When the Asiatic Society was first founded in Bengal, the purposes of its institution were stated in these memorable words by Sir William Jones: “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.” The announcement was hailed with enthusiasm, not only by the ardent scholars who began to explore the untrodden fields of Indian literature, but by their distant countrymen, anxious to learn the result of their investigations. Asia has ever engaged the sympathies of Christian Europe; it was the cradle of our race, the birth-place of our faith, the first great source of our civilisation. We can read no history, investigate no antiquarian problem, nor examine any philological research, without having our attention more or less directed towards those vast plateaux whence our forefathers descended into the western world. Every new fact communicated respecting them interests us like intelligence of our family; every fresh monument of antiquity discovered in these regions claims the same respect that we accord to the tombs of our ancestors.

“Aer quoque ipse, qui purus sacram vitæ flammam alit, impurus factus, eandem statim extinguere potest, vel multis vaporibus onustus, aut novicis quibusdam effiuviis corruptus, ingentem morborum cohortem inducere.”— Medicinœ Gregorii Conspectus.

“To understand man, therefore, we must know wherefore it is that air is needful for his support: so to understand air, we must trace its relations to human life.”—Pascal.

The following description of the appearance and customs of the Battas in the island of Pulo Percha, or Sumatra, has been drawn from authentic sources, and may perhaps prove acceptable to the Society.

The features of the Batta tribes are particularized by an uncommonly straight mouth. They are not very regular, but their expression is rather pleasing than otherwise. This last may gain too in the contrast it presents to the idea previously formed in the mind of an observer, of a savage—a devourer of his own species.

After the suppression of the Jesuits, the followers of Alexander, who had assumed the designation of Syro-Roman Catholics, or old Christians, did not continue many years a united church. Alexander died a.d. 1676, and was succeeded by a Portuguese priest, Don Diego De Annunciacio, who was nominated by the King of Portugal, Don Pedro the Second, archbishop of Kranganór.

Whether the feelings which these lamentations express have existence in all cases in the hearts of the mourners, or otherwise, is not at present the consideration. The observance implies that such feelings are held in high estimation; and the striking resemblance which these lamentations bear to those in Scripture, and in particular to that over Saul, appealing to the common sympathies which the occasion naturally calls forth, and uttered in short, emphatic, and unconnected sentences, renders them not the less worthy of observation.

Some hasty observations, collected during a rapid march that I made in 1824, between Punah and Kittor, gave rise to this memoir, which, though brief and imperfect, may not altogether be devoid of interest, since the geology and statistics of few countries are less known than those of India. Connected as this portion of the globe now is with the political and commercial prosperity of Great Britain, the resources of the country, the mineral treasures of its rocks, the capabilities and productions of its soil, the condition of the inhabitants, and their prospect and means of attaining a higher scale of civilisation, deserve the attention of the legislator, merchant, philanthropist, and man of science. Its statistics and geology are yet desiderata: and though the portion of information here communicated be but a speck on the ocean that lies before us, it will perhaps contribute something towards a clearer view and more accurate chart of the whole, which may be brought, I hope, to perfection in the course of time.

The Muhammedan law is divisible into two parts perfectly distinct— the religious and the municipal. On the first numerous works have been written, and it must therefore seem singular that the latter has never, as far as I am aware, attracted attention; for the real nature of the state of society, and of the government in Muhammedan countries, can never be clearly understood, unless both the religious and the municipal law are taken into consideration. To supply, therefore, this defect, is the intention of the following pages; and sensible as I am of the very imperfect manner in which it has been executed, I can only trust, that any information on a subject not before discussed will prove acceptable to the Society.

This vessel measured, in height, five Chinese inches and seven-tenths; its containing depth, four inches and five-tenths; its circumference, at the top, seven inches and two-tenths. It weighed five Chinese pounds and fourteen ounces. It had two handles, or ears, as the Chinese term them, for ornament. This vessel is considered very plain, but was used for sacred purposes. The handle is said to be formed of the head of an animal known for its greedy appetite: hence its admonitory design. The vessel had no inscription.

On visiting Mhurr, in the year 1328, I was desirous of learning some particulars of the customs and history of the Kaprías; a sect so called from worshipping Párvatí, one of whose names, taken by her on a particular occasion, is “Kala Purí,” or “Káya Puri.”In Cutch she is known under the name of “Ásá Purá,”and “Mátá.”The temple dedicated to her in this town is of great celebrity uod antiquity, and endowed with many honors by the Raos of Cutch. It boasts of no external beauty, is clumsily stuccoed over, and surrounded by buildings belonging to the Kaprías. These people superintend all affairs connected with the sacred establishment in the immediate neighbourhood, as well as those of several villages granted by the Ráos to the goddess.

After the numerous and brilliant exploits which had brought them peace and prosperity, the warriors of the tribe of Abs, assembled by the invitation of their King Zeer, near the source of a bubbling fountain in a verdant valley. When, after their splendid repast, the slaves sent round cups filled with wine, whilst the young damsels danced on the green sod to the sound of timbrels and the song of their mothers.

Three volumes of this valuable work, comprising each nearly 1000 pages in large 4to, are now in the library of the Royal Asiatic Society, presented to it by the learned author. This portion perfectly justifies the high character which Professor Wilson gave the work in the first edition of his Dictionary in 1819; anticipating only from a few sheets, then printed, how inestimable a store of authentic information on a variety of subjects connected with Sanskrit literature, would be laid open by this admirable undertaking, the extensiveness of which did not, however, admit a hope of its speedy accomplishment. Rádhákanta's work is very distinctly and, generally speaking, accurately printed in the Bengal character; and derives, certainly, not the least part of its superior character to the generality of Indian printings, from being alphabetically arranged in the European method. A great part of its articles have, indeed, become comparatively of inferior importance since the appearance of the second edition of Mr. Wilson's Dictionary, where every additional information, supplied by the learned Hindú on the different meanings of words, has, of course, been carefully reproduced by the celebrated lexicographer, who was then already in possession of the three volumes before us, excepting a few sheets at the end of the last.