Mansel Longworth Dames
Encyclopedia
Mansel Longworth Dames was a scholar of oriental and Portuguese languages.
Mr. Dames passed the Indian Civil Service examination in 1868, and on his arrival in India in 1870 was posted to the Punjab commission, where he served continuously till his retirement in 1897, with an interlude in 1870, during which he was on special duty with the troops during the Second Anglo-Afghan war
.
Much of his service was passed in the trans-Indus district of Dera Ghazi Khan
, where he had opportunities for studying the Baluch people (Baloch) and became an authority on the various dialects of the Baluch
and Pushtu languages.
In 1891 he published a Baluchi grammar and text-book, used for many years as manuals of instruction. He contributed in 1904 to the monograph series of the Royal Asiatic Society
an account of the Baluch, and in the following year the Royal Asiatic and the Folk-Lore Societies jointly published in two volumes his Popular Poetry of the Baluchis. In 1903 he contributed to the Folk-Lore Journal an article on "Folk-Lore of the Azores." He was an ardent student of Buddhist art
on the north-west frontier of India, and brought with him from there a fine collection of sculpture of the Gandhara period. He also did valuable service in rearranging the Buddhist rooms of the British Museum
. For more than twenty years he served the Royal Asiatic Society, for part of the time as a Vice-President and Joint-Treasurer, and in 1921 he acted as Honorary Secretary during the absence of Dr. F. W. Thomas.
After his retirement he prepared several important articles for the Encyclopaedia of Islam on subjects relating to that part of northern India which he had studied so closely. Besides Oriental languages he was an excellent Portuguese
scholar, and his wide knowledge of Portuguese literature, and of the philology and geography of India, was illustrated in his admirable translation and annotations of The Book of Duarte Barbosa, edited for the Hakluyt Society
in 1918–21. He compiled a memoir on the Portuguese and German colonies in Africa for the use of the Peace Congress at Versailles. He was also a member of the Numismatic Society and possessed a fine collection of Oriental coins.
Longworth-Dames became a member of the Folk-Lore Society in 1892, served for many years on the Council, and was a regular attendant at its meetings, where he was recognised as "an accomplished scholar, while his geniality of manner won the affection of many friends." William Crooke
's obituary for the society's journal adds, "modest and unassuming, and was always ready to take infinite trouble in assisting from his stores of knowledge correspondents who desired information".
He died on the 8th January, 1922.
Attribution:
Adapted from William Crooke
. Folk-lore vol 33 p. 130
Mr. Dames passed the Indian Civil Service examination in 1868, and on his arrival in India in 1870 was posted to the Punjab commission, where he served continuously till his retirement in 1897, with an interlude in 1870, during which he was on special duty with the troops during the Second Anglo-Afghan war
Anglo-Afghan War
Anglo-Afghan War may refer to:*First Anglo-Afghan War *Second Anglo-Afghan War *Third Anglo-Afghan War -See also:* European influence in Afghanistan where the backdrop for the three wars mentioned above are discussed....
.
Much of his service was passed in the trans-Indus district of Dera Ghazi Khan
Dera Ghazi Khan
Dera Ghazi Khan is a city located in Dera Ghazi Khan District, Punjab, Pakistan. Dera Ghazi Khan is one of the most populous cities in Southern Punjab, and it is the largest district in Punjab in terms of area, being approximately in extent....
, where he had opportunities for studying the Baluch people (Baloch) and became an authority on the various dialects of the Baluch
Balochi language
Balochi is a Northwestern Iranian language. It is the principal language of the Baloch of Balochistan, Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui. It is designated as one of nine official languages of Pakistan.-Vowels:The Balochi vowel...
and Pushtu languages.
In 1891 he published a Baluchi grammar and text-book, used for many years as manuals of instruction. He contributed in 1904 to the monograph series of the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
an account of the Baluch, and in the following year the Royal Asiatic and the Folk-Lore Societies jointly published in two volumes his Popular Poetry of the Baluchis. In 1903 he contributed to the Folk-Lore Journal an article on "Folk-Lore of the Azores." He was an ardent student of Buddhist art
Buddhist art
Buddhist art originated on the Indian subcontinent following the historical life of Siddhartha Gautama, 6th to 5th century BC, and thereafter evolved by contact with other cultures as it spread throughout Asia and the world....
on the north-west frontier of India, and brought with him from there a fine collection of sculpture of the Gandhara period. He also did valuable service in rearranging the Buddhist rooms of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. For more than twenty years he served the Royal Asiatic Society, for part of the time as a Vice-President and Joint-Treasurer, and in 1921 he acted as Honorary Secretary during the absence of Dr. F. W. Thomas.
After his retirement he prepared several important articles for the Encyclopaedia of Islam on subjects relating to that part of northern India which he had studied so closely. Besides Oriental languages he was an excellent Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
scholar, and his wide knowledge of Portuguese literature, and of the philology and geography of India, was illustrated in his admirable translation and annotations of The Book of Duarte Barbosa, edited for the Hakluyt Society
Hakluyt Society
Founded in 1846, the Hakluyt Society is a registered charity based in London, England, which seeks to advance knowledge and education by the publication of scholarly editions of primary records of voyages, travels and other geographical material...
in 1918–21. He compiled a memoir on the Portuguese and German colonies in Africa for the use of the Peace Congress at Versailles. He was also a member of the Numismatic Society and possessed a fine collection of Oriental coins.
Longworth-Dames became a member of the Folk-Lore Society in 1892, served for many years on the Council, and was a regular attendant at its meetings, where he was recognised as "an accomplished scholar, while his geniality of manner won the affection of many friends." William Crooke
William Crooke
William Crooke was an English orientalist and "the central figure in Anglo-Indian folklore" according to Richard Mercer Dorson. He was a member of a family that had been settled in Ireland for many years, with his father being a doctor in Macroom. County Cork...
's obituary for the society's journal adds, "modest and unassuming, and was always ready to take infinite trouble in assisting from his stores of knowledge correspondents who desired information".
He died on the 8th January, 1922.
Attribution:
Adapted from William Crooke
William Crooke
William Crooke was an English orientalist and "the central figure in Anglo-Indian folklore" according to Richard Mercer Dorson. He was a member of a family that had been settled in Ireland for many years, with his father being a doctor in Macroom. County Cork...
. Folk-lore vol 33 p. 130