xxlv APPENDIX. 



liistorian. In Polite Literature, and especia'ily in works of fiction, they have per- 

 haps never been excelled, and in studying such of their woi-ks in Belles-Lettres as 

 have been already printed in any European language, regret must be felt that but 

 few of these books, which are so well calculated to afford us pleasure, have been 

 translated. 



6. Whatever niay be our present superiority over Asia in the arts and sciences, 

 it cannot be uninteresting to the inquiring mind to recur to the sources from which 

 wo derived the first elements of our knowledge. In this respect Asia must be 

 recognized as the elder sister and instructress of Europe ; and although the hordes 

 of barbarians, which poured forth like a torrent from her north-western regions, 

 effectually extinguished the light which she at first imparted, yet we are indebted 

 to the Mohammedan courts of Cordova, Grenada, and Seville, for its restoration, as it 

 is to them that Europe owes the rudiments of many of her now highly cultivated 

 arts and sciences. 



7. From Asiatic woiks on the Mathematics and Medicine perhaps much light is 

 not now to be expected. To trace the progress of these sciences, however, under the 

 Caliphat, when science had declined among the Greeks, cannot be uninteresting 

 to the philosopher. And as many of the most celebrated of the Greek authors were 

 tr.inblated into Arabic, under the patronage of the court of Bagdad, it is not im- 

 probable that some long-lost Greek works may be discovered in an Arabian dress, 

 as was the case with the treatise on Conic Sections by ApoUonius Pergajus, brought 

 to Europe by Golius, and translated by Halley. 



8. From the mercantile pursuits of the Arabs, foreign countries were explored, 

 and commercial establishments formed by them, at an early period of their history; 

 and it is anticipated that accounts of their travels may be discovered, not less 

 interesting than those of Ibn Batuta, noticed by Mr. Burckhardt, and of which some 

 specimens have been published \.y Kosegarten and Apetz, or of the two Moham- 

 medans who visited India and Cliina in the ninth centur\-, translated and published 

 b}' the learned Renaudot. 



9. But while the literature of the East in general is highly worthy of our notice, 

 that of British India has an especial claim to our regard. The possession of a more 

 intimate acquaintance with the History, Gcograpiiy, .Statistics, Laws, and Usages of 

 that portion of our Empire, must be productive of good both to the governors and the 

 "overned; and to procure means for obtaining information on these subjects is one of 

 the principal designs of this Prospectus. 



10. The object proposed is, to publish, free of expense to the Authors, translations 

 of the whole or parts of such works in the Oriental languages as the Oriental 

 Transl.ation Committee shall approve. These translations are generally to be accom- 

 panied by the original texts printed separately, and such illustrations as may be 

 considered necessary. By the publication of the origin.al text it is intended to multiply 

 copies of such works as are scarce, and to furnish students at a moderate expense 

 with correct copies of the best Asiatic works, to which they might not otherwise have 

 access. 



11. It is not intended to confine the operations of the Committee to works in the 

 Ar.ibic, Persian, and Syriac languages; it is their intention to translate and publish 

 standard .and interesting works in Sanscrit, Chinese, Pali, Cinralese, .and Burmese; 

 in the languages of Thibet, Tartary, and Turkey; in the MaLayati, and other 

 dialects of theEasiern Archipelago; and in the numerous dialects of Hindustan, and 

 the southern peninsula of India. 



12. It cannot be expected that the publication of Oriental texts and translations 

 can be effected to any consider.able extent, by the efforts of individuals, for none but 

 a public body can command the funds, or furnish the literary me.ans necessary for 

 such an undertaking. The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 which was instituted for the advancement of Oriental hterature, is the only Institution 



