Asiatic Quarterly Review (Full Title: The Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review, and Oriental and Colonial Record): Volume XIII, No. 26 [‎491v] (107/238)

320 Quarterly Report ou Semitic Studies and Orientalism.
which forms a genuine encyclopaedia of Judaism from the earliest times to
the present day.
Arabic Language and Literature.
Brockelmann, the author of the history of Arabic literature, of which we
gave an account some considerable time ago, and of which the third part
(the decay of Musulman literature)* appeared in 1899, but remained
unfinished, has just published a new work on the same subject. This
work forms a portion of the collection entitled “ Die Litteraturen des
Ostens in Einzeldarstellungen ” (Band vi.).f In the same volume is to be
found the history of Persian literature by Horn, and the history of Arabic
literature, from their origin up to the time of Brockelmann. It is scarcely
necessary to add that these two works are very brief.
In the “ Beitrage zur geschichte der Philosophie des Mittelalters
Worms has published a short but very interesting study on the doctrine of
the eternity (the non-commencement) of the world amongst the Arabian
philosophers of the Middle Ages, and the controversies which this doctrine
gave birth to among the Musulman theologians.
Derenbourg has devoted a remarkable article in the Journal des Savants
to a description and a list of the Arabic manuscripts in the Schefer
Collection at the Bibliotheque Nationale.§ This collection, which consists
of no less than 275 manuscripts, is a very important one, and Derenbourg,
in bringing it to the notice of scholars, makes use of his great experience
and profound learning in rendering a real service to Arabists.
Under the title of “ Palastinicher Diwan”|| Dalman has collected the
popular songs of Palestine, with their translation and music, on the very
varied subjects in connection with the present Musulman life of that
country. The love songs which he transcribes are of particular interest
and of a nature to throw some light on the Song of Songs.
The “ Zeitschrift des deutschen Palsestina-Vereins ” (vol. xxiv., parts ii.
and iii., 1902) gives us two interesting studies on Palestine. The first by
M. Hartmann on Arabic inscriptions at Salamja, the second by Christie on
the dialects of the people of Central Galilee.
Before concluding, we wish to draw attention to two valuable publica
tions by Doutt£, the young Arabist of merit, of whom we expect much in
the future. One is on “ Les Minarets et 1 ’appel k la priere,” 1 T the other,
noticed at the time in the Revue de l'histoire des religions, has for its
subject “ Les marabouts dans ITslam magribin,”** which deserves to be
recommended on account of its completeness and scientific character.
* Berlin, Felber, 1899. t Leipzig, Amelang, 1901.
\ Texte und Untersuchungen herausg. von C. Baeumker und G. von Hertling,