1872.] • Annual Eeport. 17 



scholar can come to an understanding of the nature and character of the 

 Hindu classics, or deduce a history of the manners, customs, and the social 

 and religious life of ancient India. 



It is not to he expected that ancient Sanskrit texts, whether accompanied 

 by translations or not, will meet with any extensive sale ; the Council have 

 nevertheless the satisfaction to notice that sixteen out of the foi-ty-five 

 works completed, are out of print, and fresh editions are in demand. 



Turning from the Sanskrit to the Persian series of the Bibliotheca, it 

 will be found that the works published in it are in some respects even more 

 important than the former. They embrace a large body of the most authen- 

 tic chronicles accessible regarding the rise and progress of the Muhammadan 

 power in India — the works of contemporary writers — which cannot fail to 

 afford most valuable materials for a correct and detailed history of this comitry 

 for over six hundi-ed years. One of the works was prepared for the press by 

 the late Mr. Morley of London, and the others have been printed by Maulavi 

 Sayyid Ahmad of 'A%arh, several Maulavis of the Calcutta Madrasah under 

 the superintendence of Col. Lees, and by Mr. Blochmann. 



Among the works now on hand, the new edition of the Ain i Ahhari 

 and its translation deserve especial mention. 



An impression seems to be abroad that the bulk of the oriental grant 

 is devoted to the publication of Sanskrit works, and adequate encouragement 

 is not held out to Semitic literatm'e. This, however, the Council are glad 

 to observe, is not the case. Since 1851, 233 fasciculi of Sanskrit works 

 have been published at a cost of Rs. 78,000, and 191 fasciculi of Persian and 

 Arabic works at Rs. 67,000, shewing a difference of only 11,000 Rs. in favour* 

 of Sanskrit. This is, however, accounted for by the special grant of Rs. 

 3,000 per annum sanctioned for Sanskrit works since the middle of 1868. 



The total sum devoted to the printing and publication of translations 

 amounts to Rs. 7,625, of which a little over 3000 Rs. are due to translations 

 from the Persian and Arabic. 



The publications of the past year include twenty-seven fasciculi, viz. 8 

 Persian, 1 Arabic, 17 Sanskrit, and 1 English translation from the Persian. 



In the Persian series, Mr. Blochmann has issued one fasciculus of the 



text of the A'in i Akbari (XIII), and one of its translation ; Maulavi Agha 



Ahmad 'Ali has brought out parts III, IV and V of the Maasir i ' A'lamgiri, 



N^ and Maulavi Zulfaqar 'Ali, four fasciculi of the Farhang i Rashidi (II — V). 



/N Ai'abic is represented by the tenth part of Vol. IV of the Biogra- 



V phical Dictionary of Persons who knew Muhammad, edited by Maulavi 



^ 'Abdul Hai. 



The following are the names of the Sanskrit works issued during the 

 year — 



Tandya Mahabrahmana, with the eomnientar}" of Sayaoa Achaoya, 



