yiii PREFACE. 



on this principle, however, the Editor has not lost sight of 

 the great utility of following, as far as means would permit, the 

 progress of the various sciences at home, especially such as are 

 connected in any way with Asia ; the only limits thereto being 

 want of space, and want of time to peruse and extract from the vast 

 number of publications of the present day. Want of room also 

 precluded the possibility of republishing the proceedings of the 

 Medical and of the Horticultural Societies ; but this had become 

 less urgent since both of those useful bodies adopted the excellent 

 rule of giving early publicity to their own proceedings and records. 



To the Asiatic Society the Journal has naturally looked for its 

 most frequent and interesting communications ; and in consequence 

 of its more intimate connection with that Institution, the proceed- 

 ings of that body have been given in greater detail than heretofore, 

 so that absent members may learn exactly what passes at its 

 meetings, and what accessions are made from time to time 

 to its library and its museum. Many absent members have 

 complained of the quarterly subscriptions they were hereto- 

 fore called upon to pay, while they remained in ignorance 

 of what was going forward ; this source of objection is now 

 obviated, and perhaps a still greater amendment may yet be ef- 

 fected for their benefit, by an arrangement that all members of 

 the Society shall receive a copy of the Journal gratis, which 

 will reduce their annual payments nearly one fourth. 



It is vinnecessary to recapitulate the contents of the present 

 volume, or to allude in anonymous praise to those who have 

 favored its pages with their assistance ; since the authors have, 

 in most cases, on suggestion, permitted their writings to be 

 authenticated by the insertion of their names, as should always be 

 the case in matters of fact, observation, and research. One il- 

 lustrious name however must not be passed over without a tribute 

 of gratitude for its valued and frequent contributions, a tribute 

 more sincerely paid, since India has now lost the power and the 

 claim to their continuance ; she has resigned her most eminent 

 oriental scholar to climes where his talents may find more genial 

 appreciation, but where they cannot excite more respect or ad- 

 miration, than they will ever command in the land which called 

 forth their energies and directed their application. 



