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HE Fourteenth Year and the First Series of our AMERICAN AND ORIENTAL LITERARY RECORD

THE

was concluded with the publication of the one hundred and forty-fifth and sixth numbers in

December, 1879. In our first number, dated March 16th, 1865, we published a "Notice," con-
taining a programme which we think we have carried out, with the sole exception of making our
issues monthly, it having been found more convenient to publish double numbers every second
month. We take the present opportunity of thanking our patrons and friends for the support they
have given us in our undertaking; for, though it has not been a commercial success, we think
we are right in assuming, from the encomiums it has received, that it has been a literary one; and
we therefore consider it a duty to still carry it on.

We have given lists of books appertaining to countries, the literatures of which have never

before been brought before the literary world; and, if we may judge from the high prices given for

some of the early numbers and complete sets of our publication when they come into the market,

our efforts in Bibliography have been appreciated, and our labours have not been in vain.

By our

"Literary Intelligence" and our occasional notes on important publications, we have

endeavoured to enliven our pages, and to relieve them from the dry tedium appertaining to a simple
catalogue, and in this we hope we have succeeded. In our opening Notice we said: "We trust our
readers will bear in mind that our pages are not of mere ephemeral interest; they will contain, in
the course of the year, a vast mass of literary information nowhere else to be met with, and we

hope will be considered of sufficient importance to rank on the library shelves with the very many valuable bibliographies this century has produced. "We believe we have fully proved what we there stated; and if we have not been recouped for our outlay, we must content ourselves with our knowledge of the fact that Bibliography never pays.

It has been suggested to us that an index to the twelve first volumes, completing the first series of the RECORD, would be invaluable; it would be of course too great an undertaking to compile an index comprising every title mentioned in it; but if we could obtain two hundred subscribers at ten shillings, we would supply a title to each of the twelve volumes, together with an index which shall include all the literary matter and all special lists of books. Under Sanskrit would be given the various pages in each volume where lists of Sanskrit books would be found, and the same with each language or literature. In numbers 25-6 will be found a list of Codes of the various States in the union of the United States of America; we should index this simply under Codes, and not under every State of which it contained a Code, and a reader wanting a special code would then have to refer to pp. 409 to 411 and search the list for the code he wanted. We shall be obliged by intending Subscribers forwarding their names as early as possible.

LITERARY PROGRESS IN MADAGASCAR.

It may probably be new to many that considerable advances have been made during the last ten or twelve years in the formation of a native literature in the great island of Madagascar, and also in the investigation of the folk-lore, legends, songs, and mythical tales of the people,-what may perhaps be termed, their unwritten literature.

Although slight and imperfect attempts had been made during the previous two centuries to give a written form to the Malagasy tongue, nothing was done in a systematic manner until the establishment of a Protestant mission at the capital of the country in 1820, under the auspices of the London Missionary Society. The early missionaries of that Society, especially the Revs. D. Jones and D. Griffiths, afterwards joined by the Revs. D. Johns and J. J. Freeman, settled the orthography in use from that time until the present, investigated the structure and idiom of the language, and gave it for the first time a systematic written form. They prepared dictionaries (which have not yet been superseded) as well as grammars, and many elementary books of instruction, and also gave the Malagasy translations of several English books, chiefly of a religious character. prominent among them being one of the Pilgrim's Progress, a very idiomatic and faithful rendering of that wonderful allegory. Their chief work was, however, a translation of the Holy Scriptures, which was issued by instalments, throughout a period of seven years; the Gospel of St. Luke being put to press on the first day of 1828, and the whole Bible being published in 1835. This translation was an excellent and idiomatic one considering the time when it was produced, and has had considerable influence in conserving the Hova dialect of the language. But the period of persecution which ensued, consequent on the accession of Queen Rànavàlona I., caused not only the banishment of Christian teachers from the island, but also the exclusion of Europeans from the country, and the repression, as far as possible, of all European influence. This lasted for twenty-five years, during which time the condition of the people was deplorable in every way, and all advance in intelligence and education was stopped; so that, but for the leaven of Christianity and enlightenment already diffused, the country would have reverted to its original degraded position.

In 1861, however, Queen Rànavàlona I. died, and as soon as the fact became known, mission work, together with literary and educational work, was resumed. A printing press was again set up in the capital city, Antananarivo, and since that time has continued to send forth a yearly increasing quantity of literature. The wide extension of a school system in the central provinces, as well as the establishment of normal and training schools, and a theological and general college, has raised up a considerable reading class, more especially among the younger people, so that there is a steady demand for books. A great impetus was given to this by the reception of Christianity by the Queen and Government in 1868, and the steady pressure put upon the people to send their children to the schools.

In 1872 the L. M. S. Press was reinforced by another sent out by the Friends' Foreign Mission Association, which has

most efficiently aided in supplying literature for the people; so that the two presses. furnished with all modern appliances for bookbinding, lithography, etc., are the centres of great activity in the enlightenment of the island, and from them, school apparatus, lesson-books, etc., are sent in great quantities all over the central and eastern parts of Madagascar. For some time past the native government has had a press of its own, at which all official papers and documents, new laws, proclamations, etc., are printed.

The following periodicals are issued in Antananarivo:Tény Soa, "Good Words," 16 pp., monthly, begun 1866, 3,500 copies.

Varytondrahan-Tantély, "Rice mixed with Honey," 4 pp., bi-monthly, 3,000 copies. Illustrated with engravings from The British Workman.

Mpanolo-tsaina, "The Counsellor," 70 pp., quarterly, begun
1877, 700 copies.

Sakdizan'ny Ankizymadinika, "The Children's Friend."
16 pp., monthly, begun 1878, 2,500 copies. Illustrated
with engravings from The Child's Companion.
The Antananarivo Annual (in English), 120 pp., annually,
begun 1875, 700 copies. A record of information.
Proceedings of the Malagasy Folk-lore Society," 24 pp.,
irregular, begun 1875. Printed for private circulation.

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In 1875 a monthly newspaper called the Ny Gazety Malagasy was commenced, but was not continued beyond 13 numbers.

Besides numerous small publications.-pamphlets, tracts, sermons, etc., and complete series of school books-the following larger books have also been issued during the last few years three different collections of hymn-tunes, anthems, etc., in the Tonic Sol-fa notation, school songs, in ditto, elementary instruction in the Sol-fa system of music, two or three services of song; Pilgrim's Progress, Samuel, etc.; Manuals of Logic, Physical Geography (illustrated, 2 eds.), Astronomy (illustrated), Political Geography, Hermeneutics, Church Government, Church History, Old Testament History; New Testament History, Scripture Names, etc.; Commentaries on Genesis and Exodus, Gospel of Matthew, Epp. to Galatians and I. Corinthians; Bible Handbook, 1st vol. of Life of Christ, 2 vols. of Bible Dictionary, Introduction to New Testament (2 eds.), Introduction to Old Testament, Life and Travels of Apostle Paul, Lives of the Twelve Apostles, Lives of the Patriarchs, Lessons from the Gospel of St. Luke, Trades of the Bible, Pilgrim's Progress (4 eds.), and numerous others, a list of which will shortly be published in TRÜBNER'S RECORD.

The following books have been issued having reference to the study of the Malagasy Language (including those of the first missionaries of fifty years ago):

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Dictionary (Malagasy-English and English-Malagasy), by
Rev. D. Johns and Rev. J. J. Freeman.
PP. 705.
Antananarivo, 1835.

Outline of Grammar of Mal. Language as spoken by the
Hovas, by E. Baker. pp. 48. Port Louis, 1845; London,
1864.

Grammar of Malagasy Language, by Rev. D. Griffiths. pp. 244. Woodbridge, 1854.

A Concise Introduction to the Study of the Malagasy Language, by Rev. W. E. Cousins. pp. 80. Antananarivo, 1873.

Gramara Malagasy (in Malagasy), by Rev. G. Cousins. pp. 70. Antananarivo, 1873.

Dictionary (English-Malagasy) for Native Students, by J. S. Sewell. Antananarivo, 1875.

Besides the above, valuable contributions to the knowledge of the language have also been made by the Jesuit Missionaries, some of these being printed at their press in Antananarivo, and others at their establishment in the island of Réanion :

Dictionnaire Malgache-Français, by Missionnaires Catholiques. pp. 798. Réunion, 1855.

Dictionnaire Français-Malgache, by Missionnaires Catholiques. pp. 850. Réunion, 1853.

Grammaire Malgache, by Père Webber. pp. 118. Réunion,

1835.

Grammaire Malgache, by Père Ailloud. pp. 383. Antananarivo, 1872.

A very full and complete Dictionary of Malagasy, giving, as far as possible, the dialectal differences, is projected, and is in course of preparation by a Committee of Missionaries. Valuable papers on the language, its grammar and peculiarities, by the Rev. L. Dahle, are contained in Nos. II. III. and IV. of the Antananarivo Annual (see above), and also one on its Malay affinities, by the Rev. W. E. Cousins, in No. IV. of the same periodical.*

Researches into the Folk-lore, Kabarys, Public-speaking,

This is an extract from Mr. Cousins's paper on the Malagasy Language in Trans. Phil. Soc. 1877-8-9; a valuable paper on the Languages is contained in Journ. Roy. Asiatic Soc. N.s. vol. i. 1860, by Herr Van der Tuuk; and a Grammar and Dictionary has also been published by a French grammarian, M. Marre de Marin (Paris, 1876).

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(See also Publications of the Malagasy Folk-lore Society mentioned above in list of periodicals.)†

Besides the above, numerous considerable pamphlets have been issued containing accounts of Exploratory and Missionary Journeys in previously little known or entirely unknown parts of Madagascar, by which valuable light has been thrown upon the physical geography of the country, and upon the customs, superstitions, and language of the different tribes. Several of these are illustrated by maps of the routes taken by the authors.

In conclusion, may be observed that for five or six years past a Revision of the Malagasy Bible has been in progress. This is undertaken by a Committee representing the different Protestant Societies having missions in the island, and is presided over by the Rev. W. E. Cousins, of the L.M.S., as Principal Revisor. The work has proceeded as far as the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, and the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark in the New Testament. It will probably take several years to complete.-JAMES SIBREE, jun., Missionary of the Lond. Miss. Soc.

The French R. C. Missionaries have also published at their press a valuable work on Malagasy History from native documents, entitled Tantàra ny Andriana eto Madagascar, or Histoire des Rois d'Imerina d'après les Manuscrits Malgaches (Antananarivo, 1875), pp. 260. With this exception their press is chiefly employed in issuing religious and controversial books.

THE COREA.

History of Corea Ancient and Modern, with Description of Manners and Customs, Language and Geography. Maps and Illustrations. By Rev. John Ross, seven years resident in Manchuria. (Paisley: J. and R. Parlane; London: Houlston and Sons.)-The tangled web of Oriental ethnography seldom finds an expositor among European scholars; and students of race and history, in the broader sense, are laid under obligation to Mr. Ross for his essay in this department. Among the few nations that have managed to preserve an almost absolute seclusion from the outer world in these days of universal intercourse, few if any have succeeded to such an extent as the peninsular Coreans. Under the influence of external pressure, China has opened its doors to the irrepressible foreigner; Japan has entered into the comity of nations; and we can scarcely doubt that ere long Corea will also be accessible to the curious and the enterprising of every clime. Scarcely anything has yet been written by Europeans on this country and people, if we except Dallet's two volumes of Histoire de l'Eglise de Corée. Mr. Ross, who has lived as a missionary for seven years in Manchurian China, says, he "was made painfully aware at an early stage of his residence among the Chinese of his own all but total ignorance of this 'peculiar people,' who are a world to and in themselves; and he knows that this ignorance is characteristic of his countrymen.' To remove this ignorance he resolved, by drawing from the national history, a life-like representation of the exact position in the human family, which we must assign to the Chinese people, to show what China actually is. With this end in view, he decides to give an account of the rise and progress of the reigning dynasty of China, from its earliest dawn to the zenith of its power. But he found this history so inextricably blended with the history of Liaotung (the region lying between Corea and the Great Wall of China), and so indissolubly connected with Corea, that he has deemed it advisable to give the history of Corea and Liaotung in a separate and introductory form. Such is the raison d'être of the present volume, the outcome of the author's researches through hundreds of Chinese volumes; for it may be observed, that it is only in Chinese literature that anything like a connected account of Corea and its surroundings is to be found. The present kingdom of Corea professedly represents the ancient state of Chaosien (which is still the literary name of Corea); but the latter only occupied a portion of the present territory

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in the north-west corner, embracing also the greater part of the present Liaotung. Whence came the original inhabitants is not known; but towards the end of the twelfth century B.C., Kitsze, a noble of the Chinese Court, for some cause went to reside there, and gained a supremacy over the rude inhabitants. One of the first objects of the Han was to bring Chaosien into subjection, and a few years before the Christian era it was reduced to a Chinese dependency. Some time prior to this, a few families of the state of Fooyü moved south, and formed the nucleus of the future kingdom of Gaogowli, a name which afterwards took the form Gaoli, whence the modern Corea. This lay to the north-east of Chaosien. So politically insignificant was this tribe in A.D. 9, that it was placed as a small district, under the supervision of Huentoo, one of the four divisions into which Chaosien had been broken up; but in the year 32, we find it had a king and sent tribute to China. The power of this State increased rapidly by aggression and conquest; so that within a century Gaogowli became a formidable rival to some of the neighbouring States; and in the latter half of the second century it had so far extended its boundary as to cover a great part of the territory of the ancient Chaosien. In the fifth century the name was changed to Gaoli, and the kingdom continued to increase in power and resources, till in the beginning of the seventh century it had become so formidable as to threaten the peace of the Chinese Empire. This led to the Emperor Yang of the Swi dynasty sending an enormous army against it, numbering upwards of a million, which had to retire from the field unsuccessful. The event, indeed, led indirectly to the overthrow of the dynasty. After a long-protracted and exhaustive war. which decimated Gaoli, it was at length subdued and reduced to the status of a Chinese province in 668. The same fate befell the kingdoms of Baiji and Sinlo, which occupied the eastern and southern portion of the peninsula. "During the interval since the Tang dynasty swept like a tornado over Gaoli and Baiji-levelling the cities, rooting out the villages, and converting the cultivated fields into blood-stained wastes till, in 905, that dynasty ceased to rule over China-the foundations of modern Corea were being quietly, slowly, but steadily laid. What with immigration, and what with the natural increase of its inhabitants, where acres were numerous and men few, Gaoli had in 918 so far recovered that Goongcha, a Buddhist priest, believing that the affairs

of cities and country required the control of monarchy, assumed the title and power of king of Gaoli, in Kaichow city, north-west of the present capital, and south-east of Ping-yang, the ancient capital.' The priest was succeeded ere long by a scion of the ancient Gaoli royal house. In less than fifteen years, the new king annexed the whole of Baiji and Sinlo, and thus, for the first time, the whole peninsula was united into one kingdom, which remained in the family of this king for four centuries. In the latter part of the fourteenth century, king Mao, the last of the line, was murdered by Li Changgwei, one of his high officials, who usurped the throne, being the founder of the now reigning dynasty. He established the present capital-Sheoul. The Coreans were brought into contact with the Manchus at an early date, and after a long period of strife a treaty was at last concluded in 1627, by which Corea engaged to pay an annual tribute to the Manchus, and this practice is continued at the Court of Peking to the present day. Recent experiences of European contact with Corea leave no pleasing reminiscences. The attempt at negociation by Russia led to the massacre of two Roman Catholic Bishops,_seven missionaries and a vast number of native converts. France vowed vengeance, but did nothing. Shortly after, an American war steamer ascended one of the rivers. They were fired on, took a fort and retired. In either case the Coreans looked on themselves as victors. Our author remarks:-" Clearly the effect of the two naval expeditions has not been very satisfactory. The third attempt will be necessarily more difficult. Corea is said to be the object of solicitude now to England, as well as to her two friends. France talks about moving, America speaks about sailing, England proposes a visit; but there is one other power never speaks but acts. What will Russia do? We imagine that the naval power

owner of Corea could not only rule the Gulf of Liaotung and Pechihli, but have a good deal of influence over all the Chinese coast." Japan concluded a treaty with Corea on 26th February, 1876; by which three ports are open to Japanese trade. Mr. Ross has a chapter on Corean social customs, which do not differ very materially from the Chinese. The government is also on the same model and very corrupt. The votaries of Buddhism are said to be in overwhelming proportion to any other form of religion, the priests alone forming a fourth part of the population. Confucianism is generally acknowledged as a system of morality. The poppy has long been cultivated in Corea as a garden flower, and the juice sold in the apothecaries' shops as a sedative for pain; but opium-smoking is prohibited under penalty of decapitation. The chapter on the language will be interesting to philologists, and especially to students of Chinese. Besides the Coreans, the author gives historical sketches more or less extended of the Hienhi, Sinlo, Kitan, Nujun, and the other neighbouring nations. Mr. Ross is an independent thinker, who has been at the Corean gate. With a knowledge of the Chinese and Corean languages, he has been able to push his researches into an untrodden field, with the great advantage of daily contact with the natives of both these nations. The result in the volume now given to the public will be a boon to those students who are groping their way among the detached and scanty notices hitherto accessible, regarding the nations of Eastern Asia. But the book ought to be read by all who wish to be posted up regarding a singular nation about which much will probably be heard in Europe ere many years pass away. The volume is embellished with a number of quaint and curious plates drawn by Corean picture makers, representing the costumes of the country.

THE LITERARY ESTABLISHMENTS OF ICELAND.

After a prolonged political struggle, directed on the part of his countrymen by the able statesman and scholar, Jón Sigurdsson (b. Rafnseyri, Iceland, June 17, 1811, d. Copenhagen, Dec. 7, 1879), Iceland acquired, by the constitution of 1874, the right to make its own laws. As a result of this political reform, the country has now entered upon a period of progress; but its whole energies, for two or three generations, must be employed in repairing the evils caused by the neglect and misgovernment of past centuries. Roads, bridges, and harbours are to be constructed; the system of schools is to be extended; manufactures are to be established; commerce is to be regulated, the fisheries are to be fostered, and agricultural processes to be improved, and all these things, even with the activity manifested by the Althing, in the three sessions held since that body obtained the power to legislate, will severely tax the ability and the means of the little commonwealth. In the heroic efforts which it is thus making, Iceland will surely receive the hearty and intelligent sympathy of the nations which occupy more favourable geographical positions; and scholars especially will be glad to aid a people which has preserved a remarkable language and created a remarkable literature, which has a well-earned reputation for scholarship and learning, and which comprises a proportionately larger number of educated citizens than any other existing nationality. In the hope that they may be useful, the following notes on the literary institutions of Iceland, and their wants, have been compiled.

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Learned Societies.-These are: 1. The Icelandic Literary Society (Bókmentafjelag), founded by Rask and others in 1816, and having two sections, one at Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, the other at Copenhagen. It has issued a multitude of important works, such as the great map of Iceland by Björn Gunnlaugsson, the "Biskupa Sögur," the "Diplomatarium Islandicum," the "Safn til Sögu Islands," the Skýringar Páls Vidalins yfir Fornyrði Lögbókar," the Saga um Siðbótina á Islandi," translations of the works of Homer, Milton and Klopstock, a year book of contemporary history ("Skírnir "), and various valuable biographies, archæological essays and statistical treatises. Its issues for 1879 comprise, among other works, editions of the "Ljósvetninga Saga" and the "Víga-Glúms Saga." It publishes annually 5 or 6 volumes, and its yearly reports always include an admirable bibliography of Scandinavian publications. The annual subscription-for which all its current issues are sent is 6 crowns (a crown equals 1s. 1d., or 1 Mark 13

Pfennig, or 27 cts., or 1 franc 40 centimes), which may be forwarded by postal money order, from any of the principal post-offices of Europe or America, to Judge Magnús Stephensen, President of the Icelandic Literary Society, Reykjavík, Iceland. Subscriptions are also received by the publishinghouses of F. A. Brockhaus, Leipzig, and Trübner and Co., London. 2. The Icelandic Archæological Society (Fornleifarfjelag), which conducts explorations on the site of the ancient Althing at pingvellir, and in the old burial mounds in various parts of the country; its investigations are thus of interest to all Teutonic scholars. Its reports will be sent to all members paying the annual dues, 2 crowns, or contributing a life-membership sum of 25 crowns. Money order remittances may be made to Arni Thorsteinson, Treasurer of Iceland, President of the Archæological Society, Reykjavík, Iceland. 3. The Society of Friends of the People (Pjóðvinafjelag), which issues an annual volume of political and economical essays (" Andvari "), and a calendar, including a careful chronological summary of Icelandic events. The annual subscription, 2 crowns, may be sent to Dr. Grímur Thomsen, Vice-President, Reykjavík, Iceland.

Libraries.-The chief public collections are:-1. The Stiptisbókasafn, or National Library, of nearly 30,000 volumes, which is to find ample accommodation in the new Althing House, or Capitol, now building. Its librarian is the learned Jón Arnason, compiler of the "pjóðsögur." It is in want of books relating in any way to Iceland, sets of the publications of learned societies, statistical works, treatises on political economy and publications of foreign governments. Gifts may be addressed simply "Stiptisbókasafn, Reykjavík, Iceland." 2. The Library of the College (9,000 vols.) at Reykjavík, which greatly needs philological, historical and scientific works of all kinds, text-books, atlases, cyclopædias. Its address is "Bókasafn Skólans" (or "College Library "), Reykjavík, Iceland. 3. The Students' Library (1,500 vols.), to which may be sent works of fiction, popular history and travels in English, German, and French. With it is connected a reading-room, used by the 24 professors and 150 students of the College, the Divinity, Law and Medical Schools, and the Female Seminary in Reykjavík, for which journals of every class will be acceptable. Address "Lestrarsalur Skólans" (or "College Reading Room "), Reykjavík, Iceland. 4. The Northern Provincial Library at Akureyri on the North coast (4,500 vols.), with which is connected a public reading-room. Any books or periodicals will prove

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