PREFACE. 



The lamentable delay that has occurred in completing 

 Volume IX has been due to a variety of causes. In the first 

 place, in consequence partly of urgent private affairs and partly 

 of severe and long-continued sickness, my valued friend and 

 collaborateur, Mr. W. Davison, has for the past twelve months 

 been entirely unable to help me in any way, and it will pro- 

 bably be next April before I can look for any further help 

 from him in my museum. 



In the second place my explorations of Manipur involved 

 my being on the move from December last year until the end 

 of June of the present year. 



In the third place since my return this number has been 

 kept back owing to an intimation from a valued contributor of 

 his being about to despatch a long paper of unusual interest, 

 which should, I considered, be published without delay. 



I have never received this promised paper, nor can I learn 

 anything about it, and so am compelled to issue this number 

 without waiting longer for it. 



ALLAN HUME. 



