Life and Works of Alexander Csoma De Koros: Volume 50 (Trubners Oriental Series)

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The Zoroastrian Religion, as to its Origin and Development. Martin Haug, edited by Dr. Post 8vo, cloth, pp. Translated from the Chinese by S. Beal, con- sists of thirty-nine sections. Beal's rendering of the Chinese translation is a most valuable aid to the erltical study of the work. It Contains authentic texts gatliorcd from ancient canonical books, and generally connected with some incident in the history of Buddha.

Their great interest, however, consists in the light which they throw upon everyday life in India at the remote period at which they wore written, and upon the method of teaching adopted by the founder of the religion. The method employed was principally parable, and the simplicity of the taleB and tho excellence of the morals inculcated, as well as the strange hold which they have retained upon the minds of millions of people, make them a very remarkable study. Beal, by making it accessible in an English dress, hss added to the great ser- vices he has already Tendered to the comparative study of religious history.

Seoond Edition, post 8vo, cloth, pp. Buhler, Inspector of Schools in India, writes: At their first appearance they were by far the most learned and able treatment of their subject ; and with their recent additious they still maintain decidedly the same rank. The enunj's contained in the volume wore originally dellvored as academic tortures, and at the time of tlioir first publication wem acknowledged to be by far the moHt learned and able treatment of the subject. They have now been brought up to date by the addition of all the most important results of recent research Times.

Post 8 vo, cloth, pp. The Author has attempted to fill up a vacuum, the inconvenience of which pressed itself on his notice. It occurred to him that it might be of use to others to publish in an arranged form the notes which he had collected for his own edification. It passes under review a vast number of languages, and it gives, or professes to give, in every ease the Bum and substance of the opinions and judgments of the best-informed writers. Griffith's very spirited rendering is well known to most who are at all interested in Indian literature, or enjoy the tenderness of feeling and rieh creative imagination of its author.

Few translations deserve a second edition better. Post 8vo, with View of Mecca, pp. Has been I esteemed m this country as the compilation of one of the greatest Arabic scholars of tho time, the late Mr. Poole is both H generous and a learned biographer.

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Poole tells us the fucts An en- lightened observant man travelling among an enlightened observant people, Professor Monier Williams has brought before the public in a pleasant form more of the manners aud customs of the Quoou's Indian subjects than we ever remember to have seen in any one work. Ho not only deserves the thanks of every Englishman for this able contribution to the study of Modem India— a subject with which we should be specially familiar — but he deserves the thanks of every Indian, Parsee or Hindu.

Buddhist and Moslem, for his cloar exposition of their manners, their creeds, and their necessities. An agreeable introduction to Hindu poetry. A volume which may be taken as a fair illustration altke of the religions and moral sentiments and of the legendary lore of the best Sanskrit writers. It is a very fair rendering of the original. The Bdhing Gram- mar. On Kiranti Tribe of the Central Himalaya. Remarks on the Water- shed and Plaieuu of Tibet. Third Edition, Two Vols. Br the Right Rev. The whole volume is replete with learning.

It deserves most careful study from all interested in the history of the religions of the world, and expressly of those who are concerned in the propagation of Christianity. Edkius notices in terms of just condemnation the exaggerated pialse bestowed upon Buddhism by recent English writers. Whitten fiiom the Yeai; to The result of thirty-five years of inquiry, reflection, and speculation, and that ou subjects as full of fascination as of food for thought. The Oldest Collection of Folk-lore Extant: They are probably the nearest representatives of the original Aryan stories from which sprang the folk-lore of Europe as well ft India.

The introduction contains a most interesting disquisition on the migrations of these fables, tracing their reappearance in the various groups of folk-lore legends. Among other old friends, we meet with a version of the Judgment of Solomon. His well-established reputation as a Pali scholar is a sufficient guarantee for the fidelity of his version, and the style of his translations is deserving of high praise " — Academy. Rhys Davids In the Jataka book we have, then, a priceless record of the earliest imaginative literature of our race ; and Post 8 vo, pp.

With Notes and Copious Indexes. Mr llershoii is a very competent scholar. Contains samples of the good, bin], and indifferent, and especially extracts that throw light upon the Scriptures. Chamberlain set himself u difficult task when he undertook to -reproduce Japanese poetiy in an English form. But be has evidently laboured eon amort , and his efforts are successful to a degree. Its primary object is to translate, but it does not assume to he more tlmn tentative, and it offers both to the professed Assyriologist and to the odSlnary non-Assyriological Semitic scholar the means of controlling its results.

Budge's book is, of course, mainly oddrossod to Assyrian scholars and students. They are not, it is to be feared, u very numerous class. But the mme thunks are due to him on that account for the way in which he has acquitted himself in his laborious tank. Arnold will have introduced it among popmar English poems Nothing could be more graceful and delicate than the shades l. Arnold has done in hiB splendid para- phrases of language contained in these mighty epics. Poat 8 vo, pp. Faber is already well known In the field of Chinese studies by his digest of the doctrines of Confuolus.

The value of this work will be perceived when it is remembered that at no time since relatione commenced between China sad the West has the former been so powerful— we had almost said aggressive — as now. For those who will give It careful study, Mr. Translated from the French with the authority and assistance of the Author. The author has, at the request of the publishers, considerably enlarged the work for the translator, and has added the literature of the subject to date ; the translation may, therefore, be looked upon as an equivalent of a new and improved edition of the original.

Barth has drawn with a master-hand. Presents many points of deep interest to the student of comparative philo- sophy, and without Mr. Poet 8 vo, pp. Bo copious, indeed, are these, and so much collateral matter do they bring to bear on the subject, that the diligent Btudent will rise from their perusal with a fairly adequate view of Hnidti philosophy generally His work The Supreme Being op the Khoi-Khoi. Hahn's labours will bo of Interest, not at the Capo only, but in every University of Europe, it is, in fact, a most valuable contribution to the comparative study of religion and mythology.

Accounts of their religion and mythology were scattered about in various books ; these have been oarefully col- lected by Dr. Hahn and printed in bis second chapter, enriched and improved by what he has been able to collect himself. Meuc Muller in the Nineteenth Century. Hahn's book Is that of a man who is both a philologist and believer In philological methods, and a close student of savuge manneis and customs. Wherry's book is intended for missionaries in India, it is no doubt well that they should be prepared to meet, if they can.

OmAr Khayyam the tent-maker was born about the middle of the fifth ccutury of the Hejirah, corresponding to the eleventh of the Christian era, in the neighbourhood of Naishapur, the capital of Kborasin, and died in A. Whinfield has executed a difficult task with considerable success, and his version contains much that will be new to thosu who only know Mr.

Whinfield has used three of these for his excellent translation. The most pro- minent features in the Quatrains are their profound agnosticism, conibinod with a fatalism based more on philosophic than religious grounds, their Epicureanism and the spirit of universal tolerance and charity which animates them.

As exhibited in a series of Articles contributed to the Calcutta Review. We cannot doubt that for all who may lake it up the work must bo quo oi profound interest. Translated from the Dutch with the Assistance of the Author. Port 8 vo, pp xii —, doth, price 8s.

Translated from the Persian into English Terse. This work ia an interesting specimen of Hindu ontical ability. The author successively passes in review the sixteen philosophical systems current in the fourteenth century in the South of India ; and he gives what appears to him to be their moat important tenets. Translated from the Tibetan of the Kah-Gtub. Ralston, whose nime is so familiar to all lovers of Russian folk-lore, has supplied some interesting Western analogies and parallels, drawn, for the most part, from Slavonic sources, to the Eastern ft ilk-tales, culled from the Kangyur, one of the divisions of the Tibetan sacred books "—Academy.

Rockh ill's present work is the first from which assistance will be gained for a more accurate understanding of the Pali text ; it is, in fact, as yet the only term of comparison available to us. Mr Rockhill maybe congratulated for having well accomul lulled a difficult task. Wood villa Rockhllfs translation have all the simple directness and fence which belong to the sayings of Gautama, when they have not been adorned and spoiled by enthusiastic disciples and commentators.

It is encyclopedic, in its scope, and the reader gats a start clear away lu any particular language, and is left free to add to the initial sum of knowledge there collected. Cust has contrived to produce a work of value to linguistic students. Edkins has boon most caro f ul in noting the varied and often complex phases of opinion, so ns to give ail account of considerable value of the subject " — Scotsman.

Translated from the Dutch by J. As Professor Tiele modestly says, 4 In this little book are outlines— pencil sketches, 1 might say— nothing more. Derived from Tibetan Works in the Bkah-hgyur and Bstan-hgynr. Followed by notices on the Early History of Tibet and Khoten. Its matter possesses a special interest as being derived from ancient Tibetan works, some portions of which, here analysed and translated, have not yet attracted the attention of soholnrs. The volume is rleh in ancient stories bearing upon the world's renovation and the origin of oastes, as recorded in these venerable autho- rities.

In Two Volumes, post 8vo, pp. Dedicated by permission to H. Retired Chaplain and N. An eminent Indian authority writes respecting this work: Translated from the Sanskrit, with an Introduction. By the late A. Completed and Edited by E. It in a great boon to get so notable a work in so accessible a form, admirably edited, and competently translated. Burnell was uot only an indepen lent Sanskrit scholar, but an experienced lawyer and he joined to these two Important qualifications the rare faculty of being able to express his thoughts in clear and trenchant English.

We ought to feel very K ateful to Dr. Hopkins for having given us all that oould be published of the trans- tlon left by Burnell. Max MDlleu in the Academy. Scanty as are the authentic data from which this biography was compiled, they form, nevertheless, a connected narra- tive of the chief events in the life of a remarkable man of science, who, although a foreigner, never published any- thing but in the English tongue. Few, if any, foreign savants have been honoured by Englishmen as he was ; a fact to which the memorial standing over his grave bears ample testimony.

It is hoped that the reader will follow with sympathy the details of an arduous scientific career, the best years of which were offered to the service of the British Government, and will agree with us also in thinking that Alexander Csoma de Koros attained in some measure the reward he looked for, in so far that his name will never be omitted from any work bearing upon Tibetan literature or Buddhistic learning. When the late Mr. Nicholas Tiiibner first saw the manuscript of this book, he at once kindly expressed his readiness to undertake its publication, and even sug- gested the desirability of editing a complete collection of all the works and essays of Csoma de Koros, which, at the present time, are only to be found scattered over many volumes of publications, extending over a period of more than thirty years.

Triibner's successors may see their way to carry out the project he had in view, and to rescue, for the benefit of European students, the important work in manuscript which is noticed in the Appendix xvi. The reader will observe that a certain latitude has been permitted in the spelling of Indian names and Tibetan words occurring in this work. In the text Dr. The author desires to express his acknowledgments to Mr. Gerard s visit to Kanum, and his letter to Mr. Fraser on the subject. Csoma completes his Tibetan studies at Kanum — Correspondence with Dr.

James Prinsep — Mr. Csoma applies for a passport in November to enable him to travel in Hindustan — Leaves Calcutta— His last letters to Mr. Prinsep — Return to Calcutta in. Malan, Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Analysis of the Kahgyur and Stangyur II. Translation of a Tibetan fragment IV. Translation of a Tibetan passport Origin of the Shakya race VII. Mode of expressing numerals in Tibetan Extracts from Tibetan works IX. Interpretation of the Tibetan inscription on a Bhotian banner taken in Assam X. Note on the white satin-embroidered scarfs of the Tibetan priests XI. Review of a Tibetan medical work XV.

A Manuscript Dictionary of Sanskrit and Tibetan words, phrases, and technical terms. Towards the end of Dr. It is now more than a year and a half since we lost him, but we are as yet without any such record in the Journal of the Society, to show, that his labours were valu- able to the literary Association, he so earnestly studied to assist in its most important objects. In the compilation of this sketch, advantage has been taken of the disjointed and imperfect data which have as yet appeared on the subject; and at the same time important facts have been brought forward which had previously remained unknown.

In the archives of the Foreign Office in Calcutta, many letters are to be found which refer to Csoma de Koros and to his Tibetan labours, during the prosecution of which he enjoyed the support of the Supreme Government of India. Durand, under-secretary of that department. Six original letters of Csoma have also been found in the library of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, which will be noticed in due course.

These were for the most part accomplished on foot, and extended from Europe across Central Asia, Bokhara, through Afghanistan, the Panjab, and Kashmir towards the borders of China, and afterwards into Tibet and Hindustan down to Calcutta. The motives which led him to devote himself to these literary and historical researches, and the causes which induced him to sacrifice so many years of his life to the study of the Tibetan language and literature, will be set forth on the authority of hitherto unpublished data ; and it is confidently expected, that they will clear up many still obscure points in the career of this remarkable student, and dispel the erroneous, and sometimes even unjust, judg- ments which have been formed regarding his works and merits.

Koros is situated in a beau- tiful valley below the town of Kovaszna, and its inhabi- tants carry on a flourishing trade in the manufacture of sieves for which there is a special demand , and vari- ous articles of fancy woodwork. Koros is a pure Szekely village, where the occupier and the proprietor are one and the same, where landlords and subject-cultivators of the soil were never known. It is the only frontier community in which no Wallachian ever settled.

His family was poor, but belonged to the military nobles called Szdklers, a tribe which had for centuries guarded the frontiers of Transylvania against the invasions of the Turks. Gabriel, his only brother, left a son, also Alexander by name, who survives. The proprietor of the village, Baron Horvath, whilst residing there, met him almost daily.

As boys, we could never compete with him in walking, because when he happened to reach the top of a hill, that did not satisfy him, but wished to know what was beyond it, and beyond that again, and thus he often trotted on for immense distances. We held a long conversation up to the moment of his departure ; and I can therefore conscientiously say, from all I know of him, I do not recollect, that he ever gave his superiors or teachers cause for reproof, or his fellow-pupils an occasion for a complaint.

He bore work and fatigue to a wonderful degree, a power which he owed to temperate habits and purity of life and conduct. M He was of middie stature, with dark hair and com- a plexion ; his face was oblong, the expression of his coun- tenance full of sympathy, his eyes replete with thoughtful melancholy. If he happened to be of a contrary opinion to those around him, he never pressed his own point obstinately.

The small savings, which as a senior student he was enabled to effect, from fees paid to him by his juniors for private tuition, he stored so carefully, that he was considered one of the richest in the school.

The generality of Szdkler students, except the higher and well-to-do nobles, have to undergo many hardships during their years of public school-life. The College of Nagy Enyed has, however, always lent a helping hand to the sons of this nationality. Some of the Szdkler boys perform menial services for their richer fellow-pupils, and. Hege- diis knew him first as a pupil-servant 1 in the lower form, and afterwards in the upper school, when he gave Csoma private lessons in ancient literature and mathe- 1 Pupil-iervank occupy a position similar to that of tizart at the English colleges in past times.

As regards intellectual powers, Csoma was not considered in any way a genius, but rather looked upon as an example of industry and perseverance. In , Csoma finished his career at the Gymnasium, and was promoted to the higher course of academical studies. At this time the desire to travel in Asia was kindled in him.

As, while attending lectures at the college, history happened to be a favourite branch of study, owing to the popularity of Professor Adam llerepei, the teacher of this subject, it was natural that frequent and interesting debates and conversations should arise among the students regarding the ancient history and origin of the Hungarian people. It is recorded that Csoma and two of his fellow-pupils had made a vow, to undertake a scientific journey, with the object of dis- covering some trace of the origin of their nation.

Ten years later, we find Csoma at the German University of Gottingen animated by the same desire. Csoma used to say that he heard from Eichhorn state- ments about certain Arabic ipanuscripts which must contain very important information regarding the history of the Middle Ages and of the Hungarian nation when still in Asia, and that much of these data remained unknown to European historians. He was made of the right stuff for such an enterprise, for, having once taken the resolution, he was ready to face all the trials and struggles in the way, of the magnitude of which he was duly warned.

The entire sum of his other resources amounted to little more than two hundred florins. After completing his studies there, he was elected Lecturer on Poetry, in which ap- pointment he acquitted himself with credit, to the entire satisfaction of his superiors. We find similar relics of Csoma in the shape of several Greek and Latin distichs, and a French quota- tion. They are in his bandwriting, and found on the back of a portrait of Professor Mitscherlich of Gottingen. This picture, now in the possession 0 f the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, he gave as a memento to his friend, Szabd de Borgata, who, it is said, was instrumental in inducing Csoma to undertake a journey to the East.

The characteristic quotations are as follows: Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causae. Omne tulit punctum qui iniscuit utile dulcl — Horatius. Omnia deficiant, virtue tamen omnia vincit Per quodvis praecepe ardua vadit iter.

Sit tibi, quod nunc eet, etiam minus ; at tibi vive, Quod euperest aevi, ei quid superesse volunl Dt — Horatius. Alexander KdRftsi , 1 Transylvano — Siculus. In his friend Hegediis left Nagy Enyed to take up clerical duties elsewhere ; but after an absence of eight years, on returning to his former pro- fessorial chair at the old College, he was greeted, on the part of the students, by Csoma, who then held the position of Senior Collegian.

Hegediis noticed then, with much satisfaction, that besides an acquaintance with general literature, Csoma had made marked pro- gress in the Latin and Greek classics, and had become familiar with the best works of French and German authors. This is a fitting place to mention a circumstance, of which probably few Englishmen are aware. The family name is Csoma , The terminal i in Korosi means and the word Korosi, meaning of of hence de cannot stand before Ktirtis, stands aB a designation, to Korosi. When de is used, Korda show that he is a noble of Kords.

His- tory tells us, that in the year , during the Hun- garian civil wars, the town of Nagy Enyed and its flourishing college were almost razed to the ground, the students were cut down, and one of the professors was mortally wounded. Not merely the public exchequer but private individuals and the municipal corporations became completely exhausted and ruined, by the long- continued struggle against the Imperialists, under the national leader, Kakoczy, between the years and 17 1 1.

This calamity was the reason why nothing could be done at that time by the Hungarians themselves for Nagy Enyed, and yet the necessity of taking some steps became more urgent day by day. Students in large numbers were applying for admission, but the College authorities were not even in a position to put a roof over the ruins which remained standing, still less to afford that assistance which is so much needed by the Szdkler youths.

The prevailing distress was brought to the knowledge of Queen Anne of England and of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and through them to the English nation. And the cry for help was not in vain. The aristocracy and the citizens of London came forward most liberally, the Archbishop caused collections to be made in the churches for the relief of the distressed; and the result was that a sum, exceeding eleven thousand pounds, was collected and deposited in the Bank of England. A great part of the money remains to this day invested in the 3 per cent. Consols for the benefit of the college, and is managed by the banking Arm of Messrs.

This contribubion from England was the basis on which the future material prosperity and intellectual progress of the College of Nagy Enyed was reconstituted after the great national disaster which befell Hungary at the commencement of the eighteenth century. Csoma de Koros was one of the first scholars to whom an annual subsidy of fifteen pounds sterling was allotted, to assist him whilst studying at the University of Gottingen.

In that manner, Csoma was brought into nearer acquaintance with Eichhorn, and this doubtless had considerable influence over the future career of the enthusiastic student. Josef Szabo de Borgata was a fellow- undergraduate of Koio3i in Gottingen, and the two students lived in intimate friendship with each other. This gentleman is still alive May , and from him we learn that they frequently interchanged ideas on their favourite subject. He recollects that on one occasion Csoma de- clared before him, that he longed to attain celebrity and renown.

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In the course of this biography we shall repeatedly have occasion to notice his striving after this worthy aim, but nowhere more pointedly is it expressed, than in the lines we find jotted down, in his manuscript Vocabu- lary already alluded to, where we read as follows: We can never hope to discover what particular incident suggested the above characteristic quotation; it seems- to refer to circumstances which occurred in later years of his life, and it is probable that a correspondence with Wilson, Edmusat, or Klaproth, may have furnished the occasion.

Gottingen under Professor Fiorillo. This occurred in the summer of Towards the latter part of , Csoma returned from Germany to Transylvania. On the last Saturday of that year he met his late master and faithful friend, Professor Hegediis, at Nagy Enyed. But he declined both. On the 7th of February , Csoma made known his final determination to Professor Hegediis, and at the same time informed him that he meant to leave for Croatia, to learn first the Slavonic language.

Hegediis tried in vain to dissuade him from this purpose, by placing before hie young friend, not only the promise of the useful ser- vices he would be able to render to the cause of science and education in his native country, but the sure prospect of obtaining a first-rate professorial chair in the College, and securing for himself famehnd reputation similar to that which his own celebrated uncle had earned at Nagy Enyed before him. Neither the alluring prospects at home, nor the almost certain dangers of a long journey, nor friendly remonstrances, were able to turn him aside from his path.

Csoma's first plan was to travel vid Odessa, and thence through Moscow, where he might find a favourable oppor- tunity to join a caravan for Irkutsk, and from that place endeavour to reach the northern border of China. With this view, therefore, he undertook, during the early spring of , a journey on foot to Agram, in Croatia, to study the Slavonic language, and he remained several months there. For this Croatian journey, Councillor Michael de Kenderessy gave Csoma one hundred florins, and, as was mentioned already, promised the traveller a similar sum every year, till he should return from Asia.

Money was subsequently raised for him by public subscription in Transylvania in , but this he returned to found at Nagy Enyed a scholarship, which to this day goes by the name of Kenderessy- Csoma Scholarship. The circumstances of the farewell, Professor Hegedus has minutely recorded as follows: We spent some time in friendly conversation, and drank our parting glass in some old tokajL Next day, that is Monday, he again stepped into my room, lightly clad, as if he intended merely taking a walk. Here, in the country — among the fields — we parted for ever.

He saw clearly his object, and knew what he meant to attain. We may well say that Csoma belongs to the rank of those noble minds who devote their lives unselfishly to a worthy, though apparently thankless object, yet in the pursuit of which nothing but death will stop their efforts. And if a pioneer on the unbeaten track meets his fate, as Csoma did, before reaching the end of his arduous path, what is due to him from posterity is the laurel wreath, and not commiseration , for which a man of his stamp always enter- tains a noble disdain.

The most important among them is doubtless that, which we owe to Dr. This communication was frequently cited by his own countrymen as the earliest authentic source of information from India, concerning the Tibetan scholar, and has again recently been noticed con- jointly with Dr. A Trtibner ft Go. With regard to Dr. Archibald Campbell wrote in 1 as follows: The second source of information is of a more re- cent date, and originates from the celebrated Austrian traveller, Baron Charles Hiigel, who, starting from Cal- cutta for Mussurie, arrived at the latter place on the 21st of June We shall quote Baron Hugel' s data seriatim.

The statement that Csorha spent eleven years in a Buddhistic monastery at Kanaur is quite inaccurate, as appears from the following data: In the monastery at Pukdal or Pukhtar , also in Zanskar, he remained from 12th August to November It is also an error to say that Tibetan is a subordinate dialect of Sanskrit. It belongs to the Chinese group of languages. Csoma arrived in Calcutta at the end of April In his letter to Captain Kennedy, which will be found further on, dated 25th January , para. Moorcroft, in his Diary, edited by Dr.

Wilson, dated 3d August Malan writes as follows, dated 8th December I never saw him in his best if he had one , but I always met him in the Library of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, of which I was Secretary during my stay in Calcutta. He wore a jacket very much like a loose shooting-jacket with outside pockets, of the common blue cotton cloth of India ; he wore a waistcoat of figured red, brown, black, or yellow stuff of Indian manufacture, and trousers of a kind of light-brown stuff, cotton stock- ings, and shoes.

Now as regards his studies. The reason which induced Csoma to devote his best talents for so many years to Tibetan will become evident in due course, but it was certainly not the mistaken fancy attributed to him of having discovered a resemblance between it and the Magyar tongue.

Thirdly , we have the statement contained in Part II. There is an incident described in Baron Hiigers work voh i. It refers to the occurrence of the 18th of November , when the Baron was at Srinaggur and met two Englishmen there. Csoma reports in the letter to Captain Kennedy para. We bring this forward for no other reason but that of adding another proof of the defective nature of Baron Hiigel's data. We have, therefore, been compelled to treat with sus- picion the statements made by this author, there being much evidence to show that they are not made with the necessary exactitude.

Carls- ruhe, , have been taken from the original English, and probably also French sources, by which alone we have been guided in this part of the biography. Critics do not omit to mention, that Csoma was quite ignorant of Sanskrit whilst engaged in his Tibetan studies. He certainly was not then a master of Sanskrit, his original or final aim of research not being India, but China, espe- cially Mongolia. But when he seriously commenced the study of Tibetan, and had also come across numerous elementary Sanskrit and Tibetan works, of which we find special mention in his writings, can it be reasonably supposed, that the ever-eager and indefatigable student, would have neglected such opportunities as presented themselves to him, and have remained entirely ignorant of the Sanskrit language for so many years, which, as he tells us at the outset of his new study, was the basis of all Tibetan learning?

So far from this being the case, his letters to Captain Kennedy furnish ample proofs to the contrary. Bor instance, in his second letter to Captain Kennedy, para. This has often served as justification for dis- paraging his unique accomplishments. In November , our traveller appeared on the north- west frontier of the British possessions, and reported his arrival to Captain Kennedy, the commanding officer at Sabathii. The correspondence which passed at that time between the authorities and the traveller is of much interest.

He is particularly introduced to my notice by Mr. Moorcroft, whose letter I herewith enclose. Csoma de Koros remains here at present, and waits the arrival of a Lama, whom he expects in a few days, to pro- ceed with him towards Tibet. Although my ecclesiastical studies had prepared mo for an honourable employment in my native country, yet my inclinations for the studies mentioned above, induced me to seek for a wider field for their further cultivation.

As my parents were dead, and my only brother did not want my assist- ance, I resolved to leave my native country and to come towards the East, and by some means or other procuring subsistence, to devote my whole life to researches which may be afterwards useful to the learned world of Europe in general, and, in particular, may illustrate some obscure facts in our own history. But as I could not hope to obtain, for this purpose, an Imperial passport, I did also not beg for it.

I took a printed Hungarian passport at N. Enyed to come on some pretended business to Bucharest, in Wallachia, and having caused it to be signed by the 'General Commandant in Hermanstadt, in the last days of November , passing the frontier mountains, entered Wallachia. My intention in going to Bucharest was, after some acquaintance with the Turkish language, to proceed to Constantinople. There was no opportunity for my instruction, nor could I procure any mode, to go directly to Constantinople, therefore: After travelling for eight days in rapid marches, we reached Sophia, the capital of Bulgaria, whence, with other Bul- garians, I came in five days to Philipopolis, in Boumelia, or Thrace.

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My plan was to stop for a certain time either at Alexandria or in Cairo, and to improve myself in the Arabic, with which I was already acquainted in Europe, but on a sudden eruption of the plague I left Egypt, and proceeding on a Syrian ship I came to Larnica, in Cyprus, thence to Sidon, Beyruth, and then, on another vessel, to Tripoli and Latakia, whence, travelling on foot, on the 1 3th of April I reached Aleppo in Syria.

On the 22d J uly I reached Baghdad. Thence, in August, I addressed a letter, written in Latin, to Mr. Beilin 0, assisted me with a dress and with some money, through his friend, Mr. Swoboda, a native of Hungary, with whom I was then lodging, and to whom I was recommended from Aleppo. I left Baghdad on 4th September, and travelling in European costume, on horse- back, with a caravan, passihg by Kermanshah where, in the service of Mahomed Ali Mirza, the eldest son of Fateh Ali Shah, king of Persia, were several European military officers , by Hamadan, on 14th October , I arrived at Teheran, the present capital of Persia.

On the 3d of November 1 , in a letter, written in English, addressed to Mr. Henry and George Willock for their kind reception and generosity at my departure and to them I beg to refer for my character. Through their complaisance I sojourned four months in the capital of Persia, became acquainted grammatically with the Per- sian, improved myself a little in English, perused several treatises for my purpose, examined many ancient silver coins of the Parthian dynasty.

I de- posited there all my books and papers, among others, my testimonial from the University of Gottingen, my passport from Transylvania, and a certificate in Sclavonick on my progress in that language. I gave also to those gentlemen a letter written in Hungarian, addressed to Enyed, in Transylvania, for Mr. Joseph Kovats, Professor of Mathe- matics and Physics, with my humblest request, in case I should die or perish on my road to Bokhara, to be trans- mitted.

On account of warlike disturbances in the neighbouring countries, it was the 20th of October ere I could leave that place to proceed in safety, and on the 18th of November I reached safely Bokhara, but, affrighted by frequent exaggerated reports of the approach of a nume- rous Russian army, after a residence of five days I left Bokhara, where I intended to pass the winter, and with a caravan I came to Balk, Kulm, and thence by Bamian ; on 6th of January, , 1 arrived at Kabool.

We arrived at Lahore the nth of March , and on the 23d of the same I left it, and going by Amritsir, Jamoo, I reached Kashmir the 17th of April, where I stopped, waiting for proper season and companions, till 9th May ; when leaving that place, and travelling with four other persons, on the 9th June I arrived at Leh, the capital oi Ladak ; but I ascertained the road to go to Yarkand was very difficult, expensive, and dangerous for a Christian. After a sojourn of twenty- five days I resolved to return to Lahore.

I acquainted him with all my circumstances and designs, and by his permission remained with him. I accompanied him on his return to Leh, where we arrived on the 26th August. In September, after Mr. Trebeck's arrival from Piti, Mr. Moorcroft gave me to peruse the large volume of the Alphabetum Tibetanum, wherein I found much respecting Tibet and the Tibetan literature, and being desirous to be acquainted with the structure of that curious tongue, at the departure of Mr.

Moorcroft from Leh to proceed to Cashmere, in the last days of September, I begged leave to remain with Mr. Trebeck, who obtained for me the conversation and instruction of an intelligent person, who was well acquainted with the Tibetan and Persian languages ; and by this medium I obtained con- siderable insight in the Tibetan. Moorcroft, dated Petersburgh, 17th January , and addressed to the chief prince of the Panjab Runjeet Singh , which, as Mr.

Moorcroft informed me after his arrival at Kashmir, he sent to Calcutta.

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Trebeck, considering what I had read and learned on the Tibetan language, I became desirous to apply my- self, if assisted to it, to learn it grammatically, so as to penetrate into the contents of those numerous and highly interesting volumes which are to be found in every large monastery. I communicated my ideas respecting this matter to Mr. Being prepared for the journey, I left Kashmir on the 2d May , after I had passed five months and six days with Mr. This Prime Minister recommended me in a letter to the Lama of Yangla; gave me a passport, and favoured me with about eight pounds of tea.

From Leh, travelling in a south-westerly direction, on the ninth day I arrived at Yangla, and from 20th June to 22d October I sojourned in Zanskar the most south-western province of Ladak , where I applied myself to the Tibetan literature, assisted by the Lama. Each work or treatise begins with the title in Sanskrit and Tibetan, and ends with the names of the author, translators, and place wherein the author has written or the translation was performed.

As there are several collections of Sanskrit and Tibetan words among my other Tibetan writings, I brought with me a copy of the largest, taken out of one of the above-mentioned volumes, consisting of 1 54 leaves, every page of six lines. The Lama was detained by some business, and prevented for some days leaving Zanskar. I arrived at Sultanpore, in Coolloo, without any danger, and from thence, passing to Mendee, Suketee, Belaspore, on the 26th of November of the last year I reached Subathoo.

On mf arrival I expected the Lama would follow me in about ten days. He came not, and at present I have no hope he will join me, as the pass in the Himalaya is now cldsed against him. There is yet in Asia a vast terra incognita for oriental literature. If the Asiatic Society in Calcutta would engage for the illuminating the map of this terra incognita , as in the last four years of my travelling in Asia I depended for my necessary subsistence entirely upon British generosity, I shall be happy if I can serve that honourable Society with the first sketches of my researches.

If this should not meet with the appro- bation of Government, I beg to be allowed to return to Mr. In March , he took passage in a Syrian ship to Cyprus, thence to Sidon and Bey rut, and thence on another raft by way of Tripolis he arrived in Latakia. In April , at the beginning, he left on foot for Aleppo, where he arrived on the 13th of that month. September 4th, he left Baghdad, travelling on horseback through Kermanshah and Hamadan, reaching on October 14 th Teheran. November 23 d, he left Bokhara, and, travelling vid Balkh, Kulum, and the Bamian Pass, arrived , January 6th, at Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

January 19th, he left Kabul. March 1 2th, he arrived at Lahore. May 1 gth, he left Kashmir, and on June gth arrived at Leh, the capital of Ladak. July 3 d, he left Leh on a return journey to Kashmir. On July 1 6th, he met Mr. On August 2 6th, he reached Leh a second time. Trebeck, whom he after- wards accompanied to Srinaggur, where they arrived on November 26th, and Csoma joined Moorcroft and remained with him for five months and six days. June 1 yth, he left Leh, and On June 2 6th, he arrived at the Monastery of ,Yangla, in the province of Zanskar, where he spent sixteen months.

This is the place where, as we shall find more fully de- scribed later on, Csoma laid the foundation of his acquaint- ance with the language and literature of Tibet; it was here that he resided, being confined with the Lama, his teacher, and an attendant to an apartment nine feet square.

For more than four months they were precluded from stirring out by the state of the weather. After dark he was without a light ; the ground forming his bed, and the walls of the building h is protection against the rigours of the climate. If we glance at the map we shall find that Csoina's route was the same which, forty-two years later, was fol- lowed as far as Bokhara by his famous and enterprising countryman, Arminius Vambdry. The still available correspondence, and the casual remarks of his friends and admirers, give us sufficient information as to the character of the man ; but the full details, which other- wise make up the charm of the story of a life like his, are lost, and can never be made good.

In his letter to the political agent at Umbala, dated the 28th of November, quoted above, we find Captain Kennedy stating that a special introduction was brought by Csoma from Mr. That letter was forwarded to the Government, and is dated Kashmir, the 21st of April This letter is worthy of being preserved, if only as a memento of the ill-fated writer.

I have known this gentleman for five months most intimately, and can give the strongest testimony to his integrity, prudence, and devotedness to the cause of science, which, if fully explained, might, in the opinion of many, be conceived to border on enthusiasm. As well in pursuance of original plans of his own for the development of some obscure points of Asiatic and of European history , as of some suggestions stated by me, Mr. Csoma will endeavour to remain in Tibet until he shall have become master of the language of that country, and be completely acquainted with the subjects its litera- ture contains, which is likely, on many accounts, to prove interesting to the European world.

Although no substantial grounds exist for suspect- ing that he will not succeed in accomplish in g the object above stated, the recent date of European intei course with the country of Ladakh may justify the adoption of sub- stituting other measures, should the result of the plans contemplated not meet the present sanguine expectations of success.

If, therefore, events should arise to prevent Mr. Csoma continuing in Ladakh until he may have effected the matter alluded to, I beg leave respectfully to request that you will so far oblige me as to afford him such assistance as may be required to facilitate the prosecution of his studies, along with some well-informed Lama in the northern part of Besarh, as the Superior of the Gompa or Monastery of Pal so, near Leh.

It is possible that the contingency of my death, or of delay of the present expedition. Csoma, may induce the Government to desire him to proceed to Calcutta, in which case I shall feel myself personally obliged if you will be kind enough to furnish him with two hundred rupees, to meet which I now enclose my draft at sight on my agents at Calcutta. Csoma makes mention of the first meeting between them in his letter to Captain Kennedy para. The two preceding letters settle, therefore, those points regarding which so much uncertainty and so many mis- taken ideas have prevailed.

Thence, vid Lahore, he travelled into Kashmir, where he arrived on the 14th of April. On this journey he met Moorcroft, who enter- tained him hospitably, and lent him Giorgi's " Alphabetum Tibetanum. At the time we speak of, the British power was feeling its way slowly and extending its influence towards Central Asia: Wilson points out clearly this aim when he says: This will not only promote the commercial and political prosperity of Great Britain and her Indian pos- sessions, but may effect the still more important end of teaching to yet semi-barbarous tribes the Advantages of industry and civilisation.

A solemn agreement, therefore, was entered into between Moorcroft and Csoma: Nor is there any authentic proof to warrant the assertion that Csoma ever declared himself to be a believer in any special affinity between his mother- tongue and the Tibetan.

The power of Ban jit Singh was still paramount in the Punjab. He had to wait for three long months before an answer reached him, as will be seen from his second letter, written in May. That letter touches on some points now out of date, but its general contents will doubtless be read with much interest. It furnishes proofs also in several passages of the fact, that Csoma was not altogether ignorant of the Sanskrit tongue when, in accordance with the order of the Governor-General, he wrote his second letter, addressed to Captain Kennedy.

Owing to the distance and other incidental delays, it was not till the month of May follow- ing that an answer to it, from the Calcutta Government, reached Sabathd. The Govern- ment granted a regular stipend of fifty rupees a month, which enabled him to prosecute the Tibetan studies, and, as regards his own position, to perpetuate his name in the domain of science and literary research. In the second letter, addressed to Captain Kennedy, Csoma made known in detail all he had already learnt of the language of Tibet, and of the religion of Buddha, and explained his future plans, particularly in paragraphs 27 and He gave a promise that he would devote himself entirely to that special study ; he kept to the de- termination, and spent some of the best years of his life between and in the attainment of his object.

When once his task was finished, he remarked with melan- choly emphasis to Dr. This, therefore, could not be the reason that urged him to study it. Jchydd , anglice, you ; in Hungarian, Jeend, hegydmed , — we find no other marked out by Csoma for comparison as to any supposed similarity between these two languages.

There were, however, weighty motives which induced him to devote himself to the literature of Tibet. The first was doubtless the wish of a grateful heart to do some service, if he could, to his English patrons. He felt that already, at the University of Gottingen, he was supported from the scholarship founded by English benevolence ; and it was there, we may add also, that he first began to study English under Professor Eiorillo.

When Csoma set out on his venturesome journey, he always found help and patron- age, when in need, from Englishmen; and now again, when at Sabathii, he saw clearly that without English protection and liberality he could never hope to succeed. He believed, no doubt, to be some day in a position to furnish a key to the learned of Europe for further exploration of an almost terra incognita, and this, indeed, he subsequently accomplished. Moreover, he hoped to promote his original objects, if, fortified with newly-acquired knowledge, he could reach Lassa, where the library of the Grand Lama would be accessible to him, and where he would be in a position to explore thoroughly those Tibetan works which elsewhere he sought for in vain, and which, according tb his information and belief, contained the early history of the Mongols and the Huns.

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