192 On the Revolution of the Seasons. [MarcA, 



seems to me, contradicts such an origin ; without being easily recon- 

 cileable thereto. The entire book might be worth translating, at some 

 future period; for though the Jaina legendary history is as much be- 

 clouded with metaphor, and fiction, as the Brahmanical ; yet, from a 

 comparison of the two, facts may be selected which could not be receiv- 

 ed on the evidence of either one of the parties. 



Prof. Wilson's notice of this book (Des. Cat. vol. 1, p. 152) is 

 as follows : 



" VI. Chaturvinsati Pura'na. 

 " Tamul Language and Character, Palm-leaves. 



" An account of various sovereigns, peculiar to the legendary history 

 of the Jainas, who flourished contemporaneously with the twenty-four 

 Jainas, as Vidyddhara, Mahdbala, Vajrabdhu, Vajragarbha, Ndbhi, 

 Vrishabha, Bharata, Anukampana, Sripdla, Satnudravijaya, Sri- 

 shena, &c. In three books, by Vxrasoma Suri." 



The statement of this book being in the Tamil language and charac- 

 ter must have been an oversight of Prof. Wilson's assistant. It is a 

 Prakrit (or unpolished Sanskrit) work of the kind sometimes denomi- 

 nated (by natives of other provincest han the Tamil district), the Ta- 

 mil Grant'ha; the term grant' ha not then denoting merely a book, 

 but a Prakrit work, both in letters and language. 



Conclusion. 



In this report I have not included all the works that have been the 

 subject of examination, collation and restoration during the brief period 

 of two months, to which it refers ; but only so many as would suffice 

 to form a primary volume qf restored documents ; of which moreover, 

 I could get the abstracts written over from my rough notes in sufficient 

 time ; and the preparation of an abstract, forms to me, not the least 

 laborious part of the duty. Such MSS. as for the present lie over, I 

 purpose to include within a following statement. 



II. — On the Revolution of the Seasons. By the Rev. Robert 

 Everest. 



(Continued from vol. VI. p. 308.) 

 When my last paper upon this subject was in hand I was in hopes 

 of receiving additional lists of the prices of corn from different parts of 

 the country, which might enable me to trace the average line of varia- 

 tion throughout the last century with a considerable degree of regula- 



