Analytical Account oj'the FanchaTantra. 163 



guided by a pin, and moving by magic, the prototype of the flying steed of 

 Magellan; " the wondrous horse of brass, on which the Tartar king did 

 ride," and other self-moving machines of celebrity, in oriental and chivalric 

 romance. 



The story of " the Gipi and her two lovers," is here peculiar to the 

 Hitupadeia ; but it is familiar to European story-telling. It is the third of the 

 three fabliaux, De la Mauvaise Fenime, and occurs in Le Roman des Sept 

 Sages, and the Novelle of Bandello, Boccacio, Sansovino, and other similar 

 collections. 



The next story of " The Two Crows," is common to all the collections ; 

 as is that, interwoven with it, of " The Crane, or Swan, killed by the Crab." 

 This portion of the original has been made great use of by the author of 

 the Bahar Danish, who has compiled his story of " The Mouse and Prince 

 of Ghilan," almost wholly of extracts from the Pancha Tantra. This por- 

 tion of the latter work contains a quotation of some interest, in the literary 

 history of the Hindus. It is a passage from the astronomical writings of 

 VarAhamihira, and occurs, without variation, in the two best manuscripts 

 of the original. This citation is justly considered, by Mr. Colebrooke, as a 

 proof of the astronomer's priority to the composition of the Pancha Tant)-a, 

 and a satisfactory corroboration of other arguments, favourable to his exis- 

 tence, at the time usually assigned to him, in the fifth century of the 

 Christian era.* 



A striking proof occurs here, also, of the more exact correspondence 

 between the Pancha Tantra and Kalila Damana, than between the latter 

 and Plitupadesa. In tiie story of " The Two Crows," the interwoven story 

 in botli the former works, is that of " The Crane, or Swan, killed by the 

 Crab ;" and it is not till the apologue of the Crows is closed, that the 

 " Lion led into a Snare by the Hare," occurs. In the Hitdpadesa the first 

 is omitted, and the second put in its ])lace ; and instead of a Hare, the 

 beguiler of the forest monarch, is an old Stag. The story of " The Crab 

 and (Faca) Crane," is not found in the Hitopadexa earlier than the last 

 section, or Sand' hi, to which several of the fables, belonging to tliis part of 

 the Pancha Tantra, are transferred. 



The next story, " The Flea, the Bug, and the King," is omitted from tlie 

 Hitdpadesa. It occurs in the Kali/a Damana, but not exactly in the same 



* As. Res. IX. 364, and Hindu Algebra, Introd. Also Preface to Sanscrit Dictionary, xiv. 

 Vol. I. Z 



