and eight of the Harvard Oriental Series.[1] The volumes are substantially bound and properly lettered; the leaves are open at the front; and the top is cut without spoiling the margin. The purpose of the inexpensive gilt top is not for ornament, but rather to save the volumes from the injury by dirt and discoloration which is so common with ragged handcut tops. The work has been electrotyped, and will thus, it is hoped, be quite free from the blemishes occasioned by the displacement of letters, the breaking off of accents, and the like.
General scope of this work as determined by previous promise and fulfilment.—Its general scope was determined in large measure by the promise of the definitive preface of the "First volume." The specifications of that promise were given in eight items as follows:
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1. Excerpts from the Prātiçākhya; 2. Excerpts from the Pada-pāṭha; 3. Concordance of the AV. with other Saṁhitās; 4. Excerpts from the ritual (Kāuçika); |
5. Excerpts from the Anukramaṇī; 6. General introduction; 7. Exegetical notes; 8. Critical notes. |
Of the above-mentioned promise, several items had meantime been more than abundantly fulfilled by Whitney. In 1862 he published the Prātiçākhya (item 1), text, translation, notes, indexes, etc. Of this treatise only excerpts had been promised. In 1881 followed the (unpromised) Index Verborum,[2] in which was given a full report of the pada-readings (item 2). The Table of Concordances between the several Vedic Saṁhitās (1852) and the Index of pratīkas of the Atharva-Veda (1857),—the first in large measure, the second in largest measure, the work of Whitney,—went far toward the accomplishment of the next item (item 3). Pupils of the two editors, moreover, had had a share in its fulfilment. In 1878 Garbe gave us the Vāitāna-Sūtra in text and translation; and that was followed in 1890 by Bloomfield's text of the Kāuçika-Sūtra. The inherent difficulties of the latter text and the excellence of Bloomfield's performance make us regret the more keenly that he did not give us a translation also. The material for report upon the ritual uses of the verses of this Veda (preparative for item 4) was thus at hand.
- ↑ For conscience sake I register my protest against the practice of issuing works in gratuitously confusing subdivisions, as Bände and Hätften and Abteilungen and Lieferungen.—In this connection, I add that the page-numbers of the main body of this work, which are of use chiefly to the pressman and the binder and are of minimal consequence for purposes of citation, have been relegated to the inner corner of the page, so that the book and hymn, which are of prime importance for purposes of finding and citation, may be conspicuously and conveniently shown in the outer corners. I hope that such regard for the convenience of the users of technical books may become more and more common with the makers of such books.
- ↑ The published Index gives only the words and references. It is made from a much fuller manuscript Index, written by Whitney on 1721 quarto pages, which quotes the context in which the words appear, and which for the present is in my hands.
