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The caste name Näek is derived from the technical Nayaka of Hindu Dramaturgy. Nayaka is the hero and Nayikā is the heroine. They are divided into different classes. Hindi books on Nayika-bheda are reproduced from Sanskrit works. Evidently Naek and Naeka are names acquired from Hindi literature in Muhammadan times.

Whatever the antiquity and the history of the caste may be its present-day customs and mode of life are particularly interesting. Further enquiries disclose that there are two broad divisions of the caste. One Hindu and the other Muhammadan. The Hindu section is divided into numerous subdivisions. Their marriage and other social ceremonies afford glimpses into a peculiar state of moral and social development. They have family gods of their own-not the usual gods of the Hindu pantheon but gods that are yet below that stage-though fast advancing to that status. Some of those deities require animal sacrifices-like the Jehovah of the early Hebrews and the Kali and Durga of the present day Hindus in some parts of North-East India. But the bulk of the gods are of a milder nature and are content with offerings of flowers, perfume, and sweets. There are always songs and music offered to them, but this is common with the other Hindus to almost all the deities. They also worship their musical instruments-Sarangi, talla, mridang, sitar, etc. (the harmonium flute is a recent arrival at the Naik Olympus.) This is like the worship of martial weapons by Rajputs-the Kshatriyas. The Naiks celebrate the festival of the springBasanta, which is a remnant of the classical Vasantotsava of Sanskrit literature. Songs are sung in every Naik home. Gifts of the beautifully scented mango blossom are exchanged in the fraternity and are also given to non-Naik friends and patrons. This is again an ancient symbolism. The mango blossom in Sanskrit literature is the favourite emblem of the god Cupid (Kama) who uses it as ends to his arrows. It represents spring. Gwalior which is the most sacred spot for Hindu musicians is a place of their pilgrimage. The Naiks go there to do honour to the

tomb of Tan Sen, the Hindu convert of Akbar's time, and the Prince of musicians of his time.

The philosophy of the Naekā is that she considers her material self as distinct from her spiritual self, which she thinks can be in all purity devoted to the service and worship of the deity,

NOTES OF THE QUARTER.

I-Minutes of an Ordinary Meeting of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society, held at the Patna College, on Monday, the 22nd April, 1918.

The Hon'ble Mr. E. H. C. Walsh, c.s.L, I.C.S., Vice-President, in the Chair.

Mr. K. P. Jayaswal read a paper on Hindu Republics,

The lecturer discussed the significance of the words Sangha and Gana in Páṇini and the Mahá-Bhárata. The classes of Sanghas as found in Pánini's Grammar and Kautilya's Artha-Sástra were pointed cut. Various constitutions gathered from Sanskrit, Páli and Greek sources were classified as Democracy, Aristocracy and a mixed constitution based on these two. The earliest known instances of Non-Monarchical Governments were traced back to C. 1000 B. C. Procedures of deliberations in the assembly of Sanghas were detailed from the Vinaya which were found very interesting owing to the many similarities with the present-day procedures.

The Vice-President referred to similar rules of procedure described for deliberations and discussions, laid down for Buddhist monks in the So-Sor Thar-pa and other Tibetan books, which are still followed at the present day. They were undoubtedly borrowed, the Vice-President pointed out, from the original Buddhist literature of India.

After thanking the lecturer the meeting was dissolved. The paper is part of a book by the lecturer on the Constitutional History of India and as the whole book is being printed independently, the paper will not be published in the Journal.

II-Proceedings of a Meeting of the Council of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society held at the Society's office on 8th April 1918 at 4-30 p.m.

PRESENT.

1. Hon'ble Mr. E. HI. C. Walsh, c.s.I., I.C.S., in the Chair.

2. Hon'ble Mr. J. G. Jennings, M. A.

3. Babu S. C. Roy, M.A., B.L.

4. Professor J. N. Samaddar, B.A., F.R.E.S., F.R.H.S.

5. K. P. Jayaswal, Esq., M.A. (Oxon.)., Secretary. (1) The minutes of the last meetings were read and confirmed. (2) The following new members were elected :

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3. The question of the purchase of books from the grant of Rs. 1,000 made by the Government to the Society for the Library was considered and a list of books to be purchased was prepared.

The Secretary was also requested to obtain price lists of the Pali Text Book Society's publications and of the Mysore, Baroda and Trivandrum Sanskrit Series and also of the back numbers of the Journal of the Folklore Society up to date and of the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute up to 1915.

4. The application of Babu Raj Kishore Narain, late clerk of the Society, for leave for a year was granted, as he has been allowed to take a post in Mesopotamia. He was also allowed to retain a lien on his appointment.

The Secretary said that he had appointed a temporary clerk who is working satisfactorily.

The Vice-President said that he had received a number of applications for the post of clerk of the Museum from which a suitable clerk might be obtained. The temporary clerk has not passed the Matriculation Examination.

The appointment of a clerk was left to the Vice-President. 5. The Secretary reported that he had appointed Muhammad Siddiq Alam to the post of Daftari sanctioned by the Council. The appointment was confirmed.

6. The holding of a meeting for reading of papers and discussion thereon was considered. Mr. Jayaswal kindly said that he would read a paper on "Republics in Hindu Times". It was resolved that the Principal of the Patna College be asked if he will kindly allow the meeting to be held at the Laboratory of the Patna College at 6-30 p.m. on the 22nd April.

7. The Vice-President said that Babu Sarat Chandra Roy is resigning the Curatorship of the Museum so as to be able to devote his time to his Ethnological enquiries and his researches into the Asur Burial Sites and that he will require a clerk and a peon for the purpose of and to accompany him on these enquiries. He wishes to have the Museum clerk, who was formerly elerk of the Research Society and worked with him on his

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