1836.] 



Notices of Books, 



393 



XVI.— Notices of Books. 



I. — An Epitome of the History of Ceylon, compiled from Native Annals: 

 and the first Twenty Chapters of the Mahawanso. Translated by 

 the Honorable George Turnour, Esq. Ceylon Civil Service. Ceylon, 

 Colta Church Mission Press, 1836. 



The present day is one of more accurate historical research into the 

 antiquities and mythology of Asia, than any one which preceded. It is 

 better understood that garbled reports of what natives have said, noted 

 down by persons unacquainted with the native languages, and unaccust- 

 omed to accurate investigation, do not form a medium of information 

 that can be depended upon, or one which will stand the test of further 

 and more scrutinizing enquiry ; however much some of those narra- 

 tives may have amused or surprised their readers, they have, in many 

 cases, been nothing more than some facts mingled with much fiction } 

 and disguised with error. The disdain once felt for mere translation is 

 receding before surer principles ; and it is felt, that if we would come 

 at an accurate knowledge of native literature and customs, we must 

 patiently and perseveringly translate these writings, mingling there- 

 with none of our own conjectures; printing both original and transla- 

 tion, and then drawing conclusions, or framing remarks ; or else leav- 

 ing the inferential part of the process to the future and more general 

 historian.. 



No small pleasure is felt in welcoming to the field of historical 

 research, another and a competent labourer ; one who evidently under- 

 stands the value of the principle just adverted to, and has acted upon it, 

 with a zeal, perseverance and talent, in the highest degree creditable. 

 The Honorable Mr. Tumour in acquiring Singhalese to qualify himself 

 for the discharge of official duties, was led on to the Pali, finding it 

 always referred to as an authority ; and among Pali works the Maha- 

 wanso, or great genealogy, was found to be so generally acknowledged 

 as a superior authority, that he was induced to undertake its transla- 

 tion. This task after proceeding to some extent he was led to discon- 

 tinue, in consequence of hearing that the Mahawanso was likely to 

 come out in England, under high auspices, and with no small apparent 

 claims io the fullest estimation and confidence. A perusal of the speci- 

 men received in Ceylon, convinced him that these claims were strik- 

 ingly deficient, and induced him to resume his undertaking. The title 

 at the head of this notice is that of a specimen only; the first volume 

 in quarto is soon to make its appearance, and the issue of the second 

 will be conditional. It is not necessary to enter upon the comparative 

 merits of the two rival works. Apart from a strong personal convic- 

 tion that historical publications, upon the translation and annotation 



