1840. j Asiatic Society. 553 



Literary and Antiquities. 



Read a letter from Captain McLeod, correcting an error in the position of the coal 

 fields in Tenasserim as published in the map of the Coal Committee in the Society's 

 last number of the Journal. 



The Officiating Secretary then laid before the Meeting a curious pootee (religious 

 work) which he received from a Jain priest, mentioned in the last number of the 

 Journal. The MSS. was dated 1508 sumbut, being about 400 years old, and was pro- 

 duced by the priest in support of his assertion that one of Lieut. Conolly's gems, 

 mentioned in the above number of the Journal, gave the heads of a Buddhist teacher 

 bearded, and with a cloth over the mouth. A figure, illuminated in the style of the 

 old missals, was given in this Manuscript in position to support the Jotee's argument. 

 He also attempted the explanation of the supposed monogram (No. 1. pi, I. As. Soc. 

 Jour. No. 98) by stating that it represented the Seuthi Sthapani, or stand for supporting 

 sacred works in use among Buddhists. Captain McLeod inclined to consider the 

 explanation a very fair conjecture ; but the Officiating Secretary stated that the Jotee's 

 interpretation, as well as the result of further investigation on the other gems were 

 not published in this number, as it was wished to invite further inquiry, and also to 

 accompany them with corrected copies of the ancient character on No. 6 gem, which 

 had been faultily lithographed. 



The Officiating Secretary called the attention of the Meeting to a paper containing 

 Memoranda by Mr. Piddington, regarding the Law of Storms. A portion of this 

 paper was read to the Meeting. Mr. Piddington, mentioned that he had met 

 with difficulties in procuring the information he required, to enable him to carry 

 out his object, from the unwillingness of some, and the want of time, &c. in the 

 commanders of vessels, to give extracts of their logs regarding the bad weather they 

 might have experienced on their passage. On this account Mr. Piddington wished 

 the Society to apply to Government for the issuing of some order, making it com- 

 pulsory on all commanders of vessels giving the requisite information on their entering 

 port. Mr. Prinsep thought that Government would not adopt any compulsory 

 measures, as commanders of vessels were only answerable to their owners for their 

 log books ; but he doubted not that they would use every persuasive means, and make 

 the strongest appeals to their feelings for the desired information, and even if it would 

 be of use, a lithographed letter of thanks should be given to all who afford the 

 required information, on their leaving port. Mr. Piddington desired it to be under- 

 stood, that only those parts of their logs as related expressly to the state of the few days 

 bad weather which vessels might have experienced, and the situation of the ship 

 at the time, were all that were solicited. The Officiating Secretary said that he would 

 throw all that had been urged into the form of a letter to Government, and solicit it 

 to make an appeal to Officers and Commanders of vessels that every facility might be 

 given to Mr. Piddington, for the accomplishment of his object. 



A palm leaf Manuscript on Burmese Cosmogony, was exhibited at the Meeting by 

 Captain McLeod, who informed them that the Manusci*ipt in question is the property 

 of Dr. Bayfield, and that he would take an early opportunity of presenting the 

 Society with a similar work on the arrival of his books. 



Read a communication from Mr. Campbell, regarding the Lepchas. 



