+

pires, ftates, and property, already explained In the plate, he is figured crowned, encircled with a fnake, and riding upon a monkey; in his left hand he holds a bow, and is represented in the attitude of having juft discharged an arrow from it. To underftand this representation, a fhort historical recital becomes neceffary.-Rhaaboon †, the fubvertor of empires, ftates and property, is ever contrafted with Rhaam in the course of the Aughtorrah Bhade Shaftah-This prime agent of Moifafoor is fabled to have run away with SITHEE ‡, the wife of Rhaam; and for the recovery of her, that book exhibits a long detail of furious battles fought between Rhaam and Rhaaboon with various fuccefs; myftically painting the contentions that ever have fubfifted in the world touching empires and property, in general. Under these the ancient hiftory of Indoftan and it's Rajahs is obfcurely couched.-In one of the most bloody of thefe battles, Rhaam being fore preffed, was obliged to call in as an auxiliary, Hoonmbon Prince of the monkeys, by whofe affiftance he routed Rhaaboon and recovered his wife-Sithee; implying only, that lawless force, must be fometimes

* Vide explanation of the Tirtah Jogue, or fecond age, chap. 4.

+ Lawless violence.

Literally, property. combated

combated with craft, policy, and ftratagem, of which the monkey throughout Indoftan is the known emblem.-The laft mentioned battle is reprefented in the plate number 5. where Rhaam appears ingaged with Rhaaboon, and the attitude of Rhaam (in the plate of the Drugab) as having discharged the fatal arrows from the back of the monkey, alludes to that battle: in the plate

N°

5. Rhaam is fupported by his brother Lukkon, or fortitude, each encircled with fnakes; and Rhaaboon (as he generally is) is reprefented with ten arms, and as many heads of monfters, which intimate the force of lawless tyranny and power.

Although the emblematic fenfe of the monkey is fo obvious, yet the crafty Bramins have established a belief that Rhaam transformed himself into, and is always prefent under that form; the people fwallowed the delufion in a literal fenfe, and it is upon this principle, that numerous colleges of Pramins are fupported by the people for the maintainance of thofe animals, near the groves where they usually refort; one of them is at Amboab in the neighbourhood of Culna, on the Ganges. In the time of the Rhaam Jattra the Bramins exhibit a kind of theatrical mafque, wherein the many flights, and efcapes of Sithee, and the various ftratagems of Rhaaboon to retain her, and of Part II. Rhaam

L

1

Rhaam to recover her, with the final battle, which gave him the repoffeffion of her, are all thrown into action, and the dialogue taken from the Aughtorrah Bhade Shaftah. We have been frequently prefent at this theatrical exhibition, and received much plea fure and amufement; one circumftance at the conclufion is worth mentioning-when Rhaam had recovered his wife Sithee, he refufes to cohabit with her, until he has given fome fignal proof, that the had fuffered no contamination, or violation, during her abode with Rhaaboon; on which (by an ingenious piece of machinery) the paffes thro' a fire, comes out unhurt, and then Rhaam with raptures, receives her to his arms.

Below the idol of Rhaam on the plate of the Drugah, is that of Kartik; for the explanation of this faft, fee number twentyfour. He is reprefented, armed at all points for war, and riding on a peacock, the Gentoo fymbol of pride and oftentation, intimating that thofe qualities and vices of the mind must be subdued, as being previously neceffary to the approach and admiffion into their Pagodas; he is armed as a guardian, capable of defending from violation the divinity within, wherever there is a congregation of idols, in a Tagoor Bharree*, his idol is placed * Literally a house for divinities.

at

at the door.-A Gentoo had within our memory an only fon dangeroufly ill of a fever, he paid folemn worship, vows and offerings, for his recovery, not only to the goddess of fevers, but to all the other Gods, and Goddeffes befides-His fon died-the father, frantic with grief and defpair, fallied out before day, broke open a Tagoor Bharree in a buzaar fouth of the town of Calcutta, where Kartik being off his guard and mingled with the other divinities-he cut all their heads off; his intention was to have proceeded round the town (as he confeffed on examination) and to have decollated every God in all the Tagoor bharries of the place, but the fecond he came to, Kartik was upon his guard at the door, and prefenting his dart at him, brought him to his fenfes, and providentially faved the reft of his brother divinities.

Below the figures of Lukee and Surfuttee ftand the reprefentation of two divine nymphs, Nundee joy, and Bringee fports; they are both encircled by fnakes, implying, that joy and sports at all their feftivals, fhould be circumfcribed by prudence and wisdom.

On the right between Sieb and Ghunnis, is reprefented a boat, in which Nundee and Bringee are carrying Drugab to her hufL 2 band

band Sieb, after fhe had been caft into the Ganges; and in the copartment opposite between the figures of Rhaam and Kartik, are reprefented two nymphs in a kind of threatning posture, advising him to take better care of his wife another time, and keep her at home.

In the centre of the arch is represented Surfuttee and four female attendants, one prefenting to her the palmira leaf, the original paper, another a piece of wax, the third an ink ftand, the fourth a pen, the ufe of which are all interdicted on her feftival, and made an offering to her.- -The two end copartments Kallee and Drugah, each engaged with two giants tyrants of the earth. The other divifion of the arch, allude to different paffages of the Aughtorrah Bhade, which have efcaped our memory.

End of the Explanation of plate N° 2.

As we referve the eighth chapter or general head, namely, "the differtation on the metempfychofis," for a third and last part of this work, there remains nothing more to clofe this chapter, but to add a fhort recital of the genealogy of the Gentoo divinities, on which fubject, as our materials are few, we fhall not, we fear, afford any great fatisfaction to the curious, as we are confined to

the