1874.] Dr. J. Wise — On tJie BdraJi BMi/as of Eastern Bengal, ' 187 



G. Notes on the Bar ah Bhui/as of Mast em Bengal. — By De. J. Wise. 



Dr. Wise gives in this paper the family histories of five of the twelve 

 Bhuyas of Bengal, after whom Bengal is often called " Barah Bhuya Mulk." 

 The word " Bhuya" means the same as Bhumik or Zamindar, and does not 

 indicate ethnic differences, as understood by Buchanan, Col. Dalton, and the 

 compiler of the last census repoi^. In modern times even the title of Bhii- 

 ya was frequently conferred, on payment of a fee» by the Rajas of Kachhar. 



The five Bhuyas of Eastern Bengal noticed in this paper are the Ghazi 

 family of Bhowal ; the family of ^I'sa Khan, whose descendants are the 

 Divvan Sahibs of Jangalbari ; and the Hindu zamindars of Bhaluah, Chan- 

 dradip (Bakla), and Bikrampur. 



The paper is accompanied by a photograph taken by Mr. Cadell of the 

 large Shiv temple near the site of the old town of Sripiir (Bikrampur), 

 now surrounded by dense jungle. The temple is the liighest in eastern, if 

 not in the whole of, Bengal. 



The reading of the following paper was postponed — 

 The Ismail Ghazi Legend, according to a Persian History discovered at 

 Rangpur. — By G. K. Damant, Esq., C. S. 



XlBEARY. 



The following additions have been made to the Librai'y since the 

 meeting held in July last. 



Presentations. 

 ^*^ Names of Donors in Capitals. 

 Journal of the East Indian Association, London, Vol. VIII, No. 1. 

 P. M. TaiY.— Anglo-Indian Vital Statistics. 



TnE Association. 

 Bulletin de la Societe de Geographic, Paris, Avril 1874. 



Gamier. — Divisions civiles du territoire britannlque en Birmanie. Col. Yule. — Note 

 pour MM. Fan et Moreau, voyageurs en Birmanie (Extrait d'une Lettre au Secretaire 

 g^u^'al). 



The Society. 

 Actes de L'Academie Nationale des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de 

 Bordeaux, 3^ Serie, 1872, 3^ et 4^ trimestres. 



The Academy. 

 Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Eoyal Asiatic Society, 1874, 



Part I. 



W. Ferguson. — Description of a supposed new genus of Ceylon Batrachians. Louis 

 de Zo^/sa.—Notes on the identity of Piyadasi and Asoka. W. V. Legge.—Ow the Island 

 distribution of the Birds in the Society's Museum. S. BUgli.—^otc^ on the occurrence of 

 a rare Eagle new to Ceylon j and other interesting or rai'e birds. R, Van Cuylenherg.— 



