394 



Notices of Books. 



[Oct.: 



principle, can never be satisfactorily edited in England, there appears 

 enough in the analysis before us, to lead to a conclusion, that, though 

 the London printed work is worthy of being commended in its motives, 

 and would doubtless be valuable in the non-existence of any more accu- 

 rate version, yet that the work undertaken by Mr. Tumour, and printed 

 in Ceylon, with all competent native and other assistance around him, 

 is likely to be very superior, and as an authority perfectly decisive. 

 Judging, indeed, from the specimen of style given in an extract from the 

 other work, it appears a pity that what could be done in England was 

 not done, that is the correction of a translation by a native of Ceylon 

 into English, so as to render the translation in some degree idiomatic. 

 However to pass by that circumstance, trivial perhaps in itself, though 

 by no means so when a large work of some pretensions is concerned, 

 it is of more consequence to observe, that, while the copy of the Malta- 

 icanso carried to England with a rude accompanying translation was 

 not complete, being in some places merely an abstract, the copy used by 

 Mr. Turnour was full, and collated with another copy obtained from the 

 opposite eastern peninsula, while the printing the text and translation 

 together will be a safeguard against any slight but unintentional errors, 

 the possibility of which Mr. Turnour acknowledges. Indeed, in every 

 case where his own qualifications are in question, there is a tone and 

 manner which elicit confidence : there is no inflation pompousnesf, or 

 self-conceit, but the marks of a patient, investigating and well-disciplined 

 mind. Perhaps he is a little too keen in his critique on the rival work, 

 apparently of much pretension, without much merit ; but the writer of 

 this brief notice has not seen that work, and by consequence cannot 

 judge from the result of personal inspection. 



As to the Mahawanso itself, Mr. Turnour wishes to have other 

 opinions than his own on its intrinsic merits or general value s and it is 

 a wish in which the readers of this journal will naturally participate. 

 The writer of this notice does not venture to give an opinion unre- 

 quested ; and it remains simply the opinion of one person, who has not 

 the slightest desire to do more than contribute a very humble quota 

 towards aiding the judgment of others, who may not have paid so much 

 attention to similar pursuits; while it is subject to be entirely controlled 

 by the judgment of those who are better versed in matters of oriental 

 enquiry. The writer must then say that he considers the Mahawanso 

 to be a valuable addition to otherwise existing stores of knowledge. In 

 the specimen now under notice there is a preponderance of fable over 

 fact; but there are facts of considerable consequence. The chief one 

 seems to be the light thrown on a heretofore obscure portion of the 

 later history of Mdgadha ; but there are other hints and indications, of 

 occasional occurrence, of some consequence towards tracing out a 

 general history of ancient India. Thus the origin of Ougein (or more 



