Congrès international des orientalistes

“ It is quite evident, therefore, that a medley of the beliefs and customs of the Santalis and Kandhs, or of other IndoChinese or Dravidian tribes, might, by the addition of a few names, become the Hinduism of Bengal ; just as this Hinduism," with the addition of a few rites, has become the Mussulmanism of the rural masses-the mongrel breed of circumcised Hindus." In fact, the Mussulmanism and Hinduism of Bengal are nothing but a medley of the beliefs and customs of non-Aryan Dravidians and IndoChinese. ”

“ The god, seeing this, was again struck with stupor, as at sight of a more powerful one than himself, and, lowering his eyes towards the earth, exclaimed, Iao The god who is master of everything was born of the echo of that sound.' This passage clearly shows us the idea: the marked sound kha, klza, creates the gods, then after the laughter the whistling, after the whistling the clacking of the lips, after the clacking of the lips a body of sound, Iao, without significance in human speech. The Marcosians have only developed the old Egyptian conception of the Creation by the voice. ”

“ Now this list is hardly fair, because in the case of the Germans I have divided the work done by each man in many cases. But a mere glance at the list will show how much more is done in Berlin than in Oxford to further Eastern studies. Remember, too, that Canon Cheyne at Oxford, though the only Professor of Old Testament Exegesis, is also a clergyman with a country living and a canonry. Remembering this, it must appear remarkable that he should be able to give us such magnificent works on the Old Testament. ”

“ I must, at the outset, ask permission of my colleagues to let me try and prove an opinion contrary to their own. I beg them to believe that it is without any arriere pensie, without any contempt for their labours, that I have begun from the beginning at a study which might have seemed already completed. If I combat the results at which my colleagues have arrived, and which do not appear to me to be definitive, I retain the greatest respect for them individually, and the greatest admiration. The truth is difficult to arrive at in everything. ”

“ Why should they not be able to make a similar start in the most important Eastern languages, if they intend going on with them ?
I am professor in a theological college, and I have been in the same position, in the same college, for just upon eleven years.* Now I have never yet had one man enter my Hebrew classes who had mastered his alphabet before doing so. And nearly all Hebrew professors in colleges and universities have the same experience. The men come to us often well grounded in Latin and Greek, because the preparatory schools do that. ”

“ But for some years now, we can read the Assyrian and Babylonian cuneiform with almost as much certainty as we read Hebrew. Numerous texts have been published, with transliterations, translations, and commentaries. We have now several good Grammars, and the Lexicons are gradually being made and issued. No one competent to judge, questions the great value of the Assyrian language and literature. Yet until last year, from John O' -Groat's to Land's End, there was nowhere in these British Islands a professor of Assyrian, one employed simply as such. ”

“ Coming to theological colleges in England, I am not aware of one in which one man is allowed to give his undivided attention to Hebrew and Old Testament, or to the Semitic languages. Among the Baptists of Great Britain and Ireland I know there is not one such. Mansfield College, Oxford, may have one, though I am doubtful,* but besides that I know of no Congregational college in these islands with such a professor. This is also the case with other churches of this country, established and nonestablished ”

“ The employment of general terms like "Hindu" in ethnography is quite illusory, and ought to be avoided; like whitewash over a mosaic, these generalizations hide real differences which are often of the first importance.
The mass of rural Mussulmans in Lower Bengal are not at all the descendants of Mussulman invaders, whether Persian or Mughal, but converts from one or other of the forms of religion classed as Hinduism ; and, ethnically, they differ in nothing from the masses of Hindus about them. ”

“ Two hundred years ago we were doing more for Eastern study than Germany. Now, and for a long time, we are doing unspeakably less. This is painfully apparent in the department of Semitic languages as used for Biblical ends..
Half a century ago in what a sad condition was English Biblical exposition ! The English commentaries produced then and before, make all true Englishmen blush. We condemn the Germans for their anti-supernaturalism, but I have often said, Thank God a thousand times for those German rationalists." I may not like their rationalism, nor many other things in their writings. ”

“ We have in these islands at the present time a noble band of workers, who, if in some way brought together, could do much that otherwise is impossible. Why should we not have an annual congress, just as Scientists meet
annually as the British Association ? I have spoken of the Semitic languages, because my interest lies chiefly in them ; but students of other Eastern languages should band in a similar manner for similar ends. If we had an annual Oriental congress we could, as is now done by the triennial congress, branch off into various sections. ”

“ But our scholars bury themselves in their class-rooms or their studies, and seem to be troubled with no excessive amount of fervour. It may be remembered that, in the spring of 1887, in the Athenceum, I pleaded strongly for the establishment of a British Hebrew or Semitic Institute," similar to the American Hebrew Institute, since developed into the American Institute of Sacred Literature. I received very cordial letters from the leading scholars of this country. They wished me success in so desirable a movement, and several kindly offered to help when it was formed. ”

“ Gradually, as we recede from the age in which it was drawn up, the sense becomes darker, partly through the change of Idiom, which alters while the prayer remains unaltered, partly by the change of ideas, which become refined and are alienated from the coarseness of early ideas; and it then comes to be thought (semble) that the gods, in order to be reached, require-the use of a language unintelligible to the rest of mankind, and desire to be called upon by names which are not those given them by the populace. ”

“ At Oxford most of the rewards fall to the lot of classical scholars. The only fellowship I know conferred for Oriental languages, was that bestowed on Canon Cheyne twentytwo years ago at Balliol. Nearly all the fellowship money goes to endow research in Latin and Greek. There are clear signs of coming changes in the interests of Oriental
study ; but congresses and individuals should bring all possible influences to bear upon the proper authorities, so that Oriental studies might be encouraged and aided more than is the case now. ”

“ But we cannot forget the immense debt we owe to the Germans. Much of our Semitic learning is obtained from German grammars and lexicons. Even the United States of America have gone beyond England in enthusiasm for Semitic languages for Biblical purposes, and in efforts to promote their study. This may be accounted for by two considerations : (i.) American Theological students have continued their studies in Germany much more largely than those of this country. ”

“ Some languages should be added, however, and especially Assyrian, for if a student has worked hard at this difficult language he ought to be able to gain credit for it.
DURHAM, our smallest University, is largely theological.
It has a professorship and also a lectureship of Hebrew.
Much more is done, as might be expected, at our two older and larger Universities ; but though beyond all reckoning richer, they do less by far for Oriental learning, than corresponding German Universities. To show this let us compare Oxford, where Eastern studies are best off, with Berlin. ”

“ Why should not a brilliant student, on ending his course, be appointed at a nominal salary to lecture in his own department ? This opportunity, of establishing a reputation and of rising to something better, would spur him to do his best, which would profit the students. Besides, reasonable competition would helpfully stimulate the regular professors.
Each teacher has his own methods of thought and expression ; and it is a distinct advantage to young students to see things from different points of view under different teachers. ”

“ I shall now glance at some of the Oriental work done in Great Britain and Ireland. And first THE EDUCATIONAL WORK.
In no British or Irish school is Hebrew, or are its cognates taught, except in the City of London school, where my friend Dr. W. Mead Jones is teacher, and in the Merchant Taylors' school. In not one of the great public schools is any attention paid to Eastern languages. The boys are carefully drilled in the classics, so that they go up to the universities proficient classical scholars. ”

“ It is the duty of a Kshatriya to fight ; it is the duty of a Shudra to serve." The division of this lower race into hereditary trade-guilds or castes, is exactly the same as in Hinduism"; as also the institution of human sacrifice : the last human sacrifice to the Hindu goddess Kali was offered, in Hugli, only twentyseven years ago. ”

“ The Kabyle language (Thakabatlith) ,is of Berber origin, and is not only spoken in the country inhabited by the Kabyles, but also in the highlands of Mount Atlas, towards Algiers, and in the province of Constantine, in which I have travelled. It is an unwritten language, but there is a grammar by Hansteau (Alger, 1858) , a dictionary by Le P. Olivier (Le Puy, 1878) ; and Sadi Hamet has translated into Kabyle the Book of Genesis and the Four Gospels for the Bible Society. The language varies more or less between tribe and tribe, and between village and village ”

“ In the Universities across the border all professors of Oriental languages must be members — not necessarily ministers—of the Church of Scotland, and must subscribe to the Westminster Confession. Until recently this was the case with all professors ; but these doctrinal and ecclesiastical tests have now been removed from all chairs except from the purely theological ones and those of Oriental languages with the exception of the solitary Sanskrit chair referred to. ”

“ There are unmistakable signs of a better state of things coming, but the change is very gradual, and it is for those who see the need to bestir themselves to expedite this change.
In Wales, and I suspect the remark applies to England, Hebrew is never prescribed, never even permitted, as a subject for the entrance examination. One reason for this, doubtless, is that there are no preparatory schools, and hardly any university colleges, where Hebrew is taught. ”

“ I do not therefore cite them anew here, but merely give their substance. They all come back to the same idea :- The Supreme God who is reputed to be the God of Creation, opens his mouth, and the gods come out of it, either the gods generally, or some particular god. Once come forth, the gods each set to work on that which they were predestined to accomplish. ”

“ Iheadman, who is supposed to be a descendant of the original founder of the village, and who is assisted by a deputyheadman and a watchman. The Santalis trace their tribes to the seven sons of the first parents, and the Santal must take his wife, not from his own tribe, but from one of the six others. So strong is the bond of race, that expulsion from the tribe was the only Santal punishment. For the Santali the earth swarms with spirits and demons, whose ill-will he tries to avert. ”

“ We have, then, to find in the nomenclature of the ancient Egyptian towns a name with this signification. Such a name is not difficult to find, it is the town of Ramses, the great city of val our or of
heroic things, ää-naxtou. The name
in
fact means exactly the same thing as Heroopolis. The principal argument of M. Naville in favour of his identification of Heroopolis with Pithom, is that the town of Heroopolis had a temple dedicated to Toum, and called Pa-toum. But this name should, perhaps, not be read as M. Naville has read it, the ideogram of the god may be differently read. ”

“ First the race-god, then the tribe-god, then the family-god require the oblation ; but, besides these, there are the spirits of his forefathers, river-spirits, forest-spirits, well-demons, and a mighty host of unseen beings whom he must keep in good humour. His gods chiefly dwell in the ancient Sal-trees which shade his hamlets; he propitiates them with offerings of .the blood of goats, cocks, and chickens; if the sacrificer cannot afford an animal, he draws near to his gods with a red flower or a red fruit. ”

“ None were inclined to help in forming it, though they could accomplish immeasurably more than I could. I hope even yet that something of this kind will be planted and take root in this country. If we could as students and teachers of the Semitic languages meet together once or more every year, we should help and encourage each other and organize methods of furthering the interests of our special studies as nothing else could. ”