Ancients by Sir George Cooper, Recorder of Prince of Wales' Island, was read. The author proposes to shew that the Malabathrum of the ancients, about which, he observes, there is much mistake and confusion among lexicographers and critics, is nothing but the Malay betel, as the sound and orthography of the two words would seem to promise. Horace, in his ode to Varus, fancifully describes himself having his hair glossy with Syrian Malabathrum :

Cum quo morantem sæpe diem mero

Fregi, coronatus nitentes, Malobathro Syrio capillos. The Latin dictionaries explain this word to mean Indian Nard, or the Spikenard of the ancients; upon which Sir W. Jones has already written. See As. Res. vol. iv, page 733. The annotators of the passage quoted from Horace observe, that the bothrum or bethrum was brought from India to Syria, and from thence to Rome. It appears evident that Horace speaks of it as an unguent or perfume for the hair, and Pliny also mentions that it was used as such by the Romans, who mixed it up with other fragrant odours of the east. Stephanus in his Greek lexicon says, that Malabathrum grew in Malabar, and that in the language of that part of India it is called bathrum or bethrum and that by joining the two words together, the Greeks formed Malabathrum. Dr. Vincent in his learned work on the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea has followed the authority of Stephanus, and says, after quoting the original passage from the lexicon: "What adds to the probability of this is, that the coast was called Male, till the Arabs added the final syllable." Sir George Cooper, however, having stated these facts, is of opinion, that the name implies the Malay bethrum, or betel, from its being well known that the Malay coast produces the best betel, and from the country of the Malays having been known to the ancients by the same name, as a reference to the geography of Ptolemy, page 176, will shew. He supposed it to have been carried by the Malays over to the Malabar coast, and from thence it found its way to Egypt, Syria, and Rome, under the denomination of Malay bethrum or betel. Sir George Cooper infers that this was the betel from its medicinal properties, as described by Dioscorides, who says that

neral being about three inches. The foliage at the top is but small in quantity, and 'does not spread out like that of the cocoa. The fruit about the size of a walnut, hangs down in bunches under the foliage, and rests upon the stem. The tree emits a very fragrant perfume early in the morning.

An analysis of some snake-stones by J. Davy, M. D. F. 'R. S. of Ceylon, was also read. "It is well known in India,” says Dr. Davy," that snake-stones are substances employed by the natives as reme-" dies against the bite of venomous serpents." The stones which he examined were of three kinds. One was small, round, nearly white on the outside and black or brown' in the centre. It was polished, and moderately hard. When breathed upon it emitted an earthy smell, like clay, and when applied to the tongue, or other moist surface, it adhered to it firmly: Before the blowpipe it gradually became perfectly white, and lost a little of its substance; yet it emitted no fume, odour, or flame. Placed in diluted nitric acid a slight effervescence was produced. In a few hours the whole of the stone was dissolved, with the exception of very minute portions of carbonaceous matter. This solution, on the addition of Ammonia, afforded a copious precipitate, which was insoluble in weak oxalic acid. These results, it is said, prove that the stone was composed of phosphate of lime, with a little carbonate of lime, and slight traces of carbon, and that its composition is the same as that of bone partially calcined. Dr. Davy has no doubt that it was in reality calcined bone. Another kind of which he had only a single specimen was oval, smooth, and strining, externally black, internally grey. It had no earthy smell when breathed upon, and ' had no absorbent or adhesive power. The person by whom it was presented said that it had saved the lives of four men at least. Before the blowpipe it became white effervesced strongly in diluted nitric acid, till the whole was dissolved. The solution was not precipitated by Ammonia, but copiously by carbonat of Ammonia. The precipitate before the blowpipe was converted into pure quick lime. From this result it is inferred that the subject of experiment was merely carbonat of lime coloured by a little vegetable

sweeten the breath, and possessed the virtue of a stomachic. These qualities certainly do belong to the betel, but the author has not noticed in what manner it could be used as an unguent or perfume as described by Horace in the lines above quoted. The tree which produces the betel grows to the height of forty or fifty feet, having a much more slender stem than the Cocoa, the diameter of it in ge

བ་

of a

cylindrical form, slightly curved, about an inch in length, and in circumference about thrée quarters of an inch. It had a smooth, shining surface, was dark green and brittle, and possessed no absorbent power. The investigation of its proper ties satisfied the author that it was a beAfter having completed these experiments Dr. Davy asks: Is a calcined bone, or a fragment of carbonat of lime,

soar.

or a concretion formed in the intestines of an antelope, an antidote against the poison of snakes? He thinks that every one acquainted with the animal economy, and the effects, and the mode of operation of the poison of snakes, will decidedly answer in the negative. He then shews that the two substances last analysed, could have no medical or chemical effect whatever, as local application, and that the first, however strong its absorbent power, is equally useless. It is also remarked that persons who have used snake-stones have, independent of other mistakes, been deceived by applying them in many instances to the bite of snakes supposed to be, but not really venomous. The author had examined twelve different species of snakes. Of these only one kind was believed by the native to be harmless. Of this number only three proved poisonous, and the bite of one of them, he ascertained, is never fatal even to small animals, and much less to man. It is called the Cara willa. Its poison occasions swelling and pain in the part bitten. Suppurating ulcers are a frequent consequence, but the recovery is spontaneous and certain. Dr. Davy relates a case. A native servant was bitten ou the leg by a serpent. A snake-charmer was immediately sent for, and before he arrived the leg and thigh were much swollen. The charmer applied his snake. stone unremittingly, and in about three hours the pain, which was at first excruciating, had nearly ceased, and the swelling in about three hours more had subsided, and the man, who was travelling on foot, was able to pursue his journey. The bite of the Cobra di Capelo, and the Polonga, is thought to be absolutely mortal, but the effect of the bite depends on a variety of circumstances. Their poison is soon exhausted, when of course their bite is innocent, but were itnot exhausted, in the majority of cases of the bite of the Cobra di Capelo, and in many of the Polonga, its virulence is not sufficient to cause the death of any animal excepting such as are small and weak. Mr. Davy concludes by saying that the sooner the belief in the efficacy of snake-stones is exploded the better, as many a life in all probability has been sacrificed to it, that might have been saved by efficient means of cure, timely applied, and much human suffering undergone, that might have been relieved, had real, instead of imaginary, remedies been employed.

Dr. Wallick presented to the Society a German volume "on the Language and Wisdom of the Indians," by Frederick Schlegel.

Four spears from the Island of Engano were presented to the Society by the Ma. rine Board.

Captain Harriott transmitted two Persic coins. Their form and inscription suf

They'

ficiently denote their antiquity. were brought a few years ago, with a few others now in the possession of Captain Harriott, by a Roman Catholic priest from Nepaul, and presented by him to the late Mr. Gladwin. In the opinion of the learned Moolovee Abul Kasim, a native of Persia, and now resident at Patna, they are Persic coins of Zoroaster's time, and about two thousand five hundred years old.

Some sculptured brieks taken from the walls of an old Hindoo temple in the distinct of Jessore, were received from Dr. Tytler, to be deposited in the Museum.

A mathematical paper was also received from Stephen Andreas Grove, Captain in the Royal Danish Engineers, and surveyor at Tranquebar.

The Governor-General in Council, having purchased à valuable collection of Botanical works, which were commissioned from England by Dr. Hare, the late superintendent of the Botanical Garden at this presidency, his lordship had proposed, with the view of promoting the interests of science, to deposit them in the library of the Society. The correspondence on the subject was read, and the books directed to be received into the library, where they will always be accessible to men of science, in pursuance of the liberal intentions of government.

Mr. Johnston presented three models of boats used in the Persian Gulph.

Another meeting of the Society, was held at Chouringhee, on the evening of the 6th August, Mr. Harrington presided on the occasion. Several curious articles of Hindu sculpture, painting, &c.: had been received during the preceding two months aud were deposited in the

museum.

An interesting paper was read, written by Mr. Ellis, communicating a curious instance of literary forgery, or rather religious imposition. In 1778 a book was printed at Paris, entitled L'Ezour Vedam, containing the exposition of the opinions of the Indian priests and philosophers, and said to be translated from the Sanscrit by a Bramin. It was said in the preface that the work was originally among the papers of M. Barthelemy, a member of council at Pondicherry, that M. Moldave brought a copy of it from India, and presented it to Voltaire, who sent it in 1761 to the library of the King of France. Voltaire had been informed that the chief-priest of Cheringham, dis-1 tinguished for his knowledge of the French language, and the services he had per-> formed for the India Company, was the translator of the Ezour Vedam, and appears to have believed it an authentic work. M. Anquetil du Perron was of the same opinion. M. Sonnerat, however, seems to have detected the error,

and describes the Ezour Vedam as not genuine, but the composition of a missionary at Masulipatam, sous le manteau Brame. Mr. Ellis has since ascertained that the original of this work still exists among the manuscripts in the possession of the catholic missionaries at Pondicherry, which are understood to have belonged originally to the society of Jesuits.

Besides the Ezour Vedam, there are also among these manuscripts imitations of the other three Vedals each of them in Sanscrit, in the roman character, and in the French.

Mr. Ellis enters into a philological investigation of the manuscripts to shew that whether the author were a native or a European, the work must either have originated in the provinces of Bengal and Orissa, or have been composed by some one who had there learned the rudiments of the Sanscrit. He then gives a list of the manuscripts in the posssession of the catholic missionaries and their contents. They are eight in number. One of them concludes by denying the divinity of Brahma, and asserting him to have been a man in all respects resembling other human beings. They are all intended to refute the doctrines, and shew the absurdity of the ceremonies, inculcated by the Brahmins. The native christians at Pondicherry, are of opinion that they were written by Robertus de Nobilibus, a near relation of his holiness Marcellus the II. and the nephew of Cardinal Bellarmin, and who founded the Madura mission, about the year 1620. This personage appears to be well known both to Hindous and Christians, under the Sanscrit title of Tatwa-bod'ha-swami, whose writings on polemical theology are said to resemble greatly the controversial parts of the Pseudo-Vedas, discovered by Mr.

Ellis. That learned gentlemen thinks it not improbable that the substance of them, as they now exist, is from his pen, and that they consisted originally, like his works in Tamil, of detached treatises on various controversial points, and that some other hand has since arranged them in their present form, imposed on them a false title, transcribed them into the Roman character, and translated them into French. It is said however that the manner, style, form, and substance, of the Pseudo-Vedas do not bear the most distant resemblance to the writings, whose titles they assume.

Mr. Ellis gives an elaborate analysis of the real Vedas, and compares them par ticularly with the forgeries. The whole scope of the Pseudo-Vedas is evidently the destruction of the existing belief of the Hindoos, without regarding consequences, or caring whether a blank be substituted for it or not. The writings of Ram Mohun Roy seem to be precisely of the same tendency as the discussions of Robertus de Nobilibus. The mission of Madura appears to have been founded on the principle of concealing from the natives the country of the missionaries, and imposing them on the people as belonging to the sacred tribe of the Brahmins (Romada Brahmana was the title they assumed), and this deception, probably, led to many more.

The paper of Mr. Ellis, of which we have given this imperfect report, displays a profound knowledge of Sanscrit litera ture, and will be read with peculiar interest by the oriental scholar.

The same intelligent writer has transmitted to the Society, his able Dissertation on the Malayalma language, which is spoken in the southern provinces of Tra

vancore.

CALCUTTA.

In May last died, in confinement, at Fort William, the VIZIER ALLY.

Those extraordinary vicissitudes of fortune which are so often the result of a turbulent and restless disposition, were never more fully exemplified than in the fate of this individual, whose early ca-" reer of life commenced amidst all the gorgeous splendour of Eastern magnificence. Vizier Ally was the adopted son of Asuf-ud-Dowlah, late nabob of Oude,, whom he succeeded in his possessions and jurisdiction. His mother was the wife of a Forash (a menial servant of a low de

scription, employed in India in keeping the metalic furniture of a house clean). His reputed father, Asuf-ud-Dowlah, was a wealthy and eccentric prince. Having sueceededto the musnud (throne) of Oude by the assistance of the East India Company, he professed great partiality to the English. Mild in manners, polite and affable in his conduct, he possessed no great mental powers; his heart was good considering his education, which instilled the most despotic ideas. He was fond of lavishing his treasures on gardens, palaces, horses, elephants, European guns, lustres, and mirrors. He expended every year about 200,0007. in English manufactures. This

nabob had more than an hundred gardens, 20 palaces, 1,200 elephants, 3,000 fine saddle horses, 1,500 double barrel guns, seventeen hundred superb lustres, thirty thousand shades of various forms and colours; several hundred large mirrors, girandoles, and clocks; some of the latter were very curious, richly set with jewels, having figures in continual movement, and playing, tunes every hours two of these clocks cost him thirty thousand pounds. Without taste or judgment, he was extremely solicitous, to possess all that was elegant, and rare; he had in struments and machines of every art and science, but he knew none; and his museum was so, ridiculously disposed, that a wooden, cuckoo clock was placed close to a superb time-piece which cost the price of a diadem; and a valuable landscape of Claude Lorraine suspended near a board painted with ducks and drakes, His haram contained above 500 of the greatest beauties of India, immured in high walls which they were never to leave, except on their biers. He had an immense, number of domestic servants, and a very large army, besides being fully protected from hostile invasion by the company's subsidiary forces, for which he paid five hundred thousand pounds per annum. His jewels amounted to about eight millions sterling. Amidst, this precious treasure, he might be seen for several hours every day, handling them as a child does his toys." Asuf had no legitimate children, and it was doubted whether he had any natural, ones. He was in the habit whenever he saw a preg nant woman, whose appearance struck his fancy, to invite her to the palace to lie in; and several women of this description were delivered there, and among the number was the mother of Vizier Ally. Several children so delivered were brought up and educated in the palace. The sprightliness of Vizier Álly, while yet an infant, so entirely

affections of the old nabobossed the

the determined to adopt him. In conformity with an educat resolution, the youth received suitable to a prince who was destined to succeed to the musnud. He is said, however, to have developed at this period, a propensity to delight in the sufferings of the brute creation.

"The wedding of Vizier Ally was celebrated at Lucknow, in 1795, and was one of the most magnificent in modern times. The nabob had his tents pitched on the plains, near the city of Lucknow among the number were two remarkably large, made of strong cotton cloth, lined with the finest English broad cloth, cut in stripes of different colours, with cords of silk and cotton. These two tents cost five lacks of rupees, or above fifty thousand pounds sterling; they were each 120 feet long, 60 broad, and the poles about 60 feet high; the walls of the tents. were ten feet high ; part of them, were cut into lattice-work for the women of the nabob's, seraglio, and those of the principal nobility, to see through. His highness was covered with jewels, to the amount, at least, of two millions sterling. From thence we removed to the shumeena, which was illuminated by two hundred elegant girandoles from Europe, as many glass shades with wax candles, and several hundred flambeaux; the glare and reflection was dazzling and offensive to the sight. When seated under this extensive canopy, above a hundred dan, cing girls, richly, dressed, went through their elegant, but rather lascivious dances and motions, and sung some, soft airs of the country, chiefly Persic and Hindoo Persic.

،، About seven, o'clock, the bridegroom, Vizier Ally, the young nabob, made his appearance, so absurdly loaded with jewels, that he could scarcely stagger under the precious weight, The bridegroom was about thirteen years of age, the bride ten; they were, both of a dark complexion, and not handsome.

J

"From the shumeeana we proceeded on elephants to an extensive and beautiful garden, about a mile distant. The procession was grand beyond conception; it consisted of about twelve hundred ele.

phants, richly caprisoned, drawn up in a regular line like a regiment of soldiers. About a hundred elephants in the centre had houdas, or castles, covered with silver; in the midst of these appeared the nabob, mounted on an uncommonly large elephant, within a houdah covered with gold, richly set with precious stones. The elephant was caparisoned with cloth of gold. On his right hand was Mr. George John stone, the British resident at the court of Lucknow: on his left the young bridegroom: the English gentlemen and ladies and the native nobility were intermixed on the right and left. On both sides of the road, from the tents to the garden, were raised artificial scenery of bamboowork, very high, representing bastions, arches, minarets, and towers, covered with lights in glass lamps, which made a grand display. On each side of the procession, in front of the line of elephants,

were dancing girls superbly dressed, (on platforms supported and carried by bearers) who danced as we went along. These platforms consisted of a hundred on each side of the procession, all covered with gold and silver cloths, with two girls and two musicians at each platform.

"The ground from the tents to the garden, forming the road on which we moved, was inlaid with fireworks; at every step of the elephauts the earth burst before us, and threw up artificial stars in the heavens, to emulate those created by the hand of Providence; besides innumerable rockets, and many hundred wooden shells that burst in the air, and shot forth a thousand fiery serpents; these, winding through the atmosphere, illuminated the sky, and, aided by the light of the bamboo scenery, turned a dark night into a bright day. The procession moved on very slowly, to give time for the fireworks inlaid in the ground to go off. The whole of this grand scene was further lighted by above three thousand flambeaux, carried by men hired for the occasion. In this manner we moved on in stately pomp to the garden, which, though only a mile off, we took two hours to reach. When we arrived at the garden gate we descended from the elephants and entered the garden, illuminated by innumerable transparent paper lamps or lanterns, of various colours, suspended to the branches of the trees. In the centre of the garden was a large edifice, to which we ascended, and were introduced into a grand saloon, adorned with girandofes and pendant Austres of English manufacture, lighted with wax candles. Here we had an elegant, and sumptuous collation of European and Indian dishes, with wines, fruits, and sweetmeats; at the same time about a hundred da cing-girls sung their sprightJy airs, and performed their native dances.

"Thus passed the time until dawn, when we al returned to our respective homes, delighted and wonder-struck with this enchanting scene, which surpassed in splendor every cutertainment of the kind beheld in this country. The affable nabob rightly observed, with a little Asiatic vanity, that such a spectacle was never before seen in India, and never would be seen again. The whole expense of this marriage feast, which was repeated for three successive nights in the same manner, cost upwards of £300,000 sterling.'

Assoon as Vizier Ally was recognized by Asuf as his successor to the throne, consi derable opposition was manifested by the old nabob's family. But on the death of the latter, the young favourite was upheld by our govern neut, which enabled him at once to ascend the musnud of a powerful and extensive territory. An adopted child by the Mohamedan law, is entitled to all the privileges of legitimate Asiatic Journ.-No. 26.

birth. The young nabob, however, had scarcely ascended the throne, when he evinced his treachery and ingratitude to wards that government by which alone it had been secured to him; and having af forded many palpable reasons to suspect his designs, the Governor-General deemed it expedient to depose him and to raise Sadut Ally, the brother of the late nabob to the throne. A pension was allowed to Vizier Ally of two lacks of rupees per ann. but it was thought necessary that he should reside at Calcutta that his movements might be more strictly watched by the government. He was therefore ordered to repair from Lucknow to Benares, where Mr. Cherry, the Company's resident, was to make arrangements for his proceeding on his ultimate destination. Shortly after his arrival at Benares Mr. Cherry invited him to breakfast. He came attended by a large swarry or armed retinue. It had been previously intimated to Mr. Cherry that his appearance was hostile, and that he ought to be on his guard; but he unfortunately disregarded the caution. Vizier Ally made many complaints of the Company's treatment of him, and having continued his strain of reproach against them for some time, he finally gave the dreadful signal to his attendants who rushed in at the moment and literally cut Mr. Cherry to pieces. The next place to which the sanguinary ruffians directed their course, was the residence of Mr. Davis (now holding a seat in the Direction) who then filled an important situation under the government; but here they met with a most gallant and successful resistance. Mr. Davis having been kind enough to favour us with a copy of his offcial letter to Sir Alured Clarke on that occasion, we shall lay the following extract from it before our readers, expressing at the same time our admiration of the determined firmness and cool intrepidity with which, in his individual capacity, he opposed a band of ruthless assassins. Extract of a Letter to His Excellency Sir Alured Clarke, Vice-Resident.

Benares, City Court, 15th Jan. 1799. "Followed by a numerous train of armed dependants, as constantly has been his custom, Vizier Ally about eight o'clock yesterday morning made a sudden attempt to massacre the Europeans residing here. He succeeded in regard to Mr. Cherry and Captain Conway, and also with Mr. Robert Graham, whom he met on the road between Mr. Cherry's and my house, where was his next visit. The mode of their approach apprised me of their intentions, and I had the good fortune to repel every attempt made by the assassins to gain the terrace where I had retired, though opposed to them singly at the top of the stairs leading thereto; VOL. V. 2 C