Showing 18 results

The Akbar Nameh of Abul Fazl Allami translated by Robert Chalmers.

The Akbar Nameh 'History of Akbar' or 'Book of Akbar' was the official history of Akbar's reign and was commissioned by Akbar. It was written by his court historian and biographer Abul Fazl in Persian. Chalmer's translation is an abridged version of the original text. The Oriental Translation Committe decided that, given the importance of the Akbar Nameh, the abridged translation was not suitable for publication and they recommended that Lieutenant Chalmers undertake a complete translation of the text.

The text consists of two hardbound volumes of handwritten text.

Volume I contains a letter dated 1923 from Henry Beveridge to Miss Latimer, Assistant Librarian at the Royal Asiatic Society, concerning Chalmer's translation. There are notes from Gore Ouseley and borrowing slips pasted in. Also a note saying 'see 'Noer's Kaisar Nameh' is handwritten is on the title page.

Volume II contains a letter dated 30th May 1833 from J.C. Morris to the Secretary of the Oriental Translation Committee concerning a letter from Lieutenant Chalmers and asking them to recognise the work undertaken by Chalmers in translating the Akbar Nameh. The letter goes on to state although the translation is not accompanied by the original as required by the rules of the committee, Mr Lushington (English Tory Politician and Governor of Madras from 1827-1832) will on application provide the loan of the original work in his possession from which Lieutenant Chalmers' translation was prepared. On f.157 there is a pressed fern. Annotations have been made in a different hand.

A further small slip of paper concerning the volume 2 (unidentified author) was found in the Society's Institutional records in 2024. This was therefore inserted into the volume.

The material contains correspondence and bulletins the All-India Oriental Conferences from 1933-1939 (7th, 8th and 10th conferences), sent to and by the Royal Asiatic Society.

Rubbings 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 journal containing detailed lists of compass bearings from various locations in India. The journal is untitled and bears no name of its author. It measures 35cm by 24cm with a brown cardboard cover which has become detached from the pages.

"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.

The Papers mainly consist of original Manuscript drafts for the translations of The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī, or, Memoirs of Jahāngīr and Baihaki's life of Masaud. These are in Rogers' hand but the manuscript for The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī is anootated and edited by Beveridge. There is some correspondence - three letters from Beveridge concerning Roger's translation and preservation of the manuscript.

The papers of Bhagwan Lal Indraji consist of a large leather-bound notebook bequeathed by Bhagwan Lal to the Royal Asiatic Society. Though the book bears a title of "Flora of the North West Provinces and the Kuyaub by the author", the majority of the notes seem to be more concerned with Bhagwan Lal's archaeological and historical interests including dynastic information, translations of inscriptions on slabs and coins, and notes concerning archaeological sites. The book contains writing in both Hindi (Kaithi script) and English. There is evidence that some of the information has been copied from articles made available to Bhagwan Lal.

The book is in poor condition. The spine is no longer present. The boards are only loosely attached to the binding and their layers are disintegrating. Several pages are also loose from the binding. Several sheets of paper are inserted into the book which bear additional notes.

"The Brahminical Mode of Computing Time and generally followed in all parts of Hindostan". A paper that was presented to the Royal Asiatic Society and read by Lieutenant-Colonel James Tod at the General Meeting of the Society on 21st July 1832, under the title of "Calculation of the Variation of the Measure of Time in India". The material is handwritten in ink with pencil annotations. Also with the paper is a comment upon the paper with criticisms of Haliburton's methods, dated 19 January 1833.

These are handwritten manuscripts of the statistical surveys undertaken by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton within the districts of Dinajpur (Bangladesh and India), and Puraniya (Purnia), Shahabad, Bhagalpur , Runggopur, Patna and Gorakhpur in India. Each survey consists of 2 or 3 foolscap volumes. These were rebound in the 1990s.

The Papers of Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales contain papers relating to his archaeological work in southeast Asia including expedition notes, personal notebooks, diaries, manuscript proofs, correspondence, newspaper cuttings and maps. Listed within this catalogue are objects and items of furniture which were also part of the bequest of Quaritch Wales' wife, Dorothy, to the Royal Asiatic Society.