Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished dataDuka, Tivadar
History
Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished data
Duka, Tivadar
Kőrösi Csoma, Sándor, 1784-1842
“I am disposed to think that, on a better acquaintance with Mr. Csoma,
you will find him a most eccentric character. He is enthusiastic in the
object of forming a grammar and lexicon of the Tibetan language, and
appears anxious to avoid the society and attentions of Europeans,
chiefly, in my opinion, to retain the incognito he lives in at the
Monastery of Kanum in Upper Besarh. He is a man of most sanguine,
hasty, and suspicious disposition. I have left no act undone to
accommodate and to meet his wishes, and I think that he feels grateful
to me; but on some occasions he has received my advances, to be
obliging, with a meanness not to be accounted for. There can be no
doubt but that he is a man of eminent talents, possessing a most
retentive memory, and apparently much versed on subjects of general
literature. He considers himself acting under a solemn pledge to
Government to furnish the grammar and lexicon by the end of the ensuing
year, at which period he proposes to proceed to Calcutta to superintend
their publication. His wants are few, and I am informed his expenses on
diet, &c., are of the most moderate description, in fact, not more than
of one of the inhabitants of the village in which he resides.
“Should you wish to have any further communications with Mr. Csoma, I
shall be most happy to be the medium of it; and I beg you will command
my best services whenever there may be occasion for them.”
Csoma’s studies among the Buddhist monks were now drawing towards
completion. On the 26th March 1830, Csoma applied for permission from
Government to remain at Kanum till after the rainy season should cease.
Captain Kennedy notified this request to the Resident at Delhi on the
9th of June, asking at the same time for a grant to Csoma of a sum, by
way of travelling expenses, to enable him to visit Calcutta, and to
take his Tibetan books and manuscripts with him. Captain Kennedy
observes, in the course of his letter:
“I deem it my duty to mention that Mr. Csoma’s conduct has been
exemplary during the three years he has resided within the protected
British territory, and, as I have reason to believe, he has achieved
the object he had in view by visiting these states, of forming a
grammar and lexicon of the Tibetan language. I beg to submit for your
consideration, and eventually for that of Government, the propriety of
advancing this learned and enterprising individual a small sum of money
to enable him to reach Calcutta, the amount of which I do not apprehend
would exceed 500 rupees.”
This was sanctioned on the recommendation of the Resident at Delhi,
dated 14th June 1829.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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