422 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



of them not as yet discovered, we have a proximate 

 solution that they commence either beyond the crest of 

 the central high land of Asia, or at least that they are 

 to be found about the Indus, before that stream escapes 

 to the open plain ; that is again, about Hindu-Koosh, 

 and in the vicinity of certain significant local names, 

 such as Penghir (Pen-y-ghir), Carura, &c., bearing 

 Celtic meanings. It is the region west of high Kash- 

 gar, north-west of Cashmere, the vicinity of the first 

 known station of the Pandoos or Pandei. It is near 

 the first great central sacred troglodyte city, Bamean 

 (Adrepsa), and not far to the north from the first 

 commencement and divergences of the characteristic 

 cromlechs; for it is along the southern flank of the 

 Paropamisus that they pass on northward to Armenia, 

 while another descends the Indus to the sea, and 

 thence branches both eastward and to the interior of 

 Southern Persia. From this vicinity we find also that 

 the oldest pagan diluvian legends have radiated ;* for 

 those of America, of the South Seas, of Tahtary, and 

 of the north and west of the old continent, are all 

 cognisant of the Dragon formula, the Dragon fish, the 

 serpent devouring the sun, the moon, and the woman, 

 type of reproductive animal nature, by which the mys- 

 terious doctrine is conveyed. 



We find the legends of an Eden, a city of the gods, 



* Compare the third Avatar, where Prithivi complains 

 to Vishnou, with Davies' " Celtic Researches." Appendix, 

 " Preiddeu," " Anmon." Still more, No. 12 of ditto, 

 page 563, where some lines appear to be Etruscan. 



