CEYLON BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



Budhism — On certain alphabetic characters and the elements 

 of speech — On the translated Singhalese literature — On the 

 state of crime here, and the collection of statistical infor- 

 mation in general — The phrenological character of the Sing- 

 halese — The ravages of the cocoa-nut beetle — On some 

 ancient coins found at Calpentyn — and on the cave temples 

 at Dambool. 



Among the papers contributed by members during the 

 past year, those on Budhism by the Rev. Mr. Gogerly 

 are highly valuable, being drawn from original sources. It 

 is beyond all question, however, that nothing will suffice 

 for the public short of the publication of the original text 

 itself; and therefore it appears to me that this Society 

 should encourage the learned author, who has the rare ad- 

 vantage of possessing the text, together with some ancient 

 comments, to publish those at once with a translation an- 

 nexed. The Society indeed ought not to delay in this mat- 

 ter: it is for them and the learned author of these papers 

 to bring out the system of Budhism, as known here, dis- 

 tinctly before the world; and it is in this way only that 

 that system will find its true place as a theory of life and 

 conduct. 



The papers of the learned and ingenious Secretary of 

 the Society are exceedingly interesting. In regard to one 

 of them, however, I mean that on the cave temples at 

 Dambool, I would say that a transcript of the original in- 

 scriptions should be inserted in it. What in these and other 

 like cases we ought of course always to have in view is, to 

 put the reader in a position to judge for himself; — and 

 blessed be God, it is but one of the many evidences we 

 have of the author of nature and the author of truth being 

 one, that it is not in any mere extracts, or in any mere 

 translation, to satisfy the mind in any matter in which it 

 desires to be informed. 



Mr. Capper's paper on the ravages of the cocoa-nut 

 beetle was distinguished for its practical character: it was 

 also distinguished in another respect, namely^in raising up 

 a general spirit of enquiry at once encouraging to every 

 future contributor, and giving very plain promise of the 

 beneficial working of the Society. 



But besides the contributions of members, the Society 

 has been favoured with the aid and assistance of gentlemen 



