1843.] Asiatic Society. 1019 



Read the following Letter from our new and zealous associate Dr. Sprenger : — 

 To the Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



Dear Sir, — The Asiatic Society is in possession of two copies of Abdur-Razzak's 

 Dictionary of Suffitic terms, which being rather scarce, and the completest work of the 

 kind, might deserve to be published; and if the Society should deem it worthy of 

 being edited, I should with great pleasure undertake the task. I am fully aware of the 

 objections which can be raised against the work. Sufiism is not much studied, neither 

 here nor in any other part of India, and the merit of the work is perhaps not so great 

 as it might be expected. "With reference to the first objection we may answer, that it 

 is a duty for us, as we are nearer the source, to furnish European scholars who have 

 done so much for India, with materials : and Tholuck's work De Sufiismo ; Garcin de 

 Tassy's most elegant book, entitled Les Oiseaux et les Heures, " Gehmolder's" Speci- 

 men de Philososophia Arabum, Rosenzweig's magnificent edition of part of " Jelaled-din 

 Rum," and Ruckert's highly poetical version of other portions of the Mesnewi, are not 

 only proofs that Sufiism is studied in Europe, but that they find very great difficulties 

 in explaining technical expressions, most of which they might find without loss of time 

 in Abdur-Razzak's Dictionary. As to the merit of the work, I may repeat what 1 have 

 already stated: a Dictionary of Sufitic terms is very desirable, and this is the best book 

 known on the subject, it is therefore the more desirable that it should be edited, as no 

 European collection of MSS. is, to ray knowledge, in possession of a similar work. 



The work itself is very small, and would hardly fill one hundred pages, if the Arabic 

 text alone was printed, which 1 should think best to do. The expense would therefore 

 be very trifling. I am, dear Sir, 



Your's most respectfully, 



A. Sprenger. 



The work upon this recommendation was ordered to be printed forthwith under Dr. 

 Sprenger's kind superintendence, and the best thanks of the Society were accorded to 

 him for his suggestion. 



Calcutta, 1st November, 1843. 



Read a letter from Mr. J. T. D, Cameron, accompanying the Model to which it refers. 

 To H. Torrens, Esq. Secretary to the Asiatic Society, Calcutta. 



Sir, — 1 have the honor to forward per bearer, a specimen of the Ferry Boats com- 

 monly used in Ceylon. 



The European residents of the Island call them Out-riggers, from the outer work 

 attached to the boat, which is intended to balance it. The craft used by the native 

 fishermen are much larger, but similarly built. 



Should you think the specimen deserving of a place in the Museum of this city, 

 I beg to say it is entirely at your service. I am, Sir, yours obediently, 



La Martiniere, 11th October, 1843. J. T. D. Cameron. 



From the Rev. J. J. Moore, Secretary Agra School- Book Society. 



No. 114. 



To the Secretary of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta. 



Sir, — I beg to present, for the acceptance of the Society, copies of two celebrated 

 Sanscrit works on Astronomy, published under the patronage of the Agra School Book 



