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JULY, 1922
BOOK - NOTICE
149
The first chapter on the physical features is a by the "advanced" popuiations in any given fair summary of the situation, viewed from the millenium, B.O. Or A.D., wherever they happened point of giving the student a general idea, and the to be situated. It should be remembered, too, only statement with which I cannot agree is that that the Aryan invaders found a Dravidian popu. on p. 8, which says that "Burma is a very low land." lation established in India quite as advanced as As a resident in Burma off and on for many themselves. To teach that one's own civilisation years, my idea of that country is that it is is the oldest may be "patriotio," but it is not mainly a hilly land. Also I suggest that in any history, future edition of the book the closing paragraph There are several instances of this propensity of the first chapter on "unity " be modified (p. 9). in the book. "The belief in one Supreme God The deeper one goes into the matter the more was searched by the Aryans, but it did not attain certain it becomes that the population of India the fixity and uncompromising firmness of the is not more united nor more diverse than any other Vedantio Theism" (pp. 25-26). This is, to say large community of human beings—than the popu- the least of it, a controversial statement. "The tation of the European continent for instance. Hindus and the Parsis still worship the Sun: the Hinduism in India and Christianity in Europe former made so much progress in the knowledge exhibit the same unity, the same continuity, of the universe that they denied that the sun ever the same diversity, the same powers of assimila- rose or set (Aitareya Brahmana)". This is reading tion and influence. In fact, Christianity, Hin- modern science into an ancient statement : not a duism, Islam and what one may call "China ism" safe proceeding (p. 26). show on close study the essential unity of one There are however points on which I heartily thing only-the mind of man as a whole. They agree, &g., (p. 17) "We have now an almost ac. are all phases of it. All the continuity there is curate chronological table starting with the time in any one of them lies in the consideration that of Buddha," but I hope the young student will in their respective developments they have obeyed not think in consequence that no more research the natural law of following each its main prin. is worth while in chronology. (P. 15) "The gaps ciple chiefly and borrowing and absorbing all that between the Old Stone Age and between the New has come its way from the others.
Stone Age and the historic period have not been This is a text-book for the younger generation, sufficiently surveyed," and to this fact the attenand as such, and as tringing to their notice the tion of students may well be drawn. I also heartily results of the latest research, I am in agreement endorse the teaching (p. 20) that "no serious with most of the statements therein. It io to my scholar supports the idea that Negroes are kin mind fair and well-informed summary of the to the Indian aborigines and that the Andamanese historical knowledge of the day. In many ways are "a group of that family," though I am not it is of use for the purpose of a memoria technical yet satisfied that the ancient forbears of the reco even for the advanced student and teacher. But from which the Andamanese spring did not once being a text-book it is important that it should dwell in parts of India. On the other hand Proteach correctly, and hence it is important to point fessor Ball's teaching as to the main immigration out where it appears to err.
of early Aryan invaders is clear and very useful The remarks on the Vedas (p. 12) that "they to students (p. 22), and his remark that "soma are the earliest literary records of man's manners (fermented liquor) was their principal beverage" and customs," and again, "The Vedas have been (p. 24) is not only true but courageous in a Hindu. recognised as the oldest literature of mankind | Professor Ball teaches sound doctrine (p. 21) (p. 29), and yet again, "The Rig Veda is the oldest as to the relationship of the Aryan to the Dravi. literature in the world" (p. 30), ignore many dian civilisation, and he would do well to point things: 6.9., the history of Egypt, Babylonia, out in a future edition even more forcibly how Judaism, Greece, Persia and China. It is not much modern India owes to Dravidian influence therefore a safe axiom to implant in the younger even up to modern times. His remark (p. 22) Indian student that his is the oldest civilisation, that the “Tantric form of worship in Bengal is It would be better to teach him to think that the considered result of Mongolian influence is mind of civilisable man has advanced to much worth every student's observation the same level in successive ages everywhere. Sometimes Professor Ball has boon misled by There is not much to choose in the advance made European authorities, as when be quotes (pp. 30-31)
