]S(;s.] Contribution to Persian Lexicography. 15 



The editor of the Burhan gives likewise the Zand words ; but, as far 

 as I know, lie is the only Muhaniinadan lexicographer who has thought 

 it worth while to copy them. 



The order of the words in the dictionary is at first sight bewildering. 

 They are arranged according to the second letter. Thus the first <Jj 

 contains all words whose second letter is alif\ the second bub those 

 whose second letter is w °^ an( * so on « Within each bab, the words arc 

 again alphabetically arranged. For example, jl^ly*, O^/, <J>my will 

 stand in the same bab, the j; v^ ; but jloil^ will stand before, and 

 <D±J> after, the word ^a^, because <_>» sin and o(^ gdf stand in the 

 alphabet respectively before and after the o fe. 



MSS. of the Farhang are numerous. A good MS. may be obtained 

 for 40 to 50 Rupees. Our Society possesses two very good ones ; 

 No. 611, marked with the muhr of Tippu Sultan, is very correct. 



The worth of the dictionary is so generally recognized, that not only 

 the general term " The Farhang" is used instead of Farhang i Jalidn- 

 girf, but that the sources from which it was compiled have nearly all 

 sunk into oblivion. For the pre-classical and classical times of the Per- 

 sian literature, it is the completest dictionary and the richest mine of 

 quotations. The Burhan is the Farhang without examples. Even the 

 Turkish- Persian dictionary which Vullers has used, is chiefly based 

 upon the Farhang, whilst the dictionaries of Rashidi and Khan Xrzii 

 are intended to correct its mistakes. 



Mistakes in a dictionary are, on the whole, of less consequence, than 

 mistakes in works on science ; for supposing one of the words be 

 wrong, no one would find it used by authors. Mistakes in meanings are 

 more serious ; and in this regard, it is well that the Farhang has been 

 examined, partly by Suriiri, but thoroughly by Rashidi and Khan 

 Arzii. On the other hand, it was unfortunate that the Burhan, which 

 through the printed editions of Capt. Roebuck and Vullers' Lexicon 

 Persico-Latinum, has become best known in Europe, appeared before 

 the critical labours of Rashidi and Khan Arzii, so that every mistake 

 of the Farhang has been over and over again printed, or improved 

 upon. The chief fault of the Farhang is this, that he too hastily 

 abstracts particular meanings from the verses which he quotes. Hence 

 the danger to which compilers are exposed that use the Farhang with- 

 out giving his examples, as Burhan and Vullers have done. 



