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VARIETIES;

PHILOSOPHICAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND LITERARY.

ASIATIC SOCIETY OF PARIS.

Meeting of April 27. Dr. Parthey, who has travelled into Nubia and Egypt, was introduced and admitted as a member of the Society.

M. Hase read a report upon the inscription of an ancient Greek tomb discovered in a valley in the vicinity of Nicomedia, by M. Jouanin, the design of which has been forwarded to the Society.

M. Kunkel read some observations on

establishments will be annexed as circumstances may require. To these establishments members will have access, as a matter of right, and the public in general, on such conditions as may be hereafter arranged. Members will also have a preference in obtaining specimens of such The extent subjects as may be imported.

to which these objects can be attained must depend upon the amount of subscriptions; and the most liberal support is therefore

the "Collection of Arabian Proverbs," by solicited.

Meidani.

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A Society has been formed for the advancement of zoology, the immediate object of which will be the introduction and exhibition of such subjects of the animal kingdom as may be of utility, and a source of interest and gratification. With this view, a collection of living animals in aviaries, gardens, ponds, enclosures, and buildings, will be formed; to which will be attached a museum and library connected with the subject. An advantageous site has been obtained from his Majesty's government, for this purpose, in the Regent's Park, to which such subordinate

The Society consists of such members as have already subscribed their names, or who shall do so, with the approbation of the council, on or before the Ist of January next; and, subsequently, of such other members as shall be admitted by ballot. The present terms of admission are either the subscription of five pounds, with the annual payment of two pounds on every 1st of January; or a donation of twenty-five pounds or upwards; for it is hoped that the support of those able to give limited to this amount. the Society efficient assistance will not be

Upwards of three hundred members have already joined the Society-and_the_following noblemen and gentlemen have been appointed a council for its management during the first year:

Sir Stamford Raffles, President; His Grace the Duke of Somerset; Most Noble the Marquess of Lansdowne; Right Hon. the Earl of Darnley; Right Hon. the Earl of Egremont; Right Hon. Viscount Gage; Right Hon. Lord Auckland; Right Hon. Lord Stanley; Sir Everard Home, Bart.; E. Barnard, Esq.; T. E. Bicheno, Esq.; J. G. Children, Esq.; H. T. Colebrooke, Esq.; Dr. Goodenough; G. B. Greenough, Esq.; Major General Hardwicke; Dr. Thomas Horsfield; Joseph Sabine, Esq., Treasurer; Charles Stokes, Esq.; Ñ. A. Vigors, Esq., Secretary; Baring Wall, Esq.

The presidents of the Royal Society and of the Linnæan and Horticultural Societies, and the presidents of the Colleges of Physicians and of Surgeons, are ex-officio members of the society and council.

The office of the Society is for the present at No. 4, Regent-street.

The following is an extract from the prospectus of the Society:

"Zoology, which exhibits the nature and properties of animated beings, their analogies to each other, the wonderful delicacy of their structure, and the fitness of their organs to the peculiar purposes of their existence, must be regarded not only as an interesting and intellectual study, but as a most important branch of natural theology,

theology, teaching by the design and wonderful results of organization the wisdom and power of the Creator. In its relation to useful and immediate economical purposes it is no less important. The different races of animals employed in social life, for labour, clothing, food, &c. are the direct objects of its attention; their improvement, the manner in which their number may be increased, the application of their produce, and its connexion with various departments of industry and manufactures, are of the utmost importance to man in every stage of his existence, but most so in proportion as he advances in wealth, civilization, and refinement.

"It has long been a matter of deep regret to the cultivators of natural history, that we possess no great scientific establishments either for teaching or elucidating zoology; and no public menageries or collections of living animals where their nature, properties, and habits may be studied. In almost every other part of Europe, except in the metropolis of the British empire, something of this kind exists but, though richer than any other country in the extent and variety of our possessions, and having more facilities from our colonies, our fleets, and our varied and constant intercourse with every quarter of the globe, for collecting specimens and introducing living animals, we have as yet attempted little and effected almost nothing; and the student of natural history, or the philosopher, who wishes to examine animated nature, has no other resource but that of visiting and profiting by the magnificent institutions of neighbouring

countries.

"In the hope of removing this opprobrium to our age and nation, it is proposed to establish a Society bearing the same relation to zoology that the horticultural does to botany, and upon a similar principle and plan. The great object should be, the introduction of new varieties, breeds, and races of animals for the purpose of domestication, or for stocking our farm-yards, woods, pleasure-grounds, and wastes; with the establishment of a general zoological collection, consisting of prepared specimens in the different classes and orders, so as to afford a correct view of the animal kingdom at large in as complete a series as may be practicable, and, at the same time, point out the analogies between the animals already domesticated, and those which are similar in character upon which the first experiments may be made."

CORAL BANK IN THE BAY OF BENGAL.

To the Editor of the Asiatic Journal. Sir: You will oblige me by affording a small space in your popular Journal for the accompanying description (transmitted to

me by Capt. Roe) of a coral bank, recently discovered in the eastern part of the bay of Bengal, which, although probably not so shoal in any part as to render it dangerous for large ships, yet the knowledge of its existence may be acceptable to oriental navigators, more particularly as it is situated in the direct route of ships which trade from Bengal to the Straits of Malacca, Singapore, and other eastern parts: and, considering this bank is situated in a much frequented track, it seems remarkable that it has not been discovered long before the present time.

I am, Sir, &c.

JAMES HORsburgh.
Chart Office, India House,
8th May 1826.

Roe's Coral Bank, in the Bay of Bengal.

July 31st, 1815. In the Henry, bound from Penang to Calcutta, at 5 P.M., going at the rate of 2 miles per hour, saw the rocks under the ship's bottom; sounded, and had ground 83 fathoms, then 10, 12, 15, and 20 fathoms, and afterwards no ground with 80 fathoms of line. I made the bank, by this day's observation, in latitude 9° 59′ north, and in longitude 96° 50′ east, by dead reckoning, having no chronometer on board. Although the evening was clear, and we were in the latitude of the high Island of St. Matthew's, no land was discernible from the mast-head. We were half an hour going over the bank, which makes it about a mile in extent north and south.

Since the period stated above, I have frequently passed hereabout, without being able to re-discover the bank, until the 25th of July 1825, in the ship Robarts, bound from Rangoon to Madras, steering S.S.W. about 3 miles per hour, at 7 A.M. saw the rocks under the ship's bottom; immediately put the helm down, and had ground 10 fathoms whilst in stays: in standing back to the northward, to get off the bank, had again 10 fathoms, then no ground with the hand lead; and by the time the deep-sea lead was ready, we were in deep water. By this day's observation at noon, I made the northern edge of the bank in latitude 10° 2′ north, and in longitude 96° 45′ east, by chronometer; but this is probably 5 miles too far to the eastward, and I think this bank lies in latitude 10° 2′ north, longitude 96° 40′ east, or thereabout; and it bears west about 75 miles from the Island of St. Andrew. (Signed) RICHARD A. J. ROE.

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elder and younger brothers; husband and
wife; friends. The constant virtues are
five :
benevolence, justice, propriety,
knowledge, and truth. There are five
ranks of nobility, denominated kung, how,
pih, tze, and non. The compass has five
divisions: east, south, west, north and
centre. The tastes are five: sour, sweet,
bitter, acrid, salt. The colours are five:
azure, yellow, carnation, white, black.
The human viscera consist of five: liver,
heart, lungs, kidnies, and stomach. The
organs of sense are five, namely, the ears,
the eyes, the mouth, the nose, and the
eyebrows. A Chinese writer has given a
humorous dialogue between these organs:
the mouth complains of the nose being
placed too near it and above it; the nose
defends its right by alleging that but for
it the mouth might eat ordure; the nose
complains of the eyes being placed over
it; the eyes reply that but for them the
nose might be broken against unseen
objects.

The ancient Greeks conceived there was some peculiar mystery in the number five. See Plutarch's Dialogue Epì TO EI.

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EGYPTIAN MANUSCRIPTS.

During his residence at Rome, M. Champollion, jun, edited a catalogue of the Egyptian manuscripts in the Vatican. His work was translated into Italian by M. Angelo Maï: and having been printed by order of the Pope, has just made its appearance under the title of "Catalogo de Papiri Egiziani della Biblioteca Vaticana, etc. Roma, con tipi Vaticani." M. Maï has added some exceedingly interesting notes to the text of the original; and it is greatly to be desired that similar catalogues should be drawn up of all the collections of Egyptian manuscripts.

in lat. from 30° to 37°, are subject to
inundations of considerable districts from
excessive rains. In a late Pekin Gazette.
it is said, that when the waters are drained
off, the spawn of a small fish is found,
which, by the heat of the
sun, becomes a
certain insect called hwang (the usual
term for locust), and which is extremely
destructive to the subsequent crop of grain;
so much so, that the Emperor has directed
the governors of provinces themselves to
attend to it, and requires that the local
officers be at the utmost pains to have
them swept away and destroyed, to pre-
vent the calamity which would inevitably
arise if left exposed to the sun.

HERCULANEUM MANUSCRIPTS.

The unrolling, deciphering, and printing of the Herculaneum MSS. is proceeding with more diligence than heretofore, and the following are in the press, and nearly ready for publication: two Treatises on Rhetoric and one on Ethics, by Philodemus; two on Nature, by Epicurus; and one, by Chrysippus, on Providence. These will be succeeded by one of Camiscus, one of Polistratus, and one of Epicurus. It is not a little remarkable that the celebrated Treatise on Politics, always attributed to Aristotle, is ascribed by Philodemus to Theophrastus.

CHINESE DIVINATION.

The Chinese appeal to the decision of the gods and of departed sages (as Confucius and others) in doubtful cases, by means of the Ke. A pencil or reed is suspended above sand, and the invisible being is supposed to give it motion, and form letters in answer to the questions put. The government commonly discourages the practice. In 1814, a deposed officer of the government was condemned to death for publishing an answer, which he declared he had received this way from Confucius. The purport of the answer was, that the Emperor should depute a prince to worship at the tombs of his ancestors, instead of going himself; and that the title of emperor should be taken from the demi-god Kwan-te: ideas which were declared to breathe the most daring impiety.-[Dr. Morrison.

THE BHAGARUTTEE AND MATABANGAH,

It must be useful and important to in. dividuals proceeding up the country, and downwards to Calcutta, by these rivers, to be made acquainted with their actual state and practicability for the purposes of navigation; and therefore we gladly avail

ourselves of the information which we have just received on the subject. After a careful examination, the superintendent of the rivers in the Nuddea district has recently The Chinese provinces on the sea coast, found the whole course of the Bhagaruttee

LOCUSTS.

river, from Nuddea to its junction with the Ganges, so completely obstructed, as to leave no hope whatever of the navigation remaining open longer than to the middle of January, excepting for boats of the smallest description. It appears, that the average depth of water across the head of the Bhagaruttee, and upon the numerous shallows throughout its course, is at present barely two feet, and as the river, every year, generally falls until the end of March or the middle of April about one inch per day, it is evident that many parts of the channel must be perfectly dry in a very short time. These obstructions in the Bhagaruttee are ascribed to the deficiency of water in the Ganges, which, during the past rainy season, was about five feet below its usual height, in consequence of the unprecedented mildness of the monsoon. It is also said that the Ganges has forced a new channel from Hemutgunge to Truteepore, and hence the old course of the Bhagaruttee, passing southward to Bongong, has been rendered unnavigable.

The Matabangah is also very shallow, several parts of its course having been, even in November, little more than three feet, and the greatest depth only four and a half. Mr. May, the superintendent, is however actively employed, with the aid of dredging machines and other resources, in keeping the Jellinghee clear, and there is reason to believe that this river will be continued open throughout the dry season for boats of large burthen, as the depth of water across its head, on the 21st November, was twelve feet, and upon a few shoals within its channel five feet.-[Cal.

Gov. Gaz.

COMET IN THE EAST.

This phenomenon, which appears to have been seen generally throughout India, became visible at this place (Singapore) about the middle of September. It first appeared in Taurus, where it continued to shine for about three weeks, when it disappeared altogether. The same, or perhaps another, was discovered in nearly the opposite quarter of the sky.

The appearance of a comet is generally looked upon by the vulgar as the harbinger of some dreadful calamity. On the continent of India a famine is usually apprehended by the natives; and we are told that the Chinese are very superstitious on this subject. On the present occasion, the learned star-gazers of Pekin are so impressed with the certainty of some impending evil to the state, that they have persuaded his celestial majesty to issue an edict, prohibiting the slaughter of pigs, until "the blazing meteor removes itself from the face of heaven." We fear the Chinese porkers will not benefit much by this clement decree of the emperor, and

his subjects will no doubt be as expert as usual in evading the laws. The Emperor of Ava has probably got a lesson from the astrologers of his court also, as his proposals of peace are coeval with the appearance of the comet.-[Sing. Chron.

EGYPTIAN TELEGRAPHS.

M. Pierre Abro, an Armenian, has established a line of telegraphs between Alexandria and Cairo, upon the plan of M. Chappe. At the same time relays of posthorses have been organized for the carriage of such despatches as, from their number or length, cannot be transmitted by post.

TRAVELS IN UPPER ASIA.

The following notice appears in the Journal Asiatique for April, from the pen of M. Klaproth.

M. Cosmo de Koros, of Hungarian descent, born in Transylvania, has recently travelled across a large portion of Western Asia, as far as Thibet. He was engaged by the celebrated Moorcroft, to perfect him in the study of the Thibetian tongue. M. de Koros finished his philological and theological studies, between the year 1815 and 1818, at the College of Dehlten, at Nagy Enyed, in Transylvania, and at the University of Gottingen.

He

He left Nagy Enyed in November 1819, crossed the Danube at Ruchtchuck, and joined some Bulgarian merchants of Sophia, who were returning home. thence proceeded to Philippoli, intending to visit Constantinople. The report of the plague prevailing there, made him change his design; and he went to Enos, whence he embarked for Alexandria. Quitting Egypt, he went by sea to Palestine, and from Latakia, in Syria, he went on foot to Aleppo, which he reached April 13, 1820.

Adopting the Oriental costume, he thence pursued his march on foot, in company with different caravans. He passed Orfa, Merdin, Mosul, and Bagdad. The English resident (the late), Mr. Rich, was then absent from the latter place, in Kurdistan. His secretary, M. Bellino, interested himself warmly in the traveller's behalf, and furnished him with the means of reaching Teheran, where he arrived in October. M. de Koros remained here four months, supported by the generous aid of Mr. Willock, the English resident, and made himself master of Persian. Mr. Willock supplied him with funds for the prosecution of his journey; and he left Teheran in March 1821; he wore the Persian costume, and passed for an Armenian. On his arrival at Meshed, in Khorasan, he found all the country in confusion, and that it was impossible to pass through it. His residence in this city lasted till 20th October; whence he proceeded to Bokhara, where he arrived in November.

November. The false report of the approach of a Russian army drove him away. He went to Balkh, thence to Khulm, and then, by way of Bamiyan, to Cabul, where he arrived in January 1822. He there joined a caravan for Peshawur. At Deckha, he met with two Europeans in the service of Runjeet Singh, with whom he went to Lahore. Thence he went by Djama to Cashmere, which he reached May 14; and from thence he proceeded on foot, with four other travellers, to Ladak, which he entered June 19, 1822.

The design of M. de Koros was to penetrate as far as Yarkand; but the Chinese authorities prevented him. He found some obstacles to a farther residence at Lei, or Ladak, and was on the road to return to Lahore, when he met Mr. Moorcroft, at Himbat, and made himself known to that illustrious traveller, who furnished him afterwards with the means of pursuing his undertaking. Mr. Moorcroft took him back with him to Lei, and left him there to study the Thibetian language. Subsequently, M. de Koros rejoined him at Cash

mere; he returned, however, to Lei, provided with funds, and recommendations to the chief minister at Lei, and to the Lama of Tangla. The intrepid Hungarian remained in the establishment of the lama, at Tanskar, in the south-west part of the province of Ladak, till the month of June 1824. During this time he was employed in studying, grammatically, the Thibetian, and he obtained a general knowledge of the contents of a collection of writings in that language, filling 320 volumes. these works, he was informed, were translated from the Sanscrit; the titles of the originals, the names of the authors and of the translators, are carefully marked in them. M. de Koros has copied the tables of contents of these works; they include also collections of Sanscrit and Thibetian words: he has transcribed the most ample, which occupies 154 pages.

All

At the beginning of the winter of 182425, M. de Koros left Tanskar for Sultanpore; thence he proceeded by Mendi Saketi and Belaspore to Soobat'hoo, where he remained in the month of March 1825.

Burmese War.

London Gazette, Saturday, May 13.
India Board, May 13, 1826.

A despatch, dated the 17th of Jan. 1826, has been this day received at the East-India House, from the Secretary to the Government at Fort St. George, enclosing a copy of a despatch from Brig. Gen. Willoughby Cotton to that Government, of which the following is an extract:

Patanagoh, January 1, 1826.

I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of the Hon. the Governor in Council, that the pursuit of the scattered columns of the enemy was continued from Meaday to Patanagoh, by forced marches, by the Madras division, accompanied by the body guard and a troop of horseartillery, and the Commander of the Forces; on reaching Neaungla, five miles below this place, we ascertained the enemy had crossed their whole force to the right bank of the river, and that they occupied the position of Malloon, consisting of a series of strong fortified heights and a formidable stockade, with from 10,000 to 12,000 men. It was also ascertained the King's brother-in-law, and most of the men of rank who had assisted at Zeahengaish, were at Malloon; they despatched a woondoole on the 28th, with a flag of truce and a letter, stating it to be the wish of their chiefs to put a period to hostilities, and that a minister had arrived from Ava with full powers to treat and ratify, and requesting a meeting for that purpose. Lieut. Col. Tidy and Lieut. Smith, of the navy, were accordingly despatched to arrange a conference, to be held in a boat on the centre of the river, moored between Malloon and Patanagoh. Accordingly the Commander of the Forces and the Second Commissioner, Mr. Robertson, attended by myself and most of the brigadiers, met the two Burmese commissioners, Kelien Menjee and the Kee Woonjee, on the 30th ult., and I am most happy to state, that the result of the conferences of that day and yesterday has been a satisfactory adjustment, as far as regards territory and money, between the British and Burmese nations. The ratification, by the commissioners, of the treaty, takes place this day at two o'clock, and the terms of peace are as follow:

"The four provinces of Arracan to be ceded in perpetuity to the Honourable Company.

"The provinces of Mergui, Tavoi, and Zea, to be ceded to the Honourable Company in perpetuity.

"The Burmese government engage to pay the Honourable Company one crore of rupees, by instalments, the periods for the payment of which are to be settled this day.

"The provinces or kingdoms of Assam, Cachar, Zeatung, and Munnipore, to be placed under princes to be named by the British Government.

"Residents, with an escort of fifty men, to be at each court; British ships to be admitted into Burmese ports, to land their cargoes free of duty, not to unship their rudders or land their guns; Burmese ships to have the same privileges in British ports; no person to be molested for their opinions or conduct during the war hereafter.

"The Siamese nation to be included in the peace."

Thus, I hope, has terminated a war which has been most expensive in its prosecution, not only in money, but also, by the effects of climate, very destructive to both European and native troops; but I hope the Honourable the Governor in Council will here permit me to express the unanimous grateful feeling of the Madras army for the considerate comforts the Madras Government have, upon every occasion, forwarded to their army here, comforts which have been the means of saving many valuable lives, and which will be ever most gratefully acknowledged by every officer and man.

It will of course take a long period to arrange the move of the troops from hence to Rangoon, with the materiel and stores.

The ratification of the treaty by the King of Ava, and the English prisoners now at Amarapoorah, are to arrive at Patanagoh in fifteen days (15th January), on the receipt of which, we shall immediately retrograde to Prome. The roads across the Arracan mountains present difficulties which will oblige the Bengal army to retire by Rangoon.

P. S. January 3. Owing to prolonged discussions the treaty was not signed until this day, January 3, at four p.m.

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