Indian Antiquary Vol 01

SR No.: 032493
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
the Kukas observed the injunction to speak the truth soon attracted the attention of the courts of law. Sir Donald was satisfied. Ram Singh was dis missed, and continued directly and through his Subahs to make converts so fast that their number was soon es. timated at 100,000 more or less. Still, though no overt act was committed, there was a certain mystery or secrecy about the proceedings of the new sect that discouraged the idea of the movement being purely a religious one; and gave it the semblance rather of a society such as that of the Carbonari of western celebrity. Such, too, seems to have been the view of the local authorities for instructions were issued to watch then. Orders were given also not to enlist any more of em in the army; these orders were, however, subsequently withdrawn, but reinforced about eight or nine months ago. The Rájá of Kashmir also finding the Kukas in his service troublesome turned about 400 of them out of his army.-Times of India.
BEGGARS.
THE Lawrence Gazette gives the following description of the different classes of beggars to be found in the Punjab :Dori-walas, so called from their practice of spreading a dori, or rope, before shops, just like a measuring chain, The shops coming within the length of of this rope, they collect money from first, and then proceed to other shops, repeating the same process. In case of any one of the shopkeepers refusing to comply with their demands, they form the rope into a noose and threaten to hang themselves, in order to excite his compassion, and compel him to pay something.
Tasmi-walas, so named from their binding a strap of leather round their necks as if in the act of strangling themselves, and then lying on their back on the ground till they are paid, all the while fluttering their hands and feet like one labouring under the agonies of death.
Dandi-walas, who, in case of a shopkeeper objecting to meet their demands, blacken their face, and with small bats (dandas) in their hands, which they strike together, curse and abuse him in the most scurrillous language, till a crowd of persons gather round the shop to view the sight, thereby interrupting the shop-dealings, which at last compels the owner to satisfy their request.
Uri-mars, or mendicants, who obstinately take their stand before shops, and will not leave them until their demands have been satisfied, even though they should have to stay from morn till eve.
Gurz-mars and chhuri-mars, that is, faqirs who carry a knife or a club armed with spikes, with which they would themselves in order to extort alms from the people. in case of any one happening to stand in their way, they sometimes inflict blows on him in a fit of rage.-Englishman, April 12.
Mr. WHITLEY STOKES, Secretary to the Government of India in the Legislative Department, has presented to the Bodleian a copy (recently made at Benares) of the Kaus'ika Sûtra of the Sâma-veda. It has been ascertained that no other copy of this sutra exists in Europe. Mr. Stokes has also presented to the University Library, Cambridge, a Persian MS., containing the Qacidahs of Nazîri of Naishapûr, the Diwan of the same poet, and the largest eollection yet found (about 800) of the celebrated Quatrains (rub'aiyat) of Omar Khayyam. This MS, has
[MAY 3, 1872.
unfortunately lost a leaf at the end, but seems to be about 200 years old. It formerly belonged to the late Nawab of the Carnatic, whose seal is on the recto of the third leaf from the beginning.-Trübner's Literary Record, Mar. 7.
SANSKRIT MSS.-Pandit Ramanatti, Librarian to the Sanskrit College at Benares, has collected during the last eighteen months the necessary details about more than a thousand Sanskrit manuscripts. In a lately published report on education in the North-West Provinces of India, it is stated that the learned Pandit has visited the districts of Azimgarh, Gorakhpur and Mirzapur, and has found good libraries at Lahhima (district Gorakhpur), and at Dabka (district Mirzapur). The Pandits entrusted with the care of the libraries put all possible difficulties in his way, believing that the country would, sooner or later, be deprived of its manuscripts. In order to get admission to a library belonging to a Swamidchi, Pandit Ramanatti was obliged to serve the proprietor during several months as a pupil, with ashes on his forehead. In another case an old rich Brahman tried to induce him to buy a number of old account books as a library. The villages Kakhima and Dabka, in which the most valuable treasures seem to be stored, are in the possession of those Pandits who have inherited the libraries.Ibid.
YA TRA'MULLE UNNA'NSE. THE death of the Buddhist Priest Yâtrâmullê Dhammârâma, of Bentota in Ceylon, wi'l he severely felt by Pálî scholars. He was not only one of the most learned of the Buddhist priests, but he held such advanced philological views that his assistance was perhaps more valuable to the English Pâli student than that of any other monk in Ceylon. A fellow pupil of his was the founder of the now rapidly spreading Ramanna Samagama, a sect which strikes to restore the old purity of life among the Buddhist monks. The following is abriged from a notice Yâtrâmullê by Mr. Childers in Trübner's Record:
Though far junior to many of the most eminent Pali scholars of his native country, his erudition was perfectly astounding, and his opinion on points of scholarship was treated with universal respect. He lent to the great Synod of Palmadulla, held for the revision of the Tripitaka, all the aid which his immense range of reading and his critical acumen rendered invaluable to it; and he was a leading promoter of the Tripitaka Society, organized for the purpose of printing the entire Buddhist Scriptures-a scheme which, it is to be feared, will hardly survive his premature death. Yâtrâmullê shrank habitually from publicity, and seldom quitted the retirement of the provincial monastery of his choice, in which he lived a simple and blameless life. Those who have
Vide ante p. 31, and conf. p. 140.