1864.] 



Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 



585 



appear to liave been Es. 10-0-0, could have- been the original of our 

 English Sovereign. At the time, I stated that no value could be 

 placed on any deductions made from foreign words occurring in the 

 work alluded to, in consequence of the barbarous style of the Author's 

 or Editor's Orthography ; that I believed that by the word Seraffin 

 the author meant Ashraii ; but as, notwithstanding the elaborate work 

 of Abu'l Fazl, there was considerable doubt regarding some points^ 

 connected with the currency of India in Akbar's time, I promised to 

 make enquiry on the subject. Enquiry, however, has resulted in 

 little more than a strong confirmation of the opinions I expressed in 

 this room a few months back, regarding the very great danger of too 

 general an application of the Eoman alphabet to oriental languages. 

 It would be impossible, I think, to find a better illustration of the 

 mischief that might result, if the Romanizing principle were carried 

 beyond its legitimate limits, than is contained in this work, one short 

 passage of which I will read to the meeting. 



< c Garcias ah Horto writes, that < The Mogors had possessed the 

 kingdome of Delly: but a certaine Bengalan (rebelling against his 

 master) slue him, usurped his state, and by force of warre added this, 

 of Canara also to his dominion ; he was called Xabolam. This king 

 made his sister's sonne his successor, who was much addicted to 

 Forreiners. He divided his kingdome into twelve parts, or Provinces 

 over which he set so many captains: Iclalcam from Angidaua to 

 Cifarda; from thence to Negatona, Mzamaluco; over Balaguate or 

 the up-hill country (for Bala in the Persian language signifieth, the 

 toppe, and Guate a hill), Imadmaluco, and Catalmaluco, and Verido 

 &c. These all rebelled, and captured Daquem their King at Beder 

 the chief citie of Decan, and shared his Kingdome amongst themselves 

 and some Gentiles, partners in the conspiracie. They were all forrein- 

 ers but Nizamaluca. This and the other names before mentioned 

 were Titles of Honour, given them with their offices by the kino- 

 corrupted by the vulgar in pronouncing. Idalcam is Adel-tiam ; Adel 

 in the Persian language, signifieth Justice ; Ham is the Tartarian 

 appellation, signifying a Prince, or King (which name might well be 

 the reliques of the Tartarian conquests in those parts), so Adel-ham 

 is king of justice. Neza in the Persian (which Scaliger saith is of like 

 extent in the East, as Latine in the West) is a Lance ; Maluco signi^ 



