1 4-Q Captain Ton's Comments on a Sanscrit Inscription, 



characters. Twenty years have elapsed since the march of events con- 

 ducted British authority to Delhi ; but nothing has been done to protect 

 these prostrate monuments from further injury. 



Sdcamlhari-Bhavdm is the guardian goddess of the whole Rujaput race, 

 yet more especially claimed by the Chdhamdnas, though A'ia-ptij-nd is 

 their immediate patroness ; and a most enchanting one to have, " Hope 

 herself." 



Sdcamhhari-Devi had her statue erected on a small island on the Sar, or 

 salt lake, to which she gives her name, contracted to Sdjnbhar. 



The derivation of the term, as I was led to believe, when the subject 

 first engaged my attention, is, " the Mother of Verdure," from sdca, ve- 

 getable. But she had chosen too unpropitious a spot to admit its correct- 

 ness ; for the waters of this lake are deadly, as those of Asphaltites, to 

 vegetable life. A more correct etymology is to be had, and which explains 

 the title of this goddess to the general admiration of the Rujaput nation. 

 Sdcambhari is the universal motiier of the Sacw (Sdcam), a term in classical 

 use amongst the Cshatritja races of the northwest of India, meaning dis- 

 tinctively the races. Sdc'lid is a ramification, or branch :* I am a Sdc'hd- 

 band B.iijput, says the Cshatriya of Rdjast'hdn ; that is, one who can trace 

 the affiliation or pedigree of his race. May we not consider the Sacae of 

 Alexander to have the same signification ? 



Tiie Chdliamdna is right in considering Sdcambhari as deserving moi-e of 

 his adoration than the more benign divinity, Hope ; for no race of the sons 

 of Adam is less indebted to A'sd-piinidf for " the fulfilment of their wishes," 

 than these her votaries. A sketch of the reverses of the various Sacte of 

 this widely-extended name, would form a history ; for their misfortunes 

 were conspicuous, as their renown was splendid. No other of the martial 

 races of India can fill more pages of its heroic history with deeds in arms. 

 They still live in the songs of tlie bard, and furnish most interesting ma- 

 terials to the itinerant minstrel, tlie D/ioli, the Jongleur of India, who to 

 the sound of his rhubab, chants the exploits of Goga, who, with fifty sons 

 and nephews, and all his clan, fell on tlie banks of the Indus, opposing 

 Mahji6d ; or those of the romantic HAMiMiR, the theme of eternal plaudits. 



* To this etymology it may be objected, that Suchii, a branch, is written with an aspirated 

 guttural consonant; and Siica, in SuVaniWar;, without aspiration. — H.T.C. 

 f " The fulfiller of desire." 



