No. 62. — 1909.] ANNUAL REPORT. 



287 



first class critical training and wide acquaintance both with Pali 

 literature and with the latest methods of historical and philological 

 research. 



Such a scholar, feeling both the responsibility and the credit of the 

 work, would give to every detail of it the advantage of his long 

 training and accurate knowledge ; and he would be able to make the 

 best possible use of suggestions made by the members of the Committee 

 whose names appear in the enclosure to your letter. 



Were such a scholar entrusted with the work, the general lines on 

 which the work should be done would be determined by the Govern- 

 ment of Ceylon in the terms of the agreement made with the translator. 

 It would, I presume, be the duty of the editors in Ceylon and 

 Europe to consider any suggestions made by members of the Committee 

 and report to the Government generally the question, and especially 

 on the point whether any of those suggestions, and if so which of them, 

 should be incorporated in the agreement with the translator. 



With regard to the choice of a translator there can, in my humble 

 opinion, be very little doubt. Professor Geiger of Erlangen University 

 has devoted several years to a special detailed study of the Mahawansa. 

 He has written an admirable volume on the sources of its information, 

 and its relation to the other historical books of Ceylon. He has just 

 completed his new critical edition of the original text, of which I have 

 the honour to forward a copy to you now. He is a scholar of quite 

 first class rank and a rapid worker, and if he could be induced to 

 undertake the work under such conditions as the Government of Ceylon 

 should consider it advisable to determine, he could be fully trusted to 

 bring the work to completion within a reasonably short space of time 

 and in a satisfactory manner. 



For the remainder of the translation, that of the continuation of the 

 Mahawansa added at various times to the original text, it will be an 

 important question for consideration whether the text itself should not 

 be revised before the translation is undertaken. It might be advisable 

 to refer this point to Professor Geiger for report. 



Nothing seems to have been definitely settled as yet as to the duties 

 of an editor. It would seem most difficult, if not impossible, to 

 formulate any scheme by which the editors should become responsible 

 for any of the details of the work, and it is probably not intended that 

 they should. In that case I should be prepared to act without 

 remuneration as Editor for Europe. 



I am, &c, 



T. W. Rhys Davids, 

 Chairman, Pali Text Society. 



, It was decided by the Government that as a considerable time 

 must elapse before any decision can be arrived at with regard 

 to the form of the new edition, that 100 copies of the existing 

 translation of the " Mahawansa" be reprinted. 



Finances. 



Annexed to this Report is balance sheet showing expenditure 

 and receipts for 1908. Attention must be drawn to the unpardon- 

 able neglect of a large number of Members in delaying payment 

 of their subscriptions. The arrears of subscription due by 

 Members up to the close of the year is about Us. 2,400. Steps 

 will be taken to enforce the rule against defaulters. 



