1840.] Asiatic Society. 445 



Histoirc Naturclle cles Poissons, par M. C. B. Cuvie'r— Tome, 4 1839, 

 avec Planches, — 2, 



Journal des Savans, October, 1839. 



Annals of Natural History, and Magazine of Geology, Botany, and Geology. Lon- 

 don, 1838, Nos. 1 to 10. 



Literary and Antiquities. 



Read aletter from Mr. W. Morley, Barrister of Lincoln's Inn, forwarding a pamphlet 

 on the Jami-al Tawareekh, a General History of Nations — which is to appear in the 

 transactions of the Home Society. The discovery of portions of this curious work, the 

 1st Volume alone of which was hitherto supposed to be extant, is highly valuable ; 

 the first vol. is the history known as the Tarreekh-i-ghazan Khan: the whole 

 work consisted of 4 volumes, and was completed by its author, Rusheed-ood-deen, 

 about 709 Hej. The MSS. now discovered came originally from Lucknow, and 

 was found by Mr v MoRLEY, and subsequently other and later portions of it by Profes- 

 sor Forbes, in the Libravy of the Society in London. The portion of the manus- 

 cript that has as yet been found, commences with the eleventh race of the kings of Khut- 

 ta, the previous part had not yet been traced, and unfortunately the date is not in 

 consequence ascertainable, but the titles of the kings, " Rai Kugao, J ' or " Kukao," 

 seem to point them out as of that race with whom the numismatic discoveries in 

 Affghanistan have made us acquainted ; but the Officiating Secretary informed the 

 Meeting that there was a chance of recovering the remaining portion from Lucknow, 

 or from the Royal Library at Delhi, at one of which places he hoped traces of it might 

 be found among the collection of other manuscripts. There was also a trace of the same 

 work at Herat; and he had sent copies of Mr. Morley's pamphlet to several influ- 

 ential members of society in different parts of the country, in order to endeavour a 

 partial recovery of the Manuscript. 



N. B. Since the above announcement, nearly 100 abridged copies of the pamphlet, 

 translated into Persian, have been circulated to every person, and place, by whom, or 

 in which, traces might be found of this invaluable work. The Officiating Secretary 

 has had late intelligence from Lieut. Conolly of the alleged existence of original MS. 

 of so very ancient a date at Bokhara, that he almost dares to hope that some portion of 

 the work may be discovered in that stronghold of Islam. Suggestions have been 

 made on the mode of effecting this. 



Museum. 



A number of Coins from Ispahan were laid before the Meeting by the Officiating 

 Secretary for their inspection ; and were found to be not very ancient, but they were 

 beautiful specimens. 



Physical. 



The Officiating Secretary next submitted the Report of the Curator upon the speci- 

 mens of Natural History in the Museum — with a proposition to the Society to purchase 

 the specimens of stuffed animals and birds which were still remaining of Captain Hay's 

 collection at Messrs. Tulloh & Co's Auction Rooms. Captain Hay had written to the 

 Society, wishing them to make an offer fov the whole, as he was desirous of getting 

 them off his hands. The Curator and Mons. Bouchezy had on this been to inspect the 



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