Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrai9101882roya).pdf/332

 mation, relative to the explorations which are going on in the Colony

"We are continuing the explorations, in which the Geographical Society has taken so much interest. Lieutenant left last Monday for Sambor on the 'Upper Mekong.' He is to take observations for the line of a tramway protected from inundation, and, at the same time, to determine the height of the banks of the river above and below the rapids.

"Lieutenant is en route for Tracona, on the frontier of Baik Thuan, in the neighbourhood of Tanbinh. He will remain in these almost unknown regions so long as his health permits him to do so, and will permanently establish himself.

"Mons. has finished placing the telegraphic posts between Prom-Penh and Battambang. The wires are fixed on the Cambogian side. We are only waiting for the Siamese to open this important line of electric communication.

"Mons. and Captain  remain at Angkor; by the last news, their health left nothing to desire.

"It is fitting here," adds the general Secretary, "to thank Mons. who is always so ready to help the Society."



A Member of the Straits Asiatic Society, who was also one of the Government Spelling Committee (1878), has furnished the following Memorandum relative to the Paper on Transliteration, which appeared in the last Journal:—

It may be interesting to define the exact difference between the "spelling system" adopted by the Government Committee (1878) and published in Journal No. I., and that recommended in the paper now published. Both systems adopt the same course in giving the vowel sounds their Italian value, and, generally speaking, in regard to diphthongs and consonants. Nor in regard to separating the consonants in agglutinative particles and doubling the consonants in Arabic words having the tashdid, are the two systems in any way opposed. The difference between them is almost entirely limited to two points: one as to the principle of proceeding when sound and spelling differ; and one as to the mode