No. 45.— 1894.] 



ANCIENT TAMIL POETS. 



203 



Mr. Barber referred the origin of Portuguese music to Spain, and 

 said that Spanish music was itself borrowed from the Moors. 



His Excellency the G-overnor expressed his conviction in 

 support of the above remarks, and said that during his long residence 

 at Madeira he had heard similar music, which he had no doubt, while 

 being European in origin, had acquired a tinge from the Arab and 

 the Moor. Referring to Mr. Coomaraswamy's Paper he wished to 

 know what European wines could possibly have been imported to 

 India 2,000 years ago. 



Mr. Coomaraswamy thought that most probably the wines referred 

 to were brought over with the Embassies from Italy. 



Mr. Ferguson remarked that it was quite possible that wine was 

 in those days brought over from Syria and Persia to India. 



6. Mr. P. Freudenberg, in proposing a vote of thanks to the 

 writers of the Papers, said that upon hearing the music of the or- 

 chestra he felt himself transported to the Bay of Naples, where he had 

 heard similar tunes. The work of the Society had until quite recently 

 been confined to Europeans, and it was gratifying that two native 

 gentlemen had contributed such interesting information as given that 

 night. In a few happy remarks he showed that human nature was 

 very much the same to-day as it was 2,000 years ago. 



The Hon. Mr. Panabokke, in seconding the above resolution, con- 

 tended that the Sinhalese had a distinctive music of their own, and 

 referred to several Sinhalese works. 



His Excellency the Governor, putting the vote to the Meeting, 

 asked to be allowed to include in it the Portuguese band. The vote 

 was carried with acclamation. 



7. The Hon. Mr. Swettenham asked the Meeting to record a 

 vote of thanks to His Excellency for presiding that evening at what 

 was one of the most interesting and largest attended Meetings held 

 for a long time. 



Mr. Coomaraswamy seconded the vote, which was carried with 

 acclamation, and the Meeting terminated at about 11 p.m. 



13 JUN.9S 



