12 ACCOUNTS, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



1 1 . — A cquisition s. 



192 Manuscripts have been added to the Oriental Collection, 184 by purchase and 8 

 •by donation. 



They come under the following heads : — 



Japanese _____--- 142 



Arabic ---------25 



Hebrew __---_-_9 



Pali 5 



Coptic ---------2 



Syriac --------- 1 



Persian ---------1 



Turkish 1 



Hindi 1 



Panjabi -----_-_i 



Tamil - - - - 1 



Cauarese -------- 1 



Cingalese ----- _-_i 



Chinese -_.----- 1 



The following deserve a special notice : — 



Two Collections of Japanese Manuscripts, one formed by A. de Siebold, Esq., the 

 other by the late Dr. P. F. de Siebold. The former consists of 11 works relating to the 

 history, constitution, and laws of Japan. The latter, comprising 131 volumes, is of a 

 wider range, and contains, besides specimens of various branches of Japanese literature, 

 numerous drawings illustrative of the manners, industry, arts, and natural history of 

 Japan. 



Sixteen Arabic Manuscripts, ranging from the 12th to the 15th century, and relating 

 chiefly to the Hadith or teachings of Mohammed, as handed down by oral tradition. 

 These manuscripts once belonged to the libraries attached to the mosques of Sultan Hasan 

 and El-Ezbekiyyeh, at Cairo. 



A large folio copy of the Coran, richly illuminated, of the 13th century. This fine 

 specimen of the best period of Arabian art displays on every page miniatured headings 

 or marginal ornaments of exquisite taste, a high degree of finish, and surprising variety of 

 design. 



A section of the Coran, with rich illuminated borders, from the library of Sultan 

 Paraj Ben Barkok ; 14th century. 



The four Gospels in Coptic and Arabic ; a fine copy, written a.d. 1192. 



Fragments of Coptic Papyri from the Hay Collection. Transferred from the Depart- 

 ment of Oriental Antiquities. 



Chiddushun, or Comments of Solomon Ben Addereth on the Talmudical tract Gittin, 

 written A.D. 1368. 



Commentary of Abraham of Pousquieres on the Talmudical tract Bdbd Kammd ; 13th 

 century. 



Shitnshoni ; an important work on Hebrew grammar. Vellum, 14th century. 



A Syriac Manuscript, containing several rare or unknown works of Bar-Hebr£eus. 

 Written a.d. 1364. 



Diwdn of Safi al-Din al-Hilli, an Arabic poet; a fine copy, of a.d. 1360. 



Tdrihh Maulid al ''Ulainu, or chronological notices on the learned men of the first 

 five centuries of Islamism, by Abu Sulaiman Muhammad al-E,abi'i. Arabic, a.d. 

 1305. 



Mojmu' Usui al-Din ; an extensive work on the doctrines of the Coptic Church. Arabic, 

 A.D. i677. 



A section of the Granth, or sacred book of the Sikhs. Presented by Arthur 

 Grote, Esq. 



A paper roll, containing the Coran in a minute character ; in a case of chased silver. 

 Presented by Nicolas Paleologus, solicitor. High Court, Calcutta. 



" Pecueil de Phrases Chinoises." Presented by the Honourable Henry (now Lord) 

 Stanley. 



Three Pali Manuscripts, containing a grammatical and two Buddhistic works in the 

 Cingalese and Burmese characters. Presented by Rob. C. Childers, Esq. 



A Pali Manuscript in the Burmese character. Presented by the Dowager Marchioness 

 of Westminster. 



Ch. Rieu. 



