110 G. E. Fryer — The Pali Orammarian KacTichdyana. [Aua, 



instance of it was well worthy of being briefly recorded in the Proceedings, 

 although no anatomical examination had been possible. 



The following papers were read — 



1. On new and Uttle-lcnoiun Mantodea. — By J. Wood-Mason. 

 This paper contains descriptions of the following new species : Choera- 



dodis brunneri, Tarachodes insidiator, Tarachodes dissimulator, Gonypeta 

 authsemon, Hierodula (Sphodromantis) arabica, Hierodula (Sphodromantis) 

 muta, Hierodula sternosticta, Mantis callifera, Iris orientalis, and Polyspi- 

 lota insignis. Other species described are the following : Amorphoscelis 

 annulicornis, Eremophila arabica, Didymocorypha ensifera, Episcopus 

 chalybeus, Dysaules longicoUis, Euchomena thoracica, Hierodula (Sphodro- 

 jDoda) quinquedens, Hierodula (Sphodromantis) bicarinata, Hierodula 

 (Rhombodera) atricoxis, var. grandis, Hierodula (Rhombodera) flava, 

 Hierodula (Rhombodera) basalis, Mesopteryx alata, and Mesopteryx 

 platycephala. 



2. Note on tlie Fdli Grammarian KacTicfidyana. — By Lietjt -Col. 



G. E. Fryee, M. S. C, Burma Commission. 



The Pali referred to in this paper is the language in which the sacred 

 literature of the Buddhists of Burma and Ceylon is written.* It is found 

 inscribed on palm leaves in the characters of the vernacular speech peculiar 

 to those countries. Magadha-bhasa, or Magadhi, is the appellation given 

 to it by the native writers, who assert it to be the original language, as 

 will be seen from the subjoined stanza from Riipasiddhi, II, 1, the author- 

 ship of which has hitherto been unknown : 



sa magadha-miila-bhasa nara yay' adikappika 

 brahmano ch' assutalapa sambuddha chapi bhasare 

 which may be rendered thus — " that by which men of former ages, Brah- 

 mas, and such as had never heard speech, expressed themselves, is the origin- 

 al Magadha language." 



With regard to the question what this Pali is, I cannot do better than 

 refer to the remarks of that distinguished orientalist Dr. Muir, on the 

 Pali, its early introduction into Ceylon, and its relations to Sanskrit and 

 Prakrit, in the 2nd Volume of his Sanskrit texts, pp. 56-73, 104, 108, 109 

 (second edition). 



The use of the e for o, peculiar to the dialect employed in the pillar 

 inscriptions which resembles the Magadhi of Dhauli, is common to the Pali ; 

 for, in the 85th aphorism of chapter XX of the Sadda Niti, mention is 

 made of this peculiarity : thus, ti-lingato thane si-yonam e, " in the three 

 genders e instead of si, yo,''^ i. <?., in the nom. sing., and nom. ace. plural ; 

 as, 



• The word i^dli signifies a Hne or row : a sacred text. 



