Colonel Tod's Observalions on a Gold Ring found at Montrose. 563 



which clearly approximates to Turscum, the ancient Toscan. Can tliis 

 possibly be a colony of the Indo-Scythic Turshka, or Takshac from Sakatai, 

 to which allusion is often made in the earliest traditions of India, and 

 always figuratively as the serpent race, a branch of which, the Nagvansi 

 chieftains of Ramgur'h Sirgooja, have the lunettes of their serpent * 

 ancestor engraved on their signets in proof of their lineage ? The Ophite 

 worship, conjoined with that of Isis, may thus have been introduced into 

 India and Italy by colonies of the same race, and certainly the characters 

 of the Osci or Opici (the serpent race of Italy), adopted by the Etruscans, 

 have a great analogy to the rock-inscriptions of the Scythic Sauras, or sun- 

 worshippers of Saurashtra. 



In the ring before us we see this reptile guarding the emblems of fruition ; 

 and in the palace of Portici (where are deposited the discoveries of Pompeii) 

 there is the mosaic pavement of tiie temple, which represents the same 

 symbol of Isis guarded by two serpent supporters. The serpent is also 

 placed over the portal of a garden at Pompeii, significant of the same 

 mystery. It is curious that the Osci or Opici, who not only held all Cam- 

 pania sacred to Isis, and its adjoining provinces, but spread their branches 

 throughout Italy, has been by some derived from " Serpentes ;" and though 

 it is not said the Tursci or Etrusci is one of its branches, yet they were 

 evidently of one stock. The adoption of the serpent-guardian of the 

 emblem of Isis at Pompeii would thus receive explanation, and strengthen 

 the existence of a common origin of the Indo-Scythic Turshka of Central 

 Asia and India, and the Tursci and Osci of Italy ; but here we are in 

 darkness ; let us leave Italy for Gaul. 



The Celtic tribes of Gaul and Britain were as ardent votaries of Isis as 

 those of Italy ; nor were the Getic or Gothic tribes of the north less 



• Tckshac, Serpa, Naga, are all used synonimously for serpent. It is a singular fact, that in 

 every country the serpent is the medium of communicating knowledge. These Takshacs, Nagas. 

 or serpents, introduced letters into India. Such the interpretation of the eagle, symbolic ol the 

 Vishnuvi's seizing the celebrated work Pingal from the snake, as of Crishna's own exploit m reco- 

 vering the secrets or Vedas from the deep, where they were conveyed by the serpent. These wise 

 serpents are the Takshacs of Higher Asia. All these races were named after animals and 

 reptiles, as the As^as or horses, a celebrated Indo-Scythic race: the Sussoos, or hares; the 

 Cuchwas, or tortoises. Thus the Nagas assumed this reptile as the symbol of superior mtel- 

 ligence (Boo<rh).-See Art. TaMe, vol. i. p. 103, Annals o/Rajasfhan. Since wntmg which, Mr 

 Fleming communicated to me the fart of the Nagavansi chiefs of the mountainous regions ol 

 Sirgooja adopting those spectacles of the hooded cobra-di-capella as their signet. 



