1848.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 453 



of the Asiatic Researches, but it is in no other respect identical with the one 

 I now bring to notice. Even where the names of places mentioned are 

 the same, the manner of treating them is different, and the arrangement 

 of the two essays does not all correspond. It is certainly not an early 

 work of the learned author, for the IXth Volume of the Asiatic Researches 

 is quoted in it ; so that, although it abounds with the fanciful illustrations, 

 conjectural etymologies, and forced constructions for which he is celebrat- 

 ed, we may be sure that his notorious Pundit had no concern in it. 



I am not aware whether the work is known or not to Professor Wilson. 

 Many of Wil ford's Sanscrit manuscripts on Geography were lost or dispersed 

 at his death, but a few leaves which were purchased for the Calcutta Sanscrit 

 College were translated by the Professor, and published by him in the 

 Oriental Quarterly Magazine for December, 1824. (See Vishnu Purana, 

 note p. 1/9.) It is possible that in this translation some allusion may be 

 made to the work I now bring forward, and the translator may have express- 

 ed an opinion of its merits. Unfortunately that Magazine is nowhere 

 procurable in the city of its birth, and I cannot ascertain this point. 



As however the work is no doubt known to Professor Wilson, who had for 

 so many years the command of our Library, it might be as well to ask his 

 opinion of it. If it has escaped his observation, I can only add that I think 

 it worthy of publication in our Journal, in which it would occupy about 120 

 pages ; for even the extravagances of such an author as Wilford, are worthy of 

 record, and his writings are still highly valued for the occasional glimpses of 

 knowledge which they impart, even by those who are most competent to 

 ditect and expose their errors, 



I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



H. M. Elliot. 

 April 29>th, 1848. 



Mr. Laidlay stated that Capt. A. Cunningham had undertaken to 

 edit and publish the MS. referred to. 



From H. M. Elliot, Esq. forwarding a paper by Dr. Aloys Sprenger, 

 entitled Notice of some copies of the Arabic work Rasay el Akhwan al 

 qafa. Referred to Oriental Section. 



From the Rev. Mr. Hsebcrlin of Dacca, stating that the MS. of the 

 Pundit Jawahir Lai had never been in his possession — also regarding the 

 Sanscrit dramas referred to by Capt, Cunningham. Referred to the 

 " Oriental Section." 



3 q 2 



