968 



Asiatic Society. 



[No. 130. 



that a formal report would be more satisfactory; and it has been reported to His 

 Excellency Sir Jasper Nicolls, Commander-in-Chief in India. 



W. Hough, Major. 

 Calcutta, 1th October, 1842. 



The Chinese "Life Preserver" as modified by Major Hough. First known to the 

 English in 1730, vide Annual Register, Vol. 1, 1761, p. 141.—" Useful Projects." 



A Placed over the head. 



B.andC. The arms thrown 

 over both squares. 



May be used as above 

 represented ; or with 

 an angle to the front. 



To be made of kaguzee bamboos. The knots to be cut j ust at the ends ; if in the 

 middle between two knots, water would get in and make them less buoyant. The 

 frame of eight bamboos is fastened by string at the angles, and in the centre of the 

 sides, and should be tarred, or dammered over, to prevent the string becoming rotten. 

 There should be a strong wooden pin to fasten the bamboos at the angles. The above 

 is made with two knots in the inner square, of large bamboos, the outer may be 

 of common bamboo. Those of three knots would support three or four men. Smaller 

 might be made for children. By fastening a rope to the float, and then to the arm, 

 or round the body, it never can drift away. W, Hough, Major. 



Calcutta, 7th October, 1842. 



Read the following letter addressed to the Secretary by M. Garcin de Tassy. 



Monsieur, Paris, 53 Rue St Andre des Arts, ce 9, Juillet 1842. 



Sous les auspices de mon honorable ami M. J. B. Tassin, qui m'a fait l'eloge de vo- 

 tre caractere serviable, je prends la liberte de m'addresser a vous pour vous exprimer 

 le desir que j'ai d'obtenir une Biographie originate des Po'etes Hindous, si un pareil 

 ouvrage existe. Le Bhakta met I, dont M. W. Price a publie de nombreux extraits, 

 peut jusqu'a un certain point remplacer cet ouvrage, puisque la plupart des chefs des 

 sectes Hindous dont il y est questions ont auteurs de poesies Hindous. Maisjen'ai 

 pas cet ouvrage complet; s'il existait a Calcutta et qu'on peut en avoir une copie, 

 je vous serais bien oblige de me la procurer. Pourriez-vous aussi me procurer quel- 



