visited by Europeans, and these visitors not necessarily Chess-players. Such deficiencies, however, may be supplied in the course of time, especially those regarding the Japanese Game, now that we have established a friendly intercourse with the government and people of that interesting country.

It remains for me briefly to notice my mode of spelling Oriental words and phrases in the following work. I have adopted the admirable system propounded nearly eighty years ago, by the eminent Sir William Jones, viz.- 66 pronounce the vowels as in German or Italian, and the consonants, as in English." Thus the three vowels, a, i, and u, if unaccented, have the same sounds as in the English words "fat," "fit," and (oo in) "foot" respectively. The same, accented, are sounded long, as in "far," "police," and "rule." The vowel e, is always sounded as ea in "bear;" and o as oa in "boat." The consonants require very little notice. The combinations kh and gh are the only sounds that differ from our own; kh is the German "ch" in "buch," and gh is the German g in the word "sagen." The Oriental scholar will at once perceive the object of distinguishing some letters, such as k, s, t, &c. by a dot underneath, but this does not in any perceptible degree affect their sound. A few words have become so inveterately established in our language, by evil custom, that it would be sheer pedantry to disturb them; such for instance are "Caliph," and "Caliphate," instead of Khalifa, and Khilafat.

By rigidly following Sir William Jones's system in

Oriental words and phrases, I have been enabled altogether to discard Asiatic characters from my work. To the Oriental scholar, such characters would be superfluous to the non-Oriental, useless. Besides, I am not the least ambitious of obtaining for myself that sort of vulgar reputation for profound learning which consists in merely exhibiting one's knowledge of a multitude of uncouth alphabets.

GENTLEMEN, I commenced, as you may observe, with a DEDICATION; but I find that I am imperceptibly drifting into a PREFACE, which last, they say, nobody ever reads. I will, therefore, at once conclude, wishing you long life and prosperity; and hoping that you will bring down to the present day, from the points at which I have stopped short, the History of the "most excellent game that the wit of man has yet devised."

58, Burton Crescent,

AUGUST, 1860.

I

am, Gentlemen,

Yours sincerely,

D. FORBES.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION-Three periods of Chess-The Primeval-The Mediæval,
and the Modern

PAGE

1

CHAPTER II.

CHATURANGA, or the Primeval Hindu Chess-Ancient Writings of the
Hindus

CHAPTER III.

11

CHATURANGA CONTINUED-Translation of the Sanskrit Text-Moves
and Powers of the Pieces-Technical Terms of the Game, Illus-
tration of the position, called Vrihannaukā

CHAPTER IV.

18

CHATURANGA CONTINUED―Theory and Practice of the Game-Cases of
Uncertainty

CHAPTER. V.

CHATURANGA CONCLUDED- -Gradual Change into the Shatranj, or Me-
diæval Game-The two Games contrasted

CHAPTER VI.

26

34

SHATRANJ, or MEDIEVAL CHESS-Introduction of the Game from India
into Persia, in the Reign of Naushīrawān-Firdausī's Shāhnāma—
Arrangement of the Pieces on the Board-Their Moves and Powers 46
CHAPTER VII.

SHATRANJ CONTINUED-On the Invention of Chess in India-according
to the Historians of Persia and Arabia

SHATRANJ CONTINUED-Account of Oriental Manuscript Works on Chess
in the British Museum, and in the Library of the Royal Asiatic So-
ciety, &c.-Oriental Problems by the Caliph Mu'tasīm Billāh and
'Ali Shatranji

CHAPTER IX.

SHATRANJ CONTINUED-Theory and Practice of the Shatranj, or Me-
diæval Chess-Relative Value of the Pieces-On the Giving of Odds-
Of the Five Classes of Chess Players-Oriental Problems by 'Adali and
Dilārām

SHATRANJ CONCLUDED-On the Openings or Battle Array-End Games
or Positions Won by Force-End Games Drawn by Force-Diagram
of Battle Array-Six Problems illustrative of End Games Won or
Drawn, per force
106

CHAPTER XI.

Enlargement of the Indian or Primeval Chess Board-Various Altera-
tions in its Form, and in the Manner of Playing the Game-Timur's
Great Chess Board-Hyder Ali's Chess Board

CHAPTER XII.

Introduction of Chess from Persia into Arabia—Art of Blindfold Play-
Chess at the Courts of the Ummiya, and 'Abbaside Caliphs-Progress
of the Game towards the West

CHAPTER XIII.

On the Introduction of Chess into the Lower Empire by the Persians

CHAPTER XIV.

On the Introduction of Chess into Western Europe by the Arabs

CHAPTER XV.

135

164

Early References to the Game of Chess in Europe-Chess in France and
Germany-Chess in Scandinavia-Chess in England-Chess in Italy-
Chess in Russia

. 216

CHAPTER XVI.

Modern Oriental Chess-Chess in Abyssinia-Chess in Syria and Arabia
-Chess in Egypt-Chess in Persia-Chess in Hindūstān

CHAPTER XVII.

Chess to the Eastward of Hindustan-Chess in Burmha-Chess in Su-
matra Chess in Java-Chess in Malacca-Chess in Borneo-Chess
in China

Essay on the Chaturanga, by Sir William Jones-On the Burmha Game
of Chess, &c., by Captain Hiram Cox-Conclusion

APPENDIX.

A. Review of Mr. N. Bland's "Essay on Persian Chess," by D. Forbes.
B. On Greek and Roman Chess, by Herbert Coleridge, Esq.

C. Description of Dr. Lee's two Arabic MSS. on Chess, by Mr. Bland. xxxiv
D. "Chess among the Irish," with comments, &c., by D. Forbes
E. "Chess among the Welsh," by D. P. F., Esq., with Remarks, by
Duncan Forbes

F. “Chess among the Araucanians," by James Mill, Esq., with Notes
and Remarks, by Duncan Forbes
Explanation of the Three Folding Plates at the end of the Volume

HISTORY OF CHESS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

It was acutely observed by the late Ensign O'Doherty' in his ninety-eighth maxim, that "the reason why many important matters remain in obscurity and doubt is, that nobody has adopted the proper means for having them cleared up." This judicious remark on the part of the philosophic standard-bearer, appears to me to be most applicable to the present state of our information respecting the origin and progress of the game of Chess. Modern writers on the subject, with a few distinguished exceptions, merely repeat the puerile legends handed down to us by Carrera, Ruy Lopez, and Salvio-men who, undoubtedly, were first-rate Chess-players, but rather deficient in general scholarship and antiquarian accuracy. Since the times of those early luminaries of the South, two of our most eminent Orientalists of this country,2 Dr. Hyde and

1 This was written shortly after the death of Professor Wilson of Edinburgh, the Author of the far famed "Noctes Ambrosianæ." v. Blackwood's magazine. 2 Hyde-" -"De Ludis Orientalibus," 12mo. Oxonii, 1694; also an edition in 4to. by Dr. Gregory Sharpe, forming the Second Volume of Hyde's whole works. The 12mo. edition is the more correct, and is the one to which I always refer.

B