CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXV.
Gibraltar — Suhta — Asila — Said — Morocco — Mihidsa — Fez — Sigilmdsa — Thagdri — Tas-hala —
The great Desert — Abu-Ldtin — Mali — Zaghari — Karsanju — Hippopotami — Customs at court
— Tambactii — Katukaw — Nakda or Tukadda — Hakdr — Sigilmdsa — Fez.
From Granada I went to the Hill of Victory, and from that place took
shipping and sailed to^Subta; then to ’ Asila, then to*Sala.* I then
travelled from that place by land to ‘Marrakish (Morocco), which is a most
beautiful city, of extensive trade and territory. One of its poets has thus
described it.
f Morocco blest, in site, in health.
Brave in nobles, great in wealth :
Here will the homeless wand’rer find.
Welcome to cheer his drooping mind :
One only doubt can now remain.
Such as to give a moment’s pain :
Whether the eye or ear can boast.
The privilege of blessing most.
.IL* .M’’
* This is, according to Abulfeda, an ancient and thickly inhabited city, having on its west the
ocean, and on its south a river, with gardens and vineyards. It is said that Abd El Mumin, its
high priest, built a large palace on the bank of the river on its south and adjoining the sea : and,
that his followers choosing the parts adjoining, built the city which was called El Mehdiya. Sala,
it is added, is a moderate-sized district of the extreme western division, and the nearest part of
it to Spain. Its soil consists mostly of red sand : the river is large, and is subject to the reflux of
the tide. The city abounds with provisions. The districts subject to its rule are on its south, and
are called Tamasna, abounding with cultivation and pasturage. -G IL.-^
ILy ^_4-Ve
^ S? &c. See also
D’Herbelot, sub voce “ Sala.”
i.x1j lyil^ A]'|
\J^3 cf'3 Z
This verse is of the sort termed U... and is of the measure jJlcU - , -c
repeated. See Clarke’s Prosody, p. 53, &c.
230
AFRICA.
From this place I went to “Miknasa,* then to the palace of "' Fez, | and
presented myself to the Commander of the Faithful, the Sultan "Abu Anan,
may God give him happiness. J After this I bade him farewell, with an
.
* This place is near Fez, and situated on its north. It is remarkable for the great number of
its olives. Ibn Said has said that Miknasa consists of two white cities, separated from each
other the distance of a horse’s course. It is one stage from Fez. Its river is called the Fulfal.
also Ulenbroek’s Iracoe Descriptio Proleg., p. 13.
f Fez is, according to Abulfeda, placed in the different longitudes and latitudes of 8° 8',
34° 8', 8° '8, 35° 35/, 20° 50', 38° 8'. He then describes it: U;-^>
y Uj^
LZ-^-^S jisl'l L:lj IjJ'S-J iikib jSS>- W j^'l
cUJilijj ^y£!yi2s:^ ^ ^jasT’
b ^ ^ ^ ^ ^1^-b
a jis ^ yy ^^4 cr^ y. ^ 1*^
£t^‘Jr *L*3J (Jhh^l, &c. Fez consists of two cities, between which runs a river, and con-
tains several springs which supply streams. Both cities have in all thirteen gates. The water
thus supplied runs into the streets, houses, and baths, a thing witnessed neither in the east nor
the west. The place was founded since the times of Islamism. Ibn Said has related after
El HijazT, that when they began to dig for the foundations they found an axe (^U fits) in the
excavations, and hence it took its name. It is said, that there are within the city and upon its
river about three hundred water-mills constantly worked by the stream. The people are remarkable
for the comforts of life which they enjoy. El Fas is its citadel, which is situated on the highest
spot in it, and through which the river runs. There are here three mosques, in which there is
preaching ; and from it to Subta is a distance of ten days. The source of its river is half a
day’s journey from the city ; it then runs through meadows and among flow'ers until it enters
the place. Fez is said, in the Atwal, to be a village of Tanjiers. See also D’Herbelot, under
Fas.
J There is so much confusion and error in Mr.’ Conde’s history of these times, that it seems
quite impossible to determine from him who this Abu Anan was, or when his reign commenced.
The French translator and editor of this work says (p. 339), il est vraisemblable que cet Abu
Salem est le meme que Fariz ; que son frere Omar, elu dans un premier moment de trouble, ne
AFRICA.
231
intention to visit 'Sudan (Nigritia), and came to “ Sigilmasa, which is a
very handsome city. It produces many very good dates (fruit), and in the
abundance of these it may be compared with Basra, except only that
those of this place are the best. I lodged at this place with the theologian,
'^'Mohammed El Bashiri, the brother of him I had seen in the city of
‘‘Kanjanfur, in China. I proceeded from this place in the beginning of the
month Moharram, and of the year 753 (February 1352), with a large com-
pany of merchants and others ; and, after a journey of five and twenty
days, arrived at ‘^Thaghari,^ a village in which there is nothing good, for
its houses and mosque are built with stones of salt, and covered with the
hides of camels. There is no tree in the place ; it has nothing but sand
for its soil ; and in this are mines of salt, j' For this they dig in the earth,
and find thick tables of it, so laid together as if they had been cut and
placed under ground. J No one, however, resides in these (houses) except
• ^ ^ ^ .
conserva point la couronne, et qu’elle passa a Abu Zeyan. Ce qui augmente I’embarras, c’est
que d’autres font succeder a Abul Hasan un autre de ces enfans nomme Abu Hanan ou Aluan.
M. Conde cite meme ce dernier comnie regnant a Ceuta,” &c. From the work of Ibn Khaldun,
however, the history of the Berbers, which now lies before me, it appears that Abu Anan was
a son of the Sultan Abul Hasan, and that he left the lieutenancy of Tilimsan and succeeded to
the supreme power in Fez, A.H. 749, A.D. 1348. As it is my intention to edit and translate
this work, I shall forbear giving any extracts from it at present, merely stating, that it is
full and particular on the circumstances of these times in Africa.
* One of the MSS. has Tagaza constantly, Mr. Kosegarten IjUj Tagaza.
f Edrisi, however, tells us that the only salt mines known in Sudan are situated in the
island of Awlil, which is in the sea; and that from this place ships bring the salt, which is
thence carried to the different parts of Sudan ; that these ships enter the Nile, and pass on to
Sail, Takrur, BarlsI, Ghana, Nakara, Kugha, &c. ^ hSjcc ^ ^
0^ (A 1*^^, ^
‘*^^y
iSL How this can all be true I know not ; I merely give it to shew the opinions of the
Arabs in the times of Edrisi. — Sect. i. dim. i.
J Mr. Kosegarten’s copy adds... “ quarum binae (i. e. tabulae) cameli onus efficiunt” (p. 46).
See his notes, p. 50. In Major Denham’s Narrative, p. 24, we have an account of some very
extensive salt-pits.
232
AFRICA.
the servants of the merchants, -who dig for the salt, and live upon the dates
and other things which are brought from ^Sigilmasa,* * * § as well as upon the
flesh of camels. To them come the people of Sudan from their different
districts, and load themselves with the salt, which among them passes for
money, just as gold and silver does among other nations ; and for this
purpose they cut it into pieces of a certain weight, and then make their
purchases with it.f The water of ^Taghari+ is poisonous; we found it
injurious. Of this they take, however, to carry them over the desert,
which is twenty stages in extent, and is without water. After passing
this we arrived at ^ Tas-hala|| a stage at which the caravans stop and rest
* Abulfeda gives the longitude and latitude of this place from the Kanun, 20° 8', 31“ 30';
from Ibn Said 18° 34', 36° 34'; and describes it thus :
^ 1 ^
j ^ ij\£-
^1.4^ ^
. alg-:
trict so called. It has a river which comes from the south-east, divides, and passes by the east
and western parts of the city. It abounds in gardens, and has eight gates ; at which gate soever
of these you go out, you will see the river, the palms, and other trees. Around all the gardens and
palms there is a wall intended to keep off the predatory Arabs, and this encloses a space of forty
miles. The city adjoins the desert which divides between the western districts and Sudan. No
building is to be seen either to the south or west of it. Ibn Said has said that its inhabitants
poison dogs and eat them, and that its soil is soft and easy of culture. See also D’Herbelot,
under Segelmessah.
•j- “ A handful of salt (purchased) four or five good-sized fish.” — Denham’s Narrative, p. 46.
t Taghaza, as before.
§ Mr. Kosegarten’s MSS. adds here i ^
L\..’o \ ti> &c. which he translates thus : “ Tuberibus vero abundat;
magna etiam in eo ricinorum copia, quamobrem homines cervici imponunt virgam argento vivo
raunitam, qua illos occidant.”
O-'- X
II One of the MSS. reads Tasahla : Mr. Kosegarten’s copy .
AFRICA.
233
three' days,* and then prepare to enter the great 'desert, in which there is
neither water, bird, nor tree ; but only sand and hills of sand, which are
so blown about by the wind, that no vestige of a road remains among
them. 'I' People can travel, therefore, only by the guides from among the
merchai),ts, of which there are many. The desert is, moreover, exposed
to the light, and is dazzling. J We passed it in ten days.§ We then came
to the city of ^Abu Latin, |1 in the beginning of the month Rebia El
* Mr. Kosegarten adds by
&c. “ Inde etiam litteras dant mercatores ad incolas
urbis Eiweiaten, quibus domus sibi conducere jubeant, et aliquem Messofitaruna mercede con-
ducunt, qui litteras ferens ipsos praecedat,” &c. I have no doubt, however, that for a ij ^
in this extract we should read (in one MS. a word often used for merchants in our
MSS. and in some cases where Mr. Kosegarten’s haSjls^Sl . Instead of “ Messofitarum,” then
we should have Mercatorum in the translation, and in the several places in which this word occurs.
See his notes, p. 50. is with us , which is, no doubt, correct,
f So in Denham’s Narrative, p. 13.
:|: So Major Denham in his journey to Mourzuk, Narrative and pp. xix, lii., 28.
§ Mr. Kosegarten’s copy has two months, ^ which is probably the true reading. Mr.
Kosegarten has a very extraordinary passage here, which I cannot forbear noticing, it is this :
J-i9j 1 ijji! ililal!
b-bc 'i Ibb ^Isll liiij’
Which he translates (Desertum, &c.) : “ daemoniis frequentatum, quae saepe virum litteras ferentem
ita fascinant, ut mortem obeat ; quo facto major etiam agminis pars interire solet. Nam si
vir salvus ad Eiwelaten pervenit, Eiwelatenis incolarum multi, aquam ferentes, ad quatuor
dierum iter agmini obviam eunt, si vero perierit, obviam iis fit nemo, et plerique eorum absu-
muntur siti.” Having met with nothing like this, either in Ibn Batuta or any other Oriental
S> ^
traveller, I very much suspect there is some error in the text. Now if we read a U1
instead of we shall have all clear and consistent. The translation will then be, Et
aestas est in eo maxima, ita ut qui iter cum litteris fecerit saepe errare inducatur atque intereat :
idcirco pars maxima agminis peribit quoque, quippe qui, &c. The want of water being
evidently assigned as the cause why numbers of the caravan perish. I have no doubt, therefore,
tliat there is an error in Mr. Kosegarten’s MS.
O -
II One of the MSS. constantly reads Ayulatin, not declining the word, as the others do
as if compounded of Abu and Latin. Mr. Kosegarten has occasionally this word. See Mr.
Kosegarten’s notes, p. 50.
2 H
234
SUDAN.
Awwal. This is the first district of ^ Sudan ; which, as they say, belongs
to a lieutenant of the Sultan of the countries of ”*Farba (which means a
lieutenant). When we had got to this place, the merchants stowed their
goods in an open area, and charged some blacks with the custody of them.*
At this place I lodged with a man from ”Sala. But it was my wish to
return from "Abu Latin as soon as I had witnessed the vile dispositions of
the blacks, and the contempt in which they held the white people. It then
occurred to me, however, that I would complete my knowledge of these
countries; and accordingly we remained at Abu Latin fifty days. It is
an exceedingly hot place, with a few small palm trees in it, under the
shade of which they sow the melon. The water of the place is found in
pits, having been absorbed by the sand.'t' Mutton is in great plenty.;};
Their clothing is all brought from Egypt. The greater part of the inhabi-
tants are merchants. Their women are exceedingly beautiful, and more
respectable than the men. The character of these merchants is strange
enough, for they are quite impervious to jealousy. No one is named after
his father, but after his maternal uncle ; and the sister’s son always suc-
ceeds to property in preference to the son : a custom I witnessed no
where else, except among the infidel Hindoos of Malabar. But these are
Mohammedans, who retain their prayers by memory, study theology, and
learn the Koran by rote. As to their women, they are not shy with
regard to the men, nor do they veil themselves from them, although they
constantly accompany them at prayers. § Any one who wishes to marry
one of them may do so; but he must not take her with him out of the
country ; and, even if the woman should wish to go, her family will not
allow her. It is a custom among them, that a man may have a mistress,
of women strangers to him, who may come and associate with him, even
in the presence of her own husband and of his wife. In like manner, a
. pi ^ . L: .by ^
* See Mr. Kosegarten’s Notes, p. 30, and Major Denham’s Narrative, p. ‘20.
i" bijbcj .
4 Major Denham frequently speaks of the sheep he saw and partook of in Sudan. Narr.
p. 107, &c.
^ A similar account is given of the Tuarick women in Major Denham’s Narrative, p. 65, as
well as of others generally throughout this narrative.
SUDAN.
235
man will enter his own house, and see the friend of his wife with her alone,
and talking with her, without the least emotion or attempt to disturb them ;
he will only come in and sit down on one side, till the man goes.* Upon a
certain day I went in to the Judge of ® Abu Latin, who was an eminent
man, at that time my host, and with whom I had formed a friendship. I
saw with him a handsome young woman, and wished to leave him : for I
knew his wife, and that this was a different person. The woman smiled
at me, but did not blush. He said : This is my female friend ; she is no
stranger. I remonstrated with him, and said : This is a strange woman ;
you are an eminent KazI, and Judge of the Mohammedans : how, then, can
you be alone with her? He said: This is our custom; nor is there any sus-
picion from our being in society together. He did not, however, benefit
(by my advice), nor did I visit him after this.f
I then proceeded from ’ Abu Latin :|: to ®Mali,§ the distance of which is a
journey of four and twenty days, made with * effort. The roads are safe,
so I hired a guide and proceeded with three of my companions. These
roads abound with trees, which are high, and so large that a caravan may
shade itself under one of them.|l As I passed by one of these trees, I saw
a weaver weaving cloth within a cleft of its trunk. Some of these will
grow so corrupt,^ that the trunk will become like a well and be filled with
US'
* Two of our MSS. diifer here from Mr. Kosegarten’s ; our passage is,
This is noticed to warn the reader not to conclude, that either Mr. Kosegarten or myself is
wrong, because our translations do not happen to agree. I shall not think it necessary to notice
all the varieties, but only those which seem to be of moment.
f See Mr. Kosegarten’s notes, p. 50.
J Mr. Kosegarten’s is sometimes with us or as the case may require.
In one place Mr. Kosegarten gives (p. 42, line 9), which I have no doubt is intended
for . It is impossible to say which reading is the true one.
§ Ibid, p. 51. This is the Melli of Leo Africanus, and Major Denham’s Narrative, p. 179.
II Major Denham speaks of immensely large tamarind and other trees in Sudan, p. 159, &c.
f The original, with Mr. Kosegarten, is , which he translates, “ interiora
ita sunt excavata,” &c. With me it is l^> • . The last word here is the only
2 H 2
236
SUDAN.
the rain-water, and from this the people will drink. Sometimes the bees
will be in these in such numbers that they will be filled with honey,
which travellers take for their use. It is affirmed by Ibn Jazz! El Kelbl,
the Epitomator (of this work), that there are in Andalusia two chesnut trees
such, that a weaver may sit and weave cloth in them. Ibn Batuta pro-
ceeds ; The gourd grows so large in “ Sudan, that they will cut one into
halves, and out of these make two large dishes* *. The greatest part of
their vessels, moreover, are made of the gourd. After ten days from our
leaving Abu Latin we came to the village ^Zaghari which is large, and
inhabited by black merchants. Among these lives a number of white peo-
ple, of the ^ Ibazia sect of hereticsf.
We then left this place and came to the great river, which is the Nile.
Upon it is the town of "Karsanjii,']: from which the Nile descends to
one about which there can be any difficulty; and, if our MSS. may be relied on, our word must
signify became corrupt, taking the root to be which Golius gives as equivalent to
corrupit, and prefixing the syllable to the tenth conjugation, we shall have I:;-;!, fern.
-".I", A , which must mean it became corrupt, rotten, S^c.; as in became or
governor, jj he became vizier, and the like. But Mr. Kosegarteii has for the root,
and then the verb must also mean it became corrupt, and not excavated ; the general meaning,
however, is tolerably near. But what are we to say to Mr. Burckhardt, who has taken this for
the name of the tree, and has called it the Istaset ? See Appendix iii. to his Travels in Nubia,
p. 536.
* Gourds are in abundance in Sudan. Denham’s Narrative, p. 14, &c.
Mr. Kosegarten has a passage here, which I deem worthy of transcription ; it is this :
bo 'ij bo J-«>s5r; isp
iycbj b»j \sp
^Li^b aKI ij' &c. His translation is : “ qui per hoc desertum iter fa-
ciunt, neque aquam neque comeatum secum vehunt, nisi frusta salis, et mercimonia aroniatica,
quorum gratissima incolis sunt caryophylla et mastiche. Quum ad urbem accesserint, Nigrorum
mulieres afferunt lae, gallinas, oryzam et farinam, (he should have added, atc|ue istis salem
et aroma emunt) “ oryza eorum vero alborum valetudini infesta.” On the gourd see his note,
p. 51, and Major Denham’s Narrative, p. 25.
f Mr. Kosegarten adds ^ “ et aliquot Sunnitae Malikitae.”
:j: Mr. Kosegarten has See his note on this place, p. 51, who seems to have no doubt
that Ibn Batuta's account of the course of the Niger must be the true one. See also Leo
Africanus, who doubts this ; edit. 1632, p. 7.
SUDAN.
237
“Kabara, then to ^Zaga,* * * § the inhabitants of which were the first (in these
parts) to embrace Islamism-t They are religious, and fond of learning.
From this place the Nile descends to '^Tambactu,J then to ‘^Kawkaw,§ of
* This is probably the Zagawa of Abulfeda, who thus describes it after Ibn Said :
alclJs ti \^\ j*Lsl Jjj (? Si) Jj (?
/_c.n (A cii-j^Lsr^ ijjiXc
[^3 ^jl S?* cT* '^jy^ jr?* ‘■^1^ u~^ (^3
ti principal city of the people of Zagawa is
where the longitude is 55° (15 ?) and the latitude 54° (14?). They have embraced Islamism, and
are subject to those of El Kanam. In the south of this district is the city of Zagawa. The villages
of the people of Zagawa and Taju are extended through the space situated upon the windings
of the Nile. They are people of the same stock, except that those of Taju are the hand-
somest and best behaved. It is said in the Azizi, that from Dongola to the country of Zagawa
westward is a distance of twenty stages.
f Our MSS. have here tj Ujei , &c. Mr. Kosegarten divides one of the
words thus : to jJi (tc|j , &c, which he thus translates. “ Sagha, cujus incolae
sacra islamitica non nimis curant,” &c., which, as far as I can see, is erroneous.
% Mr. Kosegarten writes this word Tumbuktu, but without any authority mentioned for doing
so. Mr. Burckhardt always writes it Timbuctoo, just, I suppose, as he heard it pronounced by
/O /O-'
the Arabs. Our MSS., however, when they have the vowel points write , i- e. Tambactu,
9 y^9 9
or , Tumbaktu, but ' never Timbuctu. Mr. Kosegarten’s MS. probably had .
Leo Africanus writes the first syllable with o, and in Bello’s Map we have Tonbacktoo. Denham,
p. 109.
§ Abulfeda says of this place (i. e. jLc Jl*
. t ^ ^ XS ! ^ \^y^3 ^ ^ ^ ^.4il ... -o ^ ^
iu^j^3 '^.3 ^^3 3^3^3
. It is said by Ibn Said that Kawkaw is the residence of the Sultan of
these parts, and that he is an infidel : opposite to him on the west are the Moslems of Ghana,
and on the east, those of El Kanam. This place has a river named after itself: but the place
itself is to the eastward of this its river. It is said in the Kanun that Kawkaw is situated between the
equinoctial line, and the beginning of the first climate. It is said in the Azizi, that the latitude of
Kawkaw is 10 degrees ; and that the inhabitants are Moslems. Of the Ghana just mentioned he says :
'^3 ^3^, 3^ J 3^^3 ^ i-i Aj uu
238
SUDAN.
both which we shall give some account. It then proceeds to the town of
®Miili, which is the extreme district of •^Mall. It then goes on to ^Yuwl,*
the greatest district of Sudan, and the king of which is the most potent. No
white person can enter here ; for, if he attempt to do so, they will kill him
before he reaches it. The Nile then descends from this place to the coun-
tries of Nubia, the inhabitants of which are Christians; then to 'Dongola, '
which is the largest district they possess ; the king of which is named ^ Ibn
Kanz Oddln, who became a Mohammedan in the times of ^E1 Malik El
Nasir. The Nile then descends to the cataracts, which terminate the regions
of Sudan, dividing them from Upper Egypt. |
From ’" Karsanju, I went to the river "Sansara,'J: which is about ten miles
from ‘’Mali. I then went to the city of ^’Mali, the residence of the King.
. tdiu j ’’
f o-
,JU-
Gy' n
^>j\ ^
j tijlij Jljj Ijij tn the city of Ghana is
the residence of the King of the districts of Ghana, who lays claim to being a descendant of
Hasan son of Ali. To this place travel the western merchants from Sigilmasa through an
immense desert of fifty days, and from it they bring nothing but red gold. Ibn Said has said
that it has a Nile, which is a branch of the Nile of Egypt, and that it flows into the ocean in the
longitude of IQi and in the latitude of 14°, so that between this place and Ghana is a
distance of about 4 degrees. Ghana stands on both sides of its river. It is also said that Ghana
contains two cities, one of which is inhabited by Moslems, and the other by infidels. Our MSS.
give the former of these places kaukau, not kuku. Abulfeda is silent on the subject. Mr. K.
has which he writes kok.
* One of our MSS. give Buwl. Mr. Kosegarten has , but no vowels; he writes
however, Joi. This is, most probably, the “ Yeou ” of Major Denham, which he places on the
bank of a river, Narr. p. 147.
f Mr. Kosegarten has a remarkable addition here, which is this : “ hoc loco in littore fluminis
crocodilum vidi, scaphae minori similem.”
Major Denham also saw crocodiles in Sudan, pp. 156, 228, and perhaps on the very same river.
See Mr. Kosegarten’s note on this river, p. 51.
SUDAN.
239
I there inquired for the residence of the white people, and lodged with
them;* they treated me very honourably. The Mohammedan Judge of
the blacks, who was a celebrated Haji, made me his guest, and sent
me a present and a cow.l I was sick two months in ^Mfili. But God
restored me.
It happened that ’ Mansi Soleiman,;]: the Sultan of 'Mali, a most avari-
cious and worthless man, made a feast by way of kindness. I was present
at the entertainment with some of our theologians. When the assembly
broke up, I saluted him, having been brought to his knowledge by the
theologians. When I had left the place he sent me a ^meal, which he for-
warded to the house of the Judge. Upon this occasion the Judge came
walking hastily to me, and said ; Up, for the Sultan has sent you a pre-
sent. I hastened, expecting that a dress of honour, some horses, and
other valuables, had been sent ; but, behold ! they were only three crusts
of bread, with a piece of fried fish, and a dish of sour milk. I smiled at
their simplicity, and the great value they set on such trifles as these. I
stayed here, after this meal, two months ; but saw nothing from him,
although I had often met him in their friendly meetings. I one day, how-
ever, rose up in his presence, and said : I have travelled the world over,
and have seen its kings ; and now, I have been four months in thy territo-
ries, but no present, or even provision from thee, has yet reached me. Now,
what shall I say of thee, when I shall be interrogated on the subject here-
after? Upon this', he gave me a house for my accommodation, with suitable
provisions. After this, the theologians visited me in the month of "Ramadan,
and, out of their whole number, they gave me three and thirty '’^methkals of
gold. Of all people, the blacks debase themselves most in presence of their
king : for when any one of them is called upon to appear before him, he
* We have some notices of white people in this neighbourhood by Major Denham, which were
supposed to be Christians. See his Narrative, p. 178, 145, &c.
f Oxen seem to be plentiful in Sudan. Denham’s Narr. p. 107, &c.
t One of our MSS. reads with Mr. Kosegarten v. pointing however the first
which he writes in Latin Menassi, which, I suppose, he must have done by conjecture.
240
SUDAN.
will immediately put off his usual clothing, and put on a worn-out dress,
with a dirty cap ; he will then enter the presence like a beggar, with his
clothes lifted up to the middle of his legs ; he will then beat the ground
with both his elbows, and remain in the attitude of a person performing a
prostration. When the Sultan addresses one of them, he will take up
the garment off his back, and throw dust upon his head; and, as long as
the Sultan speaks, everyone present will remain with his turban taken olf.*
One of the best things in these parts is, the regard they pay to justice; for,
in this respect, the Sultan regards neither little nor much. The safety, too,
is very great ; so that a traveller may proceed alone among them, without
the least fear of a thief or robber. f Another of their good properties is,
that when a merchant happens to die among them, they will make no effort
to get possession of his property : but will allow the lawful successors to it
to take it. Another is, their constant custom of attending prayers with the
congregation ; for, unless one makes haste, he will find no place left to say
his prayers in. Another is, their insisting on the Koran’s being committed
to memory : for if a man finds his son defective in this, he will confine
him till he is quite perfect, nor will he allow him his liberty until he is
so. As to their bad practices, they will exhibit their little daughters,
as well as their male and female slaves, quite naked. J In the same man-
ner will the women enter into the presence of the King, which his own
daughters will also do. Nor do the free women ever clothe themselves till
after marriage. The greatest part of them will eat stinking dead bodies,
dogs and asses. §
I travelled, in the next place, from ^ Mali, the Sultan having given me a
hundred ^methkfds of gold, which place I left in the month Moharram, in
* These customs were witnessed by Major Denham and his companions. See his Narrative,
pp. 118, 168, 237, &c.
f See Mr. Kosegarten’s note, p. 51, Leo Africanus says, speaking of the parts about tlie
Niger : “ Longa est admodum via, secura tamen atque tuta.” (P. 11, edit. 1632.)
t So Major Denham attests, Narr. pp. 145, 147, 169, &c.
j See also Denham’s Narrative, p. 145,
SUDAN.
241
the year fifty-four (A. D. February, 1353), and came to a “gulf which
branches out of the Nile, and upon the banks of which there were very
large beasts. I wondered at them, and thought they were elephants from
the great numbers there are in those parts:* * * § but when I saw them enter
the water I enquired about them, and was told, that they were ^sea-
horses,t which go out to graze, and then return to the water. They are
larger than the land horses, and have manes and tails : their heads are like
those of horses, and their legs like those of elephants. I was told by some
credible black “Haj is, that the infidels of some parts of Sudan will eat men;
but that they will eat none but blacks, because, say they, the white are
injurious on account of their not being properly matured ; and, that when
their Sultan happens to send his ambassadors to one of the Kings of the
black Mohammedans, and intends to honour them with a feast, he also
sends to them a black slave, whom they kill and eat, and then return
their thanks for the honour and favour done them. J
After some days I arrived at the city of ‘^Tambactu,§ the greater part
of the inhabitants of which are merchants from ® Latham, which is a district
of ^ Mali. Here is also a black magistrate, on the part of the Sultan of
^ Mali. I next arrived at the city of ® Kawkaw, which is large, and one of
the most beautiful in Sudan. They here transact business with the ^cowrie ||
(see p. 178), like the inhabitants of Mali. After this, I arrived at the
city of *Bardama,^ the inhabitants of which protect the caravans. Their
. ® and ^ **
.XcVSy/ .JW
* Major Denham witnessed large numbers of these animals, p. 187, &o.
f See Mr. Kosegarten’s note, p. 51, and Major Denham’s Narrative, pp. 134, 162, 177, 231, &c.
■j; There must be some error in the text here.
§ Mr. Kosegarten’s work adds (j J-ill \^Jj
(LjiVc, &c. which he translates, “ a Nilo quatuor milliaribus distat. E Tumbuctu in
scapha, quae e unius arboris trunco confecta erat, per Nilum invecti, singulis diebus in oppida
divertimus, commeatumque sale et aromatibus coemimus, donee ad urbem Kuku appulimus.”
See his note also, p. 31.
II So in the Journal of an excursion from Murmur to Kano, Denham’s Narrative, p. 31, &c.
^ Mr. Kosegarten has jp Burdama.
2 I
242
SUDAN.
women are chaste and handsome. I next arrived at the city of ^Nakda,* *
which is handsome, and built with red stone. Its water runs over copper
mines, which changes its colour and taste. The inhabitants are neither
artizans nor merchants. The copper mine is without Nakda, and in this
their slaves are employed, who melt the ore and make it into bars. The
merchants then take it into infidel and other parts of Sudan. The Sultan
of Nakda is a Berber. f I met him, and was treated as his guest, and was
also provided by him with necessaries for my journey. I was afterwards
visited by the commander of the faithful in Nakda, who ordered me to
wait on him, which I did, and then prepared for my journey. I then left
this place j: in the month ^Shaaban, in the year fifty-four (A.D. 1353),
and travelled till I came to the territories of Hakar, the inhabitants of
/o p
* One MS. reads lAO tuhdha and Mr. Kosegarten has takadda. with a consider-
able addition to the text, the translation of which is : “ Tekedda scorpiis abundat. Segetes
ibi rarae. Scorpii morsu repentinuni infantibus adferunt mortem, cui remedio occurritur nullo ;
viros tamen raro perimunt. Urbis incolse in sola mercatura versantur ; iEgyptum adeunt, indeque
vestes pretiosas afferunt ; de servorum et mancipiorum multitudine inter se gloriantur.”
f See on these people the note at p. 17, that these are a part of the same people is highly
probable with me : and the reason of their being found so far in the interior might have originally
been necessity, arising from their inability to cope with the powerful Arab dynasties of the
north. Mr. Seetzen supposed the Berbers of Libya and Nubia to be of the same race. Mr.
Burckhardt doubts this. See Travels in Nubia, Appendix iii. p. 535, note.
J Mr. Kosegarten has : “ Dein reditu ad Sedschelmasse parato, cum viatorum agmine Tekeddam
reliqui, et Tewat petii. Septuaginta ab ilia stationibus distat, quibus in trajiciendis viatores
commeatum secum vehunt, cnm in via nihil ejusmodi reperiatur, nisi lac et butyrum, quae
vestibus emuntur. Accessimus Kahor (^1^) quae e terris Sultani Kerkerici est, pabu-
loque abundat. Inde profecti, per dies tres iter fecimus per desertum habitaculis vacuum,
aqua carens ; dein per dies quindecim iter fecimus per desertum aqua non carens, sed habitaculis
vacuum. Inde in locum bivii pervenimus, ubi via quae in Aigyptum tendit, descedit a via, quae ad
Tewat ducit. Ibidem putei, quorum aquae super ferrum decurrit ; si quis vestera iis lavat nigra
fit. Inde, post iter per dies decern institutum, pervenimus ad Dehkar,” (jlCaJ i- e, our
above) “ Per eorum terras in quibus herbae rarae mensem unam iter prosecuti, accessimus Buda
— ex urbibus Tewati majoribus est. Qua relicta, in urbem Sedschelmasse venimus, frigi-
dam, nivibus abundantem," &c.
AFRICA.
243
which are a tribe of the Berbers, but a worthless people. I next came to
"Sigilmasa, and from thence to "Fez, the residence of the commander of
the faithful, to whom I presented myself and kissed hands. I now finished
my travels, and took up my residence in this country. May God be
praised.
THE END.
LONDON:
PKINTED BY J. L. COX, GREAT QUEEN STREET,
1829.
rVVW
REPORT
OF THE
PROCEEDINGS
OF
THE FIRST GENERAL MEETING
OF THE
SUBSCRIBERS
TO THE
ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND,
WITH
THE PROSPECTUS,
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE,
AND
REGULATIONS.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY J. L, COX, 75, GREAT QUEEN STREET.
1829.
%)aitron :
His Most Excellent Majesty KING GEORGE THE FOURTH.
17icr=|latrtm0:
His Royal Highness the DUKE of CLARENCE.
His Royal Highness the DUKE of SUSSEX.
His Royal Highness the DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, Chancellor of the University of
Cambridge.
His Royal Highness PRINCE LEOPOLD of SAXE COBURG.
His Grace the LORD ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY.
The Right Honourable the LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR.
His Grace the DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
The Most Noble the MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE.
The Right Honourable EARL SPENCER.
The Right Honourable LORD W. H. C. BENTINCK, G.C.B., Governor-General of India.
The Right Honourable LORD VISCOUNT MELVILLE.
The Right Honourable LORD VISCOUNT GODERICH.
The Right Honourable LORD GRENVILLE, Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
The Right Honourable LORD ELLENBOROUGH, President of the Board of Commissioners
for the Affairs of India.
The Right Honourable C. W. WILLIAMS WYNN, M.P., President of the Royal Asiatic
Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Right Honourable ROBERT PEEL, M. P.
The Right Honourable HENRY GOULBOURN, M. P.
The Right Honourable S. R. LUSHINGTON, Governor of Madras.
Lieutenant-General SIR E. BARNES, K.C. B., Governor of Ceylon.
Major-General SIR JOHN MALCOLM, G.C.B., Governor of Bombay.
H. T. COLEBROOKE, Esq., Director of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and
Ireland.
LIST
OF
THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTEE.
Chairman :
The Right Honourable Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart., Vice-President R.A.S.
Deputy-Chairmen :
Sir G. T. Staunton, Bart., Vice-President R.A.S.
Sir E. H. East, Bart., M.P.
Sir A. Johnston, Knt, Vice-President R.A.S.
Col. Mark Wilks.
Lieut.- Col. Fitzclarence, Vice-President R.A.S.
C'ommittee.
J. Aitken, Esq., M.D., Secretary to the Literary Society, Madras.
The Rev. R. Anderson, late Assistant Professor of Oriental Languages in the Hon. East-India Company’s
College, Haileybury.
The Right Honourable Lord Ashley, M.P., one of His Majesty’s Commissioners for the Affairs of India.
B. G. Babington, Esq., M.B., F.R.S., M.Lit.Soc.Mad.
Col. J. Baillie, M.P., M.A.S.Cal.
The Rev. A. Baird, A.M., Professor of Hebrew, New College, St. Andrews.
J. Barker, Esq., Consul-General, Alexandria.
The Rev. J. Brighton, Prince of Wales’s Island.
F. C. Belfour, Esq., LL.D., late Professor of Arabic in the University of Corfu.
I. Bentley, Esq., A.M., Professor of Oriental Languages, King’s College, Aberdeen.
F. Bernar, Esq., Sincapore.
Lieut.-Col. W. Blackbdrne, late Resident at the Court of the Rajah of Tanjore.
Lieut.- Col. J. Briggs, M.Lit.Soc.Bom.
The Rev. A. Brunton, D.D., Professor of Hebrew in the University of Edinburgh.
The Rev. W. Carey, D.D., Professor of Sanscrit, &c. in the College of Fort- William, Calcutta.
R. Clarke, Esq., M.Lit.Soc.Mad.
The Rev. B. Clough, Ceylon.
Sir J. E. COLEBROOKE, Bart., Dehli.
lie Rev. D. Collie, Principal of the Anglo- Chinese College, Malacca.
Sir Robert Colquhoun, Bart., Kumaon.
G. Colquhoun, Esq., M.D., M.Lit.Soc.Bom.
Lieut.-Col. J. M. Coombs, M.Lit.Soc.Mad.
J. F. Davis, Esq., Canton.
Dr. Bernhard Dorn.
Lieut.-Col. C. J. Doyle, M.A.S.Cal.
Henry Ellis, Esq., F. R.S.
W. Erskine, Esq., M.Lit.Soc.Bom.
Lieut.-Col. W. Farquhar, late Governor of Malacca.
The Rev. J. Forshall, A.M., Keeper of the Manuscripts in the British Museum.
The Rev. W. B. Fox, late Missionary in Ceylon.
J. Frazer, Esq., Consul, Bona.
The Rev. W. French, D.D., Master of Jesus College, Cambridge.
Capt. T. B. Gascoyne, Secretary to the Literary Society, Ceylon,
The Rev. Gavin Gibb, D.D., Professor of Oriental Languages in the University of Glasgow.
Lieut. A.D. Gordon, late Examiner to the College of Fort- William, Calcutta.
Terrick Hamilton, Esq.
G. C. Haughton, Esq., A.M., late Professor of Hindu Literature and the History of Asia in the Hon. East-
India Company’s College, Haileybury.
4
REPORT OF THE
The Rev. William Glen, Astrachan.
The Rev. Dr. Henderson.
Godfrey Higgins, Esq.
J. Hodgson, Esq., M.Lit.Soc.Mad.
Richard Jenkins, Esq., M. A.S. Cal.
Capt. Jervis, Secretary to the Literary Society of Bombay.
The Rev. A, Jodson, Rangoon.
The Rev. H. G. Keene, A.M., Professor of Arabic, Persian, and Hindustani Literature, in tlie Honourable
East-India Company’s College, Haileybury.
Sir John Kennaway, Bart., M.A.S. Cal.
Lieut.-Col. Vans Kennedy, Vice President of the Literary Society, Bombay.
The Rev. J. Kidd, D.D., Professor of Oriental Languages, Marischal College, Aberdeen
The Rev. W. Knatchbull, D. D., Archbishop Laud’s Professor of Arabic, Oxford.
The Rev. S. Lee, B.D., Professor of Arabic in the University of Cambridge.
The Rev. H. D. Leeves, late of Constantinople.
Capt. J. Low, Prince of Wales’s Island.
Lieut.-Col. J. L. Lushington, C.B. M.P.
Lieut.-Col. T. Macan, Persian Interpreter to His Excellency the Commander-in- Chief in India.
Dr. J. D. Macbride, Lord Almoner’s Reader of Arabic, and Principal of Magdalenllall, Oxford.
Col. J. Macdonald, Teheran.
W. Marsden, Esq., LL. D. M.A.S. Cal.
The Rev. J. Marshman, D.D., Serampore.
The Rev. W. H. Medhurst, Batavia.
Capt. J. Michael, Professor of Hindu Literature and the History of Asia in the Hon. East-India Company’s
College, Haileybury.
The Rev. W. Mill, Principal of Bishop’s College, Calcutta.
Mirza Ibrahim, Assistant Professor of Oriental Languages in the Honourable East-India Company’s College,
Haileybury.
The Rev. R. Morrison, D.D., Canton.
The Rev. T. Musgbave, A.M., Lord Almoner’s Reader of Arabic, Cambridge.
Colonel H. S. Osborn.
Sir W. OusELEY, Knt., Hon. M.A.S. Cal.
Capt. J. W. J. OusELEY, Professor of the Arabic and Persian Languages in the College of Fort-William, Calcutta.
J. S. Penleaze, Esq.
William Price, Esq.
T. P. Platt, Esq., A.M., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Honorary Librarian to the British and
Foreign Bible Society.
Capt. W. Price, Professor of Hindustani in the College of Fort-William, Calcutta.
The Rev. E. B. Pusey, A.M., Regius Professor of Hebrew, and Canon of Christ- Church, O.xford.
Sir T. Reade, Consul-General, Tunis.
The Rev. G. C. Renouard, B.D., late Lord Almoner’s Reader of Arabic, Cambridge.
Professor Rosen.
J. Ross, Esq., A.M., M.A.S. Cal.
Captain D. Rdddell, Secretary to the College of Fort- William, Calcutta.
Abraham Salame, Esq.
E. V. Schalch, Esq., M. A.S.Cal., Assistant Professor of Oriental Languages in the Honourable East-India
Company’s College, Haileybury.
Jonathan Scott, Esq., LL. D., Shrewsbury.
J. Shakespear, Esq., late Professor of Oriental Languages in the Hon. East-India Company’s Military Seminary,
Addiscombe.
The Rev. G. Skinner, Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge.
The Rev. E. Stallybrass, Selinginsk.
Major C. Stewart, late Professor of Arabic, Persian, and Hindustani Literature in the Honourable East-India
Company’s College, Haileybury.
Major- Gen. J. H. Symons.
Capt. Taylor, Political Agent at Bushire.
The Rev. C. H. Thomsen, Sineapore.
Lieut.-Col. J. Tod, M.A.S. Cal.
Lieut. H. Todd, Examiner to the College of Fort-William, Calcutta.
The Rev. D. G. Wait, LL.D., St. John's College, Cambridge.
C. Wilkins, Esq., LL.D., Oriental Librarian to the Hon, East-India Company.
Major Sir Henry Willock, Teheran.
H. H. Wilson, Esq., Secretary to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta.
The Rev. Archdeacon Wrangham.
Auditor, J. B. S. Morritt, Esq.
Treasurer, Lieut.-Col. Fitzclarence, Hon. M. A.S.Cal.
Secretary, Mr. William IIcttmann.
ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTEE.
o
PROSPECTUS
OF A
Plan Jbr translating andpuhlishing such interesting and valuable WorJcs on Eastern History, Science, and
Belles-Lettres, as are still in MS. in the Libraries of the Universities, the British Museum, the
East-India House, and in other Collections, in Asia and Africa, as ivell as in Europe ; and for
providing Funds for carrying this object into execution.
1. The extensive and valuable collections of Oriental MSS. which are deposited in our public and
private libraries, have long attracted the attention of the learned of this and other countries ; and it
has been suggested that some means, offering a reasonable prospect of success, may be devised, by
which the public may be put in possession of all that is valuable in Eastern literature, and an opportu-
nity be presented for shewing that this country is not at present backward in contributing to the
advancement of Oriental learning, in which she has long held the foremost rank. The interesting rela-
tions, moreover, in which this country stands with the East, affording as they do the best opportunities
for carrying such a project into effect, and at the same time promising both to England and its Eastern
possessions the most beneficial results, may be mentioned as additional motives for engaging in sucb an
undertaking.
2. The advantages likely to be derived from a more extensive cultivation of Oriental literature in this
country may be considered as applicable to Biblical Criticism, Ecclesiastical and General Historj'^,
Biography, Belles-Lettres, the Arts and Sciences, and Geography.
S. With reference to Biblical Criticism and Ecclesiastical History, we know that the sacred Scriptures,
particularly those of the Old Testament, abound in modes of expression, and allusions to customs, in
many cases imperfectly understood in Europe, but still prevailing in the East. That light confessedly
derived from the Arabic and other sister dialects of the Hebrew, has been thrown on the text of Scrip-
ture, by the Rabbinical and other commentators, few will deny ; yet volumes on Arabic Grammar,
Rhetoric, and the more ancient productions of the Arabian poets, which approach most nearly in style
and sentiments to some parts of the Hebrew Bible, still lie in MS. in our libraries, either entirely
neglected, or at best accessible to few.
4. In the Syriac language, which approximates still nearer than the Arabic to the Hebrew in its form
and modes of expression, there are in our libraries unpublished Grammars and Dictionaries, and even
Commentaries on the Scriptures, written by the Bishops and other learned members of the Oriental
churches, together with MS. works of the greatest value to Divines, on Ecclesiastical History and
Divinity, composed by the fathers of the Syrian and Arabian churches. The collection also of the late
Mr. Rich, now placed in the British Museum by the liberality of Parliament, contains perhaps the
most valuable MSS. of the S3mac Scriptures now in existence ; and it is of the greatest importance to
Biblical criticism that a collation of them should be made and published.
5. Perhaps no people possess more extensive stores of History, Biography, and Polite Literature,
than the Arabs and Persians. The accounts which their historical and biogi-aphical works contain of
their own and the surrounding countries, are necessarily the principal sources from which information
can be obtained relative to the history of those regions, and of the extraordinary persons to whom they
have given birth. Their histories of the Crusades in particular, which furnish the most authentic
details on this interesting subject, will always amuse and instruct the general reader, while they furnish
materials of the greatest importance to the historian. In Polite Literature, and especially in works of
fiction, they have perhaps never been excelled, and in studying such of their works in Belles-Lettres as
have been already printed in any European language, regret must be felt that but few of these books,
which are so well calculated to afford us pleasure, have been translated.
6. Whatever may be our present superiority over Asia in the arts and sciences, it cannot be unin-
teresting to the inquiring mind to recur to the sources from which we derived the first elements of our
knowledge. In this respect Asia must be recognized as the elder sister and instructress of Europe ; and
although the hordes of barbarians, which poured forth like a torrent from her north-western regions,
effectually extinguished the light which she at first imparted, yet we are indebted to the Mohammedan
courts of Cordova, Grenada, and Seville, for its restoration, as it is to them that Europe owes the rudi-
ments of many of her now highly cultivated arts and sciences.
7. From Asiatic works on the Mathematics and Medicine perhaps much light is not now to be
expected. To trace the progress of these sciences, however, under the Caliphat, when science had
declined among the Greeks, cannot be uninteresting to the philosopher; and as many of the most
celebrated of the Greek authors were translated into Arabic, under the patronage of the court of
Bagdad, it is not improbable that some long-lost Greek works may be discovered in an Arabian dress,
as was the case with the treatise on Conic Sections by Apollonius Pergaeus, brought to Europe by
Golius, and translated by Halley,
G
REPORT OF THE
8. From the mercantile pursuits of the Arabs, foreign countries were explored, and commercial
establishments formed by them, at an early period of their history ; and it is anticipated that accounts
of their travels may be discovered, not less interesting than those of Ibn Batuta, noticed by Mr.
Burckhardt, and of which some specimens have been published by Kosegarten and Apetz, or of the
two Mohammedans who visited India and China in the ninth century, translated and published by the
learned Renaudot.
9. But while the literature of the East in general is highly worthy of our notice, that of British India
has an especial claim to our regard. The possession of a more intimate acquaintance with the History,
Geography, Statistics, Laws, and Usages of that portion of our Empire, must be productive of good
both to the governors and the governed; and to procure means for obtaining information on these sub-
jects is one of the principal designs of this Prospectus.
10. The object proposed is, to publish, free of expense to the Authors, translations of the whole or
parts of such works in the Oriental languages as the Oriental Translation Committee shall approve.
These translations will sometimes be accompanied by the original texts printed separately, and such
illustrations as may be considered necessary. By the occasional publication of the original text, it is
intended to multiply copies of such works as are scarce, and to furnish students at a moderate expense
with correct copies of the best Asiatic works, to which they might not otherwise have access.
11. It is not intended to confine the operations of the Committee to works in the Arabic, Persian,
and Syriac languages; it is their intention to translate and publish standard and interesting works in
Sanscrit, Chinese, Pali, Cingalese, and Burmese; in the languages of Thibet, Tartary, and Turkey;
in the Malayan, and other dialects of the Eastern Archipelago ; and in the numerous dialects of Hin-
dustan, and the southern peninsula of India.
12. It cannot be expected that the publication of Oriental texts and translations can be effected to
anjr considerable extent, by the efforts of individuals, for none but a public body can command the
funds, or furnish tiie literary means necessary for such an undertaking. The Royal Asiatic Society of
Great Britain and Ireland, which was instituted for the advancement of Oriental literature, is the only
Institution in this country to which the public can look with any prospect of success for the accom-
plishment of such a project; and the Council of that Society have expressed their willingness to
co-operate in the execution of the plan which it is the object of this Prospectus to make known. They
have subscribed largely from their funds ; have selected a Committee, consisting of individuals well
known for their zeal and attainments in Eastern literature, to superintend the editing, translating, and
printing of the works that are to be published ; and have granted the use of their house for the transac-
tion of the business of the Committee : — thus affording the best proofs of their readiness to promote
the proposed object, and the strongest guarantee to the public that such works as may be recom-
mended for publication will be executed in a manner that will render them worthy of the patronage
that is now solicited.
13. For the purpose of directing the attention of Scholars to the literature of the East, and encou-
raging translations, the Oriental Translation Committee will give annually, for such works or portions of
works as they may consider deserving of distinction, four rewards in money, in sums of from £50 to £100
each, and four gold medals of the value of twenty guineas each, inscribed with the names of the indi-
viduals to whom they are presented. Translators whose works are approved, will be entitled to either
description of reward, unless they expressly limit their views to the medals. The reward's and medals
will be conferred at the Annual Meeting; and success on one occasion will not disqualify for receiving
rewards or medals at future anniversaries. Any Member of the Committee who sends a work for
approval, whether with a view to obtaining a reward or medal, or merely to have it printed at the
Committee’s expense, is to cease to act on the Committee until a decision is given on his work.
14. The Oriental, Translation Committee now appeal to the liberality of the public for such pecu-
niary aid as will enable it to effect the objects proposed in this Prospectus. The sums contributed
will be appropriated exclusively to the execution of the plan above detailed, and the accounts will be
examined, and a report made annually to the Subscribers of the application of the Funds, by an Audi-
tor, who is to be elected by and from the body of the Subscribers. A report of the progress made in
translating and printing during the year will also be made to the Subscribers annually, and notices will
be given of such works as the Committee may intend to print at the expense of the Funds contributed
by the Subscribers.
15. The terms of subscription are, that every individual or institution subscribing Ten Guineas or
upwards annually, will be entitled to one fine-paper copy of every work translated, printed, and pub-
lished by the Committee, with the name of the individual or institution subscribing, printed on the
title-page. Individuals or Institutions subscribing Five Guineas annually, will be entitled to any
of tbe works published by the Committee, to the amount of their subscription, at half the price paid
for them by Non-subscribers. The remaining copies, after a certain number has been given to the
Translator or Editor for presentation, will be disposed of by the Committee in such a manner as they
may consider most conducive to their objects, and to the advancement of Oriental literature.
16. The Committee propose to open communications with the Literary Societies, the British Gover-
nors and Consuls, and learned individuals in Asia and Africa, for the purpose of procuring scarce and
valuable Oriental MSS. They also intend to communicate with the Oriental scholars in this and other
ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTEE.
countries, for the purpose of bringing to light texts and translations of valuable Oriental works, which
may now lie in MS. in public and private libraries; and thus, by every available means, to endeavour
to preserve what might otherwise be irrecoverably lost, and to make known original works and transla-
tions which might otherwise never meet the public eye.
17. The Committee confidently expect that valuable translations will be obtained from Asia, as they
feel assured that many civil and military officers residing there have hitherto been deterred from trans-
lating Oriental works solely by their having no opportunity for publishing the result of their labours in
England. As that opportunity is now offered, it is hoped that they will be stimulated by the desire of
improvement in the Asiatic languages, and the prospect of acquiring celebrity in Europe, to make trans-
lations and avail themselves of the means of publication presented in this Prospectus. For the purpose
of obtaining Translations and Subscriptions from Asia, learned men in India, Ceylon, Penang, &c. will
be invited to form themselves into Corresponding Committees.
18. The willingness already evinced to further this design, induces the Committee to entertain the
most lively hopes of success. From the list of distinguished names prefixed and appended to this Pros-
pectus they have the greatest encouragement to proceed, and have every reason to expect that the exe-
cution of the' plan will be materially assisted by the British Universities.
19. It is requested that those individuals who are willing to become subscribers to the Oriental
Translation Fund will send their names and addresses to the Secretary, Mr. William Huttmann, at
the house of the Royal Asiatic Society, No. 14, Grafton-street, Bond-street, London; and that they
will inform him where their subscriptions will be paid. Subscriptions will also be received by such
Houses of Agency as may be nominated by the Corresponding Committees in Asia.
LIST OF ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS.
£. s. d.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence ..21 0 0
His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex .... 10 10 0
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge 10 10 0
His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester 10 10 0
His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe
Coburg 21 0 0
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and
Ireland — being the amount of the Hon. East-
India Company’s annual subscription to that
Society 105 0 0
His Excellency Prince de Lieven 10 10 0
His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Lord High Chancellor.. 10 10 0
His Grace the Duke of Somerset 10 10 0
His Grace the Duke of Richmond 10 10 0
His Grace the Duke of St. Albans 10 10 0
His Grace the Duke of Leeds 10 10 0
His Grace the Duke of Bedford 10 10 0
His Grace the Duke of Devonshire 10 10 0
His Grace the Duke of Northumberland .... 10 10 0
His Grace the Duke of Wellington 10 10 0
The Most Noble the Marquess of Lansdowne 10 10 0
The Most Noble the Marquess of Bute 10 10 0
The Most Noble the Marquess of Anglesey . . 10 10 0
The Most Noble the Marquess Cholmondeley 10 10 0
The Most Noble the Marquess of Londonderry 10 10 0
The Most Noble the Marquess of Donegall . . 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Earl of Cassilis 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Earl of Darnley 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Earl of Carlisle 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Earl of Egremont 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Earl of Hardwieke .... 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Earl Spencer 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Earl of Powis 10 10 0
The Right Hon. the Earl Dudley 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Lord W. H. C. Bentinck,
G. C. B., Governor-General of India .... 10 10 0
£. s. d.
The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Melville .... 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Strangford .. 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Goderich.... 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Lord Ashley 10 10 0
The Right Hon. and Right Reverend the Lord
Bishop of London 10 10 0
The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Win-
chester 10 10 0
The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Salis-
bury 10 10 0
The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Ely. . 10 10 0
The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Pe-
terborough 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Lord Southampton 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Lord Grenville 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Lord Selsey 1010 0
The Right Hon. Lord Ellenborough 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Lord Bexley 10 10 0
The Right Hon. C. W. Williams Wynn, M.P. 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Robert Peel, M.P 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Sir G. Murray, Bart., M. P.
G.C.B 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart 10 10 0
The Right Hon. SirG.Warrender, Bart, M.P. 10 10 0
The Right Hon. Henry Goulburn, M.P 10 10 0
Sir G. T. Staunton, Bart, F. R.S 10 10 0
Admiral Sir C. M. Pole, Bart, G.C.B. F.R.S. 10 10 0
Sir Culling Smith, Bart 10 10 0
Sir H. Halford, Bart, M.D., F.R.S 10 10 0
Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, Bart, F.R.S 10 10 0
Sir J. W. Waller, Bart 10 10 0
Sir Edvv. Kerrison, Bart, M.P 10 10 0
Sir E. H. East, Bart, M.P. F.R.S 10 10 0
Sir Francis Freeling, Bart 10 10 0
General the Hon. R. Taylor 10 10 0
Lieut- Gen. Sir Herbert Taylor, G.C.H 10 10 0
SirW. Sidney Smith, K.C.B. F.R.S. 10 10 0
Sir A. Johnston, Knt, F.R.S 10 10 O
8
REPORT OF THE
£. s, d.
The Imperial University of Casan 10 10 0
The Royal Library, Munich 10 10 0
Tlie Royal College of Surgeons, London 10 10 0
The Oriental Club, London 10 10 0
The Library of Exeter College, Oxford 10 10 0
The Library of Trinity College, Cambridge .. 10 10 0
The President and Fellows of Magdalen College,
Oxford 10 10 0
The Librai-y of Jesus College, Cambridge.... 10 10 0
The Library of Corpus Christi College, Cam-
bridge 10 10 0
The Dean and Chapter of Ely 10 10 0
The Methodist Missionary Society 10 10 0
H. Alexander, Esq., M.P 10 10 0
R. S. Berry, Esq 10 10 0
Lieutenant-Colonel William Blackbume .... 10 10 0
J. Broadhurst, Esq 10 10 0
Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzclarence, F.R.S 10 10 0
R. Gregory, Esq 10 10 0
.John Guillemard, Esq 10 10 0
A. Hamilton, Esq 10 10 0
Major-General Thomas Hardwicke 10 10 0
Prince Hoare, Esq., F.R.S 10 10 0
Godfrey Higgins, Esq 10 10 0
H. W. Hobhouse, Esq 10 10 0
Thomas Hope, Esq., F.R.S 10 10 0
R. Jenkins, Esq 10 10 0
Peter Johnston, of Camsalloch, Esq 10 10 0
£. s. d.
The Rev. Wyndham Knatchbull, D.D 10 10 0
John Lee, Esq., D.C.L 10 10 0
Major-General Colin Macauley, M.P 10 10 0
Dr. J. D. Macbride, Oxford 10 10 0
Captain F. Marryat, R.N., C.B„ F.R.S 10 10 0
W. Marsden, Esq., LL.D. F.R.S. 10 10 0
J. B. S. Morritt, Esq 10 10 0
John Murray, Esq 10 10 0
Colonel H. S. Osboni 10 10 0
C. N. Pallmer, Esq., M.P 10 10 0
John Story Penleaze, Esq 10 10 0
Louis Hayes Petit, Esq., M.P. F.R.S 10 10 0
D. Pollock, Esq 10 10 0
The Rev. J. Proctor, D.D., Master of Catha-
rine Hall, Cambridge •. . . . 10 10 0
The Rev. E. B. Pusey, A.M 10 10 0
R. Simmons, Esq 10 10 0
Mr. Sheriff Spottiswoode 10 10 0
Major-General J. H. Symons 10 10 0
G. Watson Taylor, Esq., M. P. F.R.S 10 10 0
W. Williams, Esq 10 10 0
Captain J. Woolmore 10 10 0
The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Lichfield
and Coventry 5 5 0
The Rev. G. C. Renouard, B.D 5 5 0
R. J. Thomson, Esq 5 5 0
The Rev. Archdeacon Wrangham 5 5 0
REPORT
OF THE
ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTEE
PRESENTED TO THE
SUBSCRIBERS TO THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND
ON THE 7th of MAY 1828.
The Oriental Translation Committee, in meeting the Members of the Ro3'al Family, the Nobility,
and Gentlemen who have subscribed funds for the translation and printing of interesting Oriental
works, indulge the hope that their preliminary proceedings, and the regulations they will have the
honour to submit for consideration, will receive the approbation of this Meeting.
It is their particular wish that the statement they now present to the Subscribers may be received
as an account of the proceedings of an institution still in its infancy, and not less requiring time than
fostering care to bring it to maturity.
The Members of the Committee being individually interested in Oriental pursuits, and being also
highly gratified by the liberal support their plan has received, have a double incentive to exertion,
and they hope, by their collective endeavours, to add considerably to the stock of information respecting
Asia which Europe now possesses.
They feel assured that time alone is required to prove that the generous support of the Subscribers
w ill lead to important results, and that the confidence reposed in their zeal has not been misplaced.
Their arrangements, however, cannot be considered complete, until corresponding Committees
have been established in various parts of Asia, and are actively engaged in the execution of the plan
developed in the Prospectus,
ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTEE.
9
Under these circumstances, connected with the fact that little more than four months have
elapsed since the formation of the Committee, they are not able to report having made much
progress. They feel anxious, however, to make the Subscribers acquainted with what they have done
up to the present time, and with their future intentions, prospects, and hopes.
The Committee have great satisfaction in stating that the most liberal support has been afforded to
them by the Royal Asiatic Society, not only by their allowing the Committee’s business to be
transacted in their house, but also by their handsome transfer to the Oriental Translation Fund of
the Honoui-able East-India Company’s munificent annual subscription of one hundred guineas.
The English Universities have expressed their favourable disposition towards the undertaking, and
received in the most friendly manner the hopes expressed by the Committee, of considerably dimi-
nishing the expense of printing by the assistance of the University presses.
Although essentially assisted by the enlightened views of the great literary bodies in England, the
attention of the Committee has been directed to obtaining aid from distant quarters also ; and they
confidently hope that another annual meeting will not pass, without the communication of gratifying
accounts from various parts of Asia and Africa.
Considerably within a year, copies of the Prospectus will have been received at the capitals of
Turkey, Persia, Egypt, and the Barbary States, and by the numerous Consuls and mercantile houses
existing on the eastern and southern shores of the Mediterranean.
The opportunity offered by the intimate connexion of this country with Asia has been eagerly
embraced by the Committee, who have sought every means of communicating with Europeans
residing even in its most inland countries. *
The Presidencies of India will be centres from which Prospectuses will be forwarded to every
Indian court, and to the confines of the Punjab, Tibet, and China; every where, it is hoped,
awakening among our distant countrymen a desire to become known to the learned in Europe,
through the means offered by this Committee.
Intimations of our object will also be forwarded to every mart and settlement of tbe Eastern ocean
extending to the most distant havens of its Archipelago, and to the coasts of China and Japan.
The various Missionary establishments, whether in India, Palestine, the Caucasus, or the Malayan
peninsula, and the enlightened officers of the Russian Government, exfending along the extensive
southern frontier of the Russian empire to the furthest limits of Kamtschatka, w’ill also be made
acquainted with our existence and objects.
The majority, however, of these communications has been addressed to natives of Britain ; and it
is from them the Committee principally expect co-operation and support, in the attainment of their
truly national object.
The principle of these appeals for literary and pecuniary assistance, in common with the rest of
their proceedings, requires the sanction of the Subscribers ; but the Committee have been obliged to
anticipate the confirmation of their acts, to prevent their losing opportunities of communicating with
India.
They hope, however, that they will not be considered to have erred, as they have strictly conformed to
the spirit of the Prospectus, the approval of which may be inferred from the patronage it has received.
Letters have been addressed to the Governor-General of India, the Governors of Madras, Bombay,
Ceylon, Prince of Wales’ Island, and Mauritius, and to the Presidents of the Literary Societies at
the three Presidencies and Ceylon, proposing the formation of Corresponding Committees, to consist
of the principal Oriental scholars residing in or near Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, Colombo, George
Town, and Port Louis.
The instructions for these Corresponding Committees, contained in letters of which a specimen is
subjoined, although leaving them as uncontrolled as great distance and local differences necessarily
require, will, it is hoped, be found to be strictly consonant with the general tenour of the Prospectus.
Letter to the Governor-General of India.
“ My Lord : — We trust that we may with confidence address your Lord.ship on the subject of the accom-
“ panying Prospectus, which has received general approbation in this country, and promises the most valuable
“ results to Oriental literature.
“ Although the Oriental Translation Committee confidently rely on the abilities and zeal of learned
“ individuals in England, still they look to their highly gifted countrymen in the East for great and efficient
“ assistance.
“ This expectation, we are convinced, will not be disappointed ; and we address your Lordship, as Governor-
“ General of India, to solicit your Lordship’s powerful aid, in the promotion of the extensive and important
objects that are stated in the Prospectus.
“ Our views in this letter are directed to the formation of an efficient Corresponding Committee at Calcutta ;
“ and we presume to request that, in concert with the President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, your Lordship
“ will make a selection of persons from among the Europeans and natives residing within your Lordship’s
“ Government, to constitute that Committee.
“ When the Committee is appointed, we shall feel grateful for your Lordship’s transmitting this letter to them;
“ and we request that they will guide themselves by the spirit of the Prospectus, of which a considerable number
“ is sent for distribution by them.
B
10
REPORT OF THE
“ The Corresponding Committee is requested to make such additions to the Prospectus as local circumstances
“ may render necessary ; and to have it addressed to the persons referred to in the enclosed list, and to such
“ others as they may consider likely to promote their views.
“ The expense of making those additions and of printing more Prospectuses (if those sent are not sufficient),
“ as also that o( transcribing translations and procuring their Oriental originals for the Committee in England,
“ will be defrayed by that Committee, if, contrary to expectation, the sum collected in Bengal is inadequate to
“ the payment.
“ The Corresponding Committee is empowered to add to their number, to make bye-laws agreeing with the spirit
“ of the Prospectus, to suggest to the Committee in England improved means for attaining their objects, and to
“ appoint houses of agency to receive subscriptions. They will also present those rewards or medals which may
“ be awarded at home to residents in Bengal, and transmit copies of the works printed by the Committee in
“ England to subscribers residing in that presidency.
“ Their most important duty, however, will be obtaining and transmitting to the Committee at home trans-
“ lations of Oriental MSS., accompanied by the original texts.
“ It is desirable that a meeting ot the Subscribers residing in Bengal should be held annually in December, to
“ receive a report from the Corresponding Committee, and to be informed of what has been done by the Com-
“ niittee in England. — A copy of that Report should be transmitted to the Committee in London.
“ The Oriental Translation Committee hope that the Corresponding Committee of Calcutta will not limit their
“ views to Europeans, but will also endeavour to excite qualified natives to furnish translations. They also hope,
“ that should any parts of this letter or of the Prospectus be considered ambiguous, the Corresponding Com-
“ mittee will interpret them according to their own judgment, without waiting for explanations from Europe.
“ We indulge the hope that, under your Lordship’s ausjiices, the Corresponding Committee will be able to
“ obtain the assistance of the Native Princes residing in or near your Lordship’s Government, by pointing outto
“ them the advantages that will accrue to the learned natives in their dominions, from being furnished with
“ printed texts of scarce and valuable Oriental Manuscripts; and we trust that your Lordship will promote this
“ desirable object, by permitting the letters, &c. addressed to the Native Princes to be sent through the Residents
“ at their courts.
“ We shall also be grateful for your Lordship’s permitting the letters of the Corresponding Committee to be
“ delivered free of postage within your Lordship’s Government, and for your Lordship’s allowing the communi-
“ cations from the Committee in Calcutta to the Committee in London to be forwarded through the authorities
“ in England.
“ We trust that we may in a few months receive the gratifying intelligence of the inauguration of the Corres-
“ ponding Committee, and of your Lordship and the y\.siatic Society of Bengal (which we have addressed through
“ its president) having displayed a degree of interest, commensurate with the importance of the object proposed
“ to your Lordship’s notice, and placed under your Lordship’s patronage.
“ We have the honour to be, &c.
f Signed) “ Gore Ouseley, “ A. Johnston,
“ G. T. Staunton, “ Mark Wilks,
“ E. H. East, “ G. Fitzclarence.”
Letter to the President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
“ Sir: — We have the honour of transmitting to you the duplicate of a Letter addressed to the Right Honour-
“ able the Governor-General of India, requesting his Lordship, in concert with yourself, to nominate a Committee
“ at Calcutta, to obtain Translations, &c. ; and we take the liberty of suggesting the desirableness of such
“ members of the General Committee as reside in or near Calcutta being a[)pointed Members of the Correspond-
“ ing Committee.
“ From the zeal which yourself, and the learned body over which you preside, display in the cultivation of
“ Oriental literature, we anticipate with confidence that you will render the most important assistance in the
“ attainment of our proposed object.
We have the honour to be, &c.”
( Signed as above.)
The Committee have great pleasure in informing the Subscribers that they received from Lord
William Bentinck, Governor General of India, before his Lordship’s departure, the most gratifying
assurances of his Lordship’s intention to forward their views, to the utmost extent of his power, on
his arrival at Calcutta.
Although zeal and efficiency may be confidently expected from all the Committees in Asia, it is
impossible not to contemplate with peculiar satisfaction the auspices under which the Corresponding
Committee will be formed at Bombay.
Few gentlemen occupying stations of authority and influence possess such means of effectively
assisting the Committee as Sir John Malcolm, whose Oriental learning, and activity in the promotion
of knowledge, are brilliant examples for every person, not only under his own, but also under every
other Indian Government, to endeavour to imitate.
The attention that the Prospectus and letters will excite in India must, in the opinion of the
Committee, create a desire for improvement in the Oriental languages among the junior Civil and
Military Officers residing there ; and it will be the duty of the Corresponding Committees to foster
that feeling, and transmit to Europe its beneficial results.
After preparing instructions for their Corresponding Committees, the Committee prepared a few
regulations for their own government. These regulations will be submitted to you this day for amend-
ment ; or, if approved, for confirmation.
ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTEE.
]J
The Committee hope that the latitude they have proposed for themselves will only be considered an
evidence of their extensive hopes and views, and that the Subscribers, in giving these regulations
their sanction, will leave the Committee unshackled, at least for the first year, that they may have
the means of ascertaining their power to accomplish the objects for which they were appointed.
Although most of these regulations have been formed on the basis of the original Prospectus,
two alterations have been suggested, which it is thought will add considerably to the usefulness and
the pecuniary means of the Society : — these are, the creation of a second class of subscribers, and
the sale of a certain number of each of the works printed at the expense of the Oriental Translation
Fund.
As the Subscribers of Ten guineas each are entitled gratuitously to a fine-paper copy of every
work published by the Committee, it is proposed that an annual subscriber of five guineas shall be
entitled to any of the works published by tbe Committee, to the extent of his subscription, at half
the price paid for them by the public ; but without having his name printed on the title-page, that
distinction being reserved for the first class of Subscribers.
In relation to the second proposal, it is calculated that the difference of expense between an edition
of 250 and of 500 copies of any book is only about 7 per cent, exclusive of paper : printing the latter
number instead of the former, and selling the copies that remain on hand after the Subscribers are
furnished with those to which they are entitled, will therefore defray a considerable part of the
expense of printing any translation, and thus enable the Committee to print additional works. The
following particulars are added, to shew the advantage of printing some copies for sale of such works
as the Committee may publish. An edition of 250 copies of a Persian and English work of 450
octavo pages would cost £125, or 10s. per copy; but the second 250 copies might be obtained for
£35. or about 2s. lOd. per copy. If the second 250 copies were gradually sold at only 10s. each,
the whole expense of printing the work would be ultimately repaid, with the exception of £35, for
which sum 250 copies would be obtained by the Subscribers.
This calculation is founded on the supposition that none but really interesting works will be
printed, and that there will consequently be a demand for them in England, on the Continent, and
among Europeans in Asia. It is also confidently expected that many copies will be bought by
learned natives of India, who may be either desirous of learning English or of possessing texts of
standard Oriental works, free from the errors which often abound in manuscript copies.
The acting Treasurer has the honour to report to the Subscribers the state of the Society’s funds,
made up to the present day.
The amount of subscriptions is £1,128. 15s., from which is to be deducted the expense of
printing and circulating the Prospectus and incidental charges.
If it should receive the approbation of the Subscribers, the annual subscriptions will be considered
payable on the 1st of January in each year, the second subscription being reckoned due on the 1st of
January 1829.
As the Secretary will be very much occupied in transacting the business of the Committee, it is
hoped that the payment of fifty pounds a year to him, from the 1st of January 1828, will be approved
by the Subscribers.
In connexion with the finances, it only remains for the Subscribers to elect from among themselves
a Treasurer for the ensuing year, and an Auditor, to report at the next annual meeting the receipts
and disbursements of the Oriental Translation Fund for the year that will then terminate.
The Committee, after thus giving an account of their proceedings and of the state of their funds,
venture to express a hope that a continuation and increase of support will enable them to extend their
operations, in proportion as their views enlarge in the execution of their plan.
It is now the agreeable duty of the Committee to announce to the Subscribers the encouraging
prospects which have been created by their munificent support. The prosperous state of their funds,
the advantages presented by tbe English Universities and the Royal Asiatic Society, and the gratuitous
aid tendered by many eminent Orientalists, warrants the belief that the Subscribers, in addition to
enjoying the honour of fostering an important branch of learning, and rescuing the national character
from the charge of neglecting Oriental literature, will annually receive books greatly exceeding their
subscriptions in value.
The Committee are desirous to avoid attributing too much effect to their labours ; but they feel
bound to state, that they know that the circulation of their Prospectus has already stimulated some
individuals to undertake translations of Oriental works, and has attracted much attention to Asiatic
literature.
The inquiries of the Committee have already brought to light several translations which had long
remained unnoticed, and they have received a valuable collection of Oriental MSS. which were col-
lected by the late Sir Charles Malet, Bart, during his residence in India, and presented to them by his
son. Sir Alexander Malet, Bart., as soon as he was informed of their establishment and objects. A
Catalogue of this collection is annexed.
B 2
12
REPORT OF THE
Catalogue of Persian MSS., presented hy Sir Alexander Malet, Bart.
Shah Nameh, by Firdousi, an Epic Poem, containing the History of the Kings of Persia.
Shah Jehan Nameh : imperfect. The History of Shah Jehan, Emperor of Hindustan.
Rouzet as Saffa, 7 Vols. Universal History.
Tarikh Amir Khaund ; Universal Chronology. By Amir Khaund.
Akbar Nameh; 3 Vols.: History of Akbar, Emperor of Hindustan.
Loghat Ferheng ; 2 Vols. : a Dictionary.
M iiasir A1 Omrah : History of Hindu Nobility.
Habbib Asseir ; 2 Vols. : fine copy: History of the Mohammedan States.
Ditto 2 Vols : imperfect : ditto.
Tarikh Khafi Khan ; £ Vols. : a short History of Hindustan.
The Koran : a fine copy.
Hukm Nameh : the Orders of Tippu .Sultan.
Teimour Nameh: the History of Tamerlene.
Merat Sekenderi : the History of Guzerat.
Tarikh Nadari: the History of Nadir Shah, King of Persia.
Ibrut Nameb : History of Hindustan.
Sabifei Shahi : Forms of Registers, Letters, &c.
Letifei Feizy : Letters.
Aulumgir Nameh : the History of Aurungzebe Aulumgir, Emperor of Hindustan : two copies.
Rouzet as Shohada: the History of Mohammed; in Hindustani verse.
Muntekhab al Tuarikh: an Abridgment of Oriental Flistory.
Hujet al Hind : a Tale.
Meer Ghulam Ali : Biographical Sketches of Oriental Poets.
Divan Hafiz : the Odes of Hafiz.
Gulistan Sadi : Moral Tales.
Inshai Jusufy : Letters.
Khezanae Aumera : the Peerage of the Mogul Empire.
Kehter al Loghat : an Abridged Dictionary.
Tarikh : a short History of India.
Biaz : three Common-place books.
TRACTS.
Historical Account of the Expedition of Sudasew-Chimnaji to the North ofindia: Mahratta ;
with a Plan of Aurungabad.
Account of Madhu Rao Peshwa, 2 copies.
History of Ghazi ad Din Khan.
A Treatise on Hindu Astronomy : Sanscrit.
Origin of the Seiks : two Tracts.
History of the Rajahs of Satara.
Letter from Shah Aulum, Emperor of Hindustan, to his Majesty George HI.
History of the Rohillas
History of the Rajahs of Guzerat.
Epitome of the Rise of the Mahratta Empire : Mahratta.
Account of the Assassination of Nana Rao Peshwa : ditto.
Account of Sendip.
Hindu Mythology.
Hindu Astronomy : Sanscrit.
Account of the Rajahs of Acheen : imperfect.
Account of the Bhourla Rajahs.
An Almanac : Sanscrit.
Account of the Rajahs of Kolapur : Mahratta.
The Committee have great pleasure in announcing that the following works have already been
offered to them, and that several of them are nearly ready for the press. In the publication of these
works, or of such others as the Committee may obtain or get translated, they pledge themselves to a
strict observance of such regulations as the Subscribers may frame or sanction, and to as great a regard
to economy as the expensive nature of copying and printing Oriental works permits.
Although, in selecting works for publication, the Committee’s principal object will be to increase
historical and general information, yet, in order to meet the taste of every class of the Subscribers,
they have considered it proper to have some works ot fiction translated, particularly as the East has
furnished many highly interesting specimens of that species of literature, if even it is not the parent
country of apologues and romances.
ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTEE.
13
LIST OF TRANSLATIONS PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION.
Class 1st. — Theology, Ethics, and Metaphysics.
1. The Cural, a work on Ethics, written by Tiruvalluven ; translated by Richard Clarke, Esq,
This ancient work, written in the purest style of Tamul poetry, possesses a very high reputation in the
whole of Southern India.
2. The Sanc’hya Carica : translated by Henry Thomas Colebrooke, Esq,
This Sanscrit work contains in seventy-two stanzas the principles of the Sanc’hya System of Metaphysical
Philosophy.
3. The Akhlak-e-Naseri of Naser-ud-Din of Tus in Bucharia; translated by the Rev. H. G. Keene, A.M.
This Persian system of Ethics is an elaborate composition, formed on Greek models, and is very highly
esteemed in Persia.
4. A Collation of the Syriac MSS. of the New Testament, both Nestorian and Jacobite, that are
accessible in England ; by the Rev. Professor Lee.
This collation will include the various readings of all the Syriac MSS. of the New Testament in the
British Museum, and the Libraries at Oxford, Cambridge, &c.
5. The Didascalia, or Apostolical Constitutions of the Abyssinian Church; translated by T. P.
Platt, Esq., A.M.
This ancient Ethiopic work is unknown in Europe, and contains many very curious opinions.
6. The Bustan of Sadi ; translated by James Ross, Esq., A.M.
This is a much-admired Persian Poem, consisting of Tales, &c. illustrative of moral duties.
Class 2d — History, Geography, and Travels,
7. The Travels of Macarius, Patriarch of Antioch, written by his attendant Archdeacon, Paul of
Aleppo. Translated by F. C. Belfour, Esq., LL.D.
This Arabic Manuscript, which is of great rarity, describes the Patriarch’s journey through Syria, Anatolia,
Rumelia, Walachia, Moldavia, and Russia, between the years 1633 and 1660 of the Christian JEra.
8. The Tareki Afghan ; translated by Dr. Bernhard Dorn.
This is a Persian History of the Afghans, who claim to be descended from the Jews. It will be accom-
panied by an account of the Afghan tribes.
9. The Annals of Ellas, Metropolitan of Nisibis ; translated by the Rev. Josiah Forshall, A.M.
This Syriac Chronicle contains chronological tables of the principal dynasties of the world, brief memoirs
of the Patriarchs of the Nestorian church, and notices of the most remarkable events in the East, from the
birth of our Saviour to the beginning of the eleventh century.
10. The Travels of Evlia Effendi ; translated by Ritter von Hammer.
This work contains an account in Turkish, of the travels of Evlia in all parts of the Turkish empire, and
in Turkestan, 6ic. in the middle of the seventeenth century.
1 1. Naima’s Annals ; translated by the Rev. Dr. Henderson.
This Turkish history comprises the period between 1623 and 1692, and includes accounts of the Turkish
invasion of Germany, the siege of Buda, Vienna, &c.
12. The Asseba as Syar of Syed Muhammed Reza : translated by Mirza Alexander Kazem Beg.
This is a Turkish History of the Khans of the Crimea, written about A.D, 1740, and contains many
interesting particulars relating to Turkey, Russia, Poland, and Germany.
13. Ibn Batuta’s Travels : translated from the Arabic, and illustrated with copious notes by the Rev-
Professor Lee.
Ibn Batuta spent above twenty years in travelling in the fourteenth century. Besides giving very interesting
notices of Spain, Greece, Ceylon, Java, &c. he gives long accounts of Nigritia, the Maidive Islands, where
he acted as Judge for eighteen months, and China, to which he went as ambassador from the court of Dehli,
at which he resided several years.
14. Ibn Khaldun’s History of the Berbers ; translated by the Rev. Professor Lee.
This rare and valuable Arabic work contains an account of the origin, progress, and decline of the
Dynasties which governed^the Northern Coast of Africa.
u
REPORT OF THE
15. The Tuhfat al Kebar of Kateb ChelebI al Marhoom : translated by James Mitchell, Esq.
This Turkish History contains a detailed account of the maritime wars of the Turks in the Mediterranean
and Black Seas, and on the Danube, &c. from the foundation of their empire in Europe to the commence-
ment of 1640.
16. The great Geographical Work of Idrisi ; translated by the Rev. G. C. Renouard, B.D.
This Arabic work was written A.D. 1 15.3, to illustrate a large silver globe made for Roger, King of Sicily,
and is divided into the seven climates described by the Greek Geographers.
17. Ibn Khalikan’s Lives of Illustrious Men : translated by Dr. Rosen.
This is a Biographical dictionary, arranged alphabetically, of the most celebrated Arabian historians, poets,
warriors, &c. who lived in the seven first centuries of the era of Mahommed, A.D. 700 to A.D. 1400.
18. Makrisi’s Khitat, or History and Statistics of Egypt ; translated by Abraham Salame, Esq.
This Arabic work includes accounts of the conquest of Egypt by the Caliphs, A.D. 640; and of the cities
rivers, ancient and modern inhabitants of Egypt, &c.
19. Part of Mirkhond’s Ruzet-al-Suffa ; translated by David Shea, Esq.
The part of this Persian work selected for publication is that which contains the History of Persia from
Kaiomurs to the death of Alexander the Great.
Class 3d Belles-Lettres.
20. Meher va Mushteri ; translated by Dr. Bernhard Dorn.
This is a popular Persian poem, which celebrates the friendship and adventures of Meher and Mushteri,
the sons of King Shapur and his grand Vizier.
21. Hatim Tai ; translated by Duncan Forbes, Esq., A.M.
This is a popular Persian romance, which narrates the seven perilous adventures of Hatim, an Arab chief.
22. Ferhad va Shirin ; translated by James Mitchell, Esq.
This Persian poem contains the tale of Ferhad, a celebrated statuary, and Shirin, Princess of Persia.
It also includes several curious legends relating to Adam, Mahommed, &c.
REGULATIONS
FOR THE
ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTEE.
1st. The Committee which is attached to the Royal Asiatic Society for the purpose of selecting
and superintending the translation and printing of Oriental works is to be called the “ Oriental
Translation Committee.”
2d. The object of the Committee is to publish, free of expense to the authors, translations of the
whole or parts of works in the Oriental languages, accompanied occasionally by the original texts, and
such illustrations as may be considered necessary. These translations are to be generally printed in
English, but in very peculiar cases may be printed in Latin or French.
3d. The Committee is empowered to add to its number, to purchase Oriental MSS. or printed
books, to present copies of the works printed at the expense of the Oriental Translation Fund to
learned Societies and individuals, and to adopt all the means that it may consider to be necessary for
executing the plan developed in the Prospectus. No payment, how'ever, exceeding twenty-five
pounds, is to be made until approved at two successive Meetings of the Committee.
4)th. The Meetings of the Committee will be held as often as the Chairman or Secretary, or any two
other Members of it, signing a requisition for that purpose, deem it necessary. All the Members of
the Committee resident within one hundred miles of London, are to be summoned to attend each of it.s
Meetings ; and five Members, including the Chairman or a Deputy Chairman, and the Secretary, are
to constitute a quorum.
5th. The Secretary is charged generally with the business of the Committee, and is to record all the
votes of the Committee in a Minute-Book, which every Subscriber has the right of inspecting on
application to him.
6th. For the purpose of directing the attention of scholars to the literature of the East, and en-
couraging translations, the Committee is empowered to give annually, for such works as it may consider
ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTEE.
15
deserving of distinction, four rewards in money, in sums of from £50 to £100 each, and four gold medals
of the value of twenty guineas each, inscribed with the names of the individuals to whom they are
presented. Any Member of the Committee who sends a work for approval, whether to obtain a
reward or medal, or merely to have it printed at the expense of the Oriental Translation Fund, is to
cease to act on the Committee until the adoption or rejection of his work is decided on.
7th. No work, although prepared for the press at the expense of the Oriental Translation Fund, is
to be printed, until the imprimatur of the Chairman or a Deputy Chairman, and at least twelve Members
of the Committee, is obtained.
8th. Every individual or institution subscribing ten guineas or upwards annually to the Oriental
Translation Fund, will be entitled to one fine-paper copy of every work translated and printed by the
Committee, with the name of the individual or institution subscribing printed on the title-page.
Individuals or institutions subscribing five guineas annually, will be entitled to any of the works
published by the Committee, to the amount of their subscriptions, at half the price paid for them by
Non-subscribers.
9th. A General Meeting of the Subscribers will be held annually on the first Wednesday in
February, May, August, and November ; and a Special General Meeting shall be convened by the
Secretary at any time it is required in writing by nine Subscribers, the requisition stating the subject
that is to be proposed for consideration.
10th. A General Meeting will be held annually on the first Wednesday in May, to which every
Subscriber and Member of the Committee resident in the United Kingdom will be summoned. At that
meeting Regulations may be proposed or rescinded ; the Auditor will report the receipts and disburse-
ments of the past year ; and the Secretary report the progress made in the works that have been
commenced, and give an account of those that are proposed for publication in the following year. A
copy of each of these Reports will be sent to every Subscriber.
At a Meeting of the Subscribers to the Oriental Translation Fund, held on Wednesday the
1th of May 1828, at the House of the Royal Asiatic Society,
His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, In the Chair.
A communication from Mr. Pettigrew was made to the Meeting, expressing His Royal Highness
the Duke of Sussex’s regret that he was prevented by indisposition from taking the Chair, as had been
announced in the circular letter by which the Meeting was convened.
The Right Honourable Sir Gore Ouselev, Bart., Chairman of the Oriental Translation Committee,
read the Prospectus explanatory of the objects of the Subscribers and Committee, the names of the
Patrons and Subscribers, and Lists of the Committee, as originally selected by the Royal Asiatic
Society, and as subsequently enlarged by the addition of some of the most eminent British Orientalists
in various parts of the world.
He then read a Report of the Proceedings of the Committee from the date of its nomination to the
present time, accompanied by a list of the Translations that have been offered to it for publication, and
submitted to the consideration of the Subscribers the Regulations which had been prepared for the
government of the Committee in the administration of the Oriental Translation Fund.
It was then moved by the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Melville, seconded by Sir Edward
Hyde East, Bart., M.P., and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That the appointment of the Committee named in the list submitted to this Meeting be
“ confirmed. ”
Moved by the Right Honourable Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, M.P., seconded by Sir
Edward Kerrison, Bart., M.P., and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That the report of the Committee be adopted, and their proceedings approved and
“ confirmed.”
Moved by the Right Honourable the Earl of Cassilis, seconded by George Watson Taylor,
Esq. M.P., and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That the Regulations for the Oriental Translation Committee be confirmed.”
Moved by Sir Alexander Johnston, Knt., seconded by the Right Honourable Sir Gore Ouselby,
Bart., and
Resolved Unanimously, ,
“ That the grateful thanks of this Meeting be returned to his Royal Highness the Duke of
“ Clarence, for the zealous and efficient manner in which His Royal Highness has promoted
“ the establishment of the Oriental Translation Fund.”
16
REPORT,
Moved by Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart., M.P., seconded by Sir J. Wathen Waller, Bart., and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That Sir Hutton Cooper, Bart., M.P., be requested to accept the office of Auditor of the
“ Oriental Translation Fund for the ensuing year.”
Moved by Sir Edward Hyde East, Bart., M.P., seconded by Sir Hutton Cooper, Bart.,
M.P., and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzclarence be requested to accept the office of Treasurer to
“ the Oriental Translation Fund ”
Moved by the Right Honourable Earl Spencer, seconded by the Right Honourable Sir Gore
OusELEY, Bart., and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That the most grateful thanks of this Meeting be given to the Council and Members of the
“ Royal Asiatic Society, for their liberality in promoting the views of the Subscribers to the
“ Oriental Translation Fund, by granting them the use of their house and library, and by their
“ splendid annual donation of one hundred guineas.”
Moved by Sir J. Wathen Waller, Bart., seconded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Black-
BURNE, and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That an account of this day’s proceedings, preceded b_v the Prospectus, the Report from the
“ Committee, and the Regulations, be printed for distribution.”
Moved by Admiral Sir Charles Morice Pole, Bart., seconde d by the Right Honourable the
Earl of Cassilis, and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That the thanks of this Meeting be given to His Royal Flighness the Duke of Sussex, for
“ his kind intention of presiding at this meeting, which was solely prevented by His Royal
“ Highness’s lamented indisposition.”
Moved by the Right Honourable Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart., seconded by Sir Alexander
Johnston, Knt., and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That the cordial thanks of this Meeting be given to Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzclarence, for
“ his great and successful exertions in favour of the Oriental Translation Fund.”
Moved by the Right Honourable Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, M.P., seconded by the
Right Honourable Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart., and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That the Right Honourable Earl Spencer be added to the Vice-Patrons of the Oriental
“ Translation Fund.”
His Royal Highness having left the Chair it was moved by the Right Honourable Earl Spencer,
seconded by Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzclarence, and
Resolved Unanimously,
“ That the warmest thanks of this Meeting be given to His Royal Highness Prince Leopold
“ of Saxe Coburg, for his able and condescending conduct in the Chair.”
(Signed) Wm. Huttmann,
Secretary.
London :
PRINTED BY J. L. COX, GREAT QL’EEN STREET,
Lincoln’s-Inn- Fields.
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