ー。 মহাত্মী কালীপ্রসন্ন সিংহ । works and periodicals which now grace the vernacular library. But the Baboo himself has not a little enriched vernacular literature with his own labors. His Hootumpacha marks an era in the history of fiction-writing in Bengallee. He has introduced a familiar and graphic style in drawing sketches from real life hitherto unknown among Bengallee writers. But the great work which above all signalizes his literary labours, and will connect his name imperishably with the progress of vernacular literature is his translation into Bengallee of the 18 volumes of Mahavaratha. It is a work of which any man might justly be proud. We necd hardly remind the native readers of this journal that the Mahavaratha and the Ramayana are the grandest epics in Sanscrit. The profoumdest Oriental scholars have professed thc highest admiration for them as monuments of poetic genius. Whether in sublimity or richness of thought, beauty of imagery, or grandeur of style, they are not surpassed by any other classic works of Europe or Asia. But the Mahavaratha is not simply a storehouse of poetic beauties and excellencies. In the absence of history it portrays intelligibly enough the manners and customs, and the social and political and religious systems of the Hindoos in the ancient times. From it we gather our ideas of the past, and form our conception of the greatness of our ancestors. The kings and heroes of whom the poet sings were not altogether myths. Their lives teach lessons of humanity, generosity, courage and devotion, which we will do well to treasure up in our minds and follow in the every day actions of our lives. The high moral instruction which the Mahavaratha inculcates is indecd held in such great reverence by our countrymen that they consider it an act of piety to hear it chanted. To this day the recitations of the Mahavaratha are observed as a religious persormance. Among the masses
