1829.5 [129° J 
TAM GARAI, THE GOOD BANYAN. 
* Glory is but the shadow of virtue: where the one is not, the other cannot be.”’—Maw#im 
vextracted from the Sama-VrDAM of the Hindus. 
Berore the Tartars, the Moguls, the Mahrattas, or the English 
had been the conquerors of the finest countries of the east, the 
kingdom of Guzzerat was regarded as the great source of supplies, and 
the richest province of the Indian peninsula. Its rajah was just 
dead ; his son, who had succeeded him, was daring, and distinguished 
by many, brilliant qualities ; the people, whose sovereign he had become, 
were mighty ; the country he ruled was prolific; and the kings of 
Decan, of Jesselmire, and of Chitor were tributary to his power. With 
such temptations, is it strange that the youth should give way to ambi- 
tion? He desired to surpass Alexander in his conquests, and Mariadi- 
ramen in his equity. He even longed for reverses, that, in bearing 
them, he might rival Porus. The most learned brahmins of Benares, 
the most celebrated poets of India, were summoned to his court to cele- 
brate the exploits he projected, and the virtues he was going to have. 
He doubled the number of his soldiers, caused them to be attired 
magnificently, and determined to dazzle his people by personally passing 
his vast army in review. 
Between the mountains of Bollodo and the gulf of Guzzerat spreads 
an immense plain, skirted by a double vista of palm and sandal trees. 
To that spot the troops of the young prince poured from all parts of the 
kingdom. Thither thronged the inhabitants of Barocha, Cambaya, 
Boudra, &c., eager for the proud array, and for a sight of their new 
sovereign. 
The army took its position on the border of the gulf, and the royal 
retinue presently appeared. Two thousand rajputs, or sons of noblemen, 
formed its vanguard. They were all clad in baftas* of the finest cot- 
ton, stuffs of striped silk, brocades of ‘gold and silver. In their hands 
each bore either one of the famed bows of Multan, or the lance and axe 
of Kaboul. To the sound of every warlike instrument at once, wrapped 
in a scarlet mantle, his brow and breast covered with diamonds of 
Somelpour, Viszpour, and Golconda, the prince appeared. He was 
mounted on a beautiful white elephant ; its caparison was of surpassing 
splendour ; it sparkled with the most precious stones of Pegu and the 
isle of Ceylon. . ; 
The bosom of our young hero swelled with pride at this prodigality 
and magnificence, which he regarded as the harbingers of glory. He 
lifted his head, and looked about him, with extreme self-complacency, 
to gladden his eye with the evidences of the impression he was making 
upon his people. But what was his wonder, when he perceived the 
multitude, instead of pressing upon his path to feast upon a nearer view 
of his mighty person, suddenly receding like a tremendous wave. Its 
swiftness increases momentarily, and, with tumult and terror, it reeled 
backward to the vistas which fringed the plain. 
The cause of this consternation was a terrific panther, which had just 
* Bands of muslin, in which they encircled the jiend. 
M.M. New Series.—Votu. VII. No. 38. S 
