II. TRIBES OF THE N. E. FRONTIER.

"I send you samples of the dialect in use in Upper Assam-there can be no object in endeavouring to uphold it. The Bengális can barely understand it; but the A'sámís understand pure Bengálí without trouble, and the circulation of a few books in the latter dialect will cause the former to become extinct as a written language."

"Having yesterday to look over some fragments of a correspondence between Mr. Scott and Major Latter, I found the passages I have extracted below, regarding the origin of the tribes about us. Mr. Scott speaks decidedly that the Garrow language is not founded on the Sanskrit. What have become of all Major Latter's collections? Have all his researches been entirely lost, amidst the wreck of information and knowledge that has always been going on in India, from the remissness of the Government in not publishing the labours of their servants? In other parts of the correspondence allusion is made to Dr. Buchanan's Account of Assam. Mr. Scott apparently had a copy, but it no longer exists here. Have you any knowledge of the work alluded to? Major Latter also had a manuscript copy of Mr. Boyle's Account of his Embassy to Tashu Lamba. Major L. had this from Mons. Langlès, under promise not to allow any one to copy it, as he intended to publish a translation of it. Has he ever done so*? If not, I think the Editor of the Asiatic Journal might be recommended to address him. It is a record that ought not to be lost. Major L. says, "Some extracts from it have already been made by a Mr. Crawford."-I should much like to know where* ?"

Extract from a Letter from D. Scott, Esq. to Capt. B. Latter, dated January 8th, 1819. "Kishan Kanth's Vocabulary was not supposed to be Tibetan, but Bhútea. The Lepchas and the Bhúteas may probably have a similar origin; the latter I believe are quite a different race from the Tibetans, and acquired the country by conquest about ten incarnations, as they count, ago. They have a history of this event, but Kishan Kanth could not procure it on any terms, nor any other books, except such as I sent you, and of which I have more, should they be of any use.

I see the Missionaries at Serampore have got some of the people called Kúkís to the eastward under tuition. There is a fine field for their labours amongst the Garrows. They might be converted, and their want of priests, their simple manners, and their not practising polygamy, appear to me to render them easily succeptible of improvement by that means. As it is, they are daily becoming Hindus, and there are already four or five considerable castes of Hindus, who from their language and customs are indubitably of Garrow origin. The language is simple, and might be easily acquired; but it is radically distinct from the Bengálí, or any of the dialects connected with the Sanskrit."

Extract from a Letter from Capt. B. Latter to D. Scott, Esq. dated February 6th, 1819. "I could have wished to have remained another year at Titaliya, to have collected some more information with regard to the different languages spoken in the hills, as the Lepcha, Limbúm, and Kyrants, &c. With regard to the latter, I have in vain endeavoured to get the alphabets, though they have one peculiar to the language. It has no doubt fallen into disuse, and the Deb Nágarí character been substituted in its place, as Bengáli has been in Assam; but I want to collect materials for tracing the gradation in the structure of the polysyllabic languages to the monosyllabic language of China, though I am induced to think, with Mons. Remusat, that the Chinese is only monosyllabic in a certain sense."

VIII.-Progress of the English Language and of the Roman

Alphabet in India, No. III.

We continue our extracts on the spread of the Roman character, and the English literature in various parts of this presidency. These extracts will be found to contain many gratifying proofs of the increasing interest which is beginning to be felt in this • Can none of our literary correspondents supply the information desired?-ED.

important subject by people of every class in society, from the King of Lakhnau down to the meanest serf; but of all the encouraging circumstances which daily come to our knowledge, there is none which conveys to our minds such a complete assurance of ultimate success as the fact, that the Ladies not only feel a deep interest, but take an active part in the various plans in progress.

A zealous friend of education in the Upper Provinces having lately intimated, in an address published in the HARKA'RAH and INDIA GAZETTE, that the Editors of the CHRISTIAN OBSERVER would gladly receive contributions adapted to form part of the Library of Entertaining Knowledge, proposed to be published in the English and Native languages, we have already been favoured with valuable papers from Female Philanthropists; and we have reason to believe, that others are preparing, and many more meditating the preparation of Instructive Moral Stories. Who know how to appeal to the feelings of our common nature better than the Ladies? The human creature born in the plains of Hindusthán is precisely the same animal with him who inhabits the British isles; and although false religion has obscured and deformed the former with many vices and prejudices, yet there are certain indestructible principles of his nature, which never can be addressed in vain; and who, we repeat, know how to find access to these secret springs of human action, and to employ them in the cause of religion and virtue, better than the Ladies?

The Roman letter plan is also an especial favorite with our fair countrywomen: many of whom possess a very good colloquial knowledge of the Italian of the East, the euphonous Urdu; but never having learnt the Sanskrit and Arabic character in which it has heretofore been usual to express it, they have hitherto been excluded from all acquaintance with the literature of the language. The effect of the adoption of the Roman character, therefore, has been to open the sealed book, and to give our countrywomen the same advantage in the perusal of native writers which we possess ourselves. On more than one occasion we have observed with infinite satisfaction the surprise and delight with which Ladies of our acquaintance have discovered, through this medium, the real extent of their acquirements. They said they had always been able to talk Hindusthání; but that until the Roman character plan was introduced, they had no conception that they were able to read it also.

We were not surprised at the preference with which this plan is regarded by them on another account. The system which has been adopted is strictly the Italian; and it is not necessary to remark, that there is a natural accordance between the spirit of this graceful, mellifluous language, and the prevailing characteristics of the female character. Our country men are cast in a different mould, and many of them accordingly prefer the harsh and severe Saxon orthography.

We never felt a complete assurance that our plan would be attended with success, until the Ladies had adopted it; and as there is now no doubt of this fact, we announce it to our friends in every part of India as an important era in the history of the design.

1. CALCUTTA.

Mrs. Wilson's Female Orphan Asylum, Simlah.

"Thank you kindly for the copies of the Sermon on the Mount just received. I had almost said I was sorry to find it out of print; but I ought to rejoice, and do so, that the plan is succeeding.-When I first saw the Ro man letter works, I found the reading more difficult than with the Bengálí letters; but this was merely at first.-I have given the books to all the orphans who previously knew the Roman character, and I was most agreeably surprised to see the anxiety of the very youngest to push her way, as it were, through this new sort of difficulties. The novelty of the thing has produced the very same effect in every case where I have given the book to other individuals. It may be said the novelty will fade away, but not, I imagine, till the difficulties are conquered. Perhaps, if these works could be sold cheaper, according to the numbers taken, it might induce persons to circulate them more freely; and if the Roman Alphabet, small and large, were printed on a small card, and sold by the same persons, it would tempt many natives to learn, who never have. May the Lord bless every effort which has for its object the spiritual good of this country!-M. A. .”

2.-Baptist Mission Schools, Chitpur.

"I have just returned from Chitpur, where I had an opportunity of visiting the schools, under the superintendance of the Rev. J. Ellis. Although the weather was very unfavourable, and the Durgá-pujá holidays were only just over, yet in the school room for heathen youth, there were about 60 present. They were formed into different classes, and all learning English as well as Bengálí. Having been requested to ask any question I thought proper, or to examine them in any book they had read, I commenced with the senior class, and the result was most satisfactory. Of course there were diversities of talent displayed ; but for knowledge of the Scriptures, of History, Geography, and Political Economy, which were the subjects that occupied our attention, my sincere belief is, that by no class of European boys of the same age are they to be surpassed, if they are to be equalled.

"I also visited and examined the boys and girls of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis' Boarding School. It consists entirely of the children of Native Christians, and is a means very likely to be effective in bringing them to a saving knowledge of the truth. Unlike the heathen boys, who, the instant they return from school, are exposed to vicious example and pestilential influ ence, which of necessity must prove injurious to all, and fatal to manythese children remain for some years under the influence of Christian example, as well as of Christian instruction. Already an earnest has been afforded of future reward, by the conversion to God of five of these youths ; and there are others coming forward, whose minds have been in a measure awakened to the excellence of the gospel. Of their intellectual progress I cannot speak too highly.

"I regret that I did not hear them read their own language in the Roman character, which I understand all the elder children, both boys and girls, do with the greatest fluency. The Ladies who accompanied me did so, and were highly gratified. Several boys of the higher classes are now employing their leisure hours in transferring Pearson's Bákyáboli, at present in the Bángáli character, into the Roman; and the work I now see is going through the press. It promises to be a most useful publication.-G. F. A."

3. ASSAM.

Extract from a Letter from Gowahatti, dated 17th Sept, 1834. "I shall be very happy to assist in keeping the Depository here, but we should I think begin very leisurely, and with Bengali books only, or the most elementary Anglo-Bengálí books and copies. We have not a half dozen English scholars amongst the natives, at prsent, and therefore if any considerable number of English books were sent up they would not only be lying on hand here, but they would be so much taken from other quarters, where they are wanted.-I fear also, we shall be able to do nothing for some time, but by gratuitous distribution. If, however, you wish to commence the Depository forthwith, I will be obliged by your letting me defray all expences of freight and distribution, so that the books may be parted with here at prime cost.

"My agents will send me at my charge any amount of books you may think proper to send, after what I have told you, and I will take upon me the responsibility of the charge here. I will put them under Mr. Rae, the Missionary, as soon as he arrives; and then I hope we shall not be long before we are able to take serious steps towards seconding your efforts. "The books to be sent may be any Bengálí books, a very few Hinduí and Hindusthání, and the very first beginnings of English-Alphabets, Primers, and Spelling Books of the lowest grades."

4. MURSHIDABAD.

Extract from a Letter from Mr. Chambers, dated Bobapur, 19th Sept. 1834. "I wish to commence two schools for teaching natives, one English and Bengálí and the other English and Hindusthání, and would feel much indebted by your selecting for me a supply of books, on your new plan of the Roman character, for this purpose, and along with the books, some copies of the Gospels on the same plan. Mr. of this neighbourhood is at present in Calcutta, and will bring me the books, if you will be kind enough

to send them to him.

"You will be so kind as to let me know at the same time what the cost of the books is."

5. RAMPUR BAULIAH.

Extract from a Letter from Rámpur Bauliah, dated 22nd Sept. 1834. "I observe in your monthly list of books, that you have received from Lakhnau some globes and other useful articles for schools. I should feel greatly obliged by your keeping a few of the articles alluded to for me, for which I shall be happy to pay.

"I rejoice to observe that your Roman scheme is meeting with every success. I received a parcel of the Sermon on the Mount in Anglo-Bengálí, and you can scarcely conceive the avidity with which the native youths in our school received and perused them. They feel quite delighted at the thought of their being taught in course of time to read fluently their own language in the Roman garb. As your motives are the most pure and benevolent, even your enemies themselves being witnesses, I trust the Lord will grant wisdom to your designs, and success to your benevolent endeavours, in promoting the welfare of your species.

"As to the opposition against which you have to contend, the pages of History may afford you sufficient consolation. Look back to the history of any age, and see if ever there was a plan projected with a view to the reformation of any country-a plan which was to lay the axe to the root of superstition and delusion—that did not meet with the most determined opposition. The very opposition that you have to contend with is, in my opinion, a convincing proof that you are in the right. Go and possess the land, for you are able.'

"I am happy to say that the School here succeeds beyond expectation."

6. PURNI'YA'.

Extract from a Letter from Purniya, dated Sept. 1834.

"I have had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 11th instant, regarding the supply of little books, and yesterday the dák bangi delivered them. The supply is, I am sorry to say, far more abundant than the present demand of this place would require, and the distribution of such as are given out must, I fancy, be gratuitous; but I will bear the cost of them willingly, as an expression of my desire to support the new scheme, which I hope will get currency, and be widely adopted. Of the manifold advantages that would attend it there can be no doubt. I shall be able I hope to make some of the little books acceptable here, and I shall send some to Bhagalpur and Monghír, where probably persons may be found who will read them.

"I am glad to see the proposal for a school at Purníyá noticed in the last CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. I hope it may meet the eye of some member of the Government, and induce them to promote the humane and much needed design. I have heard nothing of the fate of the reference made through the commissioner to Government. The mockers and deriders of your benevolent and I think feasible and most advantageous plan, will, I hope, be soon put to the blush by its general acceptance and success.

"If any little publications of Romanized Bengálí are out of the press, I shall like to have a dozen or so, and will settle with you for the price. I think you formerly inquired what dialects were most common in this district. Hindusthání is what we communicate in; and among the rural population, a jargon of Hindusthání, like what is spoken at Tirhut, is the current dialect; and the attempts at writing are in Deva Nágarí, and the Patwari hieroglyphics, which hardly merit the name of writing. There are several Bengalís about the court.'

7. BANA'RAS.

Letter from Mr. Nichols, dated Secrole, Banáras, Oct. 9th, 1834. “The Anglo-Indian Seminary contains one hundred pupils, the majority of whom are the children of Bengali gentlemen, who have settled at Banaras. As you have of course seen the report of the last annual examination, it will be unnecessary for me to enter into details relative to the progress the different classes have made; I will therefore only take up your time, on this point, sufficient to observe that the first class read with ease Goldsmith's History of Greece, and the knowledge which they display both of English and of historical facts is very creditable, both to themselves, and to the teachers under whose care they have hitherto been. Indeed, considering the smallness of the school-house, the crowded state of the scholars, and the confusion unavoidably attendant on such a state of things, I am pleasingly surprised that so good a progress has been made. I am glad, however, to learn that the Committee of Public Instruction have sanctioned the erection of a new building for the school, and I hope that, when it is completed, the institution will not only increase in usefulness but in numbers, for several of the respectable natives objected to send their children to the seminary, on account of the confined situation and crowded state of the school.

"Persian here however is, as I believe it is every where else in India, a great obstacle in the way of improvement; for I fear the natives of this province at least, are not sufficiently enlightened to love learning for its own sake; and therefore, while the Persian language continues to be the gate to employment, and its concomitants, wealth and power, the study of English will, in many cases, be but a secondary object. This state of things is perhaps more prevalent in the Upper Provinces than in Bengal: