Dec. 7, 1810. Two or three books of the Old Testament translated; the work checked for want of funds;-Telinga types finished about this time. Oct. 4, 1811. Just beginning to print;-Old Testament translated to Deuteronomy. The Baptist Missionaries represent this language to be spoken by a population as great as that of England; but in what part of Hindostan that population is to be found, we are not told. From the name of the dialect, which is sometimes written Carnatica and Carnatic, it is likely to be the language of some part of the Carnatic. Now there is a region of the Carnatic lying between Madras and the Northern Sircars, extending two hundred miles along the coast, where the Tamul seems not to be in use. Dr. Carey repeatedly tells us that the Tamul is spoken only "from Madras to Cape Comorin." There is then an interjacent district between the Tamul and the Telinga country; and what language so likely to be spoken there as the Carnata or Carnatic? That this dialect has so strong an affinity to the Telinga, (one alphabet being nearly common to both,) is a circumstance greatly in favor of this conjecture.* XVIII. ARABIC. This version was begun at Dinapore, by Sabat, about the beginning of 1808. Before May 1810, proposals had been issued for publishing the Arabic Bible, which had met with very liberal patronage in India. In the month of * Q. R. No. 1. p. 46. Nar. p. 39. Pan. vol. vi, p. 37, vol. vii, p. 331, vol. viii, p. 43, 96. June the Corresponding Committee of the Bible Society adopted a plan to print, besides a large and cheap edition of the whole Bible, a splendid edition of the New Testament, to be presented to the Mahomedan princes and Sirdars in Arabia and Persia, with a notification of the versions made into the vernacular languages dependent on the Arabic; the whole "resembling, as nearly as possible, their own beautiful writing." The version of the New Testament was finished by October, 1811, but not put to press, though apparently lodged at Serampore for the purpose. Nor was it printing at that place as late as the middle of January 1812. Next to the Chinese-this is the most important language in Asia. The Arabic version, in regard to the extent of country through which it will spread, says Mr. Martyn, "is of more importance than one fourth of all the translations now in band. We will begin," continues he, "to preach to Arabia, Syria, Persia, Tartary, part of India and of China, half of Africa, all the sea coast of the Mediterranean and Turkey; and one language shall suffice for them all.” "The Arabic language," says. Dr. Buchanan, "has gone far beyond the bounds of Arabia, and is known to almost a third part of men in the East. The Koran has consecrated it in the eyes of millions, in central Asia, on the continent of Africa, and in the isles of the Indian Ocean." Indeed "it is read in every quarter of Europe, Asia, and Africa, where Mahometanism prevails." According to Dr. Leyden, one of the component parts of the Malay tongue is derived from this stock, and Malay literature "is written in a character slightly changed from the Arabic." The Arabic is confidently asserted to be the parent of the Persian; and Sir William Jones believed that all the languages of Asia might be traced to three, of which the Arabic was one.* XIX. AFGHAN or Pushto. This was one of the seven versions which Dr. Leyden engaged to superintend in March 1810. By the end of that year Matthew was translated, and no more was done till his death, The tribes or nations of the Afghan race, which are very numerous, and differ much in language, customs, religion, and countenance, with little knowledge of each other, possess a tract of country stretch ing from the mountains of Tartary to certain parts of the gulph of Cambay, and from the Indus to the confines of Persia. Others say they extend on both sides of the Indus, and inhabit the eastern part of a mountainous region commencing in Persia; that their empire includes "all the eastern provin ces western of Persia," and extends eastward to the English territories. The province of Cashmire is certainly subject to their empire. Their principle settlements have been the mountainous districts bordering on Cabul, Candahar, Hazaret, &c. It is the western part of the province of Cabul which they Ch. Res. p. 199, 205, 208. Ch. Ob. vol. x, p. 369, 529, 530. Ed. R. No. 32, p. 391, 392. occupy, and the city of Cabul is the capital of their empire. The territory which they princi pally inhabit is denominated Afghanistan or Afghana. The language which chiefly prevails. among them is called the Pushto. But different languages, at least different dialects, are in among them. A variety of tongues prevail use in the northwestern part of Hindostan, no less then eleven being spoken in the single soubah of Cabul. The Afghans profess the Mahometan faith, but are divided into different sects. They are a rough, predatory people, and whether leagued with Per sians or Hindoos have always been regarded as the chief strength of the armies in which they have served. As the Afghans, at least a part of them, are allowed by all to be indigenous, the question of their origin has excited no small curiosity. One writer in treating of those who inhabit the western part of Cabul, tells us, that they were transported thither from the western coast of the Caspian sea by Tamerlane. But though the Afghans are denominated Tartars in some histories of Asia, they bear no resemblance to that people in their persons, manners, or languages. They themselves assert that their ancestor Afghan was grandson of Melic Talut or king Saul, and they retain several traditions respecting Saul and David but a little varied from the sacred history. They also affirm that Usbec, (regarded probably as the father of the Usbec Tartars,) was another grandson of Saul. "They boast much of the antiquity of their origin, and the reputation of their tribe; but other Mussulmans reject their claim, and consider them of modern and even base extraction." "Although their claim to a descent from Saul seems to resemble some of the fictions borrowed by Mahomet from the later Jewish Rabbins," Sir William Jones had no doubt that they were descendants of Israel. "We learn from Esdras," says he, "that the ten tribes after a wandering journey came to a country called Arsaxeth, where we may suppose they settled. Now the Afghans are said by the best Persian historians to be descended from the Jews; they have among themselves traditions of such a descent; and it is even asserted that their families are distinguished by the names of Jewish tribes; although since their conversion to the Islam, they studiously conceal their origin: the Pushto language, of which I have seen a Dictionary, has a manifest resemblance to the Chaldaic; and a considerable district under their dominion is called Hazareh or Hazaret, which might easily have been changed into the word used by Esdras. I strongly recommend an inquiry into the literature and history of the Afghans." Whether the inquiry thus recommended has yet been carried far enough to authorize us to rest implicitly on the present opinions of learned Europeans in Asia, may be reasonably doubted. Dr. Buchanan believes that only a small part of the Afghans are of Jewish extraction. Some tribes, he tells us, give proof apparent to the eye that they are of the Israelitish race; but other tribes have the countenance of the Persian, others of the Hindoo. This, however, is no certain proof that they are not all of Jewish descent. For in another place, where speaking of the "very imperfect resemblance" between the black Jews in Malabar and European Jews, which proved that there had "been intermarriages with families not Israelitish," he says, "I had heard that those tribes which had passed the Indus, have assimilated so much to the customs and habits of the countries in which they live, that they may be sometimes seen by a traveller without being recognised as Jews. In the interior towns of Malabar I was not always able to distinguish the Jew from the Hindoo. I hence perceived how easy it may be to mistake the tribes of Jewish descent among the Afghans and other nations in the northern parts of Hindostan." A great part of those tribes, whom Dr. Buchanan allows to be descendants of Israel, are Mahometans, having been compelled to receive that religion at the point of the sword. "In the provinces of Cashmire and Afghanistan, some of the Jews submitted to great sacrifices, and they remain Jews to this day; but the greater number yielded in the course of ages to the power of the reigning relig ion. Their countenance, their language, their names, their rites and observances, and their history, all conspire to establish the fact."* R.'s Cyc. under Afghans and Cashmire. Ed. R. No. 30. p. 335, 336. Ch. Res. p. 221, 222, 231, 232, 237, M's Geog, vol. ii, p. 434 note. XX. CASHMIRIAN, or Rakheng. This is another of the seven versions which Dr. Leyden engaged for in March 1810: but as the Baptists commenced a version into the same language before the end of that year, Dr. Leyden never made a beginning. On the 4th of October, 1811, Matthew, Mark, and Luke were translated, and a fount of types was about finished; but the printing was not begun. The province of Cashmire, for which this version is intended, lies wholly in a valley sur rounded by steep and stupendous mountains, at the northern extremity of Hindostan; having Thibet on the north and east, Lahor on the south, and Cabul on the west. The dimensions of the valley according to Mr. Forster, are 80 British miles by 40; according to Mr. Rennell, 75 at least by 50 or more. It appears to have been formerly a lake, which depositing a vast depth of soil, left the valley surprisingly fertile. It is still intersected by a capital river, the Behut or Hydaspes, which occupies in some part of its breadth about two miles, and has a remarkablysmooth current through the whole valley. "The periodical rains which almost deluge the rest of India are shut out of Cashmire by the height of the mountains," that "tower above the regions of snow," "so that only light showers fall there; and yet these are so abundant as to feed some thousands of cascades, which are precipitated into the valley from every part of the stupendous and romantic bwark that encircles it. The il is the richest that can be conceived," every where copi ously watered by rivers and streams falling into the Behut, "and its productions are those of the temperate zone." This "happy valley," this "garden in perpetual spring," this "paradise of India," as it has been called by its admirers, "is celcbrated throughout Upper Asia for its romantic beauties, the fertility of its soil, and the temperature of its atmosphere." "Many lakes are spread over its surface, some of which contain floating islands. The whole country indeed resembles a garden interspersed with towns and villages, varied with beautiful trees, green meadows, fields of rice, hemp, saffron, and different legumes, and intersected with canals winding through them in all forms. The scenery is in a high degree picturesque, and a portion of the romantic circle of mountains forms a part of every landscape." "Cashmire," says one, "is altogether a holy land; and it abounds with miraculous fountains." "It is said to contain 100,000 villages, and to be stored with cattle and game without any beasts of prey." The complexion of the inhabitants, especially of the women, is nearly as fair as natives of Spain. They are a manufacturing people, and by them was first fabricated the cloth which is called Casimer. Cashmire submitted to the Mahometan empire, and for a long series of years was governed by a race of Tartar princes. Afterwards for more than a century and a half it was annexed to the house of Timur, until about the year 1746, when it was formed into a province of the Afghan empire, and placed under the government of a viceroy tributary to the Sultan of Cabul. The language of the Cashmirians is derived from the Shanscrit, and resembles in sound that of the Mahrattas, though more harsh. In religion they are Mahometans, Pagans, and Jews. Of the Mahometans, multitudes are of Hebrew origin. The pagans have thrown off the fetters of the Brahminical tradition which prevailed in the province before the Mahometan conquest, and now appear to have a religion peculiar to themselves.* XXI. MALDIVIAN. This is another of Dr. Leyden's seven versions which he engaged for in March 1810. By about the end of that year Matthew was translated, and no more was done till his death. This version is presumed to be for the Maldivian islands, a cluster which begin about 250 miles south west of Cape Comorin, and stretch southward four or five hundred miles. They are so numerous and so near each other, that navigators, unless they have succeeded lately, have not been able to number them. They are all low, sandy, and barren. The religion of the inhabitants, like that of the other islands, is Paganism and Mahometanism.† XXII. BUGIS or Bouguese. This also was one of Dr. Leyden's seven versions stipulated for in March 1810. By about the end of that year the Gospel R.'s Cyc. under Cashmire. Ch. Ob vol. xi, p. 328. Guthrie's Gazetteer. Ch. Res. 225, 231, 237. Pan. vol vii. p. 375. M's. Geog. vol. ii, p. 434 note, 452. Guthrie's Gazetteer. by Mark was translated, and the work proceeded no further till his death. This is the language of the greater part of the Celebes, and it has extended to other islands. Though the Koran had been translated into this tongue, no version of the Scriptures had ever before been attempted. "The natives of Celebes are distinguished for their vigor of mind and strength of body, and are acknowledged to be the first of the Orang Timor or eastern men. Literature was formerly cultivated among them. Dr. Leyden enumerates fifty three different volumes. Their songs, says he, and romances are famous among all the islands of the east. Their language extends to other islands, for they formerly carried their conquests beyond the Moluccas. The man who shall first translate the Bible into the language of the Celebes, will prob ably be read by as many islanders as have read the translations of Wickliffe."* XXIII. MACASSAR. This was another of the versions which Dr. Leyden engaged for in March 1810. By about the end of that year Mark was translated, and no more was accomplished till his death. Macassar is the name of a town, and of a considerable king. dom, in the island of Celebes. This language is spoken at the town, and probably through the kingdom of Macassar, and in the great island of Borneo.f XXIV. SIAMESE. Another of Dr. Leyden's seven versions contracted for in March 1810. Ch. Res. p. 146, 147. + Ch. Res. p. 237. Guthrie's Gáz etteer. |