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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
merchant, Mirza Bukhari to Kharkof, Moscow and St. Petersburg; (6) The Turkistan Gazette; (7) Conclusion.
14. A Chinese-Russian Dictionary, by the Rev. Father Palladius and P. S. Popof. A very rich dictionary containing 11,668 hieroglyphs. The best parts are those relating to Buddhism, Taoisin and the Confucian philosophy. The pronunciation is that of Peking. It is to be regretted that the accents are omitted.
15. Minor works of A. von Gutschmid, Vols. I and II. (German). A most important publication both for the Orientalist and for the historical student. The first volume gives articles on Egyptology and Greek Chronography; the second volume relates entirely to the Semites and to early church history. Two more volumes will be pub. lished on the history of the non-Semitic nations of Asia and on Roman-Greek medieval history.
NOTES AND NOTES ON SOUTH-INDIAN FESTIVALS. I.-PONGAL.
The Pongal is one of the chief Hindu festivals in Southern India and generally takes place about 12th January. It is celebrated with much delight and amusement by all classes of the Hindus, as being held on the day on which the sun leaves the sign of Capricorn and proceeds towards the Equator.
All houses are neatly whitewashed and repaired. Relations are invited from a distance, and alms are given to the poor. New rice, mixed with milk, green gram, sugar and other edibles are boiled in a new vessel in an open yard in the centre of the house and offered to the sun-god. Every one in the house partakes of this food with great eagerness, for, if the rice has boiled well it is a good Pongal, promising future happiness. Relatives, friends and acquaintances all salute the master and inquire whether it has boited. On the third day is the cattle feast, when all the cattle are bathed and adorned and their horus painted in various colours. Rice and milk are boiled and given to the cattle.
I-VARUSHAPPIRAPU, OR NEW YEAR'S DAY.
This falls about the 12th of April, and is a very important festival. Early in the morning every one takes a bath in cold water, in a river if possible or at home. During the day there are great public rejoicings. Relatives are invited and the holy water mixed with margosa (nim) flowers, while molasses and young tama
[DECEMBER, 1891.
16. Handbook of Arabic as spoken in Egypt (German) by Dr. K. Vollers. A most excellent hand-book for Arabists, who wish to get acquainted with modern Arabic. To persons who are not trained in literary Arabic, the book will be probably somewhat difficult.
17. Transactions of the Egyptian Institute, 2nd Series, No. 10 (French). Among articles bearing on Oriental subjects, that of Yakub-ArtynPasha may be noted, which deals with Koptic methods of fractional configurations, now quite antiquated, though in circulation for a long time.
18. Arabic Authors by J. J. Arbuthnot. The reviewer pronounces this book to be " a failure."
19. Bibliographical Appendix.-Notices some of the latest Oriental publications in Russia. SERGIUS D'OLDENBURG.
QUERIES.
rind are presented by the family priest and freely passed round. This is done to secure good health during the coming year. Towards evening the family priest produces the new Almanac and reads out the more striking passages, explaining them at the same time, while the whole family sits round him eagerly gathering their fortune during that year.
III.-DIPAVALI.
A social festival held about the 23rd of October in commemoration of the auspicious day when the Asuras Bâlâchakravarti and NarakAsura were slain by Vishnu. As this event is said to have taken place in the evening, the people express their joy at the event by illuminating their houses with lights arranged in artistic lines and letting off fireworks and crackers. The Hindus of all classes get up as early in the morning as two o'clock, anoint their bodies with gingelly oil and bathe in hot water, put on new clothes and ornaments, and gaily decorate their children. Sweetmeats of all kinds are prepared, of which everybody in the house partakes after the bath.
K. SRIKANTALIYAR.
MEDICAL LORE IN MADRAS.
If fever comes on a person on a Saturday, the fever will last till the next Saturday. Medicines are generally not administered on a Saturday, as it is an inauspicious day. They would only be given on the next day.
K. SRIKANTALIYAR.
