________________
112
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1887.
The third paper by M.O. De Harlez is entitled "Constitution de l'Empire de Kin, Livre final de l'Aisin Gurun-i Suduri Bitho." It is an appendix to the History of the Empire of Gold or of Kin, written in 1642, during the conquest of China by the Manchus. The generals, who ruled during the minority of Chun-tai, and who were uncles of the young sovereign, had this history drawn up at the same time as that of the Mongols and of the Tailiao. M. De Harlez has at present in the press a complete translation of the Aisin Gurun-i Suduri Bithe, and he here pre- Ments to us a portion of it. It is an interesting and minute account of the country dealt with, its divisions, method of taxation, and military system.
To Indian readers, however, another of M. Senart's most valuable studies on the Insoriptions of Piyadasi will be the most welcome portion of
this number. The present paper deals with the Language of the inscriptions. Owing to its nature, it is impossible to give an analysis of its contente, for it is an inventory, as condensed me possible, of all the grammatical forms worthy of notice in the inscriptions. In a second part M. Senart proposes to draw general conclusions. He first deals with the Girnår Inscription, then with those of Kupur-di-Ciri, then with those of Khálsi, Dhauli-Jangad, Bhabhra, Sahasrim, Rap. nath, and the Columnar edicts (especially that of Firoz Shah at Dehlt). Each of these is subject to a minute grammatical analysis, under the heads of phonetics, declension, and conjugation. The whole paper is really three distinct complete grammars of the Piyadasi inscriptions. A continuation is promised in a future number, and will be eagerly looked for.
G. A. GRIERSON.
BOOK NOTICES. THE TAREA-KAUMUDI of LAUGAKSHI BAASKARA, edited similar text books for other Sastras, the Bombay
with various readings, notes critical and explana. Department of Public Instruction will certainly tory, and an introduction, by MANILAL NABHUBHAI DVIVEDI, B.A. Bombay Government Control Book earn the gratitude of all who are interested in the Depôt: 1886. 8vo. pp. 18 and 70. [Bombay Sanskrit progress of Sanskrit scholarship. Series, No. XXXII.].
F. KIELHORN. European scholars, desirous of acquiring an
Göttingen. elementary knowledge of the Nyfya-system of philosophy, which indeed is indispensable for all
VIENNA ORIENTAL JOURNAL; edited by the Directors who engage in the study of Sanskrit, hitherto
of the Oriental Institute of the University. Published have had to resort to the Tarkasamgraha and its by Meurs. HÖLDER, Rothethurmstras 15, Vienna often inaccurate English translation. For the This new paper, published under the patronage understanding of the original texts, they have, of the Austrian Ministry of Public Instruction. from the Dictionaries, not been able to get any is intended to supply a want long felt among real help whatever; for, in them, even the Austrian Orientaliste, by giving them a central ordinary terms of the Nyiya are either not given organ, exclusively devoted to the interests of at all, or are explained in vague and slovenly Oriental studies. It contains (1) original articles manner, apt to mislead rather than to instruct on Oriental history and philology: (2) reviews the beginner. This edition of the Tarka-Kau- of important works on such sabiecta. published in mudi, therefore, in my opinion, supplies a long- | Europe and in the East, as well as abort miscellafelt and urgent want; and I may well congratu. neous notes. Its critical portion is really a con. late the Superintendents of the Bombay Sansksit
tinuation of the Literarischkritische Beilage sur Series, not only on the choice of this particular österreichischen Monatsschrift für den Orient." text, but even more on having found an editor 80 which have appeared during the last three years eminently qualified to explain that text, as Mr. with the assistance of the gentlemen who now Drivédi has proved himself to be. Mr. Dvivėdi no doubt he had the advantage of studying Nyaya English, French and Italian communications under Bhimacharya in the Elphinstone College; are accepted for both parts of the journal, besides and he himself gratefully acknowledges what he
papers in German. Articles referring to India, owes to that learned NaiyAyika. But even with or likely to interest Indian students, are published, such assistance his task has been by no means As far as possible, in English, the lingua franca an engy one. And the result of his labours is all of the Aryans in the East. The numbers of the that could have been desired. His full and yet Vienna Oriental Journal will, as a rule, appear very concise notes show that he has thoroughly in each January, April, July and October, and mastered his subject, and that he is able to the subscription for a volume of four numbers, explain it to others. He has alirked no difficulty about 320 pages ootavo, has been fixed for India himself; and, judging from my own study of the at eight rupees. book, he has succeeded in solving the difficulties, The editors are Messrs. G. Bühler, J. Karabacek, which the student is likely to encounter in his D. H. Müller, F. Müller, and Leo Reinisch, whose attempt to master the somewhat unfamiliar con- names are sufficient guarantee for the excellence tents of the Tarka-Kaumudt. By furnishing of its contents.