1835.] Miscellaneous. 411 



works, from the pens of those to whose judgment all will be willing to / succumb ; 

 and among the patrons of oriental literature in the older time, it is gratifying to 

 behold the name of the first Governor General of India. We will not allow it to be 

 imagined, however, that all encouragement has been abandoned in these latter days : 

 it was in 1832-3, that the Tibetan Dictionary and Grammar were printed at a cost 

 of Rs. 5,000 to Government. A proposition for the printing of a Cochin-Chinese 

 Dictionary prepared by the Vicar Apostolic of that country is, we perceive by the pro- 

 ceedings of the Asiatic Society, about to be made. It remains to be seen whether the 

 fatal edict, almost the last of the late administration, will interfere to prevent the 

 patronage of this valuable addition to the languages of the east. 



2. — Burnes' and Conolly's Travels. 



The Geographical Society of Paris have paid a handsome compliment to our tra- 

 vellers, Lieutenant A. Hurnes, and Lieutenant A. Conolly, in testimony of the value 

 set upon the published results of their adventurous labours. On the latter they have 

 conferred a copper prize-medal, and to the former, one of silver. 



The avidity with which interesting works on the newly explored regions of central 

 Asia are received at home, may be judged from the fact, that Lieutenant Burnes' 

 work passed through three English editions in a year, besides a translation into 

 French and German. 



3. — Ceylonese History. 



The Honorable George Turnour of Ceylon, well known for his attainments in the 

 Pali and Singiilese literature, is now publishing a translation of the Mahavanse or 

 History of the Rajiis of Ceylon, from the landing of Vijaya on the island in the 9th 

 century before Christ. We refer to the proceedings of the Asiatic Society of the 5th 

 August for some particulars of this costly undertaking, to which we trust due en- 

 couragement will be given. 



4. — Valuable Tibetan Works. 



We are happy to announce that Mr. Hodgson, resident in Nipal, has at length 

 been able to procure a complete copy of the Stangyur collection, of which only a few 

 extracts were hitherto in possession of the learned, although a catalogue of the 

 contents of the whole collection has been drawn up by Mr. Csoma, and published 

 (in analysis) in the Journal Asiatic Society. Mr. Hodgson proposes, with bis usual 

 munificence, to present this copy to the Calcutta Asiatic Society, while he destines an- 

 other complete copy of the printed Kahgyur for the Royal Asiatic Society of London. 



Of the Sanscrit originals of these precious stores of Bauddha learning, Mr. Hodg- 

 son is endeavouring to obtain copies from Digarchi and Lhassa ; they are not to be 

 had at Kathmandu. Our countrymen may feel happy that good chance has placed a 

 man of Mr. Hodgson's zeal in the residency of Nipal, in lieu of one of the new school. 

 But for him the 300 volumes of Indian literature, preserved beyond the snows in a 

 foreign dress, might still have been unknown, or, if known, despised and unrecovered. 



5. — Botany of the Nilgiris and Southern India. 

 A splendid Botanical Book, with coloured copper-plates, including microscopic 

 dissections of new plants, discovered by the Rev. B. Schmid in the Nilgherries, 

 (Nilgiris), and sent home to Germany, has been commenced to be published by a 

 talented Professor of Botany in the University of Jena. The work will be worthy 

 of the Science. The 1st No. is expected to reach India within a few weeks, and 

 every quarter of the year, one decade will appear. The sale of the work, if promoted 

 by the friends of the science in India, will greatly aid Mr. Schmid in his zealous 

 Botanical researches, and doubtless lead to fresh discoveries. 



6. — Force of the Unicorn Fish. 



11 The ship Royal Saxon, of about 500 tons, is now in dock, undergoing the necessary 

 refit after the dreadful hurricane she experienced in the Bay (of Bengal). So furious 

 was the tempest, that when it somewhat cleared up, in addition to loss of main and 

 mizen masts, the bowsprit was found broken off just outside the head of the stem, 

 which was vnknoun to any body aboard, until so discovered. The diameter is 23 inches ! 

 On looking at the bottom, the snout or horn of an Unicorn Fish was pointed out by one 

 of the native work-people, projecting beyond the surface of the plank about six inches ; 

 since which, a piece of the plank, with the horn, has been cut out, which 

 shews the fish struck the bottom in a diagonal direction, pierced the copper, 

 felt, and bottom plank of 3^ in. thick, as well as the timber, one inch. The com- 

 mander has this curiosity now on board. 



I think a notice of this may prove interesting to some of the readers of your 

 Journal. — J. m. s. 



[A similar fact was noticed, and the perforated piece of wood presented to the 

 Society, and noticed in the Proceedings of the 26th December, 1833. — Ed.] 



