France and Gerniahyd of Rabbi Geiger has obtained the prize offered by the Academy of Berlin for the solution of the question, What did Mahomet borrow from Juddism? He has proved that all the traditions of the Old Testament found in the Koran or the Mishkat, are derived from the same authorities to which the Mishna and the Talmud owe their existence.” Dr. Pintier has" announced a work!" which seems almost beyond the powers of a single man,” namely, the Text and a complete Translation of the two Talmuds, those of Babylon and Jerusalem, with philological hotes, and a selection from the best commentaries, in twenty-eight folio volumes ! 16 9.19 jo pary avizadətqmoɔ In Arabian literature, the report notices the 'Alfiyya, a valuable grammatical" treatise in verse, published by M. de Sacy, as "the consummation of his long and important labours on the Arabic tongue;" and states that M. Delaporte" has published at Algiers the Fables of Lokman, in the African dialect. “The day may come," M. Stahl remarks, "when the presses of Algiers may ` may rival those of Boulak, and send forth works of inestimable value, such as that of1» Ibn Khaldun, which are yet unknown to the world." The great Arabic "dića" tionary of M. Freytag is expected to appear in about two years. y lo quesong M. Tauchnitz, the enterprizing German bookseller, who stereotyped the Hebrew Bible, has published the Coran in the same way. Speaking of the Thousand and one Nights, of which several editions have appeared in France and Germany, M. de Stahl mentions, that M. Brockhaus, during a visit at Lon!!! don, discovered what appeared to be the Sanscrit original of this collection of"} stories, the Vrihat Kátha, the text accompanied by a translation of which hẽo is printing. Para o yodga

1

“In passing to ancient Iran," continues M: Stahl," we have to congratulate you, on the most brilliant conquest which philology has made in modern times, that of a language which has ceased to be in use for many centuries,' badly preserved in an obscure traditional work, and this totally deprived of { that grammatical exactitude which facilitated the progress of Origen and St. Jerome in ancient Hebrew. I speak of the Zend, which, with reference to its structure and its etymological system, forms the link which unites the Sans scrit to the Greek and perhaps to the Armenian. The glory of this undertaking! is due to M. Eugène Burnouf, whose essay on the Pali demonstrated what degree of certainty patient investigation might afford in advancing from the known to the unknown, when sustained by vast and accurate knowledge, and unerring sagacity. The Commentary on the Yaçna follows the text, step by step."

འད་ཆོ་སྣོན

The report then notices the investigations of Dr. Müller in the Pehlvi, into which a part of the Zend-Avesta has been translated, and an entire work, the Bundehesh, has been written. "The fusion of many Semitic elements seems to indicate a foreign invasion, of which, in fact, historical traditions make mention; or, if we may be allowed to form a conjecture on the term Pehlvi, it would be the language of the provinces on the western frontier of Iran."

In Persian literature, the report refers to the publication of the Tarikh of Tabari, by the Translation Committee of London; of the Shah-nameh of · M. Mohl and that of Major Macan.

The list of publications enumerated by M. Stahl on Hindu literature is long. Amongst the most prominent are the text and a French version of the Upanishads, by M. Poley; the Vicrama and Urvasi, by M. Lenz; the Hasyarnava, another drama of Kalidasa, by M. Hirzel, with a German literal version; and the Prabodhachandrodaya, by M. Brockhaus, with a Latin version. The report notices likewise the Harivansa of M. Langlois, the Bengali Dictionary of Ram Asiat. Journ. N.S.VOL. 18.No.72.

2S

Comul Sen, M. Garcin de Tassy's Works of Wali, Capt. Mackintosh's Account of the Ramoossies, Mr. Prinsep's Biography of Ameer Khan, and Mr. Royle's work on the Botany and Zoology of the Himalayan Country.

The publications in Chinese literature have been few. M. Mohl's Latin translation of the Yth-king is nearly finished (the first volume is published), and an edition of three of the Confucian moral books, the Ta-heo, the Chung-yung, and the Lun-yu, are publishing by M. Pauthier, comprising the original text in elegant characters, a Latin and a French translation, with commentaries and notes. "M. Julien, in another work, has pursued a different plan; the text being engraved in China on metal plates, they were conveyed to America to be cast, whence they will be reconveyed to China." This mode of printing from metal plates appears to have been the process adopted at Peking in publishing the elegant edition of Keen-lung's works.

M. Stahl notices the enterprizing Csöma de Koros, and his valuable researches in Tibetan literature, and speaks in appropriate terms of his proposition to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, to transmit the duplicates of his rich collection of Tibetan books to the learned societies of Europe, in order to facilitate the study of the literature of Tibet.

The report closes with noticing the progress of M. Siebold's work on Japan, and M. Klaproth's edition of Titsingh's Annals of the Emperors of Japan.

VARIETIES.

The Island of Socotra.-The following report on the island of Socotra has been drawn up by Lieut. J. R. Wellsted, Indian Navy, assistant-surveyor.

The government of the island of Socotra, from a very early period, was dependent on the kings of the incense country, and the early Portuguese navigators found them, on their first arrival, still in the undisturbed possession of their ancient patrimony; but, after Albuquerque had conquered and overran the island, he vested its government in the hands of some of his officers, who, with a remnant of his troops, was left behind to retain it. The Portuguese appear to have held possession until the decline of their power in India, when they intermarried with its inhabitants, gradually lost their ascendancy, and Socotra, after this short interruption, again resumed its solitary dependence, under its ancient masters. From this period, there is reason to believe that a brother or some near relation of the sultan of Kisbeen, on the Arabian coast, resided permanently on the island as its governor, until within the last century, when it has been merely subjected to an annual visit from Kisbeen. The revenue is then collected, and any complaints, which require the interference of the sultan, are brought before him. When these objects are accomplished, he again takes his departure. During our stay at Kisbeen and on the island, we made numerous inquiries to ascertain who at present exercised this power, but this proved no easy matter to discover. The old sultan is blind, and incapable of managing the affairs of his government, and all has gone to confusion. Various claimants appeared, but Abdullah was pointed out as the influential individual; from him, therefore, we procured letters specifying the nature of our visit, and requiring from the islanders every assistance which we might stand in need of. Little attention was, however, paid to this letter, and during our stay, another chief, Hamed Bin Tary arrived, and under the threat of burning the town, he succeeded at Colesseah in procuring about fifty dollars worth of ghee, with which, after sending on directions to Tamarida, forbidding our being furnished with either camels or guides, he again sailed for

Kisbeen, and openly boasted of what he had done. During the present year, no other member of the family is expected on the island, and as the sum collected annually, at other seasons, rarely exceeds in value 200 dollars, the authority of the sultan may be considered as more nominal than real.

Abdullah in his visits has been known to inflict chastisement with his own hand on the Bedouins, who have neglected to bring him the full quantity of ghee to which he has considered himself entitled, and even to imprison them for a few days; but I could not learn that he possessed sufficient power to -inflict punishment of any kind on the Arabs, the greater number of whom are indeed exempted from contributing to any part of his revenue. It is from those who collect the ghee at Tamarida, Colesseah and Codhaop, that he procures the greater part of the only article which he now draws from the island. The attention of Abdullah during his visits appears solely directed towards this object, and though complaints from former usage are occasionally brought before him, yet the instances are rare, and his decisions are not much cared for.

At Tamarida, an old Arab, who was formerly a sipáhí in India, in the service of Baji Rao, by virtue of his age and long residence in the town, possesses some influence. Another at Colesseah named Salem, is also qualified by the townsmen with the title of sheikh, in order mainly, it would appear, that he might secure presents from the vessels visiting the port, but nothing is more certain than that they do not possess throughout the island a constituted authority, either civil or military, or of any description whatsoever. Notwithstanding the singular anomaly of so great a number of people residing together without any chiefs or law, offences against the good order of society appear infinitely less frequent than amidst more civilized nations; theft, murder, and other heinous crimes, are almost unknown. No stronger instance can be given of the absence of the former than the fact of my wandering for two months on the island, without having during that period missed the most trifling article. Some intelligent Arabs, who had resided there some fifteen years, assured me that the only disturbances known were occasional quarrels among the Bedouins, respecting their pasture grounds, and these were, as usual, settled either by the individuals fighting the matter out with sticks, or by the interference of their friends. It is, no doubt, this security of person and property, which has brought from the shores of the continent, on either side, so many settlers to the island.

In a moist climate like Socotra, it would be impossible for several months to live in tents; and, as the variation of the seasons compels the Bedouins to shift with their flocks in search of pasturage, it may be considered as a bountiful provision that they are, in the numerous natural caverns with which the lime-stone hills abound, provided with habitations ready fashioned to their hands. A Bedouin merely selects one of these, which from its size and situation is best calculated for his purpose; he then by means of loose stone walls portions off different apartments for himself and family, while the remainder is left to afford shelter to his flock. Singular spots are occasionally chosen for these places of abode: I have seen them on the face of a nearly vertical hill, at the height of 800 feet from the plain. In the valleys, and on the margin, they have another description of dwelling place; the rocks there, whenever limestone occurs, is equally cavernous with the hills: a cave is selected; they widen, if necessary, the entrance, so as to allow it to open into an inclosure; the upper part is then covered over with rafters, on which turf and some earth is placed, so that it becomes difficult at a short distance to

distinguish it from the surrounding country: a wall constructed of loose stones encloses a circular space about thirty yards in diameter, which serves at night as a fold for their sheep and goats. I visited the interior of several of these: the only furniture they contained was a stone for grinding corn, some skins on which they sleep, other skins for holding water or milk, some earthen cooking pots, and a few Camelines hanging on lines taken across the roof. In one of these, tied by the four corners and suspended from a peg by a string, you will frequently see a child sleeping. It also serves as a cradle, which they swing to and fro when they wish to compose it to sleep. In hot weather, when the ground is parched with heat, these caverns are of a clammy coldness; the Bedouins are by no means particular in keeping them clean, and they usually swarm with fleas and other vermin. A few days after my first arrival, I had occasion to ascend a mountain on the southern side of the island, seeking for plants; and other pursuits had detained me until it was too late to descend. I therefore took up my quarters with a Bedouin's family in one of these caverns. It was formed by the overhanging of an enormous rock, which left a sheltered space of fifty yards in length and ten in breadth. In the interior, the surface of the limestone exhibited rounded masses, with cellular cavities in and between them; but I could not discover any stalactitic traces. These were the first Bedouins we had met with, and none of the party had seen Europeans before. Our coming unexpectedly on them, therefore, created with the females some little alarm; but a few words of explanation from our guide soon quieted them: a few needles to the females and some tobacco to the men, set the whole party in good humour. Milk, dates, and whatever their cave afforded was readily placed before us, and they cheerfully assented to our request of passing the night there. At our suggestion, some grass was collected for us to sleep on, but this, unfortunately, proved an inducement for the goats and sheep, which were lodged in the same part of the cavern with several members of the family, to visit and run over us repeatedly during the night, so that we obtained but little rest.

The moral character of the Bedouins stands high. The absence of any heinous crimes among them has already been noticed, and in general they may be considered as a lively generous race; but the most distinguishing trait of their character is their hospitality, which is practised alike by all, and is only limited by the means of the individual who is called on to exercise it. Nor is this, as with the Socotrian Arabs, confined to those of their own faith; and while with the latter we were unceasingly tired with silly questions relating either to our religion or our views on the island, the Bedouins gave themselves no concern either about one or the other. A watch excited much mirth among them, and it was long before they would cease to believe it was a living animal ; but unaccustomed as they were to the sight of fire-arms, what excited their utmost astonishment was a pair of pistols with detonating caps. Ever cheerful, they were always ready to enter into conversation, or to be pleased with what was shown them. I saw no instrument of music during my stay on the island, but they appear passionately fond of song, and on one occasion, at a wedding, I observed them dancing. A party stood round in a circle, and while one of their number continued to sing, two or three others, without any pretence to a regular step, by a succession of jumps or bounds, endeavoured to keep something like time to it.

The Bedouins have a great variety in their modes of salutation: two friends meeting will kiss each other on the cheek or shoulder six or eight times, then shake hands, kiss them, and afterwards exchange a dozen sentences of com.

pliment: they have also the same singular and indelicate mode of salutation which is observed at Kisbeen, when they place their noses together, and accompany the action by drawing up their breath audibly through the nostrils at the same time. Male and female relations salute each other in public in this manner. Those of different sexes, who are merely known to each other, kiss each other's shoulder or hand, except with the principal individual of the tribe. When the females fall in with him, they salute his knees, and he returns it on their forehead. The old men salute children in the same manner. With the use of the compass the Bedouins were totally unacquainted, and they had no terms in the Socotrian language to express the cardinal points. The superiority of the Arabian numerals for extended calculations over their own, has induced them to entirely discontinue the use of the latter, and in all transactions among themselves, as well as with the Arabs, the Arabian alone are now used.

I have been unable to ascertain at what period Tamarida was erected; but both from its name and the appearance of the houses, I am inclined to think it must have been anterior to the first visit of the Portuguese, and most probably founded by those who followed them. The natives date its existence from a much earlier period, but little reliance can be placed on their testimony. The nearest range of mountains in the vicinity of Tamarida approaches the sea in the shape of an arch, on the chord of which, and nearly equi-distant from the points where its extremities reach the beach, is situated the town. It consists at present of about 150 straggling houses, which are unconnected with each other, and are surrounded with date trees; of this number not a third is now inhabited, the others remain in the same ruinous state as they were left by the Wahabis in 1801. Though small, the houses are well constructed, of lime and coral, cemented over, and from this being kept whitewashed, they have a neat appearance. They are usually two stories in height, of a square form, and with a tower in one corner, through which the staircase is usually built; the windows face the N.E., and they are closed like those on the houses of Arabia, with wooden shutters, cut with a variety of ornaments, through the insterstices of which the air and light is admitted. The upper rooms are appropriated to the use of the harem; in the lower, seated on a platform, of which there are two, one on either side the door, with a passage between them, the Arabs receive their visitors, and transact all business. Attached to each house there is a small garden, in which is grown a sufficiency of beans and melons for the use of the inhabitants-enclosures of tobacco may also be seen among the houses. The number of inhabitants at the period of our visit did not exceed a hundred: several were absent at Zanzebar; but fifty added on that accout to their number, gives the full number of those who at any period reside here. The Arabs flock down from the hills on the arrival of a ship, and may induce the visitor to estimate their number higher than I have done. There are but two shops in Tamarida, and the articles exposed for sale are grain, dates, and clothes; every individual, therefore, on the arrival of a boat supplies himself with whatever he requires.—Journal of the Asiatic Society for March.

CRITICAL NOTICES.

Notice sur la Vie et les Ouvrages de M. de Chézy. Par M. le BARON SILVESTRE DE SACY. Paris, 1835.

THIS eloquent biographical sketch of an excellent oriental scholar and amiable man, by the venerable Baron de Sacy, was read at the public meeting of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres in August last. M. de Sacy has traced the history,