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FEBRUARY, 1891.]
BOOK-NOTICES.
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Darila, the great-grandson of Vatsa arman. In the existing MSS., this commentary goes only as far as about the first half of the text. Darila and two other commentators, Rudra and Bhadra, are quoted in the paddhati of Kebava. Extracts from this treatise on the ritual of the Kaulikasútra are added in the Appendix (pages 307 to 372). Indices of proper names, technical terms, mantras and quotations, conclude the volume. A list of new contributions to the Vedic lexicon is included in the Introduction (pages xliii. to lvii.)
E. H.
TOUNG PAO, Archives pour servir à l'étude de l'his.
toire, des langues, de la géographie et de l'ethnographie de l'Asie Orientale (Chine, Japon, Corée, Indo-Chine, Asie Centrale et Malaisie), rédigées par MM. GUSTAVE SCHLEGEL et HENRI CORDIER, Vol. I. No. 1, April, 1890. Leide, E. J. Brill: London, Luzao and Co. We hasten to welcome this remarkably good addition to the periodical literature of the East, and to wish it every success. The names of its editors, Profs. Schlegel of Leiden and Cordier of Paris are indeed a guarantee of the excellence of its contents, and although periodicals dealing with matters Oriental are already numerous enough and a heavy burden on students with limited means, yet the papers in this first number of Toung Pao shew that it fills a vacant space and will supply us with information which we are not likely to meet with elsewhere.
It deals principally with China, but in this first number there are articles of great interest to Anglo-Indians, such as “The French in Burma in the Eighteenth Century," "To Yunnan VIA Tongking," and "Notes on a Journey to Yunnan."
The first of these articles is extremely interest. ing and most valuable at the present time, as it consists of "extracts from the log of the Royal Tender La Baleine, commanded by " le Sr. Flouest, Naval Lieutenant, from 12th February 1782 to 28th March 1786, with a description of the kingdom of Pegu, the manners, laws, religion, customs and commerce of the inhabitants of that country (paija)."
This journal is divided into two parts. The first consists of an account of the journey to and fro from Brest to Rangoon, and what may be called personal matters, and the second of a description of the country. With regard to these the author appears to have been so close an observer that we propose, if possible, to reproduce his remarks in full in the Indian Antiquary.
In the present number we are only taken as far as the arrival at Rangoon. Starting from Brest on 12th February 1782 with troops, M. Flouest sailed vid Madeira and the Isle of France for India, sighting the Cocos Islands on 18th February 1783, and making the coast of Coromandel on the 16th March, where he disembarked troops at Portonovo.
The fleet, for in those days it was not safe for ships to travel alone, then made for Trincomalee (Tirukkôņamålai), but were chased en route by the "enemy," that is, a British Squadron ! However, Trincomalee was safely reached on 11th April 1783.
After refitting, M. Flouest received orders to go to Pegu and left Trincomalee on the 11th August with troops for the coast of Coromandel. On the 12th September he left Pondicherry direct for Burma, passing the Andamans and the Cocos. On approaching Burma, he was much bothered by the currents and a want of know. ledge of the coast, and goes into an elaborate description of "la manoeuvre qu'il faut faire pour monter" the River of Rangoon. He reached the mouth of the river on the 30th September, and the town of Rangoon at 11 a. m. on the 7th October.
The above outline of the journal is enough to shew how instructive it will prove to readers at the present day.
The spelling of the place-names is interesting also, and shews how little it has changed in the century that has passed since he wrote. Thus we find Cocos, Achem (Acheen), Trinquemalay, Madras, Porto Novo, Pégu (which shews that the French pronunciation of the name is nearer than ours), Adaman (Andamans), Chinabaker, Pointe de l'Elephant, and Rangon.
The notes on the journeys to Yunnan present quite a different point of interest. They consist of a letter from M. Leduc, dated 30th January 1890, and a reprint of an official report by M. Rocher, French Consul at Mongtze, published in "le journal officiel de la Republique Française" of 28th January 1890. This journal remarks on the commerce with Yunnan, the means of transport, the navigation of the Red River, the currency in use, the centres of trade, relations of the French with the people, communications with Tongking, and general observations.
Enough has now been said to shew how important are the contents of this new periodical, and while heartily congratulating the editors on the literary success of their venture, we will only
