In the summer of 1860, I started from Simla to pass a few weeks at Chini, so as to avoid the rains. Chini is 16 marches about due east, which may be roughly put as being nearly 200 miles. Being just beyond the higher range of the Himalayan chain, the rain cloud is generally spent before it reaches the locality; still there is enough moisture to nourish vegetation, so that trees and flowers are plentiful. About two or three marches beyond this the rainless region commences, where trees are few and far between, and crops depend on the irrigation of small streams coming down from the melted snow of the higher peaks. Chini is about 10,000 feet above the sea, hence it is a most delightful climate in the summer; and few places in the Himalayas can present such a splendid view as the one looking across the Sutlej from the village. A bungalow had been erected at the time of Lord Dalhousie, and in it I put up for about two months; as I did my best when any of the people applied with ailments, they became friendly, and seeing me sketching, and taking an interest in their doings, they announced their ceremonies, and invited me to come and see them. I regret that my knowledge of the ordinary Hindostani was, at that time, but very small, so that I was unable to ask questions and collect information. from this cause my account of their Pujahs is far from complete.

I have the pleasure to announce to the Society the recent discovery at Kâñchipura, the capital of the Pallava Dynasty of Southern India, of some ancient temples, the importance of which in the history of Dravidian architecture it would, I think, be difficult to overrate. The present paper is put forward merely by way of notifying the existence of these temples, and of calling attention to them; there is reason to hope that ere long reliable details will be laid before the public in the shape of photographs, plans, and drawings, prepared by the Archæological Survey of Southern India under the superintendence of Dr. Burgess.

I Believe that the short paper on this subject which I propose to read to you will be interesting to this ancient association for the cultivation of Oriental research in all its branches; but, for it, I lay no claim to any special qualifications for its discussion; on the contrary, I approach it with much diffidence, in the presence of men my seniors in science and erudition. This consideration, however, is the main ground of my encouragement; for, according to the Arabic adage “Indulgence is an innate quality of the liberal,” I feel assured beforehand of a lenient judgment from you.

The Gwamba language belongs to the South-Eastern Branch of the Bántu family of languages, according to Dr. Bleek's system of classification. But this language was never known, under its true name, until the Swiss missionaries settled among the Ma-Gwamba people and studied their language. In his Comparative Grammar Dr. Bleek calls it by the name of Tekeza; and, complaining of the scanty materials which he could get, he says (§ 32): “Tekeza dialects are known to us only through short vocabularies.”

Substantives are either masculine or feminine, as are also the first three numerals, which, have masculine and feminine forms.

The genders of nouns expressing human beings are according to sex; all other living creatures, irrespective of sex, are masculine. All things made of wood are masculine, and all metals or things made of metal are feminine, except jamé ‘a bow,’ which is feminine; and toomák ‘a gun,’ dîdoo ‘a bullet,’ chùr ‘a knife,’ and ‘coined money,’ which are masculine. Things made of cloth of any kind are feminine, with, some exceptions. All trees, plants, and grains are feminine, with one or two exceptions; and fruits are masculine, except gaing ‘a grape,’ which is feminine. All liquids are feminine.

The city of Simnún is about one hundred and sixty-five miles eastward from Tehran on the road from the latter city to Mashad.