June, 1845.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society . lxi 



Resolved that, pending Messrs. Konig's final orders the bills be 

 allowed to stand over, as kindly offered by the School Book Society. 



Read a letter to the Snb-Secretary from the Rev. J. J. Moore, Secy. 

 Agra School Society, acknowledging the receipt of the copy of the 

 Rekha Ganita made here for him* (See proceedings April, 1844) and 

 inclosing a draft for the amount : — 



Read a memorandum from the Sub-Secretary noticing that Dr. 

 Campbell, of Darjeeling, had obliged the Society with 44 old numbers 

 of the Journal. 



Read the following note relative to the model of the Gun " Zubber- 

 jung:"— 



My Dear Sir, — Some time ago a model of the celebrated " Zubberjung" Gun, which 

 was burst on the return of the army from Afghanistan, was sent to the museum of the 

 Asiatic Society by mistake. It should have been forwarded to Mr. Cumin of the Mint, and 

 since I have been apprized of the error, will you kindly do me the favor to make it over 

 to the bearer, and I will agreeably to Colonel Stacy's instructions, send it on to Mr. 

 Cumin. 



Believe me, your's sincerely, 



Ballygunge, May 21st, 1845. Robt. Wroughton. 



And the Secretary stated that in returning the model he has requested 

 Major "Wroughton to oblige the Society with a cast also, on paying for 

 the expense, which he had kindly promised to procure for it. 



Read the following letter from Captain Russell, H. C. Steamer Gan- 

 ges relative to the presentation to which it alludes : — 



Henry Torrens, Esq., Secretary to the Asiatic Society. 



Dear Sir, — On my last trip in the H. C. Steamer Ganges to the Nicobar Islands, I 

 found a curious custom existing amongst the Natives of preserving the bones of their 

 chiefs or principal persons. At Lalone, a village in the N. E. side of the island of 

 Theresa, at the place where the brig or schooner Mary was cut off in either May , June, or 

 July, 1844, Captain Ventura and his crew were all murdered, and the vessel burnt, part 

 of her rigging and stores were found in the houses, the natives having fled to the jungles. 

 Close to this village under a tree were several, say 15 or 16, of the bones of these persons 

 dressed up as you will find by the specimen, which Captain Patterson has the kindness 

 to take up to you from me, which I request you will present to the Asiatic Society. 



On enquiry I find that from three to four months after being buried, the bones are 

 carefully taken up, and dried, afterwards at their feasts carried about to every house 

 by the young girls, and then placed under a tree with cocoanuts, yams, &c. laid near 

 them. Trusting this may be deemed acceptable to your Society. 



Moulmain, 14th May, 1845. J. Russell, 



Commander H. C. Steamer " Ganges. 1 ' 



* But we have nol been able to obtain one with the diagrams. We should be obliged 

 to any friend who could indicate to us where a copy exists with the diagrams.— Eds. 



