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MARCH, 1873.]
CORRESPONDENCE, &c.
Query.
THIRTEEN miles north of the city of Dacca is a village called Uttarkhân, with an old tomb said to be that of Shah Kabir. His descendants possess a sanad dated A. H. 1047 (1637), conferring a piece of land rent-free on "Khandesh 'urf Burhanpur Kabir Wali Agha." In addition; he was allowed a sum of money, which, with the rent of the lâkhiraj land, amounted to eight rupees a day.
Can any of your readers give further particulars regarding this Shah Kabîr? The last king of Khandesh was Bahadur Shah, or, as he is styled by Prinsep, Bahadur Khân Turkî, who, after the conquest of his country by Akbar in A. D. 1600, was imprisoned in Gwalior. Was Shah Kabir his son?
JAMES WISE.
Dacca, 20th Feb. 1873.
REMARK ON THE NOTE CONCERNING ANCIENT DRAVIDIAN NUMERALS.*
THE Dravidian tribes along the crests of the Eastern Ghats, and those who inhabit the interior of the country between the Godavari and the Mahanadi, are notably deficient in the art of counting.
Towards the north, where their speech has been influenced by Uriya immigrants, the higher numbers are adopted from that language; and about the Godavari, where the Telugus have come among them, the aborigines have made use of Telugu for this purpose. I give a few examples :Köi-Orrote, Irruvar, Muvvar, Nalar, Aivvar, A'ruvar, Veduvar, Ennunidi (Tel.+), Tommidi (Tel.), Padi (Tel.), &c. Gadaba-Moi, Umbâr, Iyen, Mun, Mulloi, Tiyir, Sât (Uriya), A't (Ur.), No (Ur), &c., &c. Kerang Kapu-Moi, Umbar, Ingi, O, Malloi, Turu, Ga, Tammar, Santing, Go'a, Gommoi, Gombâru, Gongi, Gôuk, Gominali, Gotturu, Gogu, Gottamar, Gosanting, Salgam, &c.
Pengu Porja-Ruân, Ria, Tia (Ur.), Chår (Ur.), Pânch (Ur.), &c., &c.
Durwa Gonds-Undi, Rand, Mund, Nâlu, Hânig, Harung, Sât (Ur.), A't (Ur.), No (Ur.), &c., &c. Selliya Porja-Undre, Rundi, Mundri, Nalge, Aidu (Tel.), A'ru (Tel.), &c., &c. Tagara Porja-Vakat, Irudu, Mundu, Nâlu, Chendu, Soitan, Sât (Ur.), A't (Ur.), &c.
These tribes are classed as Dravidian and Kolairean, the Kerang Kapu and the Gadaba being of the latter strain, and the rest of the former. Of the Dravidians, none can count in their own language beyond 'seven.' The Penga Porja, indeed, has had to borrow a word for three.' No attempt has yet been made to study the derivation of these words; but if the Köi has a word signifying 'to be nice' or 'to be beautiful-which I am inclined to
See Ind. Ant. Vol. II. p. 24. Tel. Telugu. Ur.= Uriya.
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doubt akin to his expression for 'four,' I shall, on its discovery, derive it from Nâlûr, and not Nålår from it.
The numeration of the Kerang Kâpus seems to be better developed than that of the Gadabas. The two belong, evidently, to the same family; and it is curious that the Gadaba, when casting about for an expression for 'seven,' should have taken an Uriya word, and not one of the dialect akin to his own. It will be seen that the Kerang Kapu has a decimal notation. I am inclined to think that this idea must have been borrowed from the Aryan type, as I have a list of Gadaba numerals which betray a leaning towards a quaternary notation. In the table alluded to, eight' is called Vumbârupunja, i.e., 2-4, and 9 Vumbâru-punja-moi, i.e., 2-4-1. H. G. T.
Vizagapatam, 10th Feb. 1873.
THE SAURASHTRA SOCIETY.
A SOCIETY has been formed in Kathiawar for the purpose of investigating the geography, natural history, ethnology, antiquities, and folklore of the peninsula. The officers and chiefs of the province, and many of the Pandits and men of learning and influence among the natives, are joining, and hopes are entertained that the Society will facilitate the efforts of antiquaries in Bombay and elsewhere, at least so far as pointing out to them the places that ought to be examined.
PARJANYA, THE RAIN GOD.
[As represented in the hymns of the Rig-Veda, v. 88, and vii. 100, 101.] I. Parjanya laud with praises meet; The fertilizing god extol
And ble-s, of living things the soul, Whose advent men, exulting, greet. II. In steeds a charioteer has spurred, His watery scouts before him fly. Far off, within the darkening sky, The thundering lion's roar is heard. III.
Fierce blow the blasts, the lightnings flash, Men, cattle, flee in wild affright. Avenging bolts the wicked smite; The guiltless quake to hear the crash. IV. Malignant demons stricken lie; The forest's leafy monarchs.tall Convulsed, uprooted, prostrate fall, Whene'er Parjanya passes by. V..
Urge on thy car, Parjanya, haste,
And, as thou sweepest o'er the sky, Thine ample waterskinst untie To slake with showers the thirsty waste.
This image is, of course, found in the original. It is well known that in Eastern countries, skins are used for preserving wine and carrying water.
