APRIL — JUNE 1857.] 
Mkcclla7ieoiis Notices, 
163 
by Captain Burton, Bombay Army, has already attained a second 
edition. Captain Burton has also written a History of Sindh, and has 
proved himself possessed of energy and observation which, coupled 
to his intimate acquaintance with the various dialects of Arabic 
and Persia, rendered him peculiarly fitted to undertake the pilgrim- 
age of which he has giv^n us so interesting a narrative. 
A valuable work from the pen of a member of the Madras Medi- 
cal Service has just been published, under the title of The Antiqui' 
ties of Kertch and Researches in the Cimmerian Bosphorus ; with 
remarks on the Ethnological and Physical History of the Crimea ; by 
Duncan Macpherscfl, M. d,, of the Madras Army, Folio, and Colored 
engravings, Two guineas. Some of the early proof plates of the 
antiquities were exhibited at our meeting in March last, and attracted 
much admiration. The notice of them will be found at page 284, 
Vol. I. 
More recently has been announced A Journal of two years^ Travel 
in Persia, Ceylon, Sfc. by Robert Binning, Esq. , Madras Civil Ser- 
vice, 2 vols. 8vo. 285. (Allen and Co). 
The Athenceum of April 18, 1857, p. 496, concludes a favourable 
review of Mr. Binning's work in these words, — 
'* After this general picture, we might draw attention to many valuable details in 
Mr. Binniug's work, but we shall content ourselves with saying that it will be found 
a book of reference as to measures, dress, household matters and statistics. The 
author's opinions on Persian literature are especially valuable. A man who has 
read through the 60,000 couplets of Firdausi, most of the lesser poets and a more 
than usual quantum of historical and doctrinal works, is entitled to speak ex ca- 
thedra on Persian writings. Classical scholars may, indeed, be disposed to demur 
to an authority who places the Shahnamah above the Iliad. There are many 
points of comparison between Homer and the Persian Epic Poet; but we shall 
not enter upon the parallel, which would form a good subject for a separate essay, 
and would require a book to itself. One coincidence, however, may be noticed, 
as to the martial enthusiasm the verses of both poets inspire. " The Persian sol- 
diery," says Mr. Binning, " when about to engage in combat, are accustomed to 
fiing aloud certain passages of the Shahndmah, which practice has the effect of 
inspiriting them to absolute fury ; as the verses of Homer did t*he warriors of 
Greece, or as the Runic lays of the Skalds were wont to animate the fierce Ber- 
serkars of old Norway." Leaving the stout partizan of the Homeric cause to take 
up Mr. Binning's glove, we close the volumes in which the challenge is recorded, 
with a hint to the Greek champions that they may perhaps in this encounter find 
harder >vork than in the old fields of Marathon and Salamis." 
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