134 Dr. Uoemle on the 7 th International Congress of Orientalists. [April, 



familiar in Sanskrit, and others besides. These books were all written 

 in the vernacular, and their authors meant them to be understood by the 

 unlearned, and thus they reflect the progress of the languages of India 

 from the era of the Prakrit writings down to this century. What a 

 mass of ore awaiting the furnace of European science ! 



"I believe, therefore, that the time is ripe for commencing a deliberate 

 systematic survey of the languages of India, nearer and further, not only as 

 they exist at the present moment, but as far back as MSS. can take us. 



" Such a task is beyond the power of private enterprise ; but I am 

 persuaded that the Government which has carried out the statistical 

 survey of India, and which has such literary powers at its command as 

 those which conceived the idea of and carried out the great Gazetteer of 

 India would not shrink from such a survey as I now refer to, if it were 

 proposed with all the weight of authority which belongs to this Congress." 



The note was supported by the following scholars : A. Barth, Cecil 

 Bendall, E. B. Cowell, Robert Cust, A. E. Rudolf Hoernle, Sir Monier 

 Monier- Williams, E. Max Miiller, R. Rost, A. H. Sayce, E. Senart. 



The following motion with regard to the note, was proposed by 

 Professor Biihler, seconded by Professor A. Weber, and carried by 

 acclamation : 



" That this Section strongly urge upon the Government of India that 

 the present is a suitable time for the commencement of this most impor- 

 tant work. 



" Just now there happens to be in India a number of Scholars who 

 have made the Vernaculars of that country their special study. 



" The search for Vernacular MSS. could be conveniently united with 

 that of Sanskrit ones, now being conducted by officers of Government, 

 who might be requested to spend a fixed proportion of their funds on 

 Vernacular MSS. 



" The Survey of the Vernaculars as they exist at present could be 

 carried out by the subordinate officers of the Education Departments 

 with the least possible expenditure of trouble and money. They should 

 be in each Presidency or Province under the supervision of one or more 

 skilled specialists, who would no doubt, in many cases, give their services 

 voluntarily." 



The following papers were read — 



1. On a second series of new species of Ficus from New Guinea. 

 — By George King, M. B., Superintendent, Royal Botanical Gardens, 

 Calcutta. 



The paper will be printed in Part II of the Journal for 1887. 



