1836.] Tumour's Hist, of Ceylon, and Trans, of the Mahawanso. 403 



as there is no more reason for apprehending the extinction of oriental 

 research, from its having failed to extend its influence over the whole 

 educated community of the world, than that geology, mineralogy, bo- 

 tany, or any of the other sciences should become extincl, because the 

 -interest each individually possesses is of a limited character. Nor does 

 the continuance of oriental research, conducted by Europeans, appear, 

 in any degree, to depend on the contingency of the permanence of 

 British sway over its present Asiatic dominions ; for the spirit of that 

 research has of late years gained even greater strength on the continent 

 of Europe than in the British empire." Page xxi — xxvi. 



The next extract adverts to the question of antiquity as regards the 

 Mdgadki or Pali language. 



" In the midst of this interesting and triumphant career of oriental 

 research, I have undertaken the task of inviting the attention of orien- 

 talists to the Pali buddhistical literature of India, the examination of 

 which is not within my own reach. If they are found to approxi- 

 mate, in any degree, to the authenticity of the Pali historical annals of 

 Ceylon, we shall not only be able to unveil the history of India from 

 the sixth century before Christ, to the period to which those annals 

 may have been continued in India ; but they will also serve to eluci- 

 date there, as they have done here, the intent and import of the bud- 

 dhistical portions of the inscriptions now in progress of being decypher- 

 ed. 



" To do justice, however, to the important question under considera- 

 tion, I must briefly sketch the history of the Magadhi or Pali language, 

 and the scheme of buddhism in reference to history, as each is under- 

 stood in Ceylon. 



" Buddhists are impressed with the conviction that their sacred and 

 classical language, the Magadhi or Pali, is of greater antiquity than 

 the Sanscrit ; and that it had attained also a higher slate of refinement 

 than its rival tongue had acquired. In support of this belief they ad- 

 duce various arguments, which, in their judgment, are quite conclusive. 

 They observe, that the very word " Pali" signifies, original, text, re- 

 gularity ; and there is scarcely a buddhist Pali scholar in Ceylon, who, 

 in the discussion of this question, will not quote with an air of triumph, 

 their favorite verse,— 



" Sd Magadhi ; mula bhdsd, nardyeyddi kappikd, brahmdnochds-* 

 suttdldpa, Sambuddhdchdpi bhdsare, 



" 'There is a language which is the root (of all languages) ; men and 

 brahmans at the commencement of the creation, who never before 

 heard nor uttered an human accent, and even the supreme Buddhos, 

 spoke it : it is Magadhi.' 



