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31
MISCELLANEA.
JANUARY 5, 1872.)
discovered at Harchoka in the Chota Nagpur Tri-, with Chaldee), Syriac and Arabic might be taken butary Mahal of Chang Bhokar. Tracings, plans, as the best representatives of the first group. It and inscriptions were exhibited, and Captain Sa- seems superfluous to urge the importance of an muells has promised to send descriptive notes for the accurate knowledge of Hebrew in a great Christian next meeting. There appear to be several rock-cut University ; this study has always flourished to temples in the neighbourhood. Captain Blunt, in some extent at Cambridge, and it is hoped that 1795, visited those at Mara, a village in Rewa. many who have already devoted themselves to it
might be induced to extend their researches to the COIN OF FIRUZ SHAH ZAFAR.
sister dialects. The connection of Syriac with the In March last, Mr. E. C. Bayley presented the early Christian Literature, and the revival of its Asiatic Society of Bengal with a unique coin bear
study in the present generation, to which the large ing the name of Firuz Shah Zafar. A woodcut had
addition of Syriac MSS. to the British Museum has just been prepared when the first copy of Mr. Tho
in no slight degree contributed, would justify the mas's Chronicles of the Pathan Kings of Delhi
position proposed for it in a Semitic examination. reached this country. Mr. Thomas (p. 300) onu
In Arabic, the intricacies of the Grammar and the merates four coins that bear the name of that prince,
extent of the Vocabulary render an early systematic among them one gold coin, a "unique specimen in
training especially necessary. Its literature is rich the possession of Col. Guthrie," and "one silver and varied in poetry, history and science, and coin, a new variety, belonging to Mr. Bayley," &c. indispensable to all who would fully understand They are all posthumous coins, as Zafar died before the spirit of the Muhammadan religion. Not only his father. The original is identical with Col. is Arabic the spoken language of that part of the Guthrie's specimen, of which, however, the margin East most interesting to Europeans, but it enters has been cut away. The coin bears date, A. H. 791, largely into the composition of Persian and Turkish. which agrees with the third coin described by Mr.
In the Aryan group, Sanskrit holds the first and Thomas. During the year 791, Abubakr, son of foremost place. Independently of its vast literature Zafar, succeeded to the throne of Delhi, which ac
which embraces the authoritative theological works counts perhaps for the issue, or re-issue of coins of the Brahmans, it is the eldest sister of the Indowith Zafar's name. The weight of the coin cannot European tongues, and is now acknowledged to be be determined, as it is attached to a necklace. It an indispensable aid in unravelling the structure of bears the following legend: "The great Sultan Firuz Greek and Latin as well as of the Germanio, Keltic Shah Zafar, son of Firuz Shah, the Royal, in the and Slavonic tongues. It is the parent of most of time of the Imam, the Commander of the Faithful, the spoken languages of Northern India, and also Abdullah,-inay his Khilatfat be prepetuated !" of Pali, the sacred language of the Buddhists. ORIENTAL STUDIES AT CAMBRIDGE.
Persian also possesses an extensive literature of The Board of Oriental Studies at Cambridge has
especial value for historic and theosophic inves
tigations; it is cultivated by the Muhammadans presented the following Report on Oriental Studies to the Vice Chancellor. (Dated Nov. 8, 1871).
in India, as well as in Persia itself ; and might ther"The Board of Oriental Studies are unanimously
efore be introduced with advantage into this Tripos.
The Members of the Board feel that it wonld of opinion that the time has now arrived for assigning to the Oriental languages a more prominent
be presumptuous to expect any great result from
the establishment of Oriental Triposes, until theseposition among the studies of the University. These form at present the only great branch of learning
studies have won a due share of the Coliege which, though long recognized in the University
endowments; yet they confidently hope that the
University will grant, as far as lies in its power, a by the foundation of Professorships, fails to take
fair field for the growth and development of studies its proper place in our great examinations. The
80 intimately connected with Biblical and Ecimpulse given in the last few years to the Moral and
clesiastical Literature, with the Religion of our Natural Sciences by the establishment to Triposes
Indian fellow-subjects, with the Science of suggests to the Board similar examinations in
Language, and the history of the human Mind. their department as the best method, in accordance
The Vice-Chancellorinvited the attendance of Memwith the present University system, for fostering
bers of the Senate in the Art's School, on Monday, the early growth of Oriental Studies.
Nov. 20 at 2 p.m., for the discussion of this Report As the Oriental Languages, now represented in the University, naturally separate into two main groups REVISION OF THE SINHALESE BUDDHIST the Board beg to recommend the establishment of
SCRIPTURES. two independent Oriental Triposes : (1) the Semitic,
In the year 1867, through the exertions of a Sinand (2) the Aryan. In each of these two great halese nobleman named Iddamalgoda, a Synod of divisions, it would probably be found expedient to the Buddhist clergy, was convened at the town of confine the attention of the student to a few of the Palmadulla for the purpose of correcting the Tripileading languages rather than to encourage a taka. The Synod was under the joint presidency superficial knowledge of many. Hebrew (together of two eminent prelates, Sumairgala and Dhíránanda,
