General Meeting, March 5th, 1853. xlyiL 



As will be observed, the numerals follow a decimal notation ; they do 

 not however take value according to position, nor yet are there any co- 

 efficients to answer the same end, there is simple juxtaposition of the 

 isolated numbers and nothing more. Thus 1852 would be written thus: 



©1 





£? 







®- 



one 



thousand 



eight 



hundred 



fifty 



two 



that is 



a separate sign for each word. 



Of course the commonest arithmetical processes become almost impos- 

 sible under such a system, and mental calculation must be resorted to. 

 It would be interesting to know how the native astrologers make their 

 calculations, that is, if they do calculate at all : and also, the affinity which 

 may exist betw een the numerals of the Singhalese and other allied tribes, 

 such as some of the hill people on the Continent of India ; and lastly, whe- 

 ther these signs are, in fact, the letters of any language. 



I am not aware that there is any sign equivalent to our 0, nor does it 

 appear distinctly that the signs for the multiples of ten are compounded 

 of the sign for ten and that for its multiplicator. 



I have the honor to be, 

 Sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



A. Oswald B&qdie. 



The Secretary of the 

 Royal Asiatic Society, 

 Colombo. 



ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, HELD 5TH MARCH, 1853. 



Present: — Eev. D. J. Gogerly in the Chair. 



R. Dawson, Esq., Eev. C. Alwis, Mr. L. De Zoysa, Mr. 

 J. Alwis, Dr. J. B. Misso, Mr. M. Coomarasamy, Captain 

 Dudley, C. E. E., and Dr. Lamprey, 15th Eegiment. 



The following Report of the Committee by the Hon'ble 

 Justice Starke, acting Secretary, was read and adopted. 



Report. 



" Your Committee, in making their Report at this time, 

 have to renew their expressions of regret at the early and 

 lamented decease of the former Secretary of your Society ^ 



