New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-04
AN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT
WRITTEN ON BIRCH DARK.


An interesting account Is given In the Proceedings
NJ the Asatc society of Bengal Of what Is known as
the Bower Manuscript, IN ancient work written on
birch bark which dug out OF the ioot VI ohe u
the curious old crcctions just outside sho'eiine"
city Kuchar. These crections are oescroea %
being generally about fifty sixty feet high 10 snaPe
like huge cottage Loaf built solid OF sundrled oncRs
with layers of beams now crnmbling away. Dr
Hoerne reasonably conecturcs that these crecons are
Buddhist stupas. such stupas he observes, oftch
contain chamber enclosing relics and other ob)ects
these chambers are generally near the level OF the
ground, and often dug Into by persons In search
of hidden treasure. From such a practically hir
tight chamber, Dr. Hoerne thinks this MS. was PROD
ably dug ont, perhaps not long before It came into
Lieutenant Bowers possession and there Is no reason
why birchbark MS, thus preserved from the chances
Of injury should not endure for any length OF time
The Ms. sent by Lieutenant Bower to Colonel
waterhouse who exhibited 1t at the meeting OF the
society in November. $780, but Ii could not then DO
dcclphered. An account OF It's acquisition by the
finder together with facsimile reproductions Of two
leaves Of the MS, appeared In tile Proceedings for
that month. on Dr. Hoernles return to India In
March, 1891, the Ms. passed into his hands; ard In
the " Proceedings for April DR.. Hocrnc gave pre-
lmlnary account OF the MS, which he had then as
ccrtained to be written IN sanskrit of very archaic
type.
The detailed description Of the MS published
in No. of Part OF "The Journal for 1901. In
that paper DR.. H0erDle mlnu ely analysed the forms
OF The letters occurring In the Ms, and by chain
OF arguments, the strength and ucdIty Of which arc
such to compel the assent Of every reader, proved
that the Ms written not In the Sarada character
of Cashmere had been previously conjectured, but
IN the Gnpt4 character, a much earlier form that
separate portions OF 1t written by different
scbes and at different dates and that the latest por
ton must be ascribed to date not later than the
second half Of lie fifth century, or say AIS A. D.,
while the earlier portion must be referred 10 a date
half century earlier. The Bower Ms. is there
fore the oldest indian Ms. yet discovered, and one
Of the Oldest MSS. existing in the world. As to lis
subject matter. the Ms Is composed Of I'VE distinct
portions. OF which the first and iii medical
WORKS. tho latter merely fragment. The second
and fourth collections OF prOverbal sayings and
the third contains the story OF charm against snake
bite. given by Buddha 10 Amanda while lie was staying
In Jctavana.
The following translation Of the Introductory lines
OF the first portion viii be interesting: Sanitation
TO the rahagatas. am going to write approved
compendium of mcdlclne) called the Navanitaa based
the excellent system OF the Maharshs as composed
by them In oden times Whatever IS useful to
aud women afflicted with various diseases: whatever
Is also useful for children that will all declared In
this book. II will commend itself to those physicians
whose minds delight In conciseness but, on account:
OF the multiplicity OF It's prescriptions II will also
be welcome TO those whose minds love many details"
After enumcrang the contents OF the several chapters
(siXteenl the preface concludes " 1t should not be
given 70 any who has son. nor TO any
who he's brother. should It be taught 10 sny
one who has disciple" DR.. Ioerne has now
transcribed nearly the whole OF the Ms, which consists
OF nfy five leaves. lie has succeeded in tracing
OF the prcscrp lions given I'm the MS to the Susrta"
Chakradatta" md " Nancasena' '-mcdcal works still
current. some of the prescriptions verbally ident
cal.
Dr. IIOerTTlcs estimate Of the age OF the Ms. Is
confirmed In striking manner by DIR. BUTLER, OF
Vienna, who. examining the question by the light OF
tie account and the facsimile plates published In the
"Pocetings" Of November 1oUU, came Ind .pendenly
20 The same conclusion 10 It's date In tbs account
which DR.. lhiher published In the July number 81
THE Vienna oriental Uunsi." he writes follows
d" trust Tint Dr. Hoo will take the volume IN
the society wishes TO render real and great service
nsh photo ctchngs OF the whole volume Every
Inc OF the Ms. is OF the highest importance" II
would however, have been beyond the means OF the
society TO carry OUT The work elaborate a
scale and when this fact represented TO the
Government Of bengal and subsequently, 70 the Gov
crnucnt Of india these two Governments. by JOINT
arrangement. very readily and literally agreed TO
render necessary assistance Tor the editing and
publications OF the Ms. The Government OF Bengal
has relieved Dr.. ocrne of his other duties during the
whole time necessary for the completion OF the work.
while tie Government Of frda has undertaken 10
deiray the considerable expenses connected with tho
publication. including Photographic facsimile, OF every
page ~ the Ms.