VI.—Comparison of the Hindu and Theban Hercules, illustrated by an ancient 
Hindu Intaglio.*—By Lieut.-Colonel Jauzs Tov, M.R.A.S., Se. 
Read December 4, 1830. 
Tue intaglio, of which the engraving is a fac-simile, represents BaLapiva,t 
the Hercules of the Hindus, naked; the head encircled with a diadem, 
or fillet,t the ends flowing behind. His lion’s hide (Bagambra)§ thrown 
* In the possession of my friend, Thomas Perry, Esq., M.R.A.S., who, when judge and 
magistrate of Etawah and Mynpoori, purchased it from a person who said it came from Jeipoor. 
+ God (déva) of strength (bala), 
$ Notwithstanding the Rajpoots possess in the indigenous epithet Pausha, a word for this 
mark of kingly dignity seen on their most ancient medals (see vol. i. p. 313, T. R.A.S.), they 
now have recourse to the term of bd/4band—one of the numerous exotics adopted from their 
conquerors. The bdldband of the Rajpoots is the diadem of the Greeks, both in application 
and interpretation: the one meaning died over, the other through the head. The béléband is 
still the symbol of honour in Mewar, and was, in the days of her grandeur, held equal to any 
cordon in Christendom. It is of one or more cords of floss silk and gold thread, tied round the 
turban, the ends hanging behind the head. 
Its estimation may be illustrated by an anecdote. When engaged in reconciling the long- 
alienated vassalage of Mewar to their Prince, accompanied by the ungracious duty of causing 
the surrender of their usurpation of the lands of the crown, the chieftain of Bednore « of the 
sixteen,” was one of the most impracticable, and his complaint was as much of the loss of dignity 
as of land, specifying the degradation of honours due only to his own grade, being conferred on 
those far beneath him. To my request that he would disregard them, and not let it interfere 
with the more important measure, I had the following dignified reproof :—-« Disregard them ! 
Why, for that simple thing (the bdldband) round the turban, my ancestors deemed their 
blood a cheap purchase.” JAxzr Sine was the descendant of Jetmux, who defended Cheelore 
against Akser, who held him “ when dead,” in such honour, that he erected a statue to him at 
the gate of his palace at Agra, still there in Bernier’s time; and he immortalized the match- 
lock with which he slew the Rajpoot, by leaving it as an heir-loom to his successor; which cir- 
cumstance is mentioned in the Commentaries of his son, the Emperor Jehangir. There was no 
want of such chiefs as Jeimul in any Rajpoot principality. Let us respect their descendants, 
who yet retain, in spite of their altered condition, the magnanimity of better days. 
§ From Bég, a lion or tiger, and ambra, covering. 
T? 
