Twelve notebooks containing the author's notes on India, its religions and inscriptions, mainly extracts from, and comments upon, published authors' works.
Sans titreA facsimile of a monumental inscription at the Fa-hsing Temple, Canton (Guangzhou), acquired by Sir John Bowring, whilst Governor of Hong Kong. The facsimile measures 155cm x 90cm and is black ink on white paper, probably created from a squeeze impression. It is in fragile condition, with some previous repairs.
With the inscription is a translation, made by J. Gibson, entitled "Renovation of the monumental Inscription of the Buddhist Gods", dated 14 October 1858. This is handwritten in ink with further annotations in both ink and pencil to give further details regarding dates and allusions.
Sans titreA series of accounts or response forms concerning Indian districts. These are handwritten on Indian paper and the accounts are accompanied by letters. One of these has been identified as an 'arzee' or response form from a junior to a senior. The junior identifies himself as Syed Mehdi Hasan and he is responding to a question posed as to whether or not the provinces demarcated in the Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Faz still exist. The response is that there are many changes which Syed Mehdi Hasan then lists. This letter is dated to 1844.
Further material has yet to be identified. One sheet bears the English words 'Benares and Mirzapore' (Varanasi and Mirzapur).
Sans titre"Diccionario Grandonico Malabar Portvguez" - a dictionary of Malayalam and Sanskrit words written in Malayalam script, explained in Portugese. The title page is printed and dates the book to Verapoly, 1745. A Malayalam and English inscription on the title page states that the book was purchased by Lieut. M.S. Osbourne from J. de Santos, Sheristadar, of Tellicherry Adaulatt, in 1795. The volume is bound with marbled cover. The front board is loose from the spine. With the book is a typed label with an identifying description.
Sans titreRubbings of 8 inscriptions made by Archibald Campbell Carlleyle from an ancient temple which he calls Uncha Pahar. He visited this in January 1872 as part of the Archaeological Survey of India. Each of these are labelled, signed by Carlleyle, and dated January 1872:
- Ornament, and inscription at the bottom of the octagonal lower portion of the shaft of the unique round pillar in the pillared vestibule in front of the "Sanctum" of the ancient ruined temple, "Uncha Pahar".
- Inscription in entrance of vestibule, of ancient ruined temple "Uncha Pahar".
- Inscription on a pillar at left side of doorway of "Sanctum" of ancient ruined temple "Uncha Pahar".
- Inscription in two lines on a stone leaning against a wall below the old temple "Uncha Pahar".
- No. 10 Inscription Above first statue on the left hand "Santum" of ancient temple "Uncha Pahar".
- No. 13 Above central statue of "Agni" in "Sanctum" of ancient temple "Uncha Pahar".
- No. 15 Inscription Above central statue on Right hand wall In "Sanctum" of ancient temple "Uncha Pahar".
- On stone bench at the right side in entrance to Vestibule of ancient temple "Uncha Pahar".
A collection of Dharanis transcribed in Sanskrit, Chinese and Korean is a woodblock printed book with side-stitched binding comprising of wrapped-back sheets of paper and a plain outer cover. The title of the volume is written on the front cover along with a Royal Asiatic Society stamp. No other identifiers in English are available. The place and date of production are unknown but presumably precedes the common adoption of western binding techniques in the 1920-1930s.
Sans titre"List of Inscriptions from Northern India sent to Dr. Jas. Burgess, C.I.G., Edinburgh Scotland". An alphabetical list of inscriptions dated to November 1886. A different hand notes that these were sent through "Messrs. Grindlay [Gr ] & Co" and shipped aboard the SS Thames on 13th Feb 1892. Several of the pages bear the stamp of James Burgess. L.L.D., Archaeological Survey.
Sans titreCopies of inscriptions from Mandār Hill. These are labelled D, E and F with two copies of each inscription, one backed with canvas and the duplicate on paper. These are not labelled as to their specific location but that they were presented to the Royal Asiatic Society by Col. Francklin on 4 November 1826. According to the donations register amongst the items donated by Francklin were "Six Sanscrit Inscriptions from Mundar Hill, in duplicate". As these are labelled D, E & F, it is presumed that A,B & C were also present in the collections at one time.
Please note these inscriptions are in a fragile condition.
Sans titreA translation into the Braj Bhasha dialect of Hindi of Raja Niti, a version of the Hitopadesha, a series of fables. The translation was undertaken for John Gilchrist by Lallūjī Lāl Kavi and the scribe was Siva Prasanna Diivedi. it is dated to V.S. 1858/ Sāka 1825 which equates to 1802-3. The work was made for John Gilchrist when he was principal of Fort William College, Kolkata.
Pasted inside the front cover is a handwritten explanation of the Hitopadesha taken from 'Colebrooke's Preface to the "Hitopadesa" in the original Sanscrit'. The last front paper bears an English description of the work, the signature of John Romer, dated 1804, the Royal Asiatic Society stamp, and that the work was presented to the Society by John Romer. Also within the volume is a more modern label giving identification details and where it is noted as being a very early edition of the work.
Please note that the boards and some pages are loose from the binding and the book spine is no longer present. The boards are covered in red leather.
Sans titreA Maldivian Nakaiyterikaṅ (astrology) manuscript. At the commencement of the manuscript it is titled in English, "Nek-ket Were-ingay foy which means our conjuring book". This is followed by an explanation of its use, e.g. in consulting before undertaking a voyage. This copy was made in September 1817 by Nalle Tandy, a "Chitty man" who was the interpreter of the Maldivian language.
Sans titre