1S73.] Annual Report. 33 



It lias been observed by some European scholars that the works under- 

 taken by the Society are not rapidly brought to a conclusion, and the great 

 delay which has taken place in the printing of some of the works, to a cer- 

 tain extent, justified the complaint. But the voluminous nature of those 

 works and the little time which can be devoted to their printing by the several 

 editors engaged, who have all onerous official duties to discharge, render it 

 impossible to press on our publications faster. The necessity of undertaking 

 several works at the same time also apparently swells the list of incomplete 

 works. Mutations in Indian society, so much more rapid than in Europe, 

 and death, have likewise had much to do in checking progress ; but on the 

 whole, the Council is satisfied that, bearing in mind the large number of 

 works which are in the press, and the limited resources at command, the 

 Bibliotheca is progressing as rapidly as could be expected. 



Persian Series. 



Of the Persian series, Mr. H. Blochmann has issued two fasciculi of 

 the text of the Kin i Akbari (Fasc. XIV and XV). Fasc. XV completes the 

 text of vol. I (600 quarto pages), and contains the first portion of an Index 

 of about 4,500 geographical names of Upper India. About three fasciculi 

 more will complete the text edition. He has also issued one fasciculus of 

 the translation (Fasc. VI). 



Maulawi Zulfaqar 'All has issued three numbers of the Farhang i 

 Rashidi. The first volume of this critical dictionary of the Persian language 

 is now completed. 



Maulawi 'Abdurrahirn, of the Calcutta Madrasah, has issued a full index 

 of names of persons and geographical names occurring in the Society's edition 

 of the Padishahnamah. The index fills a double number, and renders, in the 

 absence of a translation, the large work on Shahjahan's reign more accessible. 

 No work will in future be issued without carefully prepared indexes, and 

 steps have been taken to prepare indexes to works issued in former years. 

 The index to the 'Alamgirnamah by Maulawi 'Abdul Hai is about to be issued, 

 three forms only being wanting. Maulawi Agha Ahmad Ali has his index 

 to the Maasir i 'Alamgiri in press. Maulawi 'Abdurrahirn has commenced 

 the index to Khafi Khan. 



Two new works of importance have been commenced during last year, 

 the text edition of the Akbarnamah, and the English translation of the 

 Tabaqat i Naciri. 



The Akbarnamah by Abulfazl is the greatest historical work that 

 India has produced. It consists of three volumes, the first of which 

 treats of the Timurides, up to the death of Humayun ; the second 

 volume contains the most detailed account of Akbar's reign till 1011, A. H., 

 when Abulfazl, at Jahangir's instigation, was murdered by Raja Bir Singh 

 Bundela of U 'rehab ; and the third volume is the Ain i Akbari. The edition 



