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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1881.
dha, and to erect, on behalf of His departed Imperial Majesty, Tai Tsung--the humane, the orthodox, the deserving, the divinely virtuous, the wise, the supremely filial,-- pagoda beside the Bodhimanila, the Diamond Throne. For His Imperial Majesty, Tai Tsung, was humbly desirous of passing aloft to the Dôvalokathe Mansions of the Blest, there to receive the Word from Bud lha himself, to witness the ranks of the Immortal Saints, and be enrolled for ever among the ranks of tho faithful; hoping thus to secure to the House of Sung divine protection through all generations.
"Recorded this 19th day of the first moon of the 2nd year of ling Tao" (1. D. 1033).
The pagoda or whatever the structure was, appears to have been constructed in honour of the second Emperor of the Sung dynasty (A.D. 976998) and by order of Jen Tsung, the fourth emperor who came to the throne in A.D. 1023. The legend, so to speak, above the inscription, is engraved in what Chinese scholars know as the "lesser seal," used where an ornamental style is considered desirable. The inscription itself is in the usual style current since the 4th century of our era.
THE FIFTH CONGRESS OF ORIENTALISTS.
The Fifth Oriental Congress met at Berlin on 12th September last under the presideney of Dr. Dillmann. The Indo-European section was presided over by Professor Albrecht Weber, who opened it with an able address. The following notes in licate the principal points of interest to Indianists :--
Professor Max Müller read a paper on the study of Sanskrit in England, and another on Buddhist Sanskrit MSS. in Japan, and exhibited a facsimile of a Japanese manuscript of the Vajra. chheilul, lately published as the first fasciculus of the Anecdota 0.coniensia.
Professor Windisch, in a paper on the Hindu dramit in general and the Michchhukatikt in particular, contended for Greek influence on the developinent of the drama. His views were dis. puted by Professors Pischel and Jacobi, the former expressing a hope based on an examination of a Sanskrit drama from Nepil-thut fresh light might be derived from that quarter on the early history of the Hindu stage.
Dr. Oldenberg read a paper on the Lelitavistara, pointing out the composite nature of that work, and the characteristics by which we have to be guided to discriminate the really original portions of the text.
Professor Monier Williams read two papers, - one on the Sandhyi and Brahinayajña ceremonies of the Brahmans, which was illustrated by Pandit Shyamaji Krishnavarma; the other on the application of the Roman alyhabet to the expression of Sanskrit, advocating the system of Sir Wiiliam Jones, as slightly modified since and generally used by English scholars. In connexion with
this paper, Professors Joh. Schmidt and Ascoli were commissioned to form a committee to consider a uniform system of transliterating Sanskrit and Zend, chiefly for linguistic purposes. Panlit Shyâ maji Krishnavarma discoursed on "Sanskrit as a living language in India,' and deprecated the publication of Sanskrit texts in the Roman alphabet. He also gave some account of a Sanskrit address to the Congress by Råmabai, a Hindu lady.
Prof. Ascoli read a paper on the influence of ethnological distinctions on the changes of languages; and Dr. Collitz on the peculiar class of Vedic compounds formed by repetition.
Dr. Doussen gave a résumé of a work, about to be pablished by him, on the Vedantic system of philosophy.
With reference to a letter addressed by Prof. Weber to The Times, May 19, 1880, on the Sanskpit Text Society, the section unanimously adopted a resolution, proposed by Prof. Delbrück of Jena,
that considering the increasing difficulties in the way of the publication of Sanskrit Texts in Europe, the section expresses a hope that the managers of The Sanskrit Text Society may be successful in permanently maintaining a Society, the important services of which are gratefully recognised by all competent scholars.' In reply Prof. Eggeling expressed his and Prof. Cowell's readiness to use their best endeavours in accordance with the wishes of the Congress.
In the Archaeological section, presided over by Prof. von der Gabelentz, the Rev. S. Beal read a paper on the Buddhist councils at Rajagriha and Vesali, translated from the Chinese Vinaya-pitaka. Professors Bastian and Oldenberg took part in the discussion which followed particularly on the meaning and use of the term Nirvana. Dr. J. Burgess submitted a Memorandum on the collection and translation of Indian historical Inscriptions, exhibiting specimens of excellent facsimiles of a number of them, and gave a short account of the progress of the Archæological Surveys in Northem and Western India. Professor Ludwig of Prague followed with a resolution which was unanimously adopted, to the effect that the Archeological section of the Fifth International Congress of Orientalists expresses its desire that the Indian Government will promote as far as lies in its power the exertions of its archeological surveyors, General Cunningham and Dr. Burgess, in the systematic collection and publication of the numerous and important Indian inscriptions.'
The Rev. J. Long read a paper on Eastern Proverbs, and the section expressed its appreciation of the importance of Oriental Proverbs in the light they throw on the social condition and feelings of Eastern races.
On Friday, 16th September, the last day of the meetings, the above two sectional resolutions were adopted by the Congress.- (Communicated.)
