Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 11, 1900.djvu/482

 460 Obituary.

His main failing as a scholar was his unwillingness to re- consider his views when once formulated, or to admit that anything was left for him to learn from a later generation. Even in Sanskrit his scholarship was unprogressive, and he could never be brought to see that he had overrated the influence of language in the development of mythology.

He could never realise how much light is thrown on primitive religion by the investigation of popular beUefs, or that the study of the Vedas could be facilitated by an examination of the customs of the modern savage. That uncompromising opposition to the Anthropological school which appeared even in his last " Contri- butions to the Science of Mythology" seriously detracted from the value of his work. It was also unfortunate that he never visited India, and was never brought into contact with the modern creed on which the Vedas have left so little influence. If he had enjoyed the opportunity of exploring the shrines of Benares or Mathura, it is certain that he would have found it necessary to reconsider many of his views.

To a later age his reputation will probably in a great measure rest on his edition of the Rig Veda and on the great series of Oxford translations of the Sacred Books of the East and the records of Buddhism, which was due to his initiative. Though the execu- tion was occasionally unequal, the collection as a whole is of the greatest value to all students of primitive religion. His later original work was of less importance, but he displayed a notable sympathy with the higher order of modern Hindu belief which some Anglo-Indians would be well advised to imitate.

W. Crooke.