The Progress of Ethnology

75

The Zend language is known to us chiefly by the "Zendavesta." Of its antiquity there is doubt. Some philologists believe that it grew up with the decline of the old Persian, or was formed on its basis, with an infusion from the Sanscrit, Median, and Scythic languages. It was used in the time of Darius Hystaspes, B.C. 550, at which period Zoroaster lived, who employed the Zend in the composition of the "Zendavesta." Its antiquity has formed the subject of many memoirs; but late writers, among whom are Rask, Eugene Burnouf, Bopp, and Lassen, have decided from the most severe tests of criticism, that the Zend was an ancient language derived from the same source as the Sanscrit, and that it was spoken before the Christian era, particularly in the countries situated west of the Caspian Sea, in Georgia, Iran proper, and northern Media. Note to the Dabistan, Vol. I. p. 222. The only specimen of this language yet known, with the exception of a few MSS. of little importance among the Parsees, is the Zendavesta. Major Rawlinson117 adopts views at variance with those of the distinguished German philologists, in regard to the antiquity of the Zend language. Its "very elaborate vocalic organization," he thinks, "indicates a comparatively recent era for the formation of its alphabet;" and of the Zend-Avesta, he is of opinion that "the disfigurement of authentic history affords an argument of equal weight against the antiquity of its composition." He fully agrees, however, with all others as to the very remote composition of the books generally ascribed to Zoroaster. In fact this is beyond all question, for Plato mentions them (Pol. B. XXX.). Clemens of Alexandria says they were known in the 5th century B.C. and many other ancient writers could be cited in proof of the same.118

76

On the Decyphering of the Median species of Arrow-headed Writing, by N.L. Westergaard, in the Mémoires de la Société Royale des Antiquaires du Nord. Copenhagen, 1844.

77

Memoir on the Cuneiform Inscriptions, p. 20.

78

Ibid. p. 28.

79

On the Median variety of Arrow-headed Writing. Mémoires de la Société des Antiquaires du Nord, for 1844. p. 272.

80

Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes. 1844-45. Prof. Westergaard has also published his paper in English, in the Mémoires de la Société Royale des Antiquaires du Nord, Copenhagen, 1844, prefixing to it Lassen's alphabet of the first sort of Persepolitan writing. He was probably induced to do this by observing the limited extent to which the German language is cultivated by English scholars, insomuch that even Rawlinson complains that he was unable to read any more of Lassen's papers than his translations of the inscriptions, which are in Latin.

81

Memoir on the Persian cuneiform inscriptions. p. 47.

82

Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes, 1844 '45.

83

For inscription see Rich's Babylon and Persepolis, plate 24, and page 254.

84

Revue Archæologique. October, 1844.

85

Westergaard in Mém. de la Socié. Royale des Antiq. du Nord, p. 419. Ibid. p. 423.

86

Lettres de M. Botta sur les découvertes à Khorsabad, près de Ninive; publiées par M.J. Mohl.

87

London Times, June, 1846. Two interesting letters from Mr. Layard, dated August 12, 1846, to Mr. Kellogg, of Cincinnati, were read before the American Ethnological Society, at its meeting in February, giving further accounts of his discoveries.

88

See London Athenæum, Oct. 10, 1846, a letter from Constantinople dated Sept. 10.

89

The prophet Daniel in his vision of four beasts says, "The first was like a lion, and had eagles' wings; I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man." Daniel, ch. VII. v. 4. The resemblance between the animal of Daniel's vision and those recently discovered at Nineveh is striking.

90

Richardson in the Preface to his Persian Dictionary.

91

Preface to the "Dabistan" published by the Oriental Trans. Fund: – by A. Troyer. Vol. I. p. 30.

92

Annales des Voyages, April, 1845, p. 58.

93

Ld. Colchester's Address, Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, 1846.

94

Address to the British Association for the Advancement of Science, at its meeting, September, 1846.

95

The Royal Geographical Society of London has conferred its Victoria Gold Medal on Prof. Middendorff for his successful exploration.

96

Lord Colchester's Address before the Royal Geog. Society. London, 1846.

97

Missionary Herald. Vol. XLI. p. 138.

98

Missionary Herald. Vol. XLI. p. 206.

99

English Baptist Missionary Report for 1845. p. 9.

100

It appears that the Baptist Missionary Society in the year ending in March, 1845,119 expended in India $29,500, of which sum nearly $15,000, or rather more than one half, was expended in making translations of books into various languages. The remainder was for the support of the missionaries, their outfits and passages, the support of native teachers – schools &c. The languages and dialects which have been studied and elucidated and into which books have been translated may be summed up as follows.

32 languages and dialects in India,

4 do. do. in Persia and the Caucasian countries,

5 do. in China and the Indo-Chinese countries,

4 do. in Polynesia.

The translations consist of the whole or portions of the Scriptures; books on religious or moral subjects; elementary works on Science, popular Histories, geography, &c. Elementary books in the several departments of Science and History constitute the greater variety, though of the whole number of works distributed, the Bible and Testament constitute by far the greatest part. For example, the English Baptist Missionary Society printed and issued in the year ending March 1845, fifty-five thousand copies of the Bible and Testament in the Sanscrit, Bengali, Hindostani, and Armenian languages. The number of books printed and distributed in India by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was as follows.

Madras Mission. In the Tamil and English languages: The Scriptures or portions of them – books of a religious character – elementary school books – tracts – periodicals and reports of benevolent associations bearing on the cause of Christianity and the social and intellectual improvement of the population of India, there were printed at this single establishment, within a fraction of twenty-seven millions of pages – or, if in volumes of two hundred and seventy pages each, one hundred thousand volumes; but as there were many tracts, the number was doubtless double or treble. Besides this there are six other large establishments in Southern India, where books in the Tamil language are printed, all under the control of Missionary Societies.

Ceylon Mission. In the Tamil and English languages were printed during the year, twenty-three thousand seven hundred and forty-four volumes, and one hundred and forty-five thousand tracts, amounting to six million one hundred and fifty-six thousand pages.

Siam Mission. In the Siamese language were printed in two years two million four hundred and sixty-two thousand pages.

When so much is accomplished by one Society, how vast must be the influence exerted by the various Missionary and Tract Societies engaged in the same cause.

101

Missionary Herald, Vol. XLV. p. 47.

102

Chinese Repository. Vol. XV. p. 113.

103

Annals of the Propaganda for 1846. p. 55.

104

Ibid. July, 1846.

105

Annals of the Propaganda for September, 1845.

106

Chinese Repository, Vol. xii. p. 78.

107

Annales de la Propagation de la Foi, July, 1846.

108

Chinese Repository, Vol. xiv. p. 155.

109

It is desirable that this word be expunged from all works on China and eastern Asia, and the proper words officers, authorities, magistrates, &c., be used instead. Every officer, from a prime minister to a constable or tide-waiter, is called a mandarin by foreigners, partly because those who write do not know the rank of the person, and partly from the common custom of calling many things in China by some peculiar term, as if they were unlike the same things elsewhere.

110

Chinese Repository, Vol. X, pp. 205-215.

111

Chinese Repository. Vol. I., p. 276; Vol. II., pp. 135-138.

112

Chinese Repository. Vol. XIV. p. 202.

113

Sir William Jones's Works. Vol. X. p. 403.

114

See note to the "Dabistan." Pub. for the Oriental Translations Fund. Vol. I. p. 225.

115

Frazer's History of Persia. p. 150-157.

116

Note to the "Dabistan." Vol. 1. p. 222. by its editor, A. Troyer.

117

See Rawlinson. Memoir on Cuneiform Inscriptions. Note to page 42.

118

See a note to the "Dabistan," Vol. I. p. in which is given a list of all the ancient writers who mention Zoroaster and his works.

119

Report of the English Baptist Missionary Society for 1845.