THE CHRONOLOGY OF ANCIENT NATIONS. An English version of the Arabic text of the Athâr-ul-Bâkiya of Albirûnî, or

Vestiges of the Past," &e. Translated and edited, with Notes and Index, by Dr. C. EDWARD SACHAU, Professor in onthe Royal University of Berlin, London: Published for 10 the Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland.[ on1879.sero ortha calgoog bontag-oveds uit to MESSRS. W. H. ALLEN & Co. have just placed before the learned world a translation of one of the most interesting and important of Oriental works. This is no other than a literal English rendering of the famous chronological work of Albirûni. This painstaking scholar, who was a native of Khiva, and lived about 900 years ago, collected and reduced to writing the chronological traditions of all the nations of the world to which he could obtain access. It must not be supposed that Albirûnî's book is a mere disquisition on computation; on the contrary, it abounds in information on a variety of topics. It gives interesting sketches of the numerous sects started by so-called prophets,I such as the Manichæans, the Buddhists, and various Persian and Muhammadan sects; he also enriches his book with curious facts of physical science, such as the causes of the apparent rise and fall of fluids, the nature of rivers, streams and springs. Albirûnî is as remarkable for truthfulness, critical acumen, and intellectual grasp, as for his zeal and scholarship. Hence his work has been and will remain the primal source of information on all subjects connected with ancient chronology, the different methods of computing time among the older nations of the earth, their eras, cycles, lists of kings, duration of reigns, &c, &c. In all cases where other sources of information are avail. able we find that Albîrûnî is perfectly accurate in the account which he has given; and it is this fact which induces trust in him where he is our sole guide. And it so happens that much of the information embodied in his work was obtained by him from oral tradition which has since died out, so that had it not been for this able scholar the facts so rescued from oblivion would have been for ever lost, The chronological systems, with which Albirûni mainly concerns himself are those of the Zoroni astrians, the Jews, the heathen and Muslim Arabs, those of the

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Nestorian and Melekite Christians, the Greeks, Syrians, Khaivans, Bukhariots, Babylonians and Egyptians. Hitherto this invaluable work has been inaccessible to all but a limited number of good Arabic scholars; but it is now open to all through the admirable translation of Dr. Sachau. It will, for the future, be inexcusable for anyone to discuss the ancient history or chronology of the above-named peoples without consulting the work of Albîrûnî.

SHORT ESSAYS ON LITERARY AND SOCIAL SUBJECTS, FOR MATRICUST › LÁTION CANDIDATES AND OTHERS. By N. J. RATNAGAR (Editor) of the late Hindu Reformer, Bombay).

ALL those who take an interest in the education of Indian school boys will welcome with pleasure a little book of essays, written by Mr. N. J. Ratnagar, lately published in Bombay. Mr. Ratnagar has devoted a great part of his time in the education of Indian boys, and those who know him are aware that he takes a very lively and genuine interest in their welfare. His connection with a Government High School has given him unusual opportunities of knowing and understanding such wants of school boys while studying the English language, and Mr. Ratnagar in writing this book has supplied one of the wants by providing a handbook where the young student during his leisure hours can acquire a great deal of useful information and become familiar with an easy and elegant style of composition. Readers of the late Hindu Reformer as well as of the Gujerat Mitra, both of! which papers Mr. Ratnagar edited, will find in this little book the same faultless, fluent and easy style which characterised the English articles in those papers. Throughout the book Mr. Ratnagar has scrupulously preserved a great simplicity of style to adapt it to the requirements of school boys, and this very simplicity adds to the usefulness of the book. The author has touched upon many of the most interesting subjects of the present day, both social and literary, in the course of over ninety short essays, and has managed to put considerable interest and information in each of the subjects he has handled. The fre quent passing allusions to celebrated men of learning and genius

are calculated to rivet the attention of the young reader and convey to his mind a great deal of valuable information without overtaxing his power of comprehension. In looking over the book one is struck with the varied and accurate information which Mr. Ratnagar displays, not only respecting Indian affairs but respecting England and English institutions. The sentiments too are admirable, and whatever the Indian boys learn from this book will be both useful and good."

It is very rarely indeed that an Indian gentleman has the ability to write and courage to publish a book in English. It is to be hoped that this book will be received by the Indian public with the favour it undoubtedly deserves, so that others may be emboldened to follow in the wake of Mr. Ratnagar. The book is unpretentious, but it is not the less useful therefore, and, whatever may be its fate, Mr. Ratnagar may rest satisfied with the assurance that this successful effort of his will command the respect and gratitude of Indian school boys in whose behalf he has worked so indefatigably and so well.

D. D. D.

ON THE COLLECTION AND TRANSLATION OF EASTERN PROVERBIAL LORE.

The National Indian Association is now working effectively in carrying out its great aim to extend an interest in India throughout the country, to co-operate with the local efforts made by Indians for education, and to promote good will and friendliness between England and India. One of the steps towards this is a better knowledge of the people by the study of their folk-lore as is recognised now in all the leading countries of Europe.

"The proper study of mankind is man."

JA Folk-lore Society has been lately founded in England, and proposes to extend its researches to India where a bound

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less field lies before it. The readers of this Journal, and especially those who dwell in the East, ought to take a deep interest in its objects. What is specially desirable at present is a collection, classification, and translation into English of the Proverbs of India and the East. Something has been done already, in Percival's Tamil Proverbs, Carr's Telugu Proverbs, Long's Bengali Proverbs, Roebuck's Urdu Proverbs, but we need works in Mahratti, Hindi, Panjabi, the hill tribes, &c...

Proverbs are valuable in the light they throw on history, ethnology and linguistics, but in the present day they have a special interest in giving us a more favourable impression of the common people, their feelings and sympathies. I have been struck with this myself in Bengal in seeing the clue they gave to the inner life, and in how much more favourable light they placed the masses. We are too apt to fancy that because men are not deeply read in book-lore they are therefore utterly destitute of intelligence; but Proverbs show us that many a hind can read the book of nature with an ease and an understanding that would put to shame those that are proud of their book-cram knowledge.

My object at present is to call the attention of the readers of this Journal to the use proverbs may be applied in the great subject of the day--Indian female education and vernacular schools-by their serving as vivid illustrations of great moral truths. I will give a few examples.

In the East the necessity of punctuality is a duty that requires to be enforced in every way. The stork and the swallow set an example in their watching for the proper time to depart to the sunlit lands. A Persian proverb carries out the idea-" a poor man watched one thousand years before the gate of Paradise, then while he snatched one little nap it opened and shut." He did not "strike the iron while it was

hot," or as an Arabic proverb expresses it, four things cannot be brought back-a word spoken, an arrow discharged, the Divine decree, and past time. ·

We are not to judge after appearances, a Malay proverb states, "because the sugar cane is crooked its juice is not crooked;" or another, "More disappointing than the fire of a glow-worm." I have often used in India the Bengali proverb, "The worst day for the ant is when he gets wings," to illustrate how often our apparent prosperity is our ruin: the white ant crawled secure without wings, but on the day when he undergoes his metamorphosis and assumes wings, the crows flock from every direction to gobble him up the moment he makes his appearance in the atmosphere. In India the early morning is ushered in by the cawing of the crows who appear with the morning star; there is a proverb on the case, "Unless there be crows will there be no morning," used with reference to those persons who fancy the regular course of things cannot go on without their presence. It inculcates an important lesson, similar to another, "If the almanac does not appear will not the stars rise."

These illustrations by proverbs may suffice for the present, but I trust the importance of collecting and utilising these treasures of folk-lore, these little fragments of ancient philosophy, which have floated down to us on the stream of time, will be felt more and more. Not equal in money value to coins, proverbs are more valuable as a clue to the people's thoughts, and as instruments by which the attention of the young and of women may be arrested and captivated. I hope next year to publish a book embodying this idea, and shall feel much obliged for any contributions of Eastern proverbial lore forwarded addressed to me, care of the Secretary of the National Indian Association, 6 John Street, Bedford Row, London. J. LONG.