MARCH, 1873.]

being the oldest yet known to exist on the western side of India, dating probably from early in the second century B.C. These and other researches were undertaken with reference to a large and comprehensive work he has undertaken on the Cave Temples of Western India, which will be published, when complete, by the India Office—the Home Go vernment of India having, with their accustomed liberality, undertaken to defray the cost of the work. In Madras, Dr. Hunter continues his career of

usefulness.

85

ORIENTAL RESEARCH.

During the past year he, with his

pupils, has made a complete and much more perfect set of photographs of all the Rock-cut Temples and Rock Sculptures of Mahavellipore, or the Seven Pagodas, and, having turned up some fragments broken off from the great rock-cut bas-relief, has

proved incontestably that it was dedicated to Serpent-worship, and that only ; though probably of a comparatively later date to other examples known. He has, besides, procured numerous photo graphs and casts of other interesting temples and sculptures throughout Southern India. From private sources it is understood that General, Cunningham is pursuing assiduously, and with considerable success, the researches he was appointed to undertake ; as, however, no report has yet been issued, the Council are unable to communicate to the Society any information regarding the results hitherto attained by him.

The operations of the Trigonometrical, Geological

which is intended to embody the information we possess regarding the mythology, literature, and manners of ancient India. This manual, though necessarily imperfect as a first attempt, will no doubt prove a useful book of reference to the general reader. The Council have observed with satisfaction the

appearance of Mr. Burgess's Indian Antiquary, a monthly magazine, which may prove a useful medium of

communication on matters of Indian

research, and is calculated to awaken in English civilians, no less than in intelligent natives, a sense of moral obligation which will urge them to take each his share in the elucidation of the manifold

problems of Indian history. It is a matter for congratulation to our Society that the number of native gentlemen desirous of joining us has been steadily increasing for some years past, and the Council rejoice to see them appear among the con tributors to Mr. Burgess's periodical, side by side with the names of some of our best scholars in India.

The Pandit, a monthly periodical issued by the Benares scholars, is continuing its course of useful ness in furnishing hitherto unpublished Sanskrit texts and English translations of Sanskrit works, as well as notices of Benares MSS. . . . . . . . . . The search for Sanskrit MSS. and examination

of libraries in India has been carried on with signal

and other Surveys of India, are carried on more

success during the past twelvemonth.

vigorously than ever, and their results are made public from time to time through reports and maps.

dralāla Mitra's Notices of Sanskrit MSS. three fasci

To those unable to follow the details of official

accounts, Mr. C. R. Markham's Memoir on the Indian Surveys affords a highly interesting and instructive historical sketch of the progress of operations of the various survey establishments. While so much is done by the Government towards a scientific exploration of India, it is a matter of

regret that the archaeological operations in Ceylon, the promising aspect of which we were able to point

Of Rájen

culi have hitherto been received, describing for the most part sectarial and Tantrical works. Dr. G. Bühler has just issued, for the Bombay Government, the first part of a Catalogue, or rather classified list, containing 1433 entries of some very important

works, chiefly Vaidic. This list, when complete, is to include upwards of 12,000 MSS., and will be very useful to Sanskrit scholars, giving, as it will do, a pretty complete survey of the MSS. contained in the Brahmanical libraries of the Northern Division

ces.” Of the latter work, which treats chiefly of

of the Bombay Presidency. This, however, is merely intended to serve as a kind of index to a fuller notice of the various MSS., which is now being prepared on the model of the Calcutta Cata logue. Meanwhile the survey is carried on as briskly as ever ; and Dr. Bühler already mentions that, since the compilation of the catalogue now printing, he has received further lists containing about 5,000 entries. The Brahmanical MSS. in

Mysore and Coorg, a second edition has already appeared. In Mr. J. Fergusson’s “Rude Stone

the larger libraries of his division are estimated by him at upwards of 30,000. This, however, does

Monuments” some light is also incidentally thrown on the ancient architectural remains of eastern

not include the Jaina books, which are much more numerous, and may probably amount to four

countries.

or five times that number.

out in our last report, have since come to a stop. Two works recently published by Indian officers of more than ordinary experience have added great

ly to our knowledge of the history, manners,

and

institutions of the people in some parts of India, viz., Dr. W. W. Hunter's “Orissa,” being the con tinuation of the same author's “Annals of Rural

Bengal;" and Mr. E. Bowring’s “Eastern Experien

Of the Durgā Pūjā, or chief national festival of the Hindus of Bengal, Mr. Pratāpachandra Ghosha

has given a full and interesting account : and Mr. J. Garrett has published a Classical Dictionary,

As this branch of

Hindu literature is as yet very imperfectly known, Dr. Bühler proposes to give, in the first place, a list of the oldest works, the Sūtras, with a brief

5 alysis of each and a general survey of the