1 14 Tablet in a Buddhist Monastery at Ningpo. [No. 146. 



perhaps the elements of the letters have been subdivided ? or are written in their primitive 

 forms ? To Dr McGowan's closing paragraph we heartily respond, and our readers will 

 have seen that the Asiatic Society has not been wholly inattentive to the great field of 

 research which is opened in China. We trust that amongst the many Europeans of 

 learning and talent who are now resorting there, it will not be forgotten that our Jour- 

 nal and Researches offer a ready means of publication. — Eds. 



The tablet is of wood painted black, the characters are red. It is 

 about six inches square and is placed in a small frame. A light is 

 kept burning constantly before the Tablet, which is regarded with 

 great veneration. 



At the margin is an inscription in Chinese, of which the following is 

 offered as a translation : — 



u A mysterious Tablet to dispel the evil influences of northern 

 realms." 



The priests in charge of the temple can give no further information 

 concerning the Tablet than that it has been in their Temple for more 

 than a century. 



The priesthood, as well as all foreigners who have seen it, are anxious 

 to ascertain to what language the characters belong, and if possible to 

 obtain a translation. It has been shown to many philologists in China, 

 but none could throw any light upon it ; some supposed it to be Thi- 

 betan, but Dr. Hseberlin of this city informs me that he cannot re- 

 cognize in the inscription any one of the three form of characters 

 which have been or are now employed in Thibet. 



With this explanation I take the liberty of presenting the accom- 

 panying copy of the inscription to the Asiatic Society, trusting that 

 some of its learned members may be able to decipher it. 



The investigations of the members of that institution have been pur- 

 sued with so much zeal in India, and have been attended with so much 

 success, that there is abundant reason to hope that it will not be inat- 

 tentive to the great field for scientific research which has been opened 

 in the neighbouring empire of China, perhaps at the present time the 

 most interesting part of Asia to orientalists. 



Danl. J. Macgowan. 



