Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/200

192 an uncalled-for innovation of the Dutch school, and still more that he should have adopted the barbarous and unmeaning practice of rendering the dotted kaf by the letter q; nor do we see why he should turn carob (locust-bean, p. 27) into "bean-food." Balīkh (p. 105) is probably a misprint for Balkh. These are, however, trifling blemishes, and do not in any way detract from the general merits of his work.

Among new works bearing upon the science of Folk-lore we must mention The History of the Forty Vezirs; or, The Story of the Forty Morns and Eves, written in Turkish by Sheykh-Zada, and now done into English by Mr. E. J. W. Gibb, to be published shortly by Mr. George Redway. The book is a translation of a well-known collection of Turkish popular tales made in the 15th century.

Next comes a series of Old-Welsh Texts, edited and revised by Prof. John Rhys, of Oxford.

The Countess E. Martinengo Cesaresco has in the Press: Essays in the Study of Folk-Songs, to be published by Mr. George Redway.

The Council propose holding two or three meetings of the Society to discuss the question raised by the various writers on the "Science of Folk-lore." It is hoped Captain R. C. Temple and Mr. Stuart Glennie will read papers.

The Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund have long had under consideration the collection of all that has to do with the manners and customs of the present inhabitants of Palestine and other parts of Syria. Before a serious attempt could be made to carry out this inquiry successfully, it was necessary, first, to find an organized machinery of agents, who should be directed by some competent persons in the country, under the Committee at home. This organization, with a large body of agents highly educated and intelligent, has now been found, and is placed at the disposition of the Committee. It remained, therefore, to draw up questions which these agents will be invited to ask; and the Folk-Lore Society has been asked to co-operate in the codification of a series of questions on Folk-lore. A Committee of the Society has been appointed for this purpose, and it is proposed to publish a manual of "Folk-lore Notes and Queries."