110 Proceedings of Ike Asiatic Society. [April, 



portance which these works had upon history and language, the Asiatic 

 Society of Bengal became the parent of almost all the other Societies 

 of the kind. 



Dr. Wilson then briefly mentioned how Mr. Mcintosh founded the 

 Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, and spoke of the practi- 

 cal benefits derived from the labours of the Societies in India. 



The Indian literature and history have greatly benefited by the 

 study of the old classic writings of the Hindus, and he (Dr. W.) was 

 gratified to say, that the progress which has been made in the publica- 

 tion of the Vedas, justifies the expectation that they will soon be com- 

 pleted in the hands of oriental scholars. The study of these Vedas is 

 most important, not only in a historical point of view, but interesting, 

 as shewing the simplicity of the character and customs of the people, 

 and as connected with the origin of mythological ideas. 



Dr. Wilson here read a long extract from the introduction to his 

 forthcoming work, " on castes," in which he shewed the im- 

 portance of the study of the Vedas. 



These ancient writings make it now evident that there had been 

 a considerable amount of civilization among the Aryans of this 

 country, though their progress in this respect was not as large, as that 

 of their brethren who travelled towards the west. It is most probable 

 that the Indian Aryans were pastoral tribes, which spread over all the 

 fertile country of the large valleys of India, but on account of the 

 hostile attacks of the aboriginal races, they still were obliged to 

 maintain an intimate connection, however distant their mode of wander- 

 ing may geographically have necessitated their separation. Thus a sort 

 of common social life was founded ; religious views were developed, 

 customs and laws of common intercourse established. Their religion, 

 which was altogether in the hands of the priests, chiefly occupied it- 

 self with magic ceremonies, though a certain amount of philosophic 

 ideas is observable through the whole system. Unlike the Aryans 

 who migrated towards the European shores, and were susceptible to 

 every influence of foreign civilization, the Indian Aryans shut np 

 themselves from all foreign influence, preserving their own original 

 and peculiar system of religion and other ideas of social life. This 

 exclusion of foreign elements, Dr. Wilson, however, considered as pro- 

 bably disadvantageous to the progress of their civilization. 



