326 THE LAWS OF THE INDIAN AH CHI PEL A CO 
as their permanent place of residence, but cherish to the last the in¬ 
tention of returning to their native country. Hence when any of 
them die here without leaving a will, it is necessary to ascertain their 
native law of succession. 
We commence with a systematic Treatise on the laws of one of the 
most important nations of Eastern Asia,—the Siamese,—a work des¬ 
man ding great ability, great industry, and that extensive erudition 
which probably no one but its author could have brought to bear 
upon it. His introductory remarks render it unnecessary for us to 
detain our readers from it by any recommendation of the subject for 
its great intrinsic interest ethnologically, and its practical utility. Im¬ 
mediately connected as we are with the Siamese, both territorially 
aud commercially, their laws must have greater claims to our atten¬ 
tion than those of more remote nations. We may be allowed, howe¬ 
ver, to congratulate our readers that this portion of our series has 
fallen into the hands of Colonel Low, who has long been so well 
known for his contibutions to oriental literature, and whose Treatises 
on Siamese Grammar, Literature, and Government, and on Budha 
and the Phrabat, testify how long and zealously he has laboured in 
that field from which he now brings us this new evidence of the ex¬ 
tent and soundness of his research. Although, owing to the growing 
interest in the Hindu-Chinese languages in Europe, he may not now 
he noted, as he was for many years, as “ the Siamese Scholar,” we 
believe he has here accomplished a task for which the ablest cultiva¬ 
tors of the Siamese language in France or Germany would have con¬ 
fessed their incompetence. 
