1887.] Dr. Hoernle on the 1th International Congress of Orientalists. 131 



ns in Vienna, the collection of papyri found at El Fayum in Egypt, and 

 the property of the Archduke Rainer. These are being gradually de- 

 cyphered by Professor J. Karabacek. They form, apparently, a portion 

 of the contents of an ancient office for registration of deeds. Some of 

 these papers are as old as the 7th century A. D., and, judging from the 

 style of the Arabic writing and from the phrases used, might have been 

 written in an Indian Gutcherry yesterday. We refrain from writing more 

 about this collection as it would require a whole treatise to itself. 



" Another object of great interest to us was the Gewerbe Museum. 

 This is a Museum of Arts and Industries, closely corresponding to one 

 branch of the Calcutta Economic Museum. One department of it 

 struck us as being specially worthy of imitation in every large town in 

 India. In a conveniently arranged room all the principal Vienna houses 

 exhibit specimens of their manufacture. On each specimen the price is 

 written in plain figures. The whole collection is under the care of a 

 Curator, whose business it is to take visitors round and to show them 

 the various articles exposed. If any one takes a fancy to anything 

 exhibited, he can pay the Curator the price marked upon it, and walk 

 away with it. In this way every one is benefitted. The local manu- 

 facturers acquire an unequalled opportunity for exhibiting their wares, 

 being subjected at the same time to a healthy competition, the merchant 

 seeking for articles to export to a foreign country finds all the best 

 articles of local manufacture conveniently grouped together, and the 

 casual visitor on the look-out for curiosities can go there and buy the 

 best, with the assurance that his ignorance will not be imposed upon, 

 and that he will only pay the fair market price for his work. A some- 

 what similar institution, on a very small scale, we have noticed in Jaipur 

 in the ' School of Arts.' But we think that this kind of Museum could 

 well be imitated in Calcutta and perhaps in one or two other large towns 

 in the Provinces and other Presidencies. It would doubtless tend to 

 stimulate trade, and would be a great blessing to the numerous travellers 

 who now visit India for enjoyment, and who too often pay ten times the 

 proper amount for what they buy. 



" In conclusion we would wish to put on record the great kindness 

 which was shown to us foreigners by the many savants we met at Vienna. 

 For our own part we can only say that nothing could exceed the hospita- 

 lity and courtesy shown to us as delegates of the Indian Government. 

 We owe that Government a debt of gratitude for having placed us in so 

 pleasant a position, in which we were enabled to make many new, and we 

 hope lasting, friendships amongst gentlemen whose pursuits and tastes 

 were similar to ours. We are sure that we were justified in promising 

 them that, if circumstances ever took them to India, they might count 



