apkil — june 1857.] Proceedings, 



167 



1. The Chintamani. 2. Chillapadikaram. 

 3. Valleiyapathi. 4. Kundalakesi. 

 and, 5. Manimekalei, 



For the subject of the paper under notice he has chosen the 

 Epic Chintamani composed by Terudevar. In regard to the action 

 of the Poem 3 and the incidents essential to its development, it is 

 little more than a Narrative of the fabulous acts of prowess and 

 skill of a King called Jivaka. 



Independently of this however, Mr. Percival, whose acquaint- 

 ance with Tamil Literature is most extensive, states that the Poem 

 throughout exhibits such literaiy talent and is interspersed with 

 remarks involving such keen retrospection into the grounds of 

 human action, that it amply sustains the high character he claims 

 for it. In respect of its views it is peculiarly the Text Book of the 

 Jains, and supports, with care, their various doctrinal peculiarities. 

 For the characteristics of the Jains as compared with the Buddhas 

 and Brahmins, vide Bombay Transactions, vol. 3, page 506. Though 

 Mr. Percival has thus pioneered the way, as it were, in this brief 

 notice of one of the five Classical Works in the Tamil Language, 

 we cannot but hope that he will find time to give us some account 

 of the remaining four, more particularly so when we consider that 

 his extensive acquaintance with the Oriental Tongues fits him in a 

 peculiar manner for the highly interesting task. 



The Committee acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the fol- 

 lowing Reports, &c. from the Chief Secretary. 



1. Mr. Herman Schlagentweit's Observations in Upper Assam, &c. 

 from January to May 1856. 



2. Mr. Robert Schlagentweit's Report on the progress of the 

 Magnetic Survey of India from November 1855 to April 1856. 



3. Copies of Reports V, VI, VII, VIII k IX, of the Proceed- 

 ings of the Officers engaged in the Magnetic Survey of India. 



The Society possesses Copies of Reports V, VI, VII & IX, re- 

 ceived from the Chief Secretary and acknowledged in last month's 

 Proceedings. No. VIII. was printed at Agra instead of Lahore, 

 and some delay occurred in its issue. 



4. Annals of Indian Administration, Part 1. 



