1 16 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [May, 



History of St. Peter, LeDieu adds on the title page of his edition 

 the words amma dludah, ' but contaminated.' LeDieu's edition 

 contains also a most interesting (Latin) letter written in 1598 by 

 J. Xavier and Emmanuel Pigneiro, who accompanied Akbar to 

 Kashmir, and back to Lahor and Agrah. Their views regarding 

 Akbar' s character, the behaviour of the Hindus and Muhammadans 

 towards Christians, and their moderate success as missionaries, 

 &c, deserve the attention of the Historian. The letter contains 

 also several allusions to the wellknown cunabula,* or representa- 

 tions, in wax, of the Messiah in the manger at Bethlehem, which 

 the Padris exhibited at Christmas to the amusement of Hindus 

 and Muhammadans. 



Instead of c Hindus and Muhammadans,' J. Xavier uses ' Mauri 

 et Ethnici,' which corresponds to the phrase ' Moors and Gentoos,' 

 which we find so often in old Sanads of the E. I. Company, and 

 in early histories. Orme was the first that objected to this term. 

 Por ' Mughuls' and ' Akbar,' the letter gives invariably the curious 

 spellings Mogorani (sic) and Acabar. 



There is nothing to shew that L e D i e u observed the historical 

 value of J. X a v i e r ' s books : he was too much engaged in hot 

 controversy to be struck by the tolerance shewn by a Muhammadan 

 ruler towards Christians. 



The Persian of J. Xavier's work is easy and flowing. There 

 are very few passages, if any, that sound \ outlandish.' L e D i e u. 

 did not detect any linguistic flaws either. One phrase, however, 

 struck me as peculiar. 'Padri J. Xavier, of the Society of 

 Jesus' is translated by — 



— but giihbat does not mean ' Society,' but ' society' in the sense of 

 ' friendship.' 



* This word has enabled mo to correct a corrupt passage in the History of 

 Akbar by Bad&onf, printed in onr Bibl. Indica. ' Cunabala,' transliterated 

 would be ejlbltf, with a final nun i gliunnah. The MSS. of Baduoni (vide my 

 Afn translation, p. 193, I. 3 from below) have a word uilvta or, without dots, 

 e;l(jJb for which we have no doubt to read ^jSLlsS. The passage translated 

 would thus be — 



' The ringing of bells as in use with the Christians, and tho shewing of the 

 figure of the cross, and tho cunabula at their feast, and other childish play- 

 things of theii'S, were daily iu practise [at Akbar' S Court].' 



