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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JONE, 1923
BOOK-NOTICES. "A FORGOTTEN EMPIRE." By R. SEWELL. George "Sources of Vijayanagar History" containing about Allen and Unwin Ltd.
100 oxtracts from various works of literature, Sans. We welcome the issue of a reprint of "A Forgotten krit, Tamil and Telugu bearing upon this history Empire" by Mr. Robert Sewell, well known as the which forms a very important supplement, throwing Author of various works bearing upon the archæology valuable light on obscure corners of both Sewell's and history of South India. Sewell was the first History and Ferishta's History. Another important to recover from oblivion the history of the empire topic which has been satisfactorily worked out in of Vijayanagar which he truly called the "Forgotten the History Department of the Madine University Empire in 1900. It is nearly a quarter of a is the solving of the riddle of thu foundation of century since that book has become rare. Vijayanagar in a work entitled South India and Her It is therefore time that so important a work was Muhammadan Invaders. Any History of Vijayanagar brought out in a new edition. Owing to advancing to be up-to-date must take note of these important age and perhaps intermittent health it has not been contributions and incorporate much other material possible for Mr. Sewell to revise the book and bring now available. it up-to-date. Nevertheless the reprint is quite wel- Apart from these there is much else that is coming como as it contains a translation of two important to light and may become availablo in course of time Portuguese chronicles which Mr. Sewell himself
for historical use. A considerable volume of translated into English and published for the records in Spanish, French and Portuguese have first time. As a matter of fact, Mr. Sewell's work not been adequately exploited, and tho Rovd. H. upon this important subject does not claim to be Heras, S.J., of St. Xavier's College, Bombay, is at much more than the chronicles with an elabo- work upon a file of Spanish records which is likely
rate historical introduction containing all the infor- to throw a flood of light upon thu history of the mation brought to notice up to the time of the first I more obscure part of Vijayanagar History. publication.
A valuable publication on the subject from his hand Considerable Advance however has been made in our
may be expected very soon. knowledge of the history of Vijayanagar since the
Notwithstanding these new advances in the inves. book was first published. Apart from the inscriptional
tigation of the history of Vijayanagar Mr. Sewell's and archeological work embodied in the Epigra.
work is still welcome, as the reprint is issued in phist's Roports and South Indian Inscriptions,
cheaper form and brings the work within reach of a there have been somo works written on the subject
large number of readers. The only things that are in various branches which have contributed to
lost from the original editions are the illustrations, but advanco our knowledge of the history of Vijayanagar
that is largely compensated for by the reduction in considerably. The first of such to be mentioned
the price, the book being now availablo for 10 happens to be a work of the Governinent Epigra
shillings. phist Rao Bahadur H. Krishna Sastrigal. He
S. K. AIYANGAR. contributed three art.cles to the Director-General's Report of the Archaeological Survey of India, LES ORIGINES DE LA FAMILLE ET DU CLAN; by entitled the dynasties of Vijayanagar and its JAMES GEORGE FRAZER. Translated into French Viceroys, which incorporates all the epigraphical by LA COMTESSE J DE PANGE. Annales du Musée information brought to light by his own depart. Guimet. Tome XXX. Paul Ceuthner, Paris, ment. Next in importance is the publi- 1922. cation of an account of the Hampi ruing by Mr. This volume of 185 pages is a translation of the Longhurst, the Assistant Superintendent of Archwo. conclusions set forth in the fourth volume of Sir logy, Madras, who has been for years at work James Frazer's monumental work totmian and putting the ruins of the city of Vijayanagar in some Ecuyamy, which was published in 1910. Sir James order for vieitors. It is a informing handbook for Frazer himself contributes a preface in French, in those who wish to visit the ruins with some little which he explains the reasons why he has styled guidance for an intelligent appreciation of various this abridged translation " Origins of the Family parts of it. Then must be mentioned " A Little-known and the Clan " instead of "Origins of Totemism Chapter of Vijayanagar history "published in the and Exegamy," which would have been more correct. Mythic Society's Journal and since made available Roaders, who are acquainted with the English in a small book by the Professor of Indian History original in four volumes, will scarcely need informa. and Archaeology at the University of Marlras. This tion regarding the contents of this abridged publica. work deals with the dark period of Vijayanagar tion, which gives the results of Sir James Frazer's history from the death of the great Devaraya II to investigations into the enormous volume of evidence the accession of grentor Krishnadevarnya. New on the subject of the marriage customs and beliefs sources of information have been brought to bear of primitive and uncivilised races. Let it suffico on the question and that work was followed by to remark, as the author himself says, that the
