to REFA C E TO THE PERSIAN AN D B I.N.GAL FE V OC A BU L A R Y. It is now nearly nine hundred years since the Moosulmans came to India; and with them came also into this sacred land, the Persian and the Arabic languages. As the dominions of the Mahomedans became extended, so the language of the conquerors became honourable, and these Moosulman languages acquired such a predominance, that it cast the other languages into the shade. In many places it expelled the Bengalce language, and obtained the complete ascendancy. In the transaction of business, and more especially in the Courts, no other language had any currency. If any other language existed, it was only in appearance. Of course, as our Bengalee language did not enjoy any great respect, much of the elegance of this tongue has been lost; and from want. of use, the language itself has almost been forgotten. Though it may be difficult to restore it, yet I have collected together words with great labour, and have now published this Persian Vocabulary, with the intention of substituting elegant Bengalee words, in lieu of the Persian terms, which have been in use. The wise will thus be able to see how many forcign words have got themselves into the Bengalee language, and have made themselves manifest. They will be able now, without any reference to this foreign language, to enjoy the pleasure of employing in reading and writing only their own language; and they will be delivered from the shame which follows the appropriation
