444 



Proceedings of Societies. 



[Oct. 



his devout regard, or superstitious reverence, and the language by which he holds 

 communion with his fellows, than for their lively cognizance, and philosophic 

 interpretation, of the varied phenomena of nature. 



The Statistics of any country are intimately connected with its Political Eco- 

 nomy, and are consequently highly worthy of attention. Their importance was 

 not so generally admitted, as at present, on the formation of our Society ; but it 

 is strikingly set forth by Sir James Mackintosh. The tables which he himself 

 presented, connected with the population of Bombay, and the remarks with which 

 he accompanied them, are valuable. Similar ones, of a later date, are desiderata, 

 and when compared with those given by him, would furnish curious information. 

 The Notices of Jambusar and Loni, given in our Transactions, by Drs. Marshall 

 and Coates ; and of certain districts of the southern Maratha Country, and of 

 the Jharejahs, of Kach, in the Journal of the home Society, by Dr. Bird, and 

 Licutonant Bi rnes, are good specimens of what is required of other localities 

 and tribes. Without the assistance of our liberal Government, little can be done 

 with satisfaction in this department. Such assistance, by instituting special in- 

 quiries, and by delivering up documents already in its possession, or which could 

 be procured by application to its judges, and magistrates, and revenue officers, 

 it could easily, and with great advantage to itself, render*. 



Only one paper on the subject of Political Economy, as connected with India, 

 has been laid before our Society. It is by Mr. Bruce, and has been transmitted 

 to England, where it will not fail to be appreciated. 



Of all the topics of inquiry meriting attention, that of the History and Present 

 Condition of the People, in the different provinces, in regard to language, 

 religion, literature, science and art, means of support, and manners and customs, 

 is paramount. It is very extensive; and has met, from the members of the So- 

 ciety, with considerable attention. 



The Parsis, the great body of whom dwell amongst us, present themselves as 

 special objects of inquiry. The history of their original country, has been ably 

 unfolded by Sir John Malcolm ; and on its ancient chronology previous to the 

 conquest by Alexander, and its state from the battle of Arbela in A. C. 331, 

 to the rise of Ardeshir Babegan, much light has been cast by our late learned 

 President, Colonel Vans Kennedy. Mr. Erskine's papers respecting them, 

 are remarkably interesting, as containing an able review, and analysis, of the 

 "Works of Anquetil bu Perron, who followed Dr. Hyde as the expositor of 

 their tenets; the results of his own observation; and valuable disquisitions on 

 their sacred books and ancient languages. The researches of Professor Rask, 

 in his paper given to this Society, whatever may be the opinions formed of the 

 particular conclusions at which he has arrived, and it must be admitted he has 

 reasoned ingeniously in their support, are also interesting. For the original 

 tracts, with remarks, in the course of being published in France by M. Mohl, 

 we owe our gratitude. The History of the Early kings of Persia by Mirkhond, 

 translated by Mr. Shea; and the History of Vartan and the Armenians, by 

 Mr. Neumann ; and of the Shah Namah, by Mr. Atkinson, for which we are 

 indebted to the Oriental Translation Fund, contain much historical information 



* A proposition has, I understand, been made, by an able and zealous officer of this 

 Presidency (Capt. T. B. Jervis) to the different Governments of India, relative to the pe- 

 riodical publication of the returns of population, revenue, and cultivated and waste lands,. 



