May, 1845.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, xlix 



Mr. Long not being present the Secretary was desired to make some 

 further inquiries. 



Read the following letter from W. H. Hoff, Esq., the coins and hu- 

 man hand being on the table. 



To H. Torrens, Esq., Secretary, Asiatic Society. 



Sir, — I have in my possession a few articles which I will send over if you think that 

 they will be acceptable to the Asiatic Society. 



The first is one of fifteen coins found in the interior and uncultivated parts of Singa- 

 pore. On having a patch of land dug up, a gentleman discovered an earthen pot 

 containing them. I have been unable to ascertain of what metal or mixture of metals 

 the coin is composed ; but I am inclined to think that zinc and silver have been employed 

 in its manufacture. The obverse side bears the faint traces of some unknown characters, 

 and on the reverse side there is a rude device of a lion or some other beast. 



The next is a glass vessel containing a human hand kept in pepper. It belonged to a 

 notorious footpad or robber who was long a terror to the inhabitants of the Nicobars, 

 and had for a considerable time escaped punishment. He used to propel poisoned 

 arrows through a null or tube about a yard in length merely with his breath ! He was 

 at last shot ; but it was found impracticable to extricate the null from his death-grasp : 

 it was consequently sawed off on both sides. The remaining portion is still in the 

 clutch of the large and hairy hand. 



24 March, 1845. Wm. H. Hoff. 



The Secretary submitted, from the Sub-Secretary, a prospectus of a 

 New Zodaical Map, to be edited by J. W. Woollgar, F. R. A. S., upon 

 a new projection, and to a convenient scale ; corresponding with the 

 Maps of Schwink, and a little larger than those of Professor Argelan- 

 der, containing about 1000 stars visible to the naked eye. The Sub- 

 Secretary suggested that such a map (the price being also only 7s. 

 6d.) would be a useful addition to the Society's port-folios, and more- 

 over that the Society might appropriately present one to the Prince 

 of Mekhara. (See Proceedings October, 1844.) Two copies were 

 ordered to be subscribed for. 



The Sub-Secretary presented on the part of Captain F. M. Crisp of 

 Moulmein, a grass petticoat and scarf worn by the women of the better 

 classes at Teresa, one of the Car Nicobar Islands. 



Read a letter from the Count Ange de St. Prieux, proposing that the 

 Society should contribute either by funds or by the purchase of copies 

 of a work entitled, " Antiquites Mexicaines" to the expenses of a joint 

 " Commission Scientifique Americaine" formed at Paris for the further 

 exploration of American Antiquities. 



