salt Mines of thé Baaab: By ee A. ee ee. Army, VI. Mode of Brtraeting the Gold Dust feo the Sand ‘of the Nunetbse Riv er, VII. Note on Indian Saline Deposits. By the Rev. R. Everest, VIII. Smelting of Tron in the Kasya Hills, TX. On Chinese Vermilion, X, Abstract of Meteorological Tables, kept at “Banctora, by Mr. J. MacRitchie, for 1830 and 1831, XT. Native Receipt Book, XII. ProcEepIncs oF Soctetizs. 1. Asiatic Society, 2. Medical and Physical Society : 3. Natural History Society of the a bates: XIII. Catalogue of Mammalia observed in the Dakhan. By Major W.H. Sykes, XIV. Meteorological Register for March, No. 5.—MAY. I. Some Account of the Lacquered or Japanned Ware of Aya. Burey, Resident at the Burmese Court, : TI. Analysis of the Chinese Varnish. By Mr. I. Maxaite Prinsep, III. Summation of Polynomial Co-efficients. By Mr. W. Masters, IV. Geological Sketch of Masti and Landour, in the Himalaya ; together with an Abstract of the Thermometrical Register kept at Landour during the year 1831. By F. H. Fisher, Asst. Surgeon, « V. On Modes of obtaining Important Results by Sipe Means. Twemlow, Bombay Arty, Ai By Major H. ‘By Capt. G. CONTENTS. Xiii Page. VI. State of Science in England, - 198 VII. Memoranda regarding the Difference boowed Morning and Blain: Altitudes, for ascertaining the Apparent Time on board Ship, By Capt. D. Ross, Marine Surveyor General, Si ae Aa -- 202 VIII. Scientiric INTELLIGENCE. 1. Mr. A. Csoma de Koros, yO ae si 204 2. Higli Ice Manufactory, ae me te Ds 3. Mereni Dye Wood, i ot .. 205 4. Decline of Science in France, «« 206 5, Letter from Abdul Mojid on the subject of the Arbelon Deatiaee o« 208 TX. ProcEEDINGS oF SOCIETIES. 1. Asiatic Society, 3 ve .- 209 2. Medical and Physical Society” he <¢ oe 00; 3. Agricultural and Horticultural Society, ae . Qa Meteorological Register, for May, is Ae -. 216 No. 6.—JUNE. I. Analysis of the Puranas. By H. H. Wilson, Sec. As. Soc. / . 217 {I. Some Observations on the Quantity of Earthy Matter brought pat f by the Ganges River. By the Rey. R. Everest, . 238 TIT. Note on the Magic Mirrors of Japan. By James on insep, Sec. Ph. Cl. As. ne, 242 IV. Description of the Native Manufacture of Steel in Southern India. By Dr. Voysey, : ae = be Ae .. 245 VY. PROCEEDINGS OF Sécrmrtcs. 1. Asiatic Society—Physical Class, te so ae bis .. 248 Chirra Pinji Coal, se a ie te Aa sy Oe Salem [ron Works, he A $2 oO 2. Medical and Physical Sociéty- ae Be ast .. 255 Be Agricultural and Horticultural Society, ta BOTTA 4. Natural History Society of the Mauritius, Ae is a .. 258 VI. European Intelligence, 9 5% ME i .. 260 Catalogue of Indian Birds, = he, oe ae . = 264 Meteorological Table for June, ore ae +4 ee 204 No. 7.—JULY. TI. Translation of a Tibetan Fragment, by Mr. Csoma de Koros, with Remarks = H. H, Wilson, Sec. . 269 II. Estimate of the Risk of Life to Civil Servants be ihe Bengal Presutonay in each year of their residence in India. By H.T. Prinsep, Esq. Secretary to Government, &c. &c. oc mie: DEV _ IL. On the Gypsum of the Enno By Gap: Raat Cautey, vi ~« 289 IV. Climate of Chirra Punji, Se 7 ah. . 297 VY. Proceedings of the Asiatic Secs.” ia aA .. 298 2. Natural History Society of the Manritius, ee -» 302 VI. Screntiric INTELLIGENCE. ae ]. Boring for Water in France, He she «. (308 2. Meteorological Averages at Canton a Mander oe sie v0 1D) 3. Polyzonal Lens, ane ne ae -. 304 4, Litharge of Ava, Ae ae ee + .. 305 5. Timber Trade in Cachar, ib, VII. Recommendations of the Sub- Cusiniiies of Aids Br itish ‘Pa getation for dis Advancement of Science, fa 30 -- 306 VIL. Catalogue of Indian Birds, (asic ) -" we .. 313 XIV CONTENTS. IX. Instructions for collecting and preserving Coleopterous Insects, ae X. Meteorological Table, bo Ps .. 326 No. 8.—AUGUST. _ I. Progress of Indian Maritime Surveys, ‘ 52307 II. On the Mammalia of Nepal. By B. H. Watieena: mee C. S. .. 335 TIL. Memoir of Giuseppe d’ Amato, f rs Shala .. 349 IV. Oriental Accounts of the Precious Minciale, ae ie . 353 V. Proceedings of the Asiatic Society—Physical Class, Ls -- 363 VI. Scientific Intelligence. ° 1. Gold Mines of North America, yOGD 2. Analysis of the Copper Ores of Cuba, in with Geico a Villa Ciara: By P. Don Ramon de la Sagra, . 366 3. Coal from the district of Guanah, in ‘the isiaa of Sia analysed by Don Ramon de la Sagra, as . 366 VII. Progress of European Science, Blectrinity. ae oe .. 367 VIII. Meteorological Table for August, $f * staf No. 9.—SEPTEMBER. I. Analysis of the Kah-gyur. By H. H. Wilson, Sec. As. Society, wos II. On the Ancient Roman Coins in the Cabinet of the Asiatic ee By James Prinsep, Sec. Ph. Cl. : -. 392 T1I. Observations of the Transit of Medoare By ditto, .. 408 IV. On the Habits of the Paludine. By Lieut. T. Hutton, 37th N. 4 se A V. Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, ee AF Pra VI. Miscellaneous Intelligence. 1. Extract of a letter from Lieut. Alex. Burnes, dated Balkh, 11th June, 1832, 418 2, Lithontrity practised in Persia, ie = a. 419 3. Cholera in Ava, ‘ te Ae os Kal 2B, 4, Rain at Chirra Punji, -. 420 5. Arabic method of ascertaining the Humidae? of the Soil,» re .- 420 6. Mirage in India, ‘Bic sie oe aia me 420 7. Hara Mina, or Green Basalt used for colouring Stucco, oe e208 8. On the Converging Beams of Light, ae seen opposite to the Sun, 28. 9. Errors in Dr. Arnott’s Physics, vol. ii. 2 oe ~. 422 10. Silver Mines discovered in Cuba, -- 423 1]. Supposed Change of Climate of the Nolin ashes of the Earth, -. 424 12. Limestone Formation, = aie Bea aiZO, 13. Correction of mistake vopartie ‘Mariag Guteeging! ae on ae VII. Procress or EUROPEAN SCIENCE. 1. Steam Carriages, es 0 ae ma 20 VIII. Meteorological Table for Septaliien os ve -- 430 No. 10.—OCTOBER. I. Analysis of the Vishnu Purana. By H. H. Wilson, Sec. As. Soc. -- 431 II. On the Standard Weights of England and India, . 442 III. Remarks on a late Paper in the Asiatic Journal on the Gepaun of the Hie: laya. By the Rev. R. Everest, ae -- 450 IV. Description of the Regulating Dam- Sluices of the Deab Canal, : .. 454 V. Note on the Jabalpar Fossil Bones. By James Prinsep, Sec. &c. .. 456 VI. List of Articles of Materia Medica, obtained in the Bazars of India. By J. F. Royle, Esq. 0 -- 458 VII. Proceedings of the Asiatic Boviety UP lsceal Class, 4 - -. 472 CONTENTS. XV Page. VIII. Notes in Natural History. By Lieut. T, Hutton, 37th N. I. ]. Ova of the Spider, He a a be 3 .. 474 2. The Scorpion, oi 5a Se AC ne “te wea 20% 3. Fresh-water Crab, is Ne ae sig ae Ses IX. MisceLuanegous INTELLIGENCE. 1. Roman Coins in Upper India, as ave an ie Be - 476 2. Spontaneous Combustion of Coal, ac ae ale es 55 ao tie 3. Transit of Mercury observed in England, as of Se Be ee 4. Rain at Chirra Punji, 4 Age sc 42 Be -. 477 5. Electric Spark from the Magnet ee Bi AL mets! scot @Ote No. 11—NOVEMBER. I. Notice of the peculiar Tenets held by the followers of Syed Ahmed, taken chiefly from the “ Sirat ul Mustaqim,” a principal Treatise of that Sect, written by Moulayi Mahommed Ismail, . 479 II. Description of an Instrument for eee Anetea: By Lieut. 7. S. Burt, Basi neers, .- 499 III. On the Trisection of wee By Mr. W. Masters, Werle aoadeiay: . 501 IV. Note on Indiaa Saline Deposits. a Mr. Henry Harpur ie, Bengal Medical Service, Ve aie - 503 V. Eclipses of J apitae s j Satellites, ot . 504 VI. Abstract of Observations of the Temperature, Breese and Herendeen ___ states of the Air in the vicinity of Delhi. By Major Oliver, $4 -- 506 VII. Proceedings of the Society, a6 <8 es -- 512 VIII. Scientiric INTELLIGENCE, es ae se -. 514 TX. Progress of Geological Science, ae agi af .. 515 X. Procress of MECHANICAL SCIENCE. 1. Iron Suspension Wheels; me 2° a -- 529 No. 12.—DECEMBER. I. Analysis of the Vayu Purana. By H. H. Wilson,Sec. As. Soc. .. . 535 IL. Extracts from a Journal kept by Mr. J. Emmott, Master Attendant at Mergui, whilst visiting the Sapan Forests, . 544 III; Some additional Observations on the aanbite of Earthy Matter browehe dies, by the Ganges, its depth and velocity, made during the rainy season of 1832, at Ghaziptr. By the Rev. R. Everest, ne an os -. 549 IV. Eclipses of Jupiter’s Satellites, : - 550 VY. Description of the Anglometer, an isticunaent for wean he Galenkdidie. By Captain C. Cowles, fe a 2) ODL VI. On the Indications of the Pulse din to the Hindis, ae ~» 553 VII. Notes in Natural History. By Lieut. T. Hutton, 37th N. 1. 3: . 554 VIII. Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, ae me ae -. 559 TX. European Scientic INTELLIGENCE. 1. New Nautical Almanac, SE -. 568 2. Heated Air and Uncoked Coal for Smelting on Ore, we -- 571 8. Price as measured by Money, of 5¢ oe say e. DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. The sheets of Buchanan’s Statistics are to be separated from the month. ly numbers. The Plates may either be bound up at the end of the volume, or in the following order : Hydetabad Bridge, isjsesss.qessies oaderas sas -dnatanreces adel on -depasnd ee 14 Deharanpur Garden, -... 0-0. dat ssowan tae ieeticen Sacadeinsst us tines Saieege Daan 41 Hornsof Antilope’ Hodgsonit,. .....'2.o..sctns See si~ooendaden evabeabaneeeeee 65 Measurement of Barrackpur Wasp,’ 0. cc.2:decsdes «ea vqe use cet por eRe en 71 Horns OF She Varal, © Ts ikendee dc aasegs sos oon qualsde dddec daa Cheer neh cee 115 Rasve Murnace.%.. oc 78s seas soregetes «00s osnep «0 -'pua aus nese alee tue ae 150 SED AMESS IMATTOR, «<< .agtacessicesvnsinse0os'os sass aaenmdertog nna ager aaiemmanes 244 Roman Coins, Pl. Wo... scccece.seevecigeowsiasd cogs uncpe Caan tales oo dk te mene 398 Do. do. Lf Re ree EEC es eee SS 400 Do. do. TILT, (Po sien tuna deteng cs Ai e~< deme teases + «ae ad eee 404 Do. do. BV. Sieh Sided Jetide ceca e oo UMmmbaeaasy 2» tacnal Meenas 406 Dam Slaices of thet Moab Canal 2.5. .licrcaceseccoesess dodesssdeceedeemeaene 454 Trisection Of Augers. x caiis vaocesaveseeessigse Toaveakascs «ta seen en aeaeeeeemeee 500 Tron Suspension Witeels,» |,.s a —— 226 Ist par. 5th line for “ Ekadantashtra,” read “Ekadanshtra,” —— 226 4th ,, 4th — for “Kridama,” read “Srid’ama.” —— 229 2nd ,, 5th — for “Vrishapati,” read “ Vrihaspati.” 3rd — for “Viswaséna” read “ Viswakerma.” 22 . — ,, after “ Ganges river,” insert “ at Ghazipur.” — 245 10 ,, from bottom, for “it,” read “ the mirror.” — —Ist ,, 7th — for “He having,” read “ Having.” —— 296 line 3 for “but mostly,” read “and,— — 305 — 7 for “hydrogen. When,” read “hydrogen, where.” — 20 for “circumference,” read “diameter.” — 21 for “273 rupees,” read “2% rupees.” XVill ERRATA. Errata in Meteorological Register, for June. Date Hour. Bar. 13 Sun-rise, for ,365 read ,465 14 3 5309 ,499 92 af 317 617 Add 0,010 to all the figures in the Barometrical column for 103 P. m. — 340 — 6 after “Rhinolphus,” insert “and two species of Vespertilio.” — 355 — 13 for “axavoa,” read “axavora.” —- 355 — 2 from bottom, after “nilam,” insert “nil mani, (or manik.)” — 356 after “College of Fort William,” zsert “the word bahrmani is also used in the Khawdas-ul-hejar, as a variety of the yaqut.” —— 358 — 20 dele “or a species of garnet.” —— 358 — 22 for “manik,” read lalri.” — 403 — 5 from bottom, for “ AIOKATI,” read “ AIOKAH.” — 404 — 14 for OvA,” read “OYA.” — 41l ~—~ 8 for “Latitude 25° 43’,” read “ Lat. 25° 47’ 26”.” In Table IV. of the Estimate of Life in India, page 284, the first four figures in the second and third column should stand thus : Age. Survivors. Deaths. 20 52221 473 21 51748 489 22 51259 522 23 50737 557 The mistake arose from the calculations having originally been made to commence with the age of nineteen, instead of twenty: and the 5 year averages in Table III. page 283, will all be slightly affected by the same cause. The last figure in the second column, page 284, should be reversed; and in the last column but one, for “2080,” read “2008.” Line 414 line 3 from below, for “ mollusce,” read “ mollusca.” — 444 — 36 after “ministry,” znsert “ of a man.” — 445 — 3 from below, for “ 2125,” read “ 212.5.” — 446 — 7 for “in bullion,” read “ bullion.” — 447 —.21 for “ will be,” read “ would be.” — — — — after “at any,” imsert “ rate.” —— 480 — 15-16 for “ Tariqa-i-Chishita,” read “ Tariga-i-Chishtia.” — 483 — 36 for “lost about,” read “ tost about.” — — — 39 for “ Majtabid-i-mustuqill,” read “ Mijtahid-i-mistaqill.” —— 485 — 20 for “Taqwiat-ul-Imam,” read Taqwiat-ul-Iman.” —— 487 — 15 erase “5” at beginning of line. —— 488 — 7 for “ differences,” read “ difference.” — 489 — 20 for “Kafr,” read “ Kuft.” —— 491 — 23-24 for Ishrak f’il Tasarraf,” read “ Ishrak f’il Tasarruf.” —— 492 — 10-1] for “ the authority or influence of Saints, as respecting interces- sors,” read “ respecting the authority or influence of Saints as intercessors.” : — 498 — 23 for “Khatim,” read “ Khatima.” 501 — 12 after “ABC,” insert “ |fig. 5.]” — 505 — 20for “55359,” read “5 5259.” — 506 —11 + “55310,” read “553 27.” JOURNAL OF THE ASITATIC SOCIETY. Mo. 1.—January, 1832. I.— Abstract of the Contents of the Dul-vd, or first Portion of the Kah-gyur, from the Analysis of Mr. Alexander Csoma de Koras. By H. H. Wilson, Sec. A. S. [Read 9th November. ] Av the last Meeting of the Asiatic Society, a general view of the con- tents of the two great Tibetan works, the Kah-gyur and Stdan-gyur, and especially of the former, was submitted, founded on materials suppli- ed by Mr. Csoma de Korés. It was also stated, that that gentleman had consented to prepare a more detailed analysis of the whole from the copy in the Society’s possession ; and he has accordingly furnished the Socie- ty on the present occasion, with the result of his subsequent labours, being an analytical sketch of the contents of the Dul-vd, or first great division of the Kah-gyur. It was stated in the preceding sketch, that the Kah-gyur usually con- sisted of 100 large volumes, classed under seven great divisions ; each comprising a greater or lesser number of volumes, treating of the religi- ous practices and tenets of the Baud’dhas ; written originally inSanscrit, but translated into Tibetan, for the greater part in the ninth century. Of those divisions, it was also mentioned, that the first, or Dul-vd, termed in Sanscrit Vinaya, Decorum or Discipline, occupied 13 volumes ; and, as introductory to the whole, described the different observances to be followed by the votaries of Bud’dhism, but more especially by those, whether male or female, who adopted a religious life. These observances are of a very comprehensive description, extending not only to moral and ceremonial duties, but to modes of personal deport- ment, and the different articles of food or attire. The precepts are interspersed with legendary accounts, explaining the occasion on which Sxya thought it necessary to communicate the instructions given. B 2 Abstract of the Contents of the Dul-va. [Jan. The Dulvd, according to the analysis now submitted, comprises seven portions. . 1. Jib. Dul-va-zhi; Sans. Vinaya-vastu. The substance or basis of discipline, 4 vols. 2. Tib. So-sor-thar-pé-do ; Sans. Pratimoksha Sutra. Rules for emancipation, 30 leaves. 3. Vb. Dul-va-nam-par-jet-pa ; Sans. Vinaya-vibhanga. Neglect of discipline or transgression, 4 vols. 4. Tib. Gé-long-m4-so-sor-thar-pé-do ; Sans. Bhikshuni-prati-mok- sha Satra. Rules for emancipation for nuns, or female mendicants. 5. Tib. Gé-long-ma-dul-va-nam-par-jet-pa; Sans. Bhikshuni- vinaya-vibhanga. Neglect of the discipline by female mendicants, in one volume, with the preceding tract. 6. Tid. Dul-va-phran-tshegs-kyi-zhi; Sans. Vinaya-kshudraka- vastu. Minor essentials of discipline, 2. vols. 7. Tib. Dul-va-zhung-la-ma ; Sans. Vinaya Uttara-grantha. The last treatise on discipline, 2 vols. Some admit only four divisions of the Dul-va, termed in Sanscrit :— 1. Vinaya-vastu. 2. Pratimoksha Sutra, and Vinaya-vibhanga. 3. Vi- naya-kshudraka-vastu ; and 4, Vinaya Uttara-grantha. The first part of the Vinaya-vastu treats of the Pravrajita-vastu, the circumstances under which the religious profession may be adopted. It opens with an account of the hostilities that usually prevailed between the kings of Anga, the country about Bhagalpur, and the kings of Magadha, or Behar, until PapMA-cnENpo, sovereign of the latter, became tributary to his rival, an event that happened shortly before SAK ya’s appearance on earth. Before the same occurrence also, the birth and education of Vimsa- sa’RA, surnamed Srenika, the son of Papma-cHENpo, are described. The young prince encourages his father to withhold the tribute, and in the war that ensues, defeats, and kills the sovereign of dnga, and annexes that country to his patrimonial government. He subsequently succeeds his father, and is ruling at his capital Rajagriha, at the time of Sa’kya’s birth. ) The particulars of Sa’kya’s birth are not enumerated in this place ; but an account is given of his two first disciples SaripuTRa and MaAnearayana, two young philosophical Brahmans, who have studied under different masters, without being satisfied with any of their instructions ; the particular of whose tenets are enumerated. At last they find Sa’kya teaching in Rajagriha, and attach themselves to his person. 1832.] Abstract of the Contents of the Dul-va. 3 The doctrine of Sa’kya finds a patron in Vimpasa’ra, and he is described as residing some time in Rajagrika, enjoying great fame as ateacher and master of numerous converts; his mode of teaching is also exemplified, and various philosophical controversies between him and the advocates of other systems are detailed. The mode in which his converts are received into the order of the priesthood, either by himself or by his disciples, is then particularized. Two presidents are appointed, and five classes of teachers ordained. Questions to be propounded are given, and the description of persons inadmissible from bodily imperfections or disease described. A varie- ty of rules on the subject of admission is laid down. The behaviour of the person after admission is then regulated ; the cases in which he should require the permission of his principal speci- fied ; and various moral obligations prescribed, particularly resignation and forbearance, when maltreated or reviled. Stories are related of improprieties committed by some juvenile mem- bers of the community, and in consequence Sa’Kya desires that none shall be admitted under 15, and no priest be ordained under 20 years ofage. Other stories give rise to other limitations, prohibiting the ad- mission of slaves, debtors, runaways, hermaphrodites, diseased or maim- ed persons, young men without the consent of their parents, and persons who have families dependent upon them. No person is to be admitted, except in full conclave—nor any one to be allowed to reside amongst the priests without ordination—no thieves, parricides, matricides, nor murderers are to be admitted. Each of these prohibitions arises out of some incident occurring in the course of Sa’Kya’s peregrinations be- tween Magudha, Kosala or Oude, Sravasti, and Kapila. The next subject is the performance of confession and expiation, which should be observed every new and full moon, in a public place, and congregation: the manner of conducting the ceremony is fully detailed. The rest of the first volume is occupied with a number of precepts and prohibitions, some of them ofa whimsical character: such as thata priest shall not wear wooden shoes, nor lay hold of a cow’s tail to assist himself in crossing a river. The second volume continues the subject of dress, especially on the fitness of leather or hides for the shoes of the priests; a treatise on drugs and medicaments then follows, which the disciples. of Sa’kya are allowed to use or to carry about them. The king of Magadha entertains Sa’kya for three months, and various legends are told. B 2 4 Abstract of the Contents of the Dul-va. [Tan. In the course of them, the six chief cities of India are said to be Sravastz, Saketana, Vardnast, Vaisalt, Champaé and Rdjagriha. The two first are in Oude, Vardanasé is Benares, Vaisali is considered to be Allahabad, Champa is Bhagalptr,and Rajagriha, or Rajgiriisin Behar. From Magadha, Ssxya goes to Vaisalz, upon the invitation of the Lichchivi inhabitants of that city, who appear to have been republicans, and to have possessed great riches. The peregrinations of Sa'kya are continued throughout the volume, in which he encounters and converts many individuals, whose stories are told, not only during the present, but their past lives. Amongst others, Sa’kya_ relates his own, and how he became a Bodhisatwa, or sage. The conclusion of the volume leaves him at the lake Manasa- rovara, with 36 of his principal disciples. The third volume continues in the same strain. At a place in Kosala, Sa'xya and his followers are entertained by way of test, and are found to be moderate and easily contented. The Brahmans are tried by a similar test, and proved to be greedy and insatiable. Similar lessons, as in the preceding volumes, are given to the priests. They are permitted to eat treacle—to cook for themselves in time of famine, and to cook in ten places—to eat meat under certain restric- tions—to accept gifts from the laity. The stories and lectures are inter- spersed with notices of medicines, and the mode of administering them, and the medical employment of charms and incantations. The subject of the succeeding pages is the proper attire to be worn by the disciples of Sa‘kya; they are directed to wear not more than three pieces of cloth, of a red colour—to wear cotton garments when bathing—to be clean in their dress and in their bedding—and never to go naked :—an injunction at variance with some notions of Bud’dhism, the images of the saints of which have been supposed to be represented without clothes, and furnishing a distinguishing characteristic between them and the images of the Digambara Jains. The subject of dress is followed by that of the use of mats or sheets to lie upon. A more important division then succeeds, on the conduct to be ob- served towards refractory and disputatious brethren. They are first to be admonished in public congregation, and if impenitent, to be expelled from the community. The mode in which confession, repentance, and absolution are observed is next explained, and illustrated by examples, The residences and furniture of the monks are next described, and the next subject is said to be dissensions in religious communities. Little on this head, however, is given, and the rest of the volume is: 1832.] Abstract of the Contents of the Dul-va. 5 occupied with miscellaneous matter, One subject is an account given of the origin of the Sa’kya race by Mancarayana, at the desire of Sa’kya, to the people of Kapila vastu ; and another the birth and education of Sa’xya himself. Volume IV. continues the story of Sa’kya, especially the circum- stances that led to his entering upon the life of an ascetic, and his subse- quent proceedings. In this book, the Sakyas are called inhabitants of Kosala, a country bordering onthe Aaildas mountains, and descendants of the Hindé king Ixsuwaxu. The birth place of SXxya is said to be Kapila-vastu, near the Himalaya, on the banks of the Bhagiratht. The latter pages illustrate what is considered to be the subject of the whole book, the evils of causing schisms, by instances of the inveterate hostility of L’Has-K yim, the nephew of Sa’kyA, towards his uncle. The fifth volume commences with the Pratinoksha Sitra, short precepts for the securing of final felicity ; the sum of which is, that vice is to be diligently avoided, virtue invariably practised, and the passions be kept under entire subjugation. Then follows, and extends through the rest of this volume and the three next, a code of laws for the monks, comprehending 253 rules. Each of these arises in general from some improper conduct in a religi- ous person, which forms a separate incident or tale. The matter comes to Sa'kya’s knowledge,who sends for the culprit into the congregation,where he is duly lectured. On his confession and penitence, he is pardoned, and SAxya enacts the rule or law preventive of a like transgression. The ninth volume is of the same general character as the preceding four ; but it is addressed to the female followers of Bud’dha, priestesses or nuns, Gélong-md, or Bhikshunt : many of the rules and illustrations are repeated from the foregoing volumes, and in the same terms. The tenth and eleventh volumes relate to matters and rules of minor importance, such as that the monks shall not use vitrified brick asa flesh-brush, nor fragrant unguents, nor rings, nor seal rings of the precious metals, nor eat garlic, nor learn music or dancing. There are also directions for the construction of Chaityas, and the deposit there- in of reliques, as the hair, nails, &c. of Bup’puHa, given by him to various persons during his life. There are also some tales of a political or historical character, especially the destruction of Kapila by the king of Kosala, and the murder or expulsion of the Sakyas, many of whom are said to have fled to Nepal. The eleventh volume closes with an account of the Nirvan, or emancipation of Sa’kya in Kamrip, or Western Assam. Eight cities contend for his remains, which are divided amongst them, and deposited in chaityas or mausolea. 6 Abstract of the Contents of the Dul-va. [ Jan. On the death of Sa’kya, Kasyapa, the head of the Baud’dhas, directs 500 superior monks to make a compilation of the doctrines of their master. The Do is also compiled by ANanpa; the Dul-va by Uparr; and the Ma-moon, Abhidharma, or Prajnd-paramita by himself. He presides over the sect at Rajagriha till his death. ANANDA succeeds as hierarch. On his death his reliques are divided between the Lichchivis and the king of Magadha; and two chaityas are built for their reception, one at Allahabad, the other at Pataliputra. One hundred years after the disappearance of Sa’kyA, his religion is carried into Kashmir. One hundred and ten years after the same event, in the reign of Asoxa, king of Pataliputra, a new compilation of the laws of Sa’kya was prepared by 700 monks, at Yangs-pa-chen (Allahabad). The twelfth and thirteenth volumes contain supplementary rules and instructions, as communicated by Saxya to Upaut, his disciple, in an- swer to the inquiries of the latter. We shall be better prepared, upon the completion of the catalogue of the whole of the Kah-gywr, to offer any remarks upon the doctrines it inculcates, or the historical facts it may be supposed to preserve. It is therefore rather premature to make any observations upon the present analysis, confined as that is to but one division of the work, and un- accompanied by extractor translation ; but we may perhaps be permit- ted to inquire what new light it imparts, as far as it extends, to the date and birth-place of Sa’/KYA. Any thing like real chronology is, if possible, more unknown in Baud’dha than Brahmanical writings; and it is in vain therefore to expect any satisfactory specification of the date at which the Bud’dha Sxya flourished. We find however that 110 years after his death, Asoxa, king of Pataliputra, reigned: now in the Vishna Purana and one or twoother Puranas, the second king of Magadha from Chandra- gupta, or Sandrocoptos, bears the title of Asoxa, or ASOKAVERDDHANA. If this be the prince intended, SAxya lived about 430 years before the Christian era, which is about one century posterior to the date usually assigned for his appearance. It is not very different, however, from that stated by the Siamese, to Mr. Crawfurd. “ By their account, his death took place in the first year of the sacred zra, being the year of the little snake ; on Tuesday, being thefull moon of the sixth month of the year. The year 1822 was the year 2364 of the era in question, and as Bud’dha is stated by them to have died when 80 years of age, his birth by this account took place 462 years before the Christian era.” Crawfurd’s Siam, 367. 1832.] Abstract of the Contents of the Dul-vd. 7 A discrepancy apparently of a more decided character occurs as to the place of Sxxya’s nativity. This has been hitherto considered to have been Kikata or Kagadha, the modern province of Behar, the latter being evidently intended by that country in Jumbu Dwip, or India, which is called Mukata by the Burmese and the Siamese, Mo-ki-to by the Chinese, and Makata NKokf by the Japanese, accord- ing to several European writers of authority. Now according to the Kah-gyur the birth place of Ssxya is not in Magadha, but in Kosala, or Oude, at acity called Kapila or Kapila- vastu, and this latter term explains the nature of the mistake. The Chinese specify Kau-pi-le, the Burmese Ka-pi-la-vot, the Siamese Ka- pi-la-pat, the Cingalese Kimboul-pat, and the Nipalese Kapila-pir, as the city in which their legislator was born—considering, therefore, Makata to be the principality or province in which it was situated. For some centuries before Christ, and about the probable period of S<- KY A’s nativity, the greater part of central India was subject to Magadha ; andit is not extraordinary therefore that Kosala,in which Kapila issitu- ated, was considered as asubordinary, and may have been a tributary or dependant principality, and sofar therefore Kapila was in the kingdom, though not the country of Mugadha. At any rate, that Magadha was the first and principal scene of SXxya’s labours is universally admitted. Minutely accurate topography, and history, are not to be expected in these cases; andit isnot wonderful that the followers of Bud’dha, who derived their traditions from sources of a less authentic description than those of Tibet, should have placed Kapila in Behar, or elevated its chief, a petty Raja, to be king of central India. The latter mistake is commit- ed by the Mongols, who as neighbours of the Tibetans, should have known better ; yet even they call Sopupunt, the father of SXx ya, king of Magadha, Der Konigvon Magadha. (Klaproth, Asia Polyglotta, 123.) The precise situation of Kapila, it is not now easy to ascertain. The Tibetan writers place it near Kailas, on the river Bhagirathi, or as elsewhere stated, on the Rohini river. ‘These indications, connected with its dependency on Kosala, render it likely that it was in Rohilkhund, or in Kamaon, or perhaps even rather more to the eastward ; for the river now known as the Rohini is one of the feeders of the Gandak—at any rate it must have been on the borders of Nepal; as itis stated that when the Sdkyas were dispossessed of their city, those who escaped retired into that country. Another question is, who were the Sakyas 2. The Bud’dha traditions trace them from IxsHwaxu, a prince of the solar line, and ancestor of the race that reigned in Ayodhya or Oude. The name however does 8 On the Native Method of making the Paper, [Jan. not occur in the Hindd genealogical lists, either as that of a tribe or people. It is most akin to the term Sakas, the Sauce or Scythians of antiquity, the Tartars of modern time; and it is not at all unlikely that a colony of these people settled in this part of India,as did the Afghans many centuries later in Rohilkund. In that case, they pro- bably brought with them the faith of Bud’dha, and communicated it to India, whence it returned to them improved by the scholarship of learn- ed converts. It is very doubtful, if Bud’dhism ever prevailed exten- sively in central Hindustan, whilst it is quite certain, that it flourished exceedingly in the north and west of India, about the commencement of the Christian era. We know that it is still widely cultivated through- out central Asia, and that part of the world is most probably its ancient and original seat. Some additional light may possibly be thrown on these subjects by the succeeding portions of the Kah-gyur. II.—On the Native Method of making the Paper, denominated in Hindustan, Nipalese. By B.H. Hodgson, Esq. Acting Resident, Nepal. For the manufacture of the Nipalese paper, the following implements are necessary, but a very rude construction of them suffices for the end in view. 1st. A stone mortar, of shallow and wide cavity, or a large block of stone, slightly but smoothly excavated. 2nd. A mallet or pestle of hard wood, such as oak, and in size proportioned to the mortar, and to the quantity of boiled rind of the paper plant which it is desired to pound into pulp. 3rd. A basket of close wicker work, to put the ashes in, and through which water will pass only drop by drop. 4th. An earthen vessel or receiver, to receive the juice of the ashes after they have been watered. 5th. A metallic open-mouthed pot, to boil the rind of the plant in. It may be of iron, or copper, or brass, indifferently; an earthen one would hardly bear the requisite degree of fire. 6th. A sieve, the reticulation of the bottom of which is wide and open, so as to let all the pulp pass through it, save only the lumpy parts of it. 7th. A frame, with stout wooden sides, so that it will float well in water, and with a bottom of cloth, only so porous that the meshes of it will stay all the pulp, even when dilated and diffused in water ; but 1832.) denominated in Hindistan, Nipalese. 9 will let the water pass off, when the frame is raised out of the cistern ; the operator must also have the command of a cistern of clear water, plenty of fire-wood, ashes of oak, (though I fancy other ashes might an- swer as well,) a fire place, however rude, and lastly, quantum sufficit of slips of the inner bark of the paper tree, such asis peeled off the plant by the paper-makers, who commonly use the peelings when fresh from the plant ; but that isnot indispensable. With these “ appliances and means to boot,’ suppose you take four seers of ashes of oak, put them into the basket above-mentioned, place the earthen receiver or vessel beneath the basket, and then gradually pour five seers of clear water upon the ashes, and let the water drip slowly through the ashes and fall into the receiver, This juice of ashes must be strong, of a dark bark-like red colour, and in quantity about 2lbs.; and if the first filtering yield not such a produce, pass the juice through the ashes a second time. Next, pour this extract of ashes into the metal pot already described, and boil the extract ; and so soon as it begins to boil, throw into it as many slips or peelings of the inner bark of the paper plant as you can easily grasp, each slip being about a cubit long, and an inch wide; (in fact the quantity of the slips of bark should be to the quantity ofjuice of ashes, such that the former shall float freely in the latter, and that the juice shall not be absorbed and evaporated with less than half an hour’s boiling.) Boil the slips for about half an hour, at the expiration of which time, the juice will be nearly absorbed, and the slips quite soft. Then take the softened slips, and put them into the stone mortar, and beat them with the oaken mallet, till they are reduced to a homo- geneous or uniform pulp, like so much dough. ‘Take this pulp, put it into any wide-mouthed vessel, add a little pure water to it, and churn it with a wooden instrument like a chocolate mill, for ten minutes, or until it loses all stringiness, and will spread itself out when shaken about under water. Next, take as much of this prepared pulp as will cover your paper frame, (with a thicker or thinner coat, according to the strength of the paper you need,) toss it into such a sieve as I have described, and lay the sieve upon the paper-frame, and let both sieve and frame float in the cistern : agitate them, and the pulp will spread itself over the sieve; the grosser and knotty parts of the pulp will remain in the sieve, but all the rest of it will ooze through into the frame. Then put away the sieve, and taking the frame in your left hand, as it floats on the water, shake the water and pulp smartly with your right hand, and the pulp will readily diffuse itself in an uniform manner over the bottom of the frame. When it is thus properly diffused, raise the frame out of the water, easing off the water in such a manner, that the c 10 On the Native Method of making the Paper, [ Jan. uniformity of the pulp spread shall continue after the frame is clear of the water, and the paper is made. To dry it, the frame is set endwise, near a large fire; and so soon as it is dry, the sheet is peeled off the bottom of the frame, and folded up. When (which is seldom the case) it is deemed needful to smooth and polish the surface of the paper, the dry sheets are laid on wooden boards, and rubbed with the convex entire side of the conch- shell; or, in case of the sheets of paper being large, with the flat surface of a large rubber of hard smooth-grained wood ; no sort of size is ever needed or applied, to prevent the ink from running. It would proba- bly surprise the paper-makers of England to hear, that the Kachdr Bhoteahs can make up this paper into fine smooth sheets of several yards square. This paper may be purchased at Katmandu in almost any quantity, at the price of 17 annas sicca per dharni of three seers : and the bricks of dried pulp may be had* at the same place, for from 8 to 10 annas sicca per dharni. Though called Nipalese, the paper is notin fact made in Nepal Proper. It is manufactured exclusively in Cis-Himalayan Bhote, and by the race of Bhoteahs denominated (in their own tongue) Rangbo, in contradistinction to the Trans-Himalayan Bhoteahs, whose vernacular name is Sokhpot. ‘The Rangbo or Cis- Himalayan Bhoteahs are divided into several tribes, (such as Mirmi, Lapcha, &c. &c.) who do not generally intermarry, and who speak dialects of the Bhote or Tibet language so diverse, that, ignorant as they are, several of them cannot effectually communicate together. They are all somewhat ruder, darker, and smaller, than the Sokhpos, or Trans-Himalayan Bhoteahs, by whom they are all alike held in slight esteem, though most evidently essentially one and the same with themselves in race, and the language, as well as in religion. To return to our paper-making—-most of the Cis-Himalayan Bhoteahs, east of the Kali river, make the Nipalese paper; but the greatest part of it is manufactured in the tract above Nepal Proper, and the best market for it is afforded by the Nipalese people, and hence probably it derived its name; a great quantity is annually made * The pulp is dried and made up into the shape of bricks or tiles, for the con- venience of transport. In this form, it is admirably adapted for transmission to England. See the P. S. + The Newar language has terms precisely equivalent to these ; the Rangbo being called, in Newary, Paloo Sén ; and the Sokhpo, Thé-Sén. The Sokhpo here spoken of is not really a different word from Soghpf&r-nomade, the name or- dinarily applied in Bhote to the Mongols. But this word has at least a different sense in the mouths of the Tibetans towards ¢his frontier, on both sides of the snows. 1832.] denominated in Hindistan, Nipalese. 11 and exported southwards, to Nepal and Hindustan, and northwards, to Sakya-Gumba, Digarchz, and other places in Tramontane Bhote. The manufactories are mere sheds, established in the midst of the immense forest of Cis-Himalayan Bhote, which afford to the paper-makers an in- exhaustible supply, on the very spot, of the firewood and ashes, which they consume so largely : abundance of clear water (another requisite) is likewise procurable every where in the same region. I cannot learn by whom or when the valuable properties of the paper plant were dis- covered ; but the Nipalese say, that any of their books now existent, which is made of Palmira leaves, may be safely pronounced, on that account, to be 500 years old : whence we may perhaps infer that the paper manufacture was founded about that time. I conjecture, that the art of paper-making was got by the Cis-Himalayan Bhoteahs, via Lhassa, from China—a paper of the very same sort being manufactur- ed at Lhassa ; and most of the useful arts of these regions having flowed upon them, through Tibet, from China ; and not from Hindustan. Nepal Residency, Nov, 1831. P. §S.—Dr. Wallich having fully described the paper plant, it would be superfluous to say a word about it. The raw produce or pulp (beat up into bricks) has been sent to England, and declared by the ablest persons to be of unrivalled excellence, as a material for the manufac- ture of that sort of paper upon which proof-engravings are taken off. The manufactured produce of Nepalis for office records incomparably better than any Indian paper, being asstrong and durable as leather al- most, and quite smooth enough to write on. It has been adopted in one or two offices in the plains, and ought to be generally substituted for the flimsy friable material to which we commit all our records. III.—Account of anew Genus of Land Snails, allied to the Genus Cyclostoma, of Lamarck ; with a description of a Species found on the outlying Rocks of the Rajmahal range of Hills. By W.H. Benson, Esq. Bengal Civil Service. : [Plate I. fig. II. a. b.¢.] Genus ptERocycros. Testa discoidea, supra convexiuscula, subtis concava, late umbilicata ; anfractibus cylindraceis, vix cohzrentibus, omnibus utrinque apparentibus ; suturis excavatis ; peristomate reflexo, superné sinu obliquo interrupto ;labro supra ala fornicata sinum ob- tegente instructo ; ala lata, tumida, anticé declivi, mucronata, anfrac- tui penultimo adhzrente, ~ Animal adhuc incognitum, forsin Cyclostomati simile. c 2 12 Account of a new Genus of Land Snails. [ Jan. Habitat in rupibus umbrosis Patharghate et Sikrigali. Shell discoid, somewhat convex above, concave below, and widely umbilicated ; whorls cylindrical, slightly adhering together, and visible on both sides. Sutures channelled. Peristome reflected, interrupted at the summit of the aperture by an oblique sinus. Outer lip furnished, at the upper part, with an arched wing, which overhangs the sinus. Wing broad, tumid, bending downwards, and mucronate in front, adhering to the penultimate whorl. This new form I dicovered on the 15th and 16th December, 1831, among the jungle-covered rocks of the hill of Patharghata, one of the western outliers of the Rajmalhal range, situated a little below Kalgaon, on the Ganges ; and on the eminence of Sikrigali, another outlier of the same range to the north-east. The specimens were met with under the perpendicular and overhanging faces of low rocks, and under accumu- lations of dead leaves. All those found were unfortunately destitute of inhabitants, a circumstance the more to be regretted, as the conforma- tion of the upper part of the peritsome and the presence ofa wing, (a character hitherto unknown to belong to land shells, as far as my in- formation on the subject extends,) argue a corresponding variation in the animal from any known type. The sinus probably affords a passage to some process of the mantle, which the wing is intended to defend from injury. The genus which most nearly approaches to Pterocyclos is Cyclosto- ma, which is furnished with a circular aperture and a continuous peris- tome ; but the characters above referred to will necessarily exclude this shell from it. Lamarck’s species, C. planorbula, which varies much from his other species, and which is also widely umbilicated, appears to have the greatest affinity to the shell before me; and it has a still closer affinity to it than would be supposed from Lamarck’s de- scription, if Wood’s figure of Helix cornu-venatorium is to be relied on, for the latter shell has a sinus (not alluded to by Lamarck) at the top of the aperture ; but it shews no trace of the overhanging wing. _—__La- marck gives Helix cornu-venatorium of Gmelin as a synonyme of his C. planorbula, but with a mark of doubt, and refers to a figure in Chem- nitz, to which Wood also refers for his Helix cornu-venatorium. It is probable, that that species will be found to be osculant between the genera of Cyclostoma and Pterocyclos. If it had been my good fortune to have procured any of the Pterocycli alive, I should have had a good opportunity of comparing the characters of the animal with those of Cyclostoma ; having found several fine specimens of a new species of tlie latter genus, with the live animals, at 1832. ] Account of a new Genus of Land Snails. 13 Sikrigali and at Rajmahal. It is highly probable, that Pterocyclos will be found on the neighbouring outlying rocks of Pirpointi, on the ridge between Patharghata and Kasita, on the isolated hill in the neighbour- hood of an Indigo-planter’s house, between Kasita and Kalgaon ; and ona similar hill, at the back of the latter place, as well as on any part of the neighbouring main range of Rajmahal. It wou'd be worth a conchologist’s while, who may have an opportunity of visiting these rocks in showery weather, or shortly after a fall of rain, to seek for spe- cimens of the shell for the purpose of inspecting the animal. I regretted, that I had no time to spare for a careful search at either of the places cited as localities of the species. | Those which I found were with se- veral specimens of a Cyclostoma, a reversed Carocolla and Macrochla- mys*, collected in the space of a few minutes, and in a hurried search. The best methed of collecting is to take several servants up the rocks, and after shewing them what objects are required, to employ them in turning over the fallen leaves, and in inspecting the loose rubbish in the crevices of rocks. The species, which appears to be confined to rocky hills, I shall name P. rupestris. Its specific character issubjoined. It is probable, that some of the less material characters, which I have added to the generic character, in order to make the description as perfect as possi- ble, will be required to be added to the specific character of P. rupes- tris, when other species shall be discovered, in consequence of their not being found to be common to all. P. rupestris. Testa longitudinaliter confertim striata, albida, sub- diaphana, lineis longitudinalibus castaneis supra et infra picta ; versus apicem piscescens, anfracte ultimo fascia media castanea ornato. Var. 1. Fascia media omissa. Var. 2. Lineis angulatis subtus omissis. Var. 3. Testa tota cornea. Shell sub-diaphanous, whitish, closely striated) across the whorls, marked above and below with angular chesnut lines running across the whorls, and with a band of the same colour on the centre of the last whorl, purplish-brown towards the apex. Var. 1. The same without the medial line. Var. 2. Ditto without the angular markings underneath. Var. 3. The whole shell horn-coloured. The medial band in the type specimen, and in the second variety, appears to be composed of arrow-shaped spots, and is only a more pro- nounced expression of the angular lines, * A new genus of the Helicide, separated by me from Helix, in consequence of the wide departure of the animal from the type of that genus. 14 Examination of Minerals from Ava. | [ Jan. I am preparing a description of the Carocolla above-mentioned, the animal of which, as far as this particular species is concerned, fully justifies Lamarck’s separation of the genus from Helix. Since writing the above account, I have discovered a new genus of amphibious shells, inhabiting the tract between high and low water mark in the river Hooghly, the animal of which, bearing only two tentacula, differs alike from the fresh water and land genera, which are similarly circum- stanced in having the eyes (or, more properly speaking, the percipient points) on the summits of the tentacula, as in the quadri-tentaculated species, instead of at their base. ‘The discovery of two new genera, and of as many new species in Bengal, in the course of a burried trip down the country, and in an unfavorable season, leads us to the conclusion, that many other novelties in terrestrial and fluviatile conchology remain to be discovered in that province, and in the neighbouring unexplored territories of Arracan and Ava, It is to be regretted, that a species of Cyclostoma recently discovered alive at Tenasserim, and described in the Zoological Journal, as C. Perdix, was not described before death, as the keel, with which the shell is provided, gives reason to conjecture, that the animal differs in some respects from the animals of other species which have been described. Persons not conversant with conchology would do well to preserve the shells, with the animals alive, in a small box, with cotton around them, in which state land-shells may be preserved for several months, and when excited by moisture, they will make their appearance, and afford instruction to observers competent to note their characters, to whom they may be submitted. I have kept num- bers of species of Bulimus alive for nine months, without any of them manifesting an inclination to come forth: and [ have now by me in good health the species of Cyclostoma and Caracolla, which I collected in the localities mentioned in the early part of this paper. Calcutta, Jan. 17, 1832. V.— Examination of Minerals from Ava. By J. Prinsep, Sec. Ph. Cl. [Read 16th Nov. ] Major H. Burney has favored us with a further supply of minerals from Ava, proving that country to be as promising a field for varieties of the earthy minerals as it has already turned out prolific in metallic ores: among the present series may be enumerated ; 1.—Asbestos, from the crevice of arock among the hills of T’sa-gain ; fine silky white Amianthus, crystallized on szlicious dolomite, as it 1832.] Examination of Minerals from Ava. 15 may be called from its behaviour with tests : the colour of the latter is greyish white, with greenish yellow imbedded nodules: before the blow- pipe it is unalterable, but it hardens so as to scratch glass easily : it effervesces strongly with nitric acid, and leaves a silicious residue: the solution lets fall a small prectpitate with sulphate of soda, and a more » copious one with ammonia and phosphate of soda. 2.—Small hexagonal plates of Mica ; splitting into thin plates of a dark-brown colour: non-elastic: heated on charcoal, they assume a golden colour from the separation of the plates : with a stronger heat they fuse into a black enamel: resembles Hauy’s Mica annulaire. 3.—Crystallized and anhydrous Gypsum. 4.—Dark green prismatic Hornblende ; obliquely hexahedral, with _ rhomboidal cleavage :—fuses with difficulty into a black enamel. Metallic Minerals. 5.—Quartzy Malachite ; of a light-green colour: by digestion in boiling nitric acid this mineral yielded 183 per cent. of oxide of copper, 6.— Black oxide of Manganese ; fracture dark grey, granular, earthy : exterior surface shining black and mammellated ; with borax, in the blow-pipe flame, gave a peuce coloured glass, discriminative of manganese, 7.—Pisiform axide of Fron—in dark-brown balls of the size of peas: exhibiting a stellated structure on fracture: before the blow-pipe, and cupellated with lead, proved to be almost entirely composed of red oxide of iron. 8.—Argentiferous Galena—from ‘a newly discovered mine near Ava: yielded on analysis 5 per cent. of silver, with slight contamination of copper and zinc. 9.—Crystallized oxide of Lead or Litharge.—This mineral is believed to be new, at least it is not described in any catalogue of the ores of lead, which have been consulted. The specimen resembles yellow micaceous schist in general appear- ance: it is composed of a confused aggregation of micaceous crystals ofa pink-yellow colour : the interstices in some places filled with yellow - earthy litharge :—and the exterior of the nodule coated with white carbonate of lead. The analysis was effected by solution in nitric acid, and preci- pitation by sulphate of soda, which yielded 133,5 grs. of sulphate, equivalent to oxide of lead ........ eee seeee cece cece neeres 99. Prussiate of potash proved the existence of copper and iron, Cie Tae gre oo Wain as a 2 6 an ain Migie «0 ewido n, Mle wine ee eel e oy als 100 16 Examination of Minerals from Ava. [Jan. This natural litharge is readily fusible without effervescence, and resembles, in the reddish brown colour it assumes, the vitreous coat, which is always remarked upon the Dain and Yowetni silver cakes from Ava: I had previously occasion to examine the composition of this substance, which I had found to consist of CD x1G NOL LEAs Ree. see to S = son, 0s ou aloes, « see Oe Oxide’ of antimony, ....0......%. *‘seee mm Law Oxide’ Of COPPeP ces. 5 4% tree «se ue « sity, Om Silver, probably entangled in the slag, .... 6.0 Harthy matters .. cies. 5 > ee. as. aan ee 100. I at the time concluded, that the Burmese refiners made use of antimony and lead in refining their silver, and that a little of the arti- ficial slag remained attached to the surface of the silver upon its being suddenly cooled before the litharge was entirely worked off. I have been assured, however, that they use a natural ore to produce the peculiar effeét remarked ; and if so, the mineral now under description must undoubtedly be the substance employed. It is worthy of remark, that the Burmese assayers judge of the quality of silver by the crystallization of this coat, or rather by the crystallization of the surface of the metal itself under its proteetion. A star is the emblem formed upon their standard silver, which consists nearly of the proportion of 1 atom. copper (10.5) to 5 silver (89.5).» It would be curious to ascertain whether this crystallization is a con= comitant of other definite mixtures of the same metals. The Kharibat r silver, containing 5 per cent. of copper, exhibits spiral circles of litharge on its surface, in lieu of the star. 10. Platina Ore. In addition to our information respecting the lo- cality ofthe platina ore of Ava, Major H. Burney has favored us, through Mr. Swinton, with the following interesting particulars : ‘ “‘T find that a good deal of the platina ore is brought from some: mountain torrents or small streams, which fall into the Ayendween river from the westward, near a town called Kannee ; and it is collect- ed in a very curious manner, as Mr. Lane is informed, although he hesi- tates to believe the fact. The horns of a species of wild cow in this country called T’sain, perhaps the same as the Nylgao of India, have a velvet coat before the animal reaches the age of two or three years: a number of these horns are taken and fixed in the beds of the small streams, and at the close of the rainy season, when the water subsides, a coth is put down over each horn separately ; and the horns, and cloth + 1832. ] New Bridge over the Misst at Hyderabad. 12 as well as a portion of the sand around it, are taken up together. The horns appear to collect around them a good deal of gold dust, which the streams have washed down, and with this dust grains of platina are found mixed. ; The Burmese look chiefly for the gold dust, separating and bring- ing that alone generally to Ava; and although Mr. Lane has often urged the men who are engaged in this trade to bring at once the whole of what they take up with the horns, he has not yet been able to persuade them to do so. These horns sell sometimes for 12 or 13 ticals a piece, and deer’s horns are sometimes used instead of them. The Burmese call platina, Sheenthan ; much of this ore is also found with the gold dust collected among the small streams which fall into the Erawadi, to the northward, in the direction of Banman.” The same officer also writes, in allusion to a newspaper notice, “ I observe, that some correspondent in the Calcutta Government Gazette states, that Kannee, where the platina ore of Ava is found, is not a town, but signifies a mine. Kannee-myoo, or town, is well known as a place forming the assignment of the King’s aunt and step-mother, whom I visited on my first arrival here; and Kannee certainly doesnot mean a mine in the Burmese language.” V.—New Bridge over the Misst at Hyderabad. Our notice of the Caramnassa Bridge in the GLeanines of last October has, we are happy to observe, put us in possession of further materials on the interesting subject of public works. On the present occasion, the merit of the undertaking is not due to a simple indivi- dual, but to the enlightened policy of a native government. Several indications of a similar liberal system of public improvement have been manifest of late ; and that too, it must not be forgotten, after the British Government has avowed a general determination of non-inter- ference in the internal administration of the native states, In Oude in particular, the present ministry has been forward in promoting public works: the cast-iron bridge which was sent out fifteen years ago, and which has since lain in rust and neglect on the banks of the Gumti, is, we understand, about to be erected over that river; and several other bridges on the suspension principle are also in the course of preparation : an astronomical observatory, to be provided with the best instruments, has been lately established at Lakhnad : a survey of the country is in contemplation; and yet all these benefits have gone hand in hand with _-retrenchments and reform of the civil expenditure. D 18 New Bridge over the Misst at Hyderabad. [ Jan. Of the progress of public works at Hyderabad, we have now an opportunity of judging from the account of the completion of a hand- some stone bridge over the Mussi river, communicated by Captain James Oliphant, the engineer who erected it, to the British resident at the Nizam’s court, which has been obligingly put into our hands for publication. We regret, that we are unable to add any particulars of the river itself, or of the precise situation of the bridge ; but we believe that it lies on the high road between the residency and the city. “ The first stone of the bridge was laid on the 15th January, 1829. According to the original plan, there were to have been eight arches, semi-elliptical, each 56 feet span, and 18 feet rise. The piers 10 feet wide, the breadth of the bridge 24 feet. Eight arches were fixed upon, because by this division of the channel, the best foundations were obtainable for the piers; and the chief reason for the general preference of an odd number of arches was inapplicable, as it will be seen by reference to the plan, that the strength of the current is not in the centre of the channel, but at the arch next the abutment on the left bank. By October, 1829, the whole of the piers had been raised above what was then considered high-water mark; two arches had been finished, and a third was almost completed, when the river rose to the extraordinary height shown by the dotted line in the elevation: the piers were destroyed, and the third arch fell in, the centering having been carried away. The sudden shock must have been a severe trial to the neighbouring arch; but it stood firm, nor on examination did it appear to have sus- tained any damage. In consequence of the disaster, the work was discontinued ; and nothing was done till it was recommenced 14 months afterwards, on the 21st of December, 1830. The engineer, having been alarmed at the height to which the river rose in the floods, determined to deviate so far from the original plan, as to give two feet additional rise to the two centre arches, and a pro- portional increase to the adjoining ones; and instead of making the approach on the left bank solid, as he at first intended, to provide ad- ditional water-way by throwing an arch across the ravine. These alter- ations were carried into effect, as shown in the plan, : The arch under the approach is the are of a circle of 63 feet radius ; its span 77 feet, and rise 16 feet; breadth of the road-way 30 feet. The piers and arches throughout are composed of squared granite stone, brought froma distance of from four to five miles. ‘The spandrels 1832. ] A Method of rectifying a Route Protraction. 19 are solid to the height of the top of the cut-waters, after which they are completed with longitudinal stone walls, covered over with large stones, just under the road-way. The arch stonesare five feet long at the spring, and diminish gradually to the key stones, which are 2 ft. 9 in, In the arch under the approach, they are six feet at the spring, and 3-2 at the crown. During the progress of the work, it was invariably observed, that before the keys were driven, the centres had sunk 34 inches at the crown ; and when they were struck, which was done the second or third day after the arch was finished, that there was a settling of 24 inches. The large arch settled 34 inches, and several of the long stones at the haunches cracked, which however can hardly be considered detriment- al, as it is only a proof that the hollows, which would otherwise have existed, have by the fractures been filled up.” We are greatly surprized to find, from the statement furnished to the resident by Captain Oliphant, that the outlay upon this extensive structure exhibits a total of less than 95,000 rupees, or including the labour of 90 men from the Corps of Engineers, rupees 1,02,000, not including the repair of the damage sustained in the flood of the 22nd October, 1829. Considering the dimensions of the bridge, and the high price of labor in the Nizam’s dominions, this seems exceedingly moderate: it must however be remembered, that the foundations rest upon rock, and that the granite quarries, whence the stone was extract- ed, are close at hand. We have given a reduced engraving of the architectural elevation and plan of the bridge, in Plate II. figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, which do not re- quire any explanation: the plan adopted of springing the voussoirs of the elliptical arches from an inclined bed on the piers, so as to rest at right angles to the thrust of the arch, instead of forming right angles with the curvature of the ellipse, reminds us of Mr. Seaward’s elegant design for the new London bridge, wherein the advantage of such a construction is fully developed. The attempting of elliptical arches in stone, with native mistrés, was a work of daring, and its successful accomplishment does credit to the perseverance and abilities of Captain Oliphant. VI—A Method of rectifying a Route Protraction. It frequently happens, that a surveyor has to protract a survey of his route between two fixed points on a map, and that when the operation is performed, he finds the work does not close, and perhaps the termi- nating point of his protraction either goes beyond or falls short of the D2 20 Comparison of the Indus and Ganges Rivers. [ Jan. fixed one. Andif the survey be hastily executed, he will probably find the general direction of the line, as given by his protraction, to be con- siderably at variance, with that connecting the two fixed points. To divide the error, whichis generally in excess, proportionally among the smaller lines of the protraction, according to the principles of geometry ; or in fact, to make the route fit in between the two fixed points, is our present purpose. Let AB then (Plate II. fig. 2) be the two fixed points on a map; and Aa, ab, bc, cB’, the protracted route. (The error is apparent ; in the general direction, as much as the angle BAB’; and in the direct distance, too much by the quantity B”B’.) First, draw lines from A to each bend in the route, as Aa, Ab, and Ac. Then on the line AB’ lay off AB” equal to the true distance AB. Now, parallel to B’c from B”, draw the line B”c’, and observe where it cuts the line Ac ; make a mark, and call that point c’?: then parallel to cb, draw c’b’, and where it intersects the line Ad, mark the point 0’: proceed similarly till you find the point a’. Join Aa’, a’b’, 6’c’, and c’B”, and the route is reduced to the true distance. But we have yet to transfer this to the line AB: for this purpose, take Aa’, Ab’, Ac’, each as radius in your compasses, and from the points a’, 0’, c’, describe arcs cutting both the lines AB”, and AB, in the points 1, 2, 3,and 1’, 2’, 3’. Lay off the distances 1a’, 26’, 3c’, on the arcs from 1’ to a”, 2’ to 6”, and 3’ toc”: lastly, draw the lines Aa”, ab”, 6”c”,c”B, and the route is duly transferred. This method also admits of applying correction, where the protraction of the route falls short of the true distance. Calcutta, 28th Nov. 1831. J. G. VIUII.—Comparison of the Indus and Ganges Rivers. Lieutenant A. Burnes, Assistant Resident in Cutch, who lately com- municated to the Bengal Government a geographical report upon the Indus, drawn up from notes and surveys made on his recent mission to Lahore, estimates the magnitude of the Indus, at Tatta, a place situated equidistant fromthe ocean with Sikrigali on the Ganges, as four times greater than the latter river, upon the estimation given in the GLEAN- ines, III. 185, inthe month of April: but it may reasonably be doubt- ed, whether the discharge of water in the Ganges is not underrated at 21,000 cubic feet per second at Sikrigali, since the same quantity is also estimated to flow past Benares, and that upon more accurate data, at the same season. Lieutenant Burnes thus states the chief data of the comparison. 1832.] Comparison of the Indus and Ganges Rivers. » 21 “In the middle of April, I found the Indus at Tatta to have a breadth of 670 yards, and to be running with a velocity of 22 miles an hour. It happens, that the banks are steep on both sides of the river in this part of its course, so that the soundings, which amount to fifteen feet, are regular from shore to shore, if we except afew yards on either side, where the water is still. These data would give a discharge of 110,500 cubic feet per second, but by Buat’s equations, for the diminished velocity of the stream near the bed, compared with that of the surface, it would be decreased to 93,465 cubic feet ; some further deductions should be made for the diminished depth towards the shores, and 80,000 cubic feet per second may be taken asa fair rate of discharge for the Indus in the month of April. It is a source of regret to me, that I am unable to extend my observations to the river during the rainy season; but [ had not an opportunity of seeing it at that period, and do not desire to place opinion in opposition to fact. I may mention, however, that at Sehwan, where the Indus is 500 yards wide, and 36 feet deep, and sweeping with great velocity the base of a rocky buttress that juts in upon the stream, there is a mark on the precipice, which indicates a rise of 12 feet during the inundations. This gives a depth of 8 fathoms to this part of the Indus in the rainy season: if [ could add the increase of width on as sound data as I have given the perpendicular rise or depth of water, we should be able to determine the ratio between its discharge at the oppositeseasons ; but I have only the vague testimony of natives to guide me, and therefore dismiss the subject. “¢ From what has been above stated, it will be seen, that the Indus, in discharging the enormous volume of 80,0CO cubic feet of water ina second, exceeds by four times the size of the Ganges in the dry season, and nearly equals the great American river the Missisippi. The much greater length of course in the Indus, the tortuous direction of itself and its numerous tributaries, among towering and snowy mountains near its source, that must always contribute vast quantities of water, might have prepared us for this result ; and it is not extraordinary, when we reflect on the wide area embraced by some of these minor rivers, and the lofty and elevated position from which they take their rise: the Sutlej in particular flows from the sacred lake of Manasarovara in Tibet, 17,000 feet abovethesea. The Indus traverses too a compa- ratively barren and deserted country, thinly peopled and poorly culti- vated ; while the Ganges expends its waters in irrigation, and blesses the inhabitants of its banks with rich and exuberant crops. The Indus, even in the season of inundation, is confined to its bed by steeper and 22 Comparison of the Indus und Ganges Rivers. [ Jan. more consistent banks than the other river, and, as I have shewn in my memoir, seldom exceeds half amile in width ; the Ganges, on the other hand, is described as an inland sea in some parts of its course, so that at times the one bank is scarcely visible from the other, a circumstance which must greatly increase the evaporation. The arid and sandy nature of the countries that border the Indus soon swallow up the over- flowing waters, and make the river more speedily retire to its bed. Moreover, the Ganges and its subsidiary rivers derive their supply from the southern face of the great Himalaya, while the Indus receives the torrents of either side of that massy chain, and is further swollen by the showers of Cabul, and therains and snow of Chinese Tartary. Its waters are augmented long before the rainy season has arrived ; and when we look at the distant source of the river, to what cause are we to attribute this early inundation, but to melting snow and ice. «‘ The slope on which the Indus descends to the ocean would appear to be gentle, like that of most great rivers. ‘The average rate of its current does not exceed 24 miles an hour, while the whole of the Pun- jab rivers, which we navigated on the voyage to Lahore, were found to be one full mile in excess to the Indus; we readily account for this increased velocity by their proximity to the mountains, and it will serve as a guide in estimating the fall of the great river. The city of Lahore stands at a distance of about 1,000 British miles from the sea, by the course of the river; and I am indebted to the kindness of Dr. J. G. Gerard, of the Bengal Establishment, for a series of Barometrical obser- vations made at Amritser, a city about 30 miles eastward of Lahore. The mean of 18 of these observations gives us the height of the Barometer at. ........0.0.5--005 deta als 28.8613 The corresponding observations at Calcutta give... . 29.7115 Making a difference of..... 8502 “ T am informed, that the height of instrument registered in Calcutta may be 25 feet above the level of the sea, and as the city of Amritser is nearly on the same level as Lahore, (since both stand on the plains of the Punjab,) it must have an elevation of about 900 feet from the sea. It remains to be considered in what and how great a proportion this slope is to be distributed among the rivers from Lahore downwards. On acomparison with the Ganges, we cannot give a greater fall down- wards from Mittun, where the Indus receives the Punjab rivers, than 6 or perhaps 5 inches per mile; nor can we allow more than 1-4th of the 900 feet as the height of that place about the level of the sea, forthe | river has not increased here in velocity of current, though we have neared — 1832.] Meteorological Observations. 23 the mountains. Mittun is half-way to Lahore, and about 500 miles from the sea, and nearly 220 feet above it. The remaining 680 feet we may fairly apportion to the Punjab rivers, from their greater ra- pidity of course, which would give them a fall of 12 inches per mile. “ It is an additional proof ofthe greater magnitude of the Indus, that at its lowest it retains a velocity of two and a half miles witha medial depth of 15 feet, moving throughout the year in one majestic body to the ocean ; while the Ganges partakes more of the nature of a hill stream, insignificant at one season, and overflowing its banks at another. ' « Before bringing these remarks on the Indus to a close, I wish to add a few words regarding the effect of the tide on the two rivers. In the Ganges, itruns considerably above Calcutta, whereas no impression of it is perceptible in the Indus 25 miles below Tatta, or about 75 miles from thesea. We are either to attribute this occurrence to the greater column of water resisting the approach of the sea, ‘ Whose vanquished tide, receding from the shock, ‘ Yields to the liquid weight,’ or to the descent of the water of the one river being greater than that of the other: the tide in the Indus certainly runs off with incredible velocity, which increases as we near thesea. It would appéar, that the greatest mean rise of tide in the Ganges is 12 feet. I found that of the Indus to be only 9 feet at full moon, but I had of course no opportuni- ty of determining the mean rise of the tide as in the Ganges. The tides of Western India are known to exceed those in the Bay of Bengal, as the construction of docks in Bombay testifies; and I should be dis- posed to consider the rise at the mouths of the Indus and Ganges to be much the same. Both rivers, from the direction of their fall into the ocean, must be alike subject to an extraordinary rise of tide, from gales and winds; and with respect to the whole coast of Sinde, the south- west monsoon blows so violently, even in March, as to break the water at a depth of 3 and 4 fathoms, and long before its depressed shore is visible tothe navigator.” Lidiana, Nov. 14, 1831. VIII —Summary of Meteorological Observations made at the Surveyor General’s O ffice, in Calcutta, during the years 1829-30-31. The monthly tables kept by the Surveyor General, and uniformly published in the GLEANINGs, since its commencement, are now capable _. of furnishing three years data for the illustration of the climate of Calcutta, as regards the pressure, temperature, moisture, rain, state of ey 24 Meteorological Observations. { Jan: the winds, and aspect of the sky ; and as such regularity prevails in atmospherical phenomena within the tropics, there is no occasion for further delay in presenting our readers with a summary of the results, adding a few observations and comparisons with such other registers of Oriental climates as are within our reach. Meteorology is now attract- ing more and more attention in Europe. Societies have been established for its exclusive cultivation in some countries, and more recently at Paris, a “ correspondance pour l’avancement de la meteorologie” has been undertaken by M. Morin, who not only hopes to frame a com- plete “ histoire du tems” for the whole world, but even eventually to be able to predict the future weather of any climate from accurate analysis of the effects of past seasons : towards this laborious undertak- ing Mons. Morin invites assistance from all those who are in the habit of recording their observations, and we with pleasure give circulation to his proposals, in return for the copy of his Essays on Meteorology, with which he has kindly favored us: but we should rather recommend, [for our own sakes, no less than to save labour to M. Morin himself, ] that our pages should in the first instance be made the medium of his Indian correspondence ; and we further recommend, that the tables with which we may be favored may be abstracted by observers in a conve- nient form for reference and comparison, such perhaps as we have pre- pared on the present occasion, to exemplify the climate of Calcutta. We hope hereafter to lay before our readers some extracts from the essays of M. Morin; they abound in curious remarks upon the phenomena, which he has professedly engaged to study, not only from nature, but from written authorities in all the current languages of Europe, nay even from the Chinese manuscript of Youe-ling, the Daniel of the celestial empire, now under translation by M. Brosset, which besides meteorological facts ‘¢ contient encore beaucoup d’autres choses curieuses.” But the object of the present paper is to exhibit a tabular view of the climate of Bengal, from the registers already published in detail. These registers have been purely instrumental, for as M. Morinremarks, there are two modes of observing the weather, one by means of fixed instruments, the other by a continual log-book of ocular observations on the formation and dispersion of clouds, force and direction of winds, influence of the ground, hills, water ; of storms, lightning, aurore, and so forth. In this department, our registers are perhaps deficient, but the regularity of our seasons is such, that there is not the same interest in watching the sky as in the ever-changeable tropics: it is no difficult matter here to predict the course of seasons, and the occurrence of occasional gales and north-westers is almost the only phenomenon not restricted to stated periods in the revolution of our Indian year. 1832. ] Meteorological Observations. 25 The first of the following tables comprehends the general range of the weather ; the wind, the clouds, and the rain: having the same letters to denote the nature of the clouds as are applied in the monthly registers : zero denotes the absence of wind or cloud, and the degree of force or of prevalence of particular winds is shewn by the form or size of the type, appealing at once to the eye. : The south or south-easterly monsoon prevails from the spring to the autumnal equinox, and northerly winds for the remainder of the year ; there are intervals of calm and variable winds at the equinoxes and solstices: the registers do not particularize storms, but two or three very severe ones have occurred in the interval under review. We may instance the storm of May, 1830, which injured so many houses in Calcutta; and the gale of November, 1831, which committed such havoc in the Cuttack district. Asa sample of the course and disastrous effects of these storms, we extract a description of the one last men- tioned from Mr. G. A, Prinsep’s recent work on Saugor Island. *¢ While these pages have been in the press, another inundation has occurred more destructive than that of 1823, at a period of the year when such an event was unknown in the upper part of the Bay. Since the 22nd of October, the northerly monsoon seemed to be steadily set in with a cloudless sky; and the freshness of the mornings, indicating an early and a long cold season, was the common subject of congratulation among the Europeans residing in Calcutta. A depression of less than a tenth of an inch in the Barometer on the 30th excited no attention : the day was fine as usual, with very light northerly airs ; but towards evening, a veil of cirrus enfeebled the sun’s rays, and some heavy clouds shewed themselves in the south-east. At 8 Pp. M. a light puff or two from that quarter momentarily interrupted the northerly breeze, which had freshened a little, about the time that a gust from the same direction was felt in Howrah, strong and sudden, like a north-wester. At day-break, on the 3lst, the sky was overcast with a drizzling rain, the wind rather fresh at N. E. and increasing : by noon it was blowing a gale, and at short intervals heavy showers succeeded each other, during the rest of the day: violent gusts after sunset reminded us of the storm in May last year. The direction of the wind was still N. E. to E. After midnight, it suddenly veered to the southward, blowing tempestuously for several hours. During the Ist, it came round to the S. W. abating in force with every fresh point of westing. The 2nd was a dull cloudy cold day, with the wind at west to N. W. but the gale had ceased: while it continued, there fell about 2 inches of rain. The Barometer jndicated at its lowest ins. 29.672 at 4 p. M. on the 3lst, and at sunrise on the Ist November, being only a fall of .348 with reference to the highest point at which jit stood on the 29th. But the river was unusually troubled, and much damage occurred among the boats: at Mr. Kyd’s dock-gates, the water rose to the mark of 21 feet 6 inches* in the night tide of the 31st, having been only at 14 feet 6 * 20 feet by the river gauge reduced to correspond with his tide tables.—In the great storm of May 1823, the water only rose to the mark of 20 feet (River 18. 6) being 1 foot 4 inches above the proper level: the greatest difference was then at E 26 Meteorological Observations. [Jan. inches at high water in the morning, although, when the springs came on, the highest level was only 17 feet 9 inches in the night tide of the 4th. The low-water level was raised more than 5 feet, being by the mark 13 feet, instead of 7 feet 10 inches, its proper level, in the day tide of the 1st November. Such was the character of the storm at Calcutta, where few fallen trees exhibited signs of extraordinary violence. Indeed, it would seem to have been more sparing of its ravages here than almost in any place exposed to its influence. Hundreds of boats are said to have been lost upon the Ganges, some of them laden with Indigo; and a letter from Bancoorah reports the destruction of trees to have been very great in that neighborhood. The weather at Saugor is thus described by a gentleman residing at Ferntosh. ‘© 30th October, 2 pe. mM. clouds gathering in the E. quarter—3 Pp. M. some drops of rain. 31st, morning, strong breeze from N. E. with light rain—increasing towards noon with heavy rain—evening, hard gale at E. and heavy driving rain—8, 30 Pp. M. blowing very hard from S. E. and the tide beginning to pass over the bunds of the estate—10 Pp. mM. wind S. W. blowing a hurricane—trees and honses fallirg— the wooden bungalows shaking very much, and the water within a foot of the floor, which is raised between 5 and 6 feet above the ground. 1st November—wind S. W. moderating, but strong squally breezes all day from S. W. to W. S. W. without rain. 2nd—wind N. to N. W. and cloudy.” Here the gale was much more severe than that of 1823, and the water rose at least a foot higher over the land: but its greatest fury was spent in the Midnapore district, and on the unfortunate coasts of Kedgeree, Hidgelee, and Balasore. The large bunds of those coasts, behind which a numerous population slept in fancied security, were suddenly overwhelmed by a tremendous wave, sweeping away with resistless force every house and every article of property in the native villages, and destroying the paddy crops, all the cattle of an extensive tract of country, and a large portion of the inhabitants. Hundreds of cattle were seen floating past the ships at the Sand Heads. The Collector of Balasore, who with difficulty saved himself and his family, has given a frightful picture of the desolation around him—the atmosphere being infected by the carcases of men and animals, which the retiring waters had left scattered upon the ground. A letter from Cuttack, pub- lished in the newspapers, estimates the destruction of lives at 10,000, the entire population of 300 villages, which are said to have been annibilated by the waves. The inundation extended from Kedgeree as far as Cuttack, and even broke through the bunds at Culpee and Diamond Harbour, besides creating a tremendous bore of 5 feet in the Roopnarain, at Tumlook, which destroyed a great many boats. and nearly all the people in them. Saugor has been more fortunate than the opposite coast ; but, although from age and the grass upon them, the bunds of all the estates were stronger, while at the same time they were in general larger than in 1223, and mostly in good repair ; no part of the island has escaped inundation, except a few of the tanks—a very important exception, with reference to the time of year, and the number of persons dependent upon them for subsistence. — low water, the river level being 9 feet 3 inches, instead of 6 feet 4 inches, as it ought to have been by calculation. Meteorological Observations. 1832.] 97 Most fortunately the storm came on during neap tides: had it occurred at any time between the 2nd and 6th November, the tide would have risen three feet six inches to four feet higher at Saugor, and the frail asylum of the fallen thatch of their houses would have been swept away with most of tle inhabitants. The de- struction of lives would then perhaps have been as great upon the island, as it has been at Kedgerce, Hidgelee, and Balasore; and in those districts the desolation would have been awful indeed. Nor itis unlikely, that the inundation might have extended even to Calcutta, where the river would overflow its banks at less than 23 feet, (by Mr. Kyd’s tide register,) which is but 3 feet above the level it attained.’ By the papers it appears that a most severe hurricane was experienced at Manilla, a few days previous to this storm, and if the whole inter- vening space could be submitted to enquiry, a connection between the two might very probably be proved. TaBLE I.—Winds, Rain, and aspect of the Sky, most prevalent at Calcutta, from three years’ observations. SUN- RISE. NOON. SUN-SET. RAIN. MONTH. ee _ Winds. | Clouds. | Winds. | Clouds.\ Winds. | Clouds. | Inches. 0 N ne 0 ci. 0 nw. 0 January .. nw, 0 fogs INW n.| 0 cu. | 0 0 0.00 ne, 0 NW var.| 0 0 0 morning |N-~ var.| 0 ci 0 0 February ne. fogs NE var.{cir.cu. In.e. 0 |0 cum. 0.53 nw. cir. W svar.jcum n.w. 0 |0 cum. e. var 0 ci. variable |cum 0 0 March .. 0 ci. SW varjcum. st. |0 s. |cum, 0.74 se. SW 0 ci. variable |cum. 3.e, cir. southerly cum, SW SEjcum. ci. |SE cir. April .... S. cum. S Sw.jcum. ci. |SE cum. 4,08 sw. se cir. SE .sw.jcum. Svar. |cu. ci. 0 os. cum. N) var.|cum., S s.W./cum, May ...-4{|0 s. var. S sw.fcum. str.|/S —s.e.jcum. 5.78 0 se. cir. SSE nim, ci. |SZ cum, Ci. sw. 0 cum. SE sw.}cum. str.|S cum. str. June .... 4 |se. var, SE var.icum, str.|SE Nn. Ci. S. 16.71 san var. S calms|cum.n. |SE cum, Str. sw. se cir. str. |SE_- sw.jcum. str./sw. 0 cum, st. July ....4/0 5s. cum, str./var. SEjcir.n. |se. var. |ci. str. 8.98 0 se. v. |nim. var. wW.jnim. cu.|sw. var. Ici. cu. Ss. cum. str.|/SE cum. str.|SE cum, str. August .. 4 |se. cum, str.|SE —_-s.J}cum. str.|SZ var. |cir. str. 10.41 s. ne. sun. str. |SE var.jcum. str.|S var cir. n. 0 se. cum, str.|SEZ var.jcum. str.|/SZ cum. str. September < |0 cum. str.|S —-var.jcum. str./S sw, se.|cir. str. 6.70 0s. ne. jcir. str. |variable |cum. cir.|variable |cum. ci. 0 ne. se.jcum.ci. |Z var.}cum ne. 0 cum. October ..< |0 var. jcum. NE var.jcum 0 var. |cum. 5.84 0 n. ne. | 0 cu. N- e.w.jcum, ne. var. |cum, 0 ne, 0 NE cum NW 0 0 November 0 n. cir. N | var.] 0 var. 0 | O% cu. 0.06 0 cir. NE n.jcum. 0 n.e. 0 ci. 0 n. 0 NE nw. 0 cu. |] 0n, 0 December 0 n. 0 N nw.] 0 cum 0 0 ‘ 0.00 0 0 NW nej 0 cs.! 0 now. 1 0 Average of Rain for three years, 59.83 E2 28 Meteorological Observations. [ Jan. Barometer and Thermometer. The next two tables require no explanation; they shew the usual range of the atmospherical pressure and temperature throughout the year. The registers of the Barometer have been uniformly reduced to the temperature of 32° Fahr. which greatly facilitates their applica- tion to useful purposes. The periods of diurnal minima and maxima also have wisely been chosen for observation, but it is to be regretted that the same precaution could not have been extended to the parallel hours of the night. TaBLe I].—Mean Atmospherical Pressure in Calcutta, for 1829-30-31. Barometer reduced to 32° Fahrenheit. | Maximum (for 1830- | Minimum Month. | Sun-rise. |/Pressure at erie ee 31) 2h.50m.} Pressure, Sun-set. Oh: 400m, oe CRs P. M. 4 P.M. inches. inches, inches. inches. inches. inches, Jan. 30.034 30.084 30.033 30.019 29.961 29.971 Feb. 29.959 29,995 29.960 29.904 29.878 29.892 March, .877 -922 .885 825 197 808 April, 748 796 .763 721 .672 .685 May, -625 .670 -638 579 oo tong June, .526 063 Jon 497 468 484 July, 558 091 By/)! .529 501 -520 August, .589 .624 -099 sioe -025 2037 Sept. .655 .700 .667 .616 599 .609 Oct. .796 839 792 736 2/29 743 Nov, 935 978 .928 .875 .871 916 Dec. 30.038 30.079 30.025 971 -965 .978 Means 29.778 29.818 29.783 29.734 29.710 29,727 Mean of the columns of maxima and minima for three years, 29,764 TABLE JIIl.—Wean Thermometrical Range for the same period. Minimum A Maximum Month. |temperature |[X. 40 a. M. “aes temperature | IV. P.M. Sun-set. Sun-rise. 00D. 12h. 50m P.M Jan. 56°.8 67°.5 73225 772.0 75°.3 70°.1 Feb. 63.6 74.7 77.9 82.1 82.0 76.5 March, 72.8 80.0 84.4 86.8 86.4 81.2 April, 76.6 85.8 89.6 91.2 90.5 85.3 May, 79.9 88.4 91.3 93.6 91.4 86.6 June, 80.5 85.6 88.6 88.1 86.8 83.8 July, 80.3 84.3 85.6 86.4 85.1 82.9 August, 79.4 84.4 85.5 85.3 84.4 82.5 Sept. 79.4 84.9 86.1 85.6 84.7 82.9 Oct. 77.1 83.2 85.6 85.5 84.1 81.1 Nov. 66.7 74.8 78.8 80.1 78.7 75.4 Dec. 59.7 £ 169.7 74.9 76.8 75.4 70.9 Means 72.73 81.11 ! 83.49 84.89 83.57 79.86 Meéantofextremes.. so isceebas aenste 78.81 Mean temperature of the day,..... ole of the night,..... 75.00 Deduced mean of the 24 hours,..... 78.13 Mean temperature of Calcutta in 1784-5 78°.0 (As. Res. IV.) To place the relative course of the two instruments in a more con- venient form for comparison, the following tabular view of their range 1832. ] Meteorological Observations. 99 throughout the year has been constructed; and it derives addi- tional utility from the paralled columns which we have been enabled to insert for other localities, so that the whole presents a convenient epitome of meteorological phenomena between 12° and 309 of north lati- tude. Of the climate of Madras, the minutest details are recorded inthe voluminous and careful reports of the late astronomer Mr. Goldingham; whose results merely required to be reduced to the freezing point, The Ava tables are abstracted from Major Burney’s registers pub- lished in the Greanincs; the Benares tables are taken from the Oriental Magazine, 1827 : for the Seharanpur results we areindebted to Dr. Royle, who allowed us to look through his copious registers for the purpose. As the several Barometers were never absolutely com- pared together, entire dependence cannot be placed upon the mean altitudes given; but with regard to Calcutta, Benares, and Seharanpar, as some opportunities occurred of comparison through the instruments of different travellers, the relative altitude of these places can be esti- mated tolerably well: Thus, Seharanpar will be found to be almost exactly 1000 feet above the sea, as was before estimated by Captain . Hodgson:—Benares in like manner may be safely stated in even numbers to be 300 feet above the sea, TaBLeEIV*. Monthly Deviations of the Barometer and Thermometer from their annual mean height at Calcutta; and at several other places, introduced for the sake of comparison, Barometer at 32° Fahr. Thermometer. xs oo [2a as.e| 2 a |¥% a SS |r See) o 3.58 =) ee ior fo) Bae uo ea S .|o 2 § Berar Sy fee ee! Glee Bees We oo. Sepals She 2-5) 2 2S Beis es Bee Ss | eS las | Bat hE Ow) oe |e bole! Se . angw ae Sa iP Sol santa. ©] Me |S6 8 va El an Resets: | Saison) Sa $e 2 ke Se, =|8h sp fe e \sis| ¢ | 23 i827] 281884] fs lSexlees] 28 Dia Bom ose feo SS eal el eo inch. | inch. | inch. | inch. \ inch. | deg. deg, | deg. dex. | deg. Jan. |-4-.146 |4-.229 |--.208 |-4-.273|+.274 |— 6.5 |—13.7 |—11.6 |— 17.0] —21.8 Feb. |---131 |4-.115 |-+-.172 |4-.175|4+.219; —4.5/— 4.9 |— 6.0 |— 11.5] —20.9 Mar. |-+.087 |+-.051 |--.095 |-+.107}-+.151] —1.8 |— 2.8|+ 1.0|/— 1.5] +4 0.1 April, |—.006 |—.028 |—.030 |—.043 | 4.061] 49.7 | 7.8|+ 5.1|4+ 9.5) + 6.1 May, |—-124 |—.105 —.152 |—.136|—.060] +5.2 |-+ 5.6 | 7.5 |4-13.9| +11.6 June, |—-117 |—.156 —.248 |—.289|—.217] 47.4 | 7.1 | 5.5 | 13.1] 17.5 July, |—-103 }—.176 |—.218!|—.308 |—.398] 13.9 |4+ 4.4 |-p 4.6\4 6.4] +128 Aug. |—.088 |—.126 |—.194|—.2¢3 |—.278] 4£3.0 |4+ 4.1 | 3.6/4 6.4/4-10.0 Sept. |—.057 | —.098 |—.115 |—.098 |—. 158] #2.1 |4 4.3 1+ 3.7/4 5.8) 9.5 Oct. |—.018 |—.010 |--.020|4-.074|—.0474 0.1 |4+ 2.2 | 2.5/4 1.3/— 0.8 Nov. |-+.006|+-.102 |+4.161|+-.181| 4.209] —3.1 |— 4.2 |— 5.4|— 9.7]—10.8 Dec. |+.124 |-+.201 |-4.258 |-+.279| 4.245] —4.9 |—10.1 |—11.5|— 17.6] — 13.8 Ann. |---| ——_' ———— | ——__|—--|—_—_ | —__- -————- mean {29.810 |29.573 |29.764 |29.464 |28,766] 81.69 | 78.39| 78.13] 77.81| 73.5 270) 405! .506| .587| .672{ 13.9 J 21 19} 31.5 3 It will be remarked that the range of variation in the weight of the atmosphere increases with the latitude, even up to the foot of the Himalaya 30 Meteorological Observations. [Jan. mountains, and that it is accompanied by a corresponding increase in the range of the thermometer. We have elsewhere reasoned on this sub- ject, and do not intend, in the present view of observed facts, to enter into any theoretical discussions ; at any rate before doing so, it is to be wished that we may be able to extend the table of comparisons to other principal points on the continent of India; it is evident that in calcu- lating barometrical altitudes, by corresponding observations at distant places, a corrective equation must be introduced, depending on the time of year, having its maxima at the two solstices. We now come to the diurnal oscillation of the Barometer, for which the same sources have furnished me with materials for framing a com- parative table for five localities considerably distant from one another ; we could have added Marshedabad to the list, but that the thermome- tric series for that place was incomplete. At Seharanpur the horary observations were confined to a single day, the fifteenth, of each month. At Madras, to three similar days: at Benares perhaps the hour of the minimum was not always exactly observed: thus a little irregularity must be expected, but on the whole the results are wonderfully equable. TasLe V, Diurnal Oscillations of the Barometer and Thermometer at Calcutta, with comparative observations at other places. Barometer at 32). | Thermometer. sos s : mI SO . Gs) = Sy AOS == |e = wie te 3 = 5 cs) 2 ioe! Oo < > 30m a =I =S |/2o0 S/n Dig Dae fee c® lon se] = a 5 Wie pe ee epee A oa er bat a oes) LE 2 ae ete eS Sg Hic cy lero al 7 SSeS. = eS YS Ele a 1/225(22 | 22/22/2532] 22 | 22| gs [222/234 e Iocel s of lz..jwezt6e 5 a BE leesle8s S BRTl Et | Select e(sccp san; Sa | Pe lSesSiae2q Se < cone es a = < S waa oes: inch. | inch. | inch. | inch. | inch. } deg. | deg. | deg. | deg. | dex Jan 072 144 123 097 103 11.0 9.4 | 20.7 17.8 | 24.5 Feb 070 126 117 103 093 7 10.0 | 16.8 | 18.5 192 22120 Ma 076 107 125 121 146 7.0 | 20.8 | 14.0 | 20.7 | 26.0 April, 081 110 124 125 107 9.0 | 20.9 | 14.6 | 23.27] 31.0 May, 081 113 llb 124 .160 9.0 | 20.4 | 13.7. | 21.9 | 38.0 June, 092 136 | .095 JTS. 4 eri 9.0 9.0 7.6 | 16.1 | 31.5 July, (97 133 | .090 | .077 | .103 7.0 6.6 6.1 90S) e553 Aug. 105 109 | .099 088 | .079 7.0 8.8 5.9 8.3 | 11.5 Sept. 094 145 | .101 103 123 6.0 7.8 6.2 | 10.3 | 13.0 Oct... | .068 144 | .110 100 120 8.0 5.0 8.4 | 18.1 | 31.5 Nov... | .071 127 | .107 107 147 8.0 6.7 | 13.4 | 16.8 | 29.3 Recs 071 126 | .114 098 124 9.0 8.5 | 17.1 | 16.3 | 17.5 ean [| —— [> | 7 | I || —|~ tide [ .081 [| .126 | 110 | 105 | 120 | 85 !10.6 '122 ‘166 ! 94.9 With due allowance for the difference of sensibility in the instruments the above table shews that the average diurnal tide of the Baromete between the equator and 30° north latitude exceeds one-tenth of an inch, and that it is progressively greater as the variation of temperature dur- ing the day is also greater. With regard to the nocturnal tide of the 1832. | Meteorological Observations. 31 atmosphere, the Calcutta tables afford us no data, for want of an obser- vation at 10 p. m., the hour of the supposed maximum at night ; all that is indicated therein is, that the Barometer is constantly lower at sunset than at sunrise. At the Madras observatory, in 1832, a series of horary observations was made for three days in each month, which seems to establish the fact of a night-tide beyond a doubt to the extent of .04 inch; when however the corrections for the temperature of the mercury are applied, this amount is reduced to two hundredths of an inch, which is one-fifth only of the diurnal tide. The same result is obtained from a month’s horary observations under- taken by Col. Balfour at Calcutta, in the year 1784. We have also in manuscript a diary kept by Mr. G. A. Prinsep, during 32 days of a voy~ age from Calcutta to Bombay, whence it appears that upon the ocean the Barometer falls from 10 pr. Mm. to sunrise —.O022 rises from sunrise to 104. mM. -+.044 falls from SOr.m. to 4rp.m. —.102 rises from 4p.m. to 10p.m. +.080 on the other hand, the Berhampuar register exhibits a constant rise from 10 Pp. m. to 5 A.M. but as the corresponding thermometrical register is unfortunately not in our possession, we have been obliged to substitute a correction from the means of the Calcutta register, and the results may be in some measure erroneous: they cannot however be so far from the truth as to reverse the apparent issue. At Seharanpar also the exis- tence of a nocturnal tide is equivocal; the following table exhibits all that we can gather towards the elucidation of the point in India, ex- pressing by minus signs the real tide, or fall of the barometer, from 10 p. M.to 5 A. M. and vice versa. TaBLe VI, Nocturnal Oscillation of the Barometer from 10 P.M. to 5 A. M. reduced to 32° Fah. Madras, 3 Berbampér,|Seh4ranpar, Vera Cruzin - Month. days ineach| from Dr. Rus-| Dr. Royle’s | Mexico, by month. sel’s tables. observations.| Fray Juan. January, «.......2..| —.004 +.034 —.043 +.018 February, ...... oe ee] —.029 + .026 —.009 +.009 DEMAIGR, Wcav.s 0.05.) —-026 +.009 —.008 —.002 eee le cies.) —.027 +.088 —.007 +.008 Gaede acts 2 |, —.014 +.020 —.020 +.005 Van (a —.026 +.012 + .039 +.003 PEM ykowe aes | —.009 + .000 —.005 —.002 POPWSE, cpccs-eceae-| —.028 +.014 —.016 —.007 September,..........] —.024 +.011 +.011 ae Metober cee eiies «2 |)" 033 +.009 —.004 Dat November, ..........| —.010 +.009 +.024 +.001 December, ..... sare 019 +.027 +.015 —.023 MEGAN, 15 ajpheiceisms es char——021 +-.020 —.001 —,002 LCL LLL TC TS 32 Meteorological Observations. [Jan. The last column is taken from the manuscript observations of F ray Jaun, at Vera Cruz, in 1817-18, in the possession of a friend: the latitude of that place, 19° N., should make the results applicable here. There is still sufficient ambiguity respecting this second tide, there- fore, to render further enquiry necessary ; and it would be desirable to employ a barometer for the purpose, which should not require to have any correction applied for the temperature of the mercury; this might be easily effected by enclosing the barometer tube in an outer tube of the same length, also filled with mercury, upon the surface of which the scale might float. Hygrometry. The Calcutta tables afford sufficient data for calculating the state of the air with respect to moisture, whenever the temperature of an evaporating surface can be converted with certainty into equiva- lent expressions of the more obvious phemomena of Hygrometry, such . as the ¢ension or relative dryness ; or the absolute quantity of aqueous vapour contained in a given space.—The first of these points may be found within the limit of 2 or 3 per cent by the tables published in the first volume of the Gueanines :—and/the second may easily be calculated therefrom by the formule of Dalton or Ure.—In the following tables this has been done, and the uniformity of the results is satisfactory enough. August is the most damp month of the year to the sense ; but June is the month in which the atmosphere is really loaded with the greatest weight of aqueous vapour. January is in every respect the driest season of the year, but the drought at Calcutta naturally falls far short of what is experienced at Benares and Seharanpur, where the depression of the moistened thermometer sometimes exceeds 35 degrees, Taste VII. Depression of the Wet-bulb Thermometer and deduced Tension of Va- pour in the atmosphere, ut Calcutta, 1829-30-31. Sunrise. ) 940 a.m.| Noon. 250 p. w.| 4 p. m. ) Sunset. Month. ———. |__| ——_.. |- ———__--|-———_—_-|- ___—- Dep.|Ten./Dep.| Ten. |Dep. ;Ten.|Dep. |Ten.|Dep. |fen.|Dep. |Ten. January, ....{2°.3 | .82/80.4 | .Al |13°.1] .37 |15°.9 | 31 |14°.4] 3219993 | 50 February. ..|1.6 | .87/8.5| .56 {12 .4| .41 |14 .4 | .38 |13 9} .39 |11 .1| .47 March, ....{1 .9j| .89/8.7 | .59 [12.6] .47 (14 .2 | .41 14.1] .41 110 .7 | .51 April: Svopeiske'« 1.44 9418.1] .66-111 .7] .53 |13 9 | .46 (12.71 750} 8 .1 | 264 May, .02-++|1 8) 9217 .3|) .69° 1 9 8 | 62 |10 28) .58)) 9°74 GR Glee June, 1.6] .92/1.4] .78 | 6.6] .711 6.6] .73| 5.2] .76| 0.51.83 Saale ir dieicte 1.94 29014%6 |) 4791 5 5.).75 | S 5AN74)1%5. O17 eee August, Y.6 | 93 14.40 )>280°| 5 41.771, 4 9" 77) 4-8 1078s e eas September, ..]1 .7 | -91|5.3| .76 | 6.5] .71| 5 81°73) 5 21-76) 379) (81 October,....{1 .5 | 9216.1] .71 | 8.0] .65] 8.6} .63| 7.4] .66 | 4.3] .79 November, ../2 .8 | .85/9 0] .55 |12.3] 44/13 .9] .40 12.6] .43| 8.1] .59 December, ..]2 .4 | .83]/7.4] .59 [10 .8| 47/12 .5] 43/11 .3 | :44] 6.9] .61 Mean Tension 892 .665 577 - (547 070 .680 1832. | Meteorological Observations. 33 Taste VIII. Mean Barometric Pressure of Aqueous Vapour in the Air during the same period, deduced from Table VII. and Dalton’s Table of Aqueous Tensions. hem. h. m. Month. Sunrise. |9 40 a.m. | Noon. | 250 p.m.] 4 p.m. | Sunset, inch. inch. inch. inch. inch. inch. January, .... 0,336 0.336 0.300 0.288 0.275 0.275 February, .. 513 476 413 407 300 403 Miareh. yes is 703 .590 046 004 500 535 (| ee .846 192 wl 649 690 100 Wig A Bes .904 931 911 911 902 941 SUNG. «ss .994 .980 .975 985 995 987 Cl igen .909 .908 .900 903 901 910 August, .... 911 920 916 914 897 926 September, .. .892 889 859 .869 887 861 October, .... .840 .788 773 “fo .760 814 November, .. 588 495 449 424 432 543 December, .. 465 456 424 -413 404 .485 Means, .. .. 751 713 682 667 669 710 It is here observable, that besides the apparent drying of the air caused by the increase of heat during the day, it actually seems to be- come less loaded with moisture from sun-rise to 3 pv. m. to the extent of about 10 per cent. : this is not easily explained without recourse to suppositious errors of the instruments or of the formule of calculation ; for it is difficult to imagine that the vapour should rise independently of the air with which it is mingled ; or if it does rise, that it should fall again so rapidly, to resume its place in the lower atmosphere on the fol- lowing morning.—It might be expected 4 priori that where fogs prevail- ed in the morning, or where dew was deposited, the pressure of aque- ous vapour measured in the morning would be less than in the middle of the day ; and the appearance of a contrary result, if it does not point to a probability of errors in the instruments, or in the experiments upon which the calculations are grounded, tends at any rate to show that much remains to be done to explain facts, and to place this branch of meteorological inquiry upon a firm basis. It is however some satisfaction to know, that the register, kept at the surveyor general’s office, isin this, as well as other respects, superior to most of those published in the scientific journals of England, where the column devoted to the hygrometer is generally a mere mass of figuresye convertible to no useful purpose. It is to be hoped, that all who regis- ter their observations in India will adopt the same kind of hygrometer, namely a thermometer with a bulb projecting from the scale, and covered with a wetted muslin bag. Its indication should first be carefully compared with the dry thermometer, and corrected for any errors of division. P. F 34 Scientific Intelligence. [Jan. IX.—Scientiric INTELLIGENCE. Il.—Extract of a letter from Leiut, Alex. Burnes, dated Lahore, 23rd January, 1832. ‘* As you will have perceived by the date of my letter, I have crossed the fron- tier, and am now at Lahore. An event occurred here last night, which will, I am sure, prove of interest to you—a severe shock of an earthquake. There were two distinct vibrations, the last continuing for about 10 seconds, with alarming vio- lence. The priucipal shock occurred at 11 P. Mm. after we had retired to bed, and were asleep. The door of my apartment and all the furniture were shaking with a rattling noise, when I awoke and ran into the open air. The house in which we are lodged is a most substantial dwelling of two stories, built of bricks and chunam, and the garden-house of Mr. Allard ; yet it was shaken most violently. “*T am informed by the Chevalier, that earthquakes are of frequent occurrence in this city, particularly during winter; but he does not remember so violent a vibration as in the one I have just mentioned. The shock was from east to west, or rather S. E, to N. W. The lofty minarets of this city afford however convin- cing proof that there can have been no very violent commotion of nature in Lahore within these 200 years. The earthquakes of Kashmir are frequent, and the natives inform me, that the shocks are more violent nearer the mountains. **T should mention, that the atmosphere had indicated nothing unusual before the earthquake, nor did the barometer undergo any variation before or after it. The Thermometer stood at 37°; for the last 10 days it has been four degrees below the freezing point every morning at sun-rise, a much greater depression than I had expected in the Punjab, where it rose to 102° daily when I was here last July.”” 2.—Population of Allahabad. The following estimate of the population of the town of Allahabad was drawn up by the native officers of police, under the magistracy of G. Brown, Esq. in 1824, as an accompaniment to Major (then Captain) Irvine’s map of the city ; and although evidently not made with particular attention to accuracy, as the proportion of males and females sufficiently proves, yet, in the absence of a more minute census, it is worthy of being placed on record among the statements of a similar nature already published in the GLEANINGs. Contrary to custom, it is considerably in excess of the statement given in Hamilton’s Hindistan, which makes the population‘ of Allahabad, in 1803, only 20,000. The town itself does not seem to have been on the increase, but rather to have suffered in size and importance: an extensive suburb, Kydgunj, has however sprung up between it and the fort, but this is not included in the present census. Mehala. Houses. Mehala. Houses. Hindis. Musulmans. Parani Nakhds, 127 Ganga Das Chouk, 65 Thatheri-bazar, 103 Mahajant tola, 143 Chouk, 100 Tripaolia, 40 Bajdza-bazar, 45 Unchi mandei, 227 M. F. M. F Rani mandei, 123 Gosain told, 157 is = Khatri tola, 151 Chak Mebala, 94 Ba aS Utr-Suyia, 112 — Ss Total of the Kotwali Thana, 1487 5072 3044 1832. | _ Proceedings of Societies. 35 Mehala. Houses. Mehala. — Houses. Hindis. ~— Musulmdas. M.F, M.F, Badyabad, 274 Shahganj, 122 Badshahi mandei, 388 Mahajani tola, 125 Milasim ganj, 315 Nar ganj, 204 Tee ies Pandaréba, 139 Sarj Kund, 196 aS BS Badshahi m. Thana, 1733 9140 4192 Khuldabdd, 133 Chandri told, 262 Shahajmetdaireh, 299 Diindipura, 185 DS BH 2 Bakshi-bazar, 69 Muezama Jarhi, 174 ue Sones Khuldab4d Thana, 1122 3547 2777 Nya katra, 86 Koréshipfir, 78 ies oo Nya basti, 43 Bahadur ganj, 406 aS a ot Katgarh, is —— a —- Moti ganj Thana, 786 2326 600 Daryabad, 392 Yahiapur chhota, 39 Minapar, 83 Rani mandei, 174 Shieh ase Yahiap&r bard, 253 Bhor mal, 96 nomen ie Daryabad Thana, 1037 5011 2322 EV ITNGHS 2 stele /a's) 40 6,165 Proportion of inhabitants per house, ........ 6.2 Ratio of males to females, Hindfis,........ 100 :177 IVINS MAAS 5 onfel sieve lctatoreje iereuc interes steieroieier ells - 100 : 148 Ratio of Hindais to Musulmans, ........<-. 100: 52 X.— Proceedings of Societies. 1,—AsIATIC SociETy. Wenesday, 4th January, 1832. The Honorable Sir CuarLes GREY, President, in the chair. Mons. Du Marcel was elected an Honorary Member. The Hon’bles Sir J. Franks, Sir E. Ryan, and Sir C. T. Metcalfe, Bt. were elected by ballot, as Vice Presidents, for the ensuing year ; and for the Committee of Papers, Messrs. Cal- der, Carey, Everest, Gordon, Mill, J. Prinsep, Tytler, Thomason, and Troyer. Read a letter from Mons. Petit, proposing to exchange the duplicates of his Ento- ; mological Cabinet. The Society, not having an entomological cabinet, were obliged to decline Mons. Petit’s offer with thanks. Reported, that the floor of the lower story was in a bad condition, upon which Mr, Prinsep was requested to examine it, and estimate what it would cost to repair the same. Read a letter from Mr. Witsen, Secretary to the Royal Academy of Prussia, for- warding a question for the Prize Essays of 1832. The followiug Presents were received, and thanks voted for the same. A description of Tamul Castes, by Simon Casie Chitty.— Presented by the Author, A copy of the Jnaya, and a Persian and English Dictionary.— Babu Rémdhan Sen. Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society, 5th vol.— The Society. Journal Asiatique, Nos. 40, 41.—Asiatic Society of Paris. 36 Proceedings of Societies. [Jan. The following books,—by the General Committee of Public Instruction. Fatawa Alemgeri, vol. 2, 3. Menu Sanhita, 2 vols. Inayah, 3 vols, Mrichhakati. ZEsop’s Fables, Persian. Vikramarvasi. Naya Sutra Vriti, Sanscrit. Malati Madhava. Vedanta Sara. Uttara Rama Cheritra. Sahitya Durpan. Mitakshara. Déya Bhaga. The Meteorological Register for October.—TZhe Surveyor General. The question proposed by the Class of Philosophy and History of the Royal Academy of Science at Berlin has reference to Oriental History, and it is to be regretted, that its announcement was only made to the Asiatic Society in the year when the prize will be awarded. It is accompanied by the following remarks : “‘Quoique l’étude de l’Histoire Orientale, grace 4 la publication de matériaux precieux et aux recherches profondes de plusieurs savants distingués, ait fait de notre temps des progrés trés-considérables et que Vélan que la philologie Orientale a pris récemment, n’ait pas manqué d’exercer une influence utile sur la critique de l’histoire des peuples et royaumes de l’Asie: il parait cependant que l’organisa- tion intérieure des peuples Orientaux, les détails de leurs instituticns politiques, et les rapports mutuels des élémens dont se composent les monarchies de l’Orient, n’ont pas encore excité Vintérét que ces objets importants réclament a juste titre. L’histoire intérieure méme de l’Empire Arabe et le systeme d’administration que les Arabes adoptérent pour les provinces conquises et qui est trés-mémorable sous plus d’un rapport, n’a pas encore été suffisamment éclairci, quoiqu’on ait reconnu et signalé dans plusieurs ouvrages anciens et modernes l’importance des effets, souvent méme salutaires, que la domination des Arabes eut pour plusieurs pays, p. ex. pour VEgypte et l’Espagne. “ Ces considerations ont déterminé la Classe de Philosophie et d’Histoire de l’Académie Royale des Sciences de Prusse de rappeler l’attention des historiens et des orientalistes vers le développement historique dusystéme de l’administration pro- vinciale des Arabes, en proposant pour le concours del’an 1832 la question suivante : “Quel fut état de administration des provinces de l Empire Arabe pendant la “© durée de la puissance seculiére des Khalifes, c. &. d. depuis Vorigine de Empire © drabe et sa fondation, par Vintroduction de U' Islamisme, jusqu’a la fin du onziéme 6 sivele de l’ Ere Chretienne.”’ La Classe désire que l’administration que les Arabes introduisirent dans les provinces conquises, ne soit pas seulement discutée et exposée en général, mais qu'elle soit surtout développée par rapport aux différents pays qui furent successive- ment soumis & la domination des Arabes ; que la condition des habitans originaires des différentes provinces, et les rapports, tant politiques et juridiques, que religieux et moraux, dans lesquels ils entrérent avec leurs nouveaux mattres, soient éclaircis, ainsi que les attributions et les fonctions des gouverneurs et des magistrats infé- rieurs, les relations qui subsistaient entre ces magistrats et la cour des Khalifes, et les changements que ces relations subirent successivement. La Classe désire prin- cipalement qu’on répande du jour, tant sur l’organisation judiciaire des provinces Arabes et sur les formes de la jurisdiction qui s’y exergait pendant l’époque mar- quée, que sur les institutions que les Arabes établirent, soit pour seconder l’admi- nistration financiére, soit pour faciliter les progrés des arts et des sciences de ‘ 1832.] Proceedings of Societies. 37 agriculture, ducommerce, et des autres branches de 1’activité humaine, et sur les effets que ces institutions produisirent. Il seroit aussi x désirer, que les traces que les institutions des Arabes ont laissées dans les pays soumis a la domination des Khalifes, fussent indiquées. Enfin la Classe demande, que non seulement en général les résultats des recherches, dont on vient de préciser le point de vue et l’étendue, soient justifiées par des citations exactes des sources, mais qu’en particulier dans le cas ou les concurrents pourraient puiser dans des sources manuscrites, on ajoute les textes des passages cités dans les langues originales avec 1’exactitude la plus scrupuleuse. “ Les mémoires envoyés au concours devront porter chacun une épigraphe ou de- vise qui sera répétée dans un billet cacheté joint au memoire et contenant le nom de l’auteur, et ne seront recus que jusqu’au 31 Mars 1832, ils devront étre écrits d’aprés le choix des auteurs en Allemand, ou en Francais, ou en Anglais, ou en Italien, ou en Latin. Le prix sera de 100 ducats, dont l’adjudication se fera dans la séance publique, anniversaire de Leibnitz, au mois de Juillet 1832.’ 2.—MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL Society, Saturday, 7th January, 1832.—Messrs. Wood, Macnee, Christopher, and J, P, Grant were elected Members of the Society. The Ballot was then taken for Office Bearers for the year 1832, and the following Gentlemen were elected, J. Tytler, Esq. Vice-President. W. Twining, Esq. Secretary and Treasurer. C. C. Egerton, Esq. Assistant ditto and ditto. H. S. Mercer, Esq.; John Grant, Esq.; Geo. Waddell, M. D. ; Duncan Stew- art, M. D. Members of the Committee of Management. H. S. Mercer, Esq. ; John Grant, Esq. ; Dr. Macqueen ; Geo, Waddell, M. D.; A. R. Jackson, M. D.; Duncan Stewart, M. D. Committee of Papers. The following communications were then presented to the Society : Ist.—Dr. Boswell’s case of Pendulous Tumors of the nose, with a drawing, by which it seems the patient must have had a most grotesque appearance, as some of the tumors hung down as low as the chin: the disease occurred in a Malay man. The tumors were removed ‘by ligature and the knife-—2nd. An account of the varieties of East India Opium, by Dr. Smyttan, of the Bombay Service.— 3rd. Dr. R. Tytler’s account of a plant used by natives, to prevent the Scorpion from stinging them, with a relation of the trials made to provoke the Scorpion to sting the arm of a man while the plant was held near it. These trials were made in presence of other witnesses besides Dr. Tytler, and as far as can be judged of the experiments related. it appears, that the Scorpions then used were not easily provoked to sting those who handled them; but there is no information as to whether any trials were made to irritate these reptiles when the plant, which is supposed to stupify or fascinate them, was not held near. A large blue Scorpion and a brown Scorpion were used in these experiments. A well finished drawing of the Scorpion, and of the root alluded to, accompanied this communication, and two specimens of the plant, in its dried state, which is said to be of the class Syngenesia; but not being accompanied by the_flower, its Botanical characters cannot be exactly ascertained. A short notice of similar experiments, which were made in the presence of Brigadier O’Halloran, was also transmitted through the Medical Board, by Mr. Playfair of Benares.—4th. Mr. Boswell’s abstract of 38 Proceedings of Societies. ps AN: Meteorological Register, kept at Penang, for the months of August, September, and October, 1831, whereby it appears that in those three months, the quantity of rain which fell on the hill was 35.25 inches ; while in the valley, at North Beach, the quantity of rain, in the same period, was 25.92 inches. The Thermometer was, on an average, nearly eight degrees lower on the hill than in the valley.—5th. Two Tables, presented by the Medical Board of Bengal, shew- ing the number of sick and rate of mortality in the European and native Troops at the Madras Presidency, for several years.—6th. Observations on the contagi- ous nature of Cholera, by James Hutchinson, Esq.—7th. Medical Report on the diseases at Penang, for three months, ending September, 1830, with copy of cases, by Mr. J. C. Boswell, Assistant Surgeon at Penang.—8th. Case of Elephan- tiasis of the Scrotum, witha drawing, by Dr. J. N. Casanova.—9th. An Essay on the peculiarities of the foetal circulation, printed in the Oordoo language, by J. Tytler, Esq.—10th. A Jetter from Dr. Gregory Vos, of Calcutta, offering to the Society an analysis of authenticated facts relative to the contagious nature of Cholera. Dr. Mouat’s observations on the prevalance of Hepatitis at Bangalore were then read, and discussed by the Meeting. _A detail of Meteorological Observations, made at Bangalore, is prefixed to this Essay, shewing, that} for a considerable pe- riod of the year, the morning temperature in a cool room is from sixty-two to seventy-four degrees of Fahrenheit, while there is often a bright sun at noon, and frequent variations of temperature from the refreshing showers of two monsoons, The climates of Bangalore, altogether, is described as excellent, conducive to rapid convalescence after acute diseases, not liable to cause a tendency to pulmonary com=~ plaints ; and for the greater part of the year agreeable to the feelings of Europeans —inviting them to use active habits, often inducing them to expose themselves much in the sun. The station of Bangalore, in the province of Mysore, between the eastern and western ghats, is described as a barren table land, at an elevation of nearly three hundred feet above the level of the sea; and surrounded by luxuriant vallies at a little distance. The prevailing diseases in the Regiment of European Dragoons, above six hundred strong, stationed at Bangalore, are stated to be Fever, Dysentery, Hepatitis, and Rheumatism. The causes of Hepatitis among Europeans are considered to be stimulant food and drink, active exertions, and exposure to the diurnal vicissitudes of temperature, &c. Dr. Mouat concludes with observing, that Medical writers of repute have con- sidered Hepatic diseases as endemial to certain parts of the Madras territories ; and- others, particularly Dr. James Johnson, who is supported by Dr. Annesley, sup- poses its frequency to be attributable to the nature of the soil and seasons, causing the high medium annual average temperature which prevails in the Indian peninsula. Dr. Annesley, besides enumerating a great variety of exciting causes, agrees with the views of Dr. Johnson, and says, the greater prevalence of Hepatitis and Dysentery amongst the European troops, on the Madras than the Bengal Presiden- cy, seems in some degree to be owing to the greater warmth of the climate. Dr. Mouat says, therefore, Europeans residing at Bangalore may be looked upon as peculiarly subject to Hepatitis; nor can this be accounted for, on consideration ~ of the high prevailing temperature, since the medium range of the Thermometer, as extracted from the records of the corps, would give but an annual average of seventy-four degrees of Fabrenheit, for several years past. Dr. Mouat is therefore of opinion, that the causes assigned by Dr. Johnson and Mr. Annesley for the pre- 1832. | Proceedings of Societies. 39 valence of Hepatitis, so far from being correct, are positively refuted as far as regards high temperature at this station: (as Hepatitis much affects the natives, and in a very small proportion the European women or children.) The author Says, we must look to other sources for its frequency at Bangalore. The real cause of the prevalence of Hepatitis, at particular stations, can only be ascertained by the most careful comparison of correct data, 3.—SocIETE’ D’HistoiRE NATURELLE of the Mauritius, January \\th, 1831. Mr. C, Telfair, President, presented on the part of the Governor, Sir C. Colville, the Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society, and several other valuable works; in return for which the Society presented a copy of the Meteorological Observations made in 1827-28-29-30, by their colleague Mr. L. Geoffroy. Upon a communication from the Reverend J. Adamson, Secretary of the South African Institution, it was mutually agreed, that a Member of one Society should be admitted to an honorary seat in the other, during his residence at the place ; and further, that copies of their proceedings should be interchanged. Mr. R. Lyall presented a collection of 598 plants, made at Madagascar, with a catalogue. Mr. Barry addressed the Society in English, on the occasion of his admission : he expatiated on the effects of terrestrial refraction, particularly on the pheno- menon of nauscopie: MM. Geoffroy, Lyall, and Faraguet were nominated a commission to examine his memoir. } Mr. L. Bouton presented a specimen of eagle-wood (Aloexylon, Agallochum de Loureiro). Mr. Faraguet described several curious objects met with on his voyage of disco- very in the Astrolabe. Mr. Desjardins, Secretary, read a description of some Sumatra fish ; as well as of two species prevalent in the Mauritius. Mr. Leguitte presented a preserved specimen of a puppy, with six feet, which lived for several days. Seeds of a tetile plant of Diego were forwarded by Mr. Hockyns, from which excellent cordage was made by Captain Pole of the Maidstone. Corresponding Members proposed. Mr. Priée, directeur du jardin botanique de Pondicherry, and the Baron du Ferussac of Paris. 8th February. Mr. A. Lyall continued his verbal observations on the manu- facture of sugar. He objected to the employment of the coral lime for the purifi- cation of the syrup, and recommended the substitution of the Madagascar stone- lime. Mr. Telfair explained, that the stone-lime of Bristol had been used without much difference of effect. Mr. L. Bouton read a note upon the posthumous work of Mr. Thouin, entitled “€ Cours de culture et de naturalization des vegetaux.” The Secretary read a paper by Mr. G, Longmore, on the subject of the replacing of one of the extreme points of the base laid dawn by Lacaille, in 1753, on the plain of Fort Blanc. Messrs. Delisse and Lyall were appointed a commission to examine some mine- rals, received from Mr. Cameron of Madagascar. Mr. J. 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Aurantiacer.... var. 31 i V9 5 Menispermacee......... 4 Il | 34, “Hypericines.. .2 3). 2c | Te 6 Berberider........... Te 54|) S5uy Guttiferaes. <1. ocletee cre 20. 7 Podephyllacee.......... 1 2'| 37° Hippocrateacer:. £32...) Pa 1 8 Nymphoacee.......... 3 8] 37§ Dipterocarper..........-- Inuit 9 Papaveracee...........- 3 8{| 39 Malpighiacee....... Bee cure, 10 Fumariacez............ 3 15] 40 Acerinee....~..-- 00. 2 25 11 Crucifere.............. 98| 41 Hippocastanee.......... 1 1 12 Capparidee............ 4 9] 43 Sapindacee............- 6.6 68 13 Flacourtianee .......... 1 31 44 Meliacez...... --sseeee ie 7, 1 Achy Bisxitiese erat escent "ket 1 1| 45 Ampelidee...... Var 28-23 18 16 Violarez:...9.. 7 ....caple 21-1. 1 6): 46 Genaniaces:......6....2 Bye P us: 17. Droserace®.....ee..-06 2 2] 47 Tropexolee.... ........ 1 1 17% Resedacew.......-.-- a 4.0 sds 2 Balsamine®. 2%... ccaens sa oo 18 Polygalez...... ....0.. Vee ZA9’ “Oxalidewte.s . cites +. cuee ee) amo mee 20 Pittosporer....... eer-ee 1 1] 50 Zygophyller.......... 3 4 22 Caryophyllee .......... ey a We RitEcrs ds ongog ceased | ss a Dei tg 6 o068 SHae 6s 3056 1 5 | 52 Simaruber............. 1 sek 94 Malvacer.......--2+00- 11 59] 53 Ochmacez.. .. ...- core 1 ae | 25 Bombace®...........--. Be 2 RA COrlatiees:. vie ehece 1 31158 Ulmacee........ oe AT 55°) 159. Platanides,.... «scileee 3) 4S 160" Amentaces= «6... seve et Te Sa LGR Comitersey’, orcs s.ciseceveiele de 2 xf ones Pe 1 | ore tO > OO me & WOOK HD we 57 58 Account of the Botanic Garden at Seharanpir. [ Fes. 2. MoNnocoTyLeDoneEs. HG2Cycadee.. 2. 2. cess Seine ce.) Pe \ 280 Colchicares’s 22"... ,52.) be 163 Hydrocharidee......... oie SRS) Pontedereet tse.ccuc Sapemer le ae 1G4 Butomacesr.-.. < ane 84 2 Marsileacez.......0e..e BQ 4 Oe paticae scazis ciaarcius wpe Ore 2.=08 3 Equisetacer..........2.. 1 5 | 8 Lichenes.,..... 2\ a5 oelelete 52 4\ Characew ee. cies edie SOR ER | Q Faingis. weccastrsmmeae one 39 5 Lucopodines.....-ssccee i} te8 143 136 General Synopsis. : Thalamiflore 563 (1. ogee ; Calyciflore 1243 I 2462 (1. Dicoty--} SS Corolliflore 656 | LEDONES, 2791 VASCULARES. | L2. Monochlamyde@....seiscoseceeee 329J 2. MONOCOTYLEDONES, sevccccccecccees oro leks 783 1. Folt 136 na sy POMACEE. + 45 , « .669 .686 .570 116 .661 .008 SS ae Haas) 570 466 104 033 .020 June,.. .. .450 | 453 382 071 438 .012 Ouly i... .450 457 AOI .056 .450 -000 August, .. 494 501 .413 .088 .480 .014 September, 615 .620 063 063 604 O11 October, .. 783 .803 740 .063 774 -009 November, 837 861 781 0 0 .828 .009 December, 904 .922 -826 .096 877 .027 Means,....| 29.690 29.705 29.619 .086 29.670 .020 Range,.... 465 472 A59 443 } 74 Proceedings of Societies. [ Fes. 4.— Hourly Observations of the Barometer in the Fortress of Cavite. The: following notice, extracted from the Royal Institution Journal, No. IV. bears upon the same point; and from the blank left opposite to the second fall, we may conjecture, that in fact. the existence of this fall or nocturnal tide was hardly borne out by the observations when corrected for temperature, although from being apparent before correction the words remained unerased. These observations were made by the scientific men attached to Captain Kotze- bue’s expedition in the year 1823—1826, on the Island of Luzon (14° 34’ north lat. and 239° 9’ west of Greenwich), for ascertaining the periods of its regular falling and rising during twenty-four hours. The barometer was kept in a room six toises above the level of the sea, in which the temperature was nearly the same day and night, (about 25° Centigrade, or 77 Fahr.) and the observations were made on eleven different days between the 12th and 26th of December. The fol- lowing are the general results deduced from the whole of the observations. The barometer has a maximum ofheightat9° 1” 1” a. mM. itthen fallstil .. . .. .. 4 28 6 Pp. M. om an average 1.04 line; imines capa till || ed.) ease 9ySBS uP. ham. 0.687 ,, and falls again till.. .. .. .. 4 30 0 a. M. —= lastly, it rises againtill.. .. .. 9 1 1 a. M. onan average 0.445—— 5.—Dr. Wise’s Ice Manufacture at Higlt. Dr. Wise hopes to maintain a constant supply of ice, in Culcutta, for the next two or three months. Last cold season, although apparently so favorable for its production, did not afford more than 15 nights in which ice would form ; and of these, only three or four were really good nights. In consequence of this, instead of 3,000 mdns, as expected, only 1,000 mdns were secured ; which, from the precautions taken, will, perhaps, answer for several months. Dr. W. has devised the following simple and effectual method of using the ice. The ice is contained in a stuffed bag, having two, three, or four holes in its under-part, with padded flaps to close them. The necks of the bottles to be cooled are thrust upwards through these holes ; when not wanted, the bag is put into the upper part of a stuffed basket and wrap- ped round with a blanket. V1.— Proceedings of Societies. 1.—Asr1atic SocireTy.—Physical Class. Wednesday Evening, 8th February, 1832. The Honorable Sir Edward Ryan, President, in the Chair. The following Donations to the Museum were presented : 1. Specimens of the Limestone of the Sylhet quarries, from William Cracroft, Esq. ’ Impressions of nwmmulites abound in the limestone of the Chirra hill, west of the Sanatarium. Twrrilites are less common, and impressions of bivalves, resembling pectens, are still more rare. The interior of the shells is filled with carbonate of lime, crystallized, of a brown colour. No. 5. A granular limestone, stated, in Mr. Cracroft’s list, to be “‘ a poorer lime than the others in the kiln,” proves to be a crystallized dolomite ; and this cir- cumstance accounts for the occasional mixture of magnesia in the Sylhet lime of the Calcutta market. 1832. | Proceedings of Societies. 75 There are also specimens of amygdaloid, (containing worn crystals of felspar,) and of a fine plastic micacious clay, from below the sandstone of Chirra Piinji. 2. Astuffed specimen ofa species of Felis, native of the Midnaptr jungles, from Dr. J. Pearson. It is classed and described in the following manner, by Doctor Pearson: “ TRis. Digitigrades. Cuv. Fam. Feline. GEN. Felis. Lin. Sp. Kutas. Mihi. Gen. Ch.—Incisors €; canines };; cheek teeth 43: the fourth in the upper jaw transversely situated. Jaws short. Toes on the anterior extremities, five ; on the posterior, four, armed with retractile claws. Sp. Ch.—Ground colour, greyish brown, approaching to rufous at the sides of the abdomen, and neck, where it unites with the white of those parts; and marked with darker stripes and bands, which are more or less obscure. Inferior surface, chin, and throat, white. Ears, white within; externally rufous; with an irregular dark patch at their lower part, tipped with black, and slightly pencilled at the tips. Labial whiskers, some entirely white, and a few all black ; whilst others are black for a very small space at the base, the remainder being white. Tail, short, grey, annulated with black, from the middle to the extremity. Legs, greyish, rufous above, and rufous below; with bands of dark-grey, which become on the inner side of the elbow and fore arm almost black. Tarsus, meta- tarsus, and toes, rufous, darker behind, and almost black at the heels ; length from the tip of the nose to the insertion of the tail, two feet two inches ; length of tail, ten inches. Height, at the shoulders, one foot two inches; posteriorly, one foot four inches. Caudal vertebre, twenty. The size of the Kutas is that of a large Chacal, though not so robust as that ani- mal. The darker shades on the sides appear as though they had been less obscure in the youth of the animal, and gradually fading, become broken stripes and even spots, in their progress to a total obliteration ; a circumstance which, as there is reason to believe, occurs in more than one species of this family. My specimen is a full grown, but notan old, male ; the female, and the young, I have never seen. Ihave looked through a list of the species described in the Monograph of the Feline, by Mr. Temminck, without being able to satisfy myself of that distinguish- ed zoologist having met with the animal I now present to the notice of the Socie- ty: nor can I discover it in the Synopsis, appended to Griffith’s translation of the Régne Animal; and therefore I have ventured to designate it by the name which iS given to it by the natives of Midnapar. The Felis Chaus, Bruce’s booted Lynx, would appear to differ in colour, and length of tail ; and the Kutas is destitute of the black at the hinder part of the leg, which forms so distinguished a feature in that animal, having merely an approach to it, in a dark shade of rufous brown. The Bengal Carocal, of Edwards, differs still more in colour and length of tail. Should, however, the Kutas prove to be identical with any known species of Lynx, my name can readily be dropped.”’ 3. Aseries of the land and fresh water shells of the Doab, and of the Gangetic provinces, presented by W. B. Benson, Esq., C, S. E 2 76 Proceedings of Societies. [ Fes. Lanp SHELLS. 1. Helix——, from banks of Ganges, in Behar, and of the Betwa, in Bundelkhand. yD os , Lamarcke—Bundelkhand and Behar. The exuvize plentiful above Hagli. H.—Macrochlamys Indicus (Benson), separated from Helix, on account ofthe difference of character in the animal. 3. Pupa—Bundelkhand and Doab. 4. Bulimus—allied to B. Bengalensis, Lam.—Buncelkhand and Doab. 5. Bulimulus—under stones and pots, and among grass—Doab and Bundel- khand. 6. Succinea—sides of ravines—Etaweh. 7. Carocolla reversa—a variety from banks of Jellingi and Sikhrigali. 8. Cyclostoma Beharicum—Benson—Patharghata, 9. Ditto ditto, variety. 10. Ditto young of ditto. 11. Ditto granulata—Bundelkhand and Doab. FRESH-WATER SHELLS. 12. Planorbis—Jhils in the Gangetic provinces. 13. Lymnea—Jdhils near the Sinde, Bundelkhand. 14. Ditto—Bhagea nala, near Kalinjar. 15. Melania—From the Gamti: observed the exuvie of this hillin Jellingi, at Kishennagar. 16. Ditto—Ganges, its branches, and Salt-water lake near Calcutta. 17. Ditto—Gamti and Gogra. 18. Paludina Bengalensis—Jhils of Gangetic provinces. 19. Ditto ceramcopoma—ditto and adhering to rocks in the river Kén, 20. Ampullaria—from Jhils in Bundelkhand. Fresh-water Bivalves. 21. Cyrena—Ganges and its branches. 22. Unio—Gimti and Gogra. 23. Ditto—Ganges and its branches. 24. Ditto—Jumna and Ganges. 25. Ditto—Ganges and branches. 26. Novaculina Gangetica—Benson—Jumna. Mr. Benson has further obliged the Society by classifying the shells formerly received from Dr. Pearson of Midnapar ; they consist of the following : FRESH-WATER SHELLS. LAND SHELLS, 1. Planorbis. 5. Helix. 2. Melania. 6. Carocolla. 3. Paludina Bengalensis. 7. Bulimus Bengalensis,—a variety with 4, Ampullaria. three lower bands on the whorl. 8. Cyclostoma. To these catalogues, for the sake of reference, the following list of American shells presented in the name of Mr. Lea, at a former meeting, is subjoined. 24 varieties of the Unio, chiefly from the Ohio river. 1832. ] Proceedings ‘of Societies. 77 U. tuberculatus, Barnes. U. esopus, Green. U. perplexus, Lea. U. ovatus, Say. U. metanever, Rafin. U. zigzag, ditto. U. plicatus, Lesueur. U. ellipsis, Lea. U. undulatus, Barnes. U. securis, Lea. U. pustulosus, ditto. U. foliatus, Hildreth. U. nasutus, Say. Schuylkill.U. complanatus(purpureus.|U. gibbosus, Barnes. U. torsus, Rafin. U. irroratus, Lea. U. cariosus, Say, Sch. U. occidens, Lea. U. siliquideus, Barnes. U. rectus, Lane. U. mytiloides, Rafin. U. cuneatus, ditto. U. circulus, Lea. Venus, Mercatoria, N. Jersey. Melania Virginica, Say, Sch. Symphynota alata, Lea, Ohio. conica, ditto, Ohio. ochracea, Sch. canaliculata, ditto, ditto. Solen ensis, Lam. N. Jersey. multilineata, ditto, Sch. Achatine vexillum, do. Cuba. armigera, ditto, Ohio. Alasmadonta undulata, Say, Sch. Helix, albolabris, Say, ditto. Murex capillis, Massts. thyroides, ditto, ditto. Spirula peronia, Florida. anculosa preciosa, ditto. Petricola fornicata, Say, N. Jersey. Turbo, irroratus, New J ersey. muricata, Cuba. Mr. Benson, on departing for Europe, begged the Society’s acceptance of his copy of Lamarcke’s ‘‘ Histoire Naturelle des Animaux sans vertébres,’’ the five first volumes. 4. A letter was read from Dr. Royle, late Superintendent of the H. C. Botanical Garden at SeharAnpir, presenting to the Society— 1. A plan and description of the Botanic Garden at Sehardnpir, with catalogues of the contents of the Garden and of the Herbarium. [Printed in the present number. ] ; 2. Drawing of the Alpine Hare, or Pika of Buffon, of the natural size, from the Chir mountains, at eleven thousand five hundred feet of elevation. 3. Specimen of a rich iron ore, (Magnetic,) from the Phagini mine, on one of the branches of the Char mountain. 4. Specimen of the Trap Rock, or Dyke, discovered near Masiri, by Lieutenant Cautley, from Dr. Falconer. 5. Specimen of the Bijlt ke-har, alluded to in Captain Herbert’s paper.— [Gueanines III. 269.] A note by the Secretary pointed out, that the substance of these bones has not undergone mineralization, as supposed by Captain Herbert, excepting in so far as they are impregnated with iron. The animal matter of the bones takes fire at a red heat, and the bone, on cooling, is of a fine blue colour, resembling the Odontolite, or Bone Turquoise, of Johns. The composition, on a hasty analysis, was found to be— PITA ISMIAULED S) ohoin', ausha's oe clo 0 ot # eese.e' Ghee py Phosphates of lime and magnesia, .......... 70. Carbonate OF LIME, cycle siete Sah swe 3.0 0000 os 14, ORT TOT, 8S. cre ie adele cis urete ofeiasslele'S wie vie. ys The interior of the bones is filled with calcareous crystals. Mr. B. H. Hodgson’s paper on the Mammalia of Nipdl was then read. Also, Dr. Royle’s description of the Garden at Sehardnpar. The thanks of the Society were voted for the above contributions. 738 Proceedings of Societies. [ Fes. 2.—MEDICAL AND Puysicau Socierry. 4th February, 1832. Dr. Madden was elected a Member of the Society: and Dr. William Chalmers, of Croydon; Mr. O. Walter, Surgeon, of Dover ; and Senor Don Francisco Xavier Lazo, M. D. Secretary of the Medico-chirurgical Society of Cadiz ; were elected corresponding Members. Hugh Guthrie, Esq. Assistant Surgeon, Bengal Service, requested to return to the Society, and have his name replaced on the list of Mem- bers, agreeable to the resolution passed on the 4th April, 1829, which was com- plied with accordingly. Severalcommunications were then laid before the Society. 1.—A letter from Dr. J. N. Casanova, a corresponding member, stating that, as he had resolved to reside permanently in Calcutta, he was desirous of being ad- mitted a resident member of the Society, for the purpose of contributing his sub- scriptions, and assisting at the meetings ; he was therefore proposed as a member of the Society, by Mr. Egerton and Mr. Twining. 2.—A letter from Dr. Milne, of Bombay, enclosing his third communication on. Dracunculus, with three reports, numbered 4, 5, and 6, in support of his opinions on that subject. 3.—A communication from Brigadier O’ Halloran to the Secretary, accompanied with the root of a plant similar to that presented at the last Meeting from Dr. Robert Tytler, and said to possess the property of preventing the scorpion from stinging. 4.—A statement from Mr. Boswell, relative to the benefits he had seen follow the employment of venesection in the cold-stage of Intermittent Fevers, while he was employed with the Artillery at Dum-Dum, where he had employed this treatment in obstinate agues, with invariable success, and only in one instance was obliged to repeat the bleeding in the cold stage. 5.—A letter from H. Guthrie, Esq. with remarks on a native prescription for ring-worm. 6.—A letter from J. L. Geddes, Esq. Assistant Surgeon, Madras Service ; with the statement of a case in which the Madar had proved remarkably successful in the cure of an obstinate ulcer. 7.—A letter from Dr. D. Stewart, of Howrah, stating, that during an excursion to Shikarpar, he had been consulted by a native young man, who had suffered for five years from nasal polypi; whereby his health had become much impaired, and in fact, the patient was reduced toa skeleton. The disease had acquired an enor- mous bulk, pressing down into the posterior fauces and pharynx, so as to prevent the deglutition of any solid food, and to embarrass the respiration exceedingly ; and probably also to affect the circulation, as the patient suffered from distressing head- aches. The disease was effectually removed by ligature and torsion. Dr. Smyttan’s Treatise on the varieties of East Indian Opium was read and dis- cussed by the Meeting. Dr. S. observes, that the varieties of East Indian Opium seem to be little known or recognised in Europe, and that good Turkey Opium is said to contain nearly three times the quantity of morphine, or narcotic principle, that is found to be procurable from the product of the Bengal provinces. The best produce of the Malwa districts is said to differ from Bengal Opium, both in appear- ance and quality, quiteas much as the Turkey Opium does. Dr. Smyttan’s opi- nions are formed from extensive observations made while he was Inspector of Opium at Bombay, compared with the records of that office; and with the experiments made at Calcutta by the late Dr. Jameison in 1821, which are given with a 1832. ] Proceedings of Societies. 79 table in the Appendix : to which is annexed a table of experiments made at Bombay by Dr. Maxwell. The whole of these appear to have been conducted with great care and attention. The general results of a series of experiments conducted by the author are corroborative of the accuracy of the tables alluded to in this paper. At the conclusion of the Meeting, some splendid drawings of Medicinal Plants were placed on the table by Mr. Royle. 3.—SocieteE pb’ Htstorre NATURELLE of the Mauritius. 8th March and 12th April, 1831. The Secretary presented to the Society, the Baron Cuvier’s Analyses des Travaux de lV Académie des Sciences de Paris, for 1822, 25, 26, 27—in the name of the illus- trious author. M. Rob. Lyell, M. D. read a note on the subject of the astronomical observa- tions madeby him at Tannanarivou, capital of the kingdom of the Ovas, in Mada- gascar, whence the latitude of the place was found to be 18° 56’ 20” S. and the longitude 47° 57’ 46” E. of Greenwich. The same member also described two plants, met with in Madagascar by M. W. Bojer. One is the Euphorbia splendens, Bos. now become common in the gardens of the Mauritius, but of which Dr. L. made known a variety with a yellow flower. The other is the Poinciana Regia, Bos. now also naturalized in the island. Both are figured in the last numbers published by Professor Hooker of Glasgow, a cor- responding member of the Society. M. Liénard Pére read an account of a fish of this island, belonging to the genus Pleuronecte, and remarkable for certain rays on the pectoral fins, extending the whole length of the animal; a drawing accompanied. The islanders rank this fish among the soles. M. J. Desjardins continued his analysis of Zoologie du Voyage de I’ Uranie, chiefly adverting to the Polypi, which play so important a part in the natural histo- ry of the island. The Secretary also described the hail, which fell in the storm of 8th February, at the Camp de Masque, as of the size of small peas, proving destructive to tender plants. : Many letters of correspondents were communicated. One from M. Quoy, of Paris, stated, that M. le Baron G. Cuvier had yielded to the desire of the Society, to become possessed of his bust. The following paragraph added weight to M. Desjardin’s observations. ‘‘ Detruisez done cette opinion populaire du corail qui entre en fleur, vous insulaires, yous aurez pour cela plus de facilité et de prépon- dérance que nous autres quine faisons que passer.” A letter from Dr. Smith, of Algoa Bay, announced his intention of publishing the Society’s proceedings in the South African Quarterly Journal. M. Mn. Sauzier, of Bourbon, wrote that the volcano of that island had several violent eruptions in November, December, and January, from two distinct craters. There was no flow of lava, as had been reported at St. Dennis. The president communicated the notes of M. J. Cameron, of Madagascar, rela- tive to some minerals, particularly to an aerolite which fell on the Mozambique coast. Mr. C. announced that the Queen of the Ovas, Ranavalon Manzaka, had bestowed an annual donation of £60 towards the expence of a practical course of chemical lectures, which many of her subjects are already sufficiently educated to understand and appreciate. M. Bernard, Proviseur du Collége Royal, and M. J. N. Casanova, D. C. M. were admitted honorary members of the Society. The latter presented his work entitled ‘‘ Examen de las Aguas minerals de San Pedro, &c. 1827.” “sngquiru “Uu 0g‘1|S9'T Z's | Pezio8s" Lgl l6‘2z [828° ‘op | op [G's | “azir62‘] “OP | “OP [8°Tz e'18/882° “op |-a1o | “PT | G*zzigae‘| “P| | “TE| e°22/608" Ppa Ue rT) “Ezesz’y 1 | A°M) (0G! 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Wilson, Sec. As. Soc. [Read at the Meetings of the Asiatic Society.] 1.—The Agni Purana, Tue Agni Purana, or more correctly, in a derivative form, the Agneya Purdna, is one of the eighteen principal Purdnas. Although, in common with the other compositions so termed, it is attributed to Vyasa, it is narrated as usual by his disciple Sivita, and was received by him from the Munz Vasishtha, to whom it was communicated by Agni, whence its denomination. According to the assertion of its own text, the Agneya Purdna con- tains fourteen thousand stanzas; the Bhagavat and other authorities give it 15,000 or 16,000. The copy to which this account refers, has about the former number. The text is divided into anumber of small sections, according to the subject, but without any enumeration: the number of them in the present instance amounted to 332. Colonel Wilford speaks of a supplement, and of a chapter, apparently the same, which he calls — the 63rd, or last. The supplement, however, from which he derives his account of the modern princes of India up to the Mohammedan invasion, is no part of the work to which the name of 4gneya Purdna isapplied. Itisclearly a distinct and subsequent composition. The Agneya Purana is interesting from the variety of the subjects of which it treats, and in which it deviates very materially from the definition given by its own reputed author of the contents of a Purdna. These Agni declares to be five: primitive creation; subsequent creations; the genealogies of demigods and kings; the reigns of the Menus, and the histories of royal dynasties. These, however, M 82 Analysis of the Puranas. [Marcn, occur but imperfectly in the body of this work, and the far greater portion of its contents is of a widely different character. After the usual opening, the Agneya Purana describes the ten Avataras, and in the relation of those of Ramachandra and Krishna, follows avowedly the Ramayana and Mahdbharat, being consequently posterior to those works. The ensuing chapters relate to the worship of Krishna, as Narayana or Vishni ; this Purdna being of the Vaishnava class: at the same time it leans very favourably to the worship of Siva, as the Linga, and is full of Tuntrika ceremonies in honor of that form of the deity. It was compiled therefore probably anterior to any wide separation between the Sativa and Vaishanava sects, and it was undoubtedly prior to that modification of the Vaishnava faith, which pays such infinite veneration to Krishna as Gopdla, or Govinda, or Bala Gopdla, the cowherd or the infant god ; no allusion to whose worship has been found, nor has the name of his favourite mistress Radha once been encountered. The ritual, including the ceremonies of the Homa, or burnt offering ; the Mantras, or mystical formule; the Alandalas, or mystical diagrams ; the Pavitra, or purificatory thread ; the erection and consecration of temples, images, tanks, gardens, flags, jars, &c. extends through a number of chapters ; it is in its general purport Vaishnava, but the Linga and several of the Téntrika forms of Durga are also especially reverenced ; Mantras are abundantly intro- duced, as are the acts and gesticulations with which they are muttered or recited. The style in which they are narrated is however abrupt and obscure, and the ceremonial so confusedly and indistinctly laid down, that the whole has the appearance of a string of garbled extracts, rather than of asystematic detail. There is a general correspondence between these chapters with those of the Sareda Tiluka and Mantra M ahodadhi, but it does not appear that they are identically the same. This chapter is followed by the Bhuvana Kosha, (the description of the universe,) which corresponds generally with the same in other Puranas, but is much less explicit than in some of them. This chapter comprises the Turthas, or places of pilgrimage, of which how- ever it enumerates very few, and those but briefly. It is worthy of notice, that the Nermada and Sri Saila are especially noticed, whilst the northern mountains are not mentioned, and also that Benares is called Avimukta in its religious character ; whence it may be inferred, that the chief shrine was that of Siva, as Avimukteswara, not Viswesara, the form that has been most popular for some centuries at least. The 1832. | Analysis of the Puranas. 83 site of Benares was the same as at present, or between the Vurana and the As? rivulets. The Mdhdtmyas, or legends of the few Tirthas noticed, are very brief, except that of Gayd, which is so very minute, that it may be suspected to be an interpolation, as it is not in keeping with the rest, nor with the manner in which all such subjects are usually dis- posed of in a Puranic miscellany. Such interpolations or rather append- ages are not at all uncommon, although the legends are more frequent- ly attached to some of the other Purdnas, as the Brahmdanda and Skanda. We have, however, a case in point with the Agni Purana; there being current in the South of India a work called the Kaveré Mahatmyam of the Agni Purana, which is never found in the copies of the Purana itself, and which indeed is very nearly as extensive as the whole work of which it is called a section, The Tirthas are followed by the description of the Indian continent, and other portions of the world; also the distances and dimensions of the regions below and above it. The whole of this chapter has not been compared with other works, but in some passages, particularly the description of the sun’s car, it is word for word the same with the text of the Vishna Purana: being in other respects, however, much less full and satisfactory than that work. The description of the sun and planets leads to the astidaatsiasl or astrological section, and that to magical rites and formule ; from these the work proceeds rather abruptly to the periods of the Manwantaras, and then to the civil institutes of the Hindi caste, as birth, investiture, marriage, death, &c. the duties of the religious orders, and the contem- plation of the deity, conformably to the tenets of the Vedanta: a long string of Vratas or religious obligations, both special and occasional, follows. The next subject discussed is, that of gifts as religious duties, and this branch of the work finally closes with the description of cor- poreal austerities of a meritorious and pious complexion. The next portion of the 4gneya Purdna treats at considerable length, and with many interesting particulars, of the duties of princes, beginning with the ceremonies of their coronation, and comprehending their civil and military obligations; it forms what constituted the Nité of Hindi writers, (Polity or the art of government,) and is of a character with which Hindi ideas have long ceased to be familiar. Some of the details correspond accurately enough with those that occur in a passage of the Dasa Kumara, and both are probably indebted to a common source, possibly the work ascribed to Chanakya, cited by the author of the Désa Kumara. As the system is wholly unmixed with foreign notions, M 2 84 Analysis of the Puranas. [ Marcu, 4 and is purely Hindu, it can only relate to a state of things anterior to the Mohammedan invasion ; it is not a necessary consequence, itis true, that the Agneya Purana should bear asimilar date, but it is anargument rather in favour of such a belief, and contributes with other grounds to authorize such a conclusion, if not for the whole work, for a very exten- sive portion. The like genuine Hindi character belongs to the sections that follow on the shape of weapons and archery, the phraseology and practice of which are no longer known. Thesesections ofthe Agneya Puranaare indeed particularly valuable, as they preserve almost, if not quite, singly, the memory of former regal and martial usages. The chapters on the subject of judicature and law are so far curious, that they are literally the same as the text of the Mitakshara, ascribed to the Munt Yajnyawalkya. The antiquity of that text is, in the estimation of the Hindiis, extravagantly remote; but without reference to their belief, it is certainly not very modern, as passages have been found on inscriptions in every part of India, dated in the tenth and eleventh centuries. ‘To have been so widely diffused, and to have then attained a general character as an authority, a considerable time must have elapsed, and the work must date therefore long prior to those inscriptions; at the same time, this throws little light on the period at which the Purana was complied, the author of which might in any day transcribe the code of Yajnyawalkya, although it is possible, that so undisguised a transfer may have preceded the time at which the legislative code was in general and extended circulation. The chapters on law are followed by a rather miscellaneous series regarding the perusal of the Vedas, the averting of threatened ill- fortune, burnt-offerings, and the worship of various deities. We have then a short but curious chapter on the branches of the Vedas, and speaking of the Puranas, the following remarkable passage occurs: ‘6 six persons received the Puranas from Vydsa, and were his pupils ; their names are Sita, Lomahersha, Sumati, Matreya, Sinsapayana, and Suvarm.” ‘hese, therefore, are probably the real authors of most if not of all the Puranas. It is said also, that Sinsapdyana and others compiled a Sanhita, or epitome of all the Puranas. The next chapter on gifts to be made, when the Puranas are read, contains the list of the Puranas and the enumeration of the stanzas they contain. In this respect many differences occur from similar enumerations in other Puranas, and the Siva Purana is altogether omitted. With regard to the narrators and the chief subjects at least, in some cases, this detail varies from the text of the works as now found ; 1832. ] Analysis of the Purdnas. 85 these variations will be best noticed when we come to the respective Puranas to which they relate. The list of the Puranas is followed by the genealogical chapters detailing the families of the Sun and Moon, but more particularly the latter, and especially the houses of Yadu and Puru to the time of Krishna and the Pandavas. , These chapters agree generally with the dynasties usually detailed, but the lists are for the greater part very dry and abrupt, whilst few of the ordinary legends are preserved, and those so concisely as to be very obscure. There are some details relating to Krishna of a rather remarkable character. The time at which these chapters close leaves us no inference regarding the age of the compilation, The next subject is medicine, taken avowedly from the instruction given by Dhanwantarito Susruta, or from the medical work attributed to the latter ; the extracts are, however, very injudiciously made, with an utter disregard of method ; and with a perverse selection of every thing least important : it also alludes to the classification of medicaments as hot and cold, and although it does not attach the same importance to the system as is given to it in Mohammedan medicine, yet its introduc- tion at all, is rather in favour of its being derived from such a source, for it is not certain that the ancient writers Charaka and Susruta laid any greater stress upon these particular properties, than they are enti- tled to, without reference to a theoretical system. The part of the Purdna likewise includes much mystic medicine or curing by charms. Another set of chapters on mystic rites and formule follows, and on the worship of different forms of Sivaand Devi. The whole so incom- patible with a Vaishnava work that it is difficult not to suppose them additions by other and perhaps later hands. Poetry and rhetoric form the next subjects, and conform to the systems usually received : the authority of Pingula is specified. The work concludes with a grammar, omitting the verbs: the system is that of Panini and Katyayana : the commentator on Panintis cited by name. The compilation is therefore posterior to the existence of the great body of Hindu poetical compositions, and to the consummation of the grammatical construction of the Sanscrit language. From this general sketch of the Agneya Purana, it is evident that it is a compilation from various works; that consequently it has no claim in itself to any great antiquity, although from the absence of any | exotic materials, it might be pronounced earlier, with perhaps a few exceptions, than the Mohammedan invasion. From the absence also of a controversial or sectarial spirit, it is probably anterior to the strug- gles that took place in the 8th and 9th centuries of our era, between 86 On the Poetry of Madagascar. [ Marcu, the followers of Siva and Vishnd. As amere compilation, however, its date is of little importance, except as furnishing a testimony to that of the materials of which it is composed. Many of these may pretend no doubt to considerable antiquity, particularly the legendary accounts of the Avataras, the section on regal polity and judicature, and the genealogical chapters: how far the rest may be ancient, is perhaps questionable, for there can be little doubt that the Purana as it now exists, differing from its own definition of Purana, and comprehending such incongruous admixtures, is not the entire work as it at first stood. It is not unlikely that many chapters were arbitrarily supplied about 8 or 9 centuries ago, and a few perhaps even later ; to fill up the chasms which time and accident had made in the orginal Agneya Purdna. II.—On the Poetry of Madagascar. By the Rev. Mr. Baker. [Communicated by C. Telfair, Esq. President of the Mauritius Nat. Hist. Soc.] The most prominent characteristic of the Malagasy, language, in reference to Poetry, is a total averseness to rhyme. Whilst it is ad- mitted that the same identical sound is not legitimate rhyme, the extreme paucity of the language in terminations will ever preclude the introduction of rhyming verses. At least nineteen-twentieths of the whole vocabulary of words terminate in a or y, and an immense pro- portion of these in na and ny :—all other words terminate in e, or 0, or the diphthongs ay and ao ; and even these are exceedingly mono- tonous in the consonants of their penultimate and ultimate syllables. The best couplet I recollect to have heard has the rhyme of hoe and me, answering exactly to the English words, way and may, and the jingle of such a rhyme has in the Malagasy language an unnatural and harsh effect. In the genuime native verses I have not met with any such instance as the one specified, but have observed that rhyme of every description seems naturally from the true genius of the language, and intentionally from the uncouthness of its effect, inadmissible. So far I have ventured to assert with confidence, and without any apprehension of future observation disproving my opinions :—but when the question arises, what then constitutes poetry or versification in Malagasy? I am conscious that uncertainty and error may very pos- sibly attach to the opinions I shall present in reply. Future observa- tion, combined with a more adequate knowledge of the subject, may disprove my present opinion, and substantiate what I at present reject 1832. | On the Poetry of Madagascar. 87. as destitute of proof. 1 make these remarks as introductory to the opinion that quantity (except so far as quantity and the number of syllables and accents may be regarded as necessarily synonimous) furnishes no rule for measuring Malagasy verses. No examples have come to my knowledge of lines having a credible claim to correctness, in which two apparently short syllables of one line are put to corre- spond with one long syllable of an equivalent line; but, where the number of syllables in a line exceeds those of a corresponding line, the metre is preserved by cutting off some syllables ; and thence gliding two into one reading, and by lengthening the half syllables of verbal terminations into perfect syllables. Every. word in the language is strongly marked by one accent or more, corresponding in this respect with English, But in English it is observable, that the accent, falling on the vowel, leaves the syllable always long, and falling on the consonant, leaves the syllable short. I do not observe any similar distinction in Malagasy, excepting that there are a few words terminating in e long, and thence carrying the accent. Probably in Malagasy the accented syllable is universally long, and the long syllable universally accented. Granting the “Malagasy verses to be divisible into feet and capable of being scanned, there is perhaps no instance to be found of a line corresponding with a line in Latin. In Latin, the number of syllables varies, and the last is deemed long; the reverse of these two cases is the fact with regard to Malagasy. Moreover the feet, constituting a line, seem to have no correspondence with the purest metres in Latin. Thus the most harmonious lines in Malagasy coincide syllable for syllable and accent for accent with the following : « Tsy hita nado va ny maty Dost thou not see the dead Maraina tsy mba mamindré.” Morning not warm at the fireside. Consisting of an amphibrach, trochee, and amphibrach. These the natives regard as the most harmonious lines; yet there are in the same ode lines quite different in respect to the situation of the accented syllables; as in the following couplet : « Tsy mahalala havan ko tonga Not knowing what kindred shall come Aiza ny olona irény.” Where are people as these ? Lines which, notwithstanding their diversity, do not appear essentially destitute of harmony. These lines have more similarity to English, so far as that a certain uniformity of syllables and accent is essential in both languages ; and 88 On the Poetry of Madagascar. [ Marcu, the harmony of the verse arises from the accentuation and the czsura. The latter seems plainly discernible in Malagasy, as in this line : “Vavahady hidirana—misy hiany,” ( A door of entrance—that there is.) Yet the verses are unlike to English in respect to their being desti- tute of rhyme, unaccented on the last syllable of a line, and scarcely if ever permitting one line to run on in a continuous sense into another. The characters peculiarly essential to Malagasy versification seem to be chiefly the following : 1. Harmony of syllables and accentuation ; a deviation from which rule produces a precisely similar harsh discordant effect on the ear asin English. 2. The expression must be diversified, and the words transposed, as in other languages. : 3. Every line must be in some degree an independent sentiment ; or at least a clause of a sentence, bearing a natural division in the sense, and thence a pause of the voice in reading or singing. Hence the sense is often strikingly abrupt and laconic, as will be seen in the examples of literal translation. The language abounds much in polysyllables ; there are exceed- ingly few monosyllables, and perhaps the greatest proportion of the words are of five syllables. Hence a line of eight syllables generally contains from two to five words, and a line of twelve is frequently com- prised in four words. On this account a sentiment is rarely attempted to be set off with superfluous ornaments of language, but stands en- tirely on the merit of the figure under which it is conveyed. OF poe- tical adjectives, so often highly convenient in English for filling up the metre or adorning a graceless noun, scarcely an instance occurs in an entire song. Yet the language, thought, and style of the poetry is quite of a different cast from prose. Abounding in the boldest figures, and the sense left to connect itself by the chain of thought, it com- mends itself to the mind as the rude and unpolished offspring of poeti- cal genius. It is evident, that in a language so exceedingly different from English, combined with a state of society equally different, it is impossible, on the one hand, to give an intelligible literal translation, leaving the rea- der’s imagination to fill up the images; and on the other hand, it is difficult to give a vivid imitation of the original. For myself, I pretend not to any talent in poetical composition, and am induced to make the attempt merely by the novelty of the subject, until some more able pen shall display in language more worthy of its subject the gleannings of 1832. ] ~ On the Poetry of Madagascar. 89 orally preserved versification to be found in Madagascar. In the mean time, I have only to plead for all deficiencies, that I am not setting forth myself as an author, but only as a translator, and that from a language wherein nothing can be looked for rising above mediocrity in the estimation of cultivated minds. I shall be abundantly requited for my trouble, should these contributions tend in any measure towards evincing that the native inhabitants of Madagascar, degraded as they actually appear, especially when contrasted with the enlightened popu- lation of civilized Europe, are nevertheless not destitute of natural genius, nor by any means insensible to the finer feelings and passions of human nature. I ought not to conclude without observing, that there is a kind of composition very prevalent in the language which is neither perfect prose or poetry, but seems to form a connecting link between the two, being both in sentiment and expression more pithy, figurative, and smart than the former, and yet destitute of the metre, cadence, &c. of the latter. These pieces may be called poetical prose. A prose trans- lation of such fugitive examples as have fallen into my hands would be dull and unstriking, and a literal rhyming translation impossible; so I have chosen in the accompanying example “on courtship,” a trans- lation pretty free in expression, but I believe perfectly correct, though somewhat paraphrased, in thought*. It appears, as far as I have discovered, that all compositions, in Mala- gasy, of a poetical turn of thought, are written in this style, except songs ; the latter being the only compositions I have yet met with evidently written in regular metre. The following, as well as several suceeeding songs, are by a man called Razafilahy, who happening to be a cripple, and unable to work, turned his attention to song-making, by which it is said he obtains a tolerable livelihood. He isastoutish man, rides out on the back ofa male slave, and has as buxom and merry looking a face as any to be seen in Madagascart. * We are inclined to differ in opinion with our author on this subject, and to think that a mere literal translation with explanatory notes, would have better illustrated the peculiarities of thought and idiom in the Malagasy language, than even the best versified imitation. + As more convenient for the generality of our readers, whom we may safely presume to be unacquainted with the Malagasy language, we have arranged the ori- ginal text at thefoot of the page, leaving the English version uninterrupted.—Ep, N 90 On the Poetry of Madagascar. I.—Literal translation of an Ode in praise of the Prince Rabédo. Long, long, may live Rabdédonandrianampéina : To the South is Ambdtondrafandana*, To the North Ambéhimitsimbina’*, To the West Ambéhimidndra*, To the East Ambéhijanahary* ; [He is] The full moon shining in the west, The rising sun rising in the east. Long live Rabédo, Yea Rambéasalama, And Rakétosehéno na Radéma, And his relations all, Tnnumerable they ; The portions of land shall then be dollars, The corners of the houses guns ; Endréhinantsiva is his portioned land, Endréhinantsiva his house ; Possessing much, yet not haughty. Orphans shall then be plump [with health], Their mother living, then they well fed. Yonder is the defence of rock, Yonder the clothing of wood, A fence of spears, yea second fence of men, Long live Rabodonandrianampéina. A single tree in a lake— It is not ‘‘ how many reign ?”’ For there is our only master. [ Marcu, By Razafilaby. A SSE I. Ode in praise of Prince Rabédo. Hono re ny veloma Ny zoro n’trano dia basy Rabodon and rianampoina Endréhinantsiva ny tokotany ny Atsimo n’ Ambatondrafandana Endrehinantsiva ny trano ny Avaratry ny Ambohimitsimbina Manambe tsy’mba miavona Andrefana Ambohimiandra Kamboty, dia dongadonga Atsinanana Ambohijanahary Velon’dreny dia botrabotra Volana tsinana ny avy andrefana Ao ny miaketso vato Feno manana ny avy atsinanana Ao ny miakanjo hazo Veloma Rabodo Rova lefona ka temitr’ olona oindray Sy Ramboasalama Veloma Rabodonandrianampoina Sy Rakotoseheno na Radama Hazo tokana an-ory Sy ny havany tontonlo Tsy firy no mandidy Tsy tambo isaina, Ka tompo nay any ao, Ny tokotany dia farantsa * Name of a village, which like all others in Imerina, standing ona hill, isa poetical object. ‘These villages being conspicuous objects, lying to the North, South, &c. of Tananarivo, the prince’s residence. 1832.] On the Poetry of Madagascar. 91 The following is the translation of another Ode by the same author. Il. Zhe Great River. Yonder Ambaniéla’s* streams go forth, Amb6hidrapétot to the north extends, To the northward also Ambéhitrimanjaka ; t ‘* Guide well thy winding course, Nor kill the people’s sons with heedless might. Too full, thou’rt like an ill-cut cloak, Smothering the head it should set off. Dried up, thou’rt like an insufficient dress, Leaving the breast and arms naked. And thus from day to day Thou rollest onwards continually. Soon at Iki’opa are thy waters found ; Tki’opa renowned through the world, Devouring all, yet still unsatiated||, Lab’ring ever, and still thy work unaccomplished ; Ambohibodnjo from thy bank not far, And southward Soavinimérina 3; Behold Antanta abounding in eels, § From whence murmuring sounds are heard ; The soldier here casts round his wandering eye Thinking of distant friends. Here thou art in jeopardy, new-wedded bride, Should a dispute arise towards the evening ; For caprice controls the unsettled heart. Discarded, thou wilt soon retrace thy steps ! But we again pursue the river’s course es II.