Mr. H. T. CoLEBROOKE on the Philosophy of the Hindus. 103 



water, which is cohl ; and from light, which is hot ; and from earth, which 

 is adventitiously warm by induction of light. 



Air is either eternal as atoms, or transient as aggregates. Organic aerial 

 bodies are beings inhabiting the atmosphere, and evil spirits (Pisdchas, Sec.) 

 who haunt the earth. The organ of touch is an aerial integument, or air 

 diffused over the cuticle. Unorganic air is wind which agitates trees and 

 other tremulous objects. To these may be added, as a fourth kind of aerial 

 aggregates, the breath and other vital airs. 



5. Ether (dcdsa), which is a substance that has the quality of sound. 

 Besides that its peculiar and distinguisliing quality, it has number (viz. 

 unity), quantity, individuality, conjunction, and disjunction. It is infinite, 

 one, and eternal. 



The existence of an etherial element as a distinct substance, is deduced, 

 not from distinct perception, but from inference. Sound is a peculiar qua- 

 lity : for, hke colour and other peculiar qualities, it is apprehended by only 

 one external organ of such beings as men are : now a quality abides in a 

 substance which is qualified : but neither soul, nor any one of the four ele- 

 ments, earth, water, light, and air, can be its substratum, for it is appre- 

 hended by the organ of hearing ; the qualities of earth, and the rest, are 

 not apprehended by the hearing, but sound is ; therefore it is not a quality 

 of those substances ; nor is it a quality of time, space, and mind ; since it is 

 a peculiar quality ; and those three substances have none but such as are 

 common to many : therefore a substratum, other than all these, is inferred ; 

 and that substratum is the etherial element. It is one; for there is no 

 evidence of diversity ; and its unity is congruous, as infinity accounts for 

 ubiquity. It is infinite, because it is in effect found every where. It is 

 eternal, because it is infinite. 



It appears white, from connexion with a lucid white orb ; as a rock 

 chrystal appears red by association with a red object. The blue colour 

 of a clear sky is derived, according to Patanjali, from the southern peak 

 of the great mountain Sumeru, which is composed of sapphire. On other 

 sides of Sumeru, the colour of the sky is different, being borrowed from 

 the hue of the peak which overlooks that quarter. Others suppose, that 

 the black colour of the pupil of the eye is imparted to the sky (blue and 

 black being reckoned tinges of the same colour), as a jaundiced eye sees 

 every object yellow. 



The organ of liearing is etherial, being a portion of ether {dcdsa) confined 



