246 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Oct. 



Babu Rajendralala Mitra said : — 



" After adverting to the circumstances which led to the enquiry re- 

 garding the Agra MS. of Chand's Poems, the author gives, first, a brief 

 account of the size, extent, and character of the Agra MS., and then of 

 another lent to him by Babu Sivaprasad of Benares from the Library 

 of His Highness the Maharaja of Benares. The latter comprises 786 

 pages, and appears to be a continuation of the work noticed in the July 

 Number of the Society's Proceedings. It is divided into two parts, one 

 of which is devoted to Mahoba, and the other to Kanouj, and contains 

 altogether 38 Cantos. The narrative is described to be " very abrupt 

 in its transitions," and laconic in its allusions to past events ; the lan- 

 guage most archaic, and the text exceedingly corrupt. This is 

 followed by a translation of the first Canto of the work, giving an 

 account of the origin of Raja Chandra Brahma. The story opens with 

 Raja Ananga Pal's causing at the suggestion of Vyasa an iron spike 

 to be driven from the surface of the earth down to the head of Vasuki, 

 the great serpent which supports the sphere on its head. The belief 

 was that as long as the spike would remain in its place, so long would 

 the sovereignty of the Tomars last on earth. But Vasuki, pained by 

 the spike, sent his brother Takshak to cheat the king, who caused the 

 spike to be pulled out, and found that its end was smeared with blood. 

 This is followed by an account of Vyasa's foretelling how the sovereignty 

 of the Tomars would be overthrown by the Muhammadans, and then an 

 account is given of a deception practised by the moon on a Brahmin 

 woman, named Hemavati, and the issue thereof. The paper concludes 

 with an extract from the Poem, as a specimen of Chand's style." 



The Secretary announced the receipt of the following communica- 

 tions : — 



The Poems of Chanel, by F. S. Growse, Esq., C. S., Fatigurh. 



On Pandanophyllum and allied genera, by S. Kurz, Esq. 



LlBRARY. 



The following books have been added to the Library since the last 

 meeting :-— 



# # * Names of donors in capitals. 



Presentations. 



Proceedings of the Royal Society, Vol. XVI. No. 103.— The Royal 

 Society of London. 



