Page:The Indian Antiquary Vol 1.pdf/40

 24

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.

southern India, who earnestly applies himself to the study of Hindu Literature, may be able to confer on Indian Philology, by collecting materials, and placing the results of his researches before Euro

pean scholars. The Madras Service, however, has of late evinced but little interest in literary pursuits of this kind, and the Literary Society of Madras in deed has for years scarcely shown a sign of its ex istence. It is to be hoped that the few earnest scholars still engaged in Oriental Studies may put an end to this unhappy state of indifference, by

showing what important problems of Sanskrit Phi lology and Indian history are dependent for their solution upon the south, and that Madras will thus not stay behind other local governments in lending its support to the scientific exertions of European

[JANUARY 5, 1872.

ed by the Government of Madras that it is proposed to build at Madras a Public Library, in which these

MSS. will be deposited and properly protected against the ravages of insects, and that the Profes sor of Sanskrit at Madras has further been instruct

ed to print a list of those MSS. which he may con sider of primary importance, with a view of making these works better known than they are through the so-called Catalogue Raisonne. The Council has also been informed that a printed list of MSS. will be

communicated to the Asiatic Society, and that any suggestions which may be made by the Society for the transcription of any of these MSS. will receive the attention of the Government.

By a minute in the Public Works Department, in May, 1868, the Government of India authorized the

and native scholars, but still cordially co-operate in

expenditure of sums not exceeding Rupees 13,000

carrying out Mr. Whitley Stokes' scheme of pro curing, and compiling lists of MSS. scattered over

in each of the four political divisions of the country

the whole of India.

the more remarkable antiquities of each presidency

The contents of the Sarasvati Bhandāram Library of H. H. the Mahārāja of Maisur, have been made

sums, if properly expended, being quite sufficient

known through a catalogue issued a few months since by the Bangalore Press, and containing the titles of several rare works. Of the Tanjore Library, a list had been printed many years ago, in which unfortunately, an extremely bad, often unintelligi

ble, method of transcription was adopted ; of this list there is a copy in the possession of Professor Goldstücker, the only one which is supposed to be

for the purpose of delineating and casting some of with a view to their ultimate conservation. These to commence upon, great hopes were entertained

that the work so long desired by every well-wisher of India, would at last be accomplished by means

of this well-timed liberality on the part of the Government.

In pursuance of this policy, Mr. Terry, Superin tendent of the School of Design, was despatched

however, have up to this time remained completely

from Bombay with a party of modellers, and some of his own pupils, to commence operations on the temple at Ambernath, near Kalyan, on the other

unexplored, and still promise a plentiful harvest to

side of the Bombay harbour. Owing to the novelty

future investigators ; although, in many cases, it

will, no doubt, require the utmost care to overcome the suspicion and superstitions of the Brahmans.

of the undertaking and the inexperience of the party, nothing else was attempted during the avail able season of 1868-69, especially as an outbreak of

Of the Namburis in Malabar, for instance, a most

fever and other unexpected difficulties very materi.

interesting, though very retired and secluded class of Brahmans, we know next to nothing ; yet they

ally retarded the work; but so much disappoint ment was felt at the result that no attempt was made to continue operations during the last cold weather. In the meantime so much difficulty has been experienced in reproducing the casts and pho tographs that no specimens of either have yet reached this country, nor has any satisfactory report of the

now extant in Europe. Many parts of the Dekhan,

are said to be staunch followers of the Vedic reli

gion, and to have in their possession a great many old Vedic MSS. Some places in the Haidarabad territory also, especially Kaleshvaram on the Upper Godavari, are known as great seats of Rig and Sama veda learning, and may be expected, when visited and explored, to add considerably to our knowledge of ancient Sanskrit literature.

results obtained from the labours of the party. At the same time another expedition was orga nized in Calcutta, with the object of visiting Orissa for the purpose of delineating some of the numerous and interesting antiquities of that province. Owing,

There exists already a large collection of Sanskrit MSS. in Madras, which awaits a thorough examina tion, and the Council of this society have for some

however, to dissension among the members compos

years used their best endeavours to get the collections

ing it, and other difficulties, it seems to have been

transferred to England for incorporation with the

as little fruitful in results as that fitted out from

Library of the Inlia Ofice, with a view not only to rescuing the MSS. from the early destruction

Bombay. They did however bring back some casts of sculpture, a few photographs, and several copies of inscriptions, but unfortunately neglected to take casts or photographs of the remarkable sculptures in the Ganesha and Jodev caves, at Udayagiri. These are probably the oldest and most interesting in India, and their attention had been previously spe cially directed to them. As in the case of the Bom

with which they are threatened by the ravages of the climate and of the white ants, but also in order to render them more accessible to European scholars. Though their recommendation has not been carried out in full, the Council are gratified in stating that

in reply to their application they have been inform