VOL. LXXXVIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 42/ 



in Siberia. In short, when the extensive influence of pyrites in the mineral king- 

 dom, caused by the numerous modifications of it, in the way of composition and 

 decomposition, is considered, every thing which reflects light on its formation be- 

 comes interesting; and I cannot but regard as such, the effects which Mr. Wise- 

 man has observed in the Mere of Diss. Charles Hatchett. 



XXIV. A Catalogue of Sanscrita Manuscripts, presented to the R. S. by Sir Wm. 

 and Lady Jones. By Charles fVilkins, Esq. F. R. S. p. 582. 



1. a. Maha-bharata.* A poem in 18 books, exclusive of the part called Raghuvansa; the whole at- 

 tributed to Crishna Dwaipayana Vyasa; with copious notes by Nila-canta. This stupendous work, when 

 perfect, contains upwards of 100,000 metrical verses. The main subject is the history of the race of 

 Bharata, one of the ancient kings of India, from whom that country is said to have derived the name of 

 Bharata-varsha ; and more particularly that of 2 of its collateral branches, distinguished by the patrony- 

 mics, the Cauravas and the Pauravas, so denominated from 2 of their ancestors, Curu and Puru, and 

 of their bloody contentions for the sovereignty of Bharata-varsha, the only general name by which the 

 Aborigines know the country we call India, and the Arabs and Persians Hind and Hindostan. But, be- 

 sides the main story, a great variety of other subjects is treated of, by way of introduction and episode. 

 The part entitled Raghu-vansa, contains a distinct history of the race of Crishna. The Maha-bharata is 

 so very popular throughout the East, that it has been translated into most of its numerous dialects; and 

 there is an abridgment of it in the Persian language, several copies of which are to be found in our public 

 libraries. The Gita, which has appeared in an English dress, forms part of this work; but, as it con- 

 tains doctrines thought too sublime for the vulgar, it is often left out of the text, as happens to be the 

 case in this copy. Its place is in the 6th book, called Bhishma-parva. This copy is written in the cha- 

 racter which, by way of pre-eminence, is called Devanagari. L y J. 



1. b. Ditto. Another copy, without notes, written in the character peculiar to the province of Bengal, 

 in which the Brahmans of that country are wont to transcribe all their Sanscrita books. Most of the al- 

 phabets of India, though they differ very much in the shape of their letters, agree in their number and 

 powers, and are capable of expressing the Sanscrita, as well as their own particular language. This copy 

 contains the Gita, in its proper place. L y J. 



2. a. Ramayana. The adventures of Rama, a poem in 7 books, with notes, in the Devanagari cha- 

 racter. There are several works with the same title, but this, written by Valmici, is the most esteemed. 

 The subject of all the Ramayanas is the same : the popular story of Rama, surnamed Dasarathi, sup- 

 posed to be an incarnation of the god Vishnu, and his wonderful exploits to recover his beloved Sita out 

 of the hands of Ravana, the gigantic tyrant of Lanca. 1/ J. 



2. b. Ditto. Another copy, in the Bengal character, without notes, by Valmici. 1/ J. 



2. c. Ditto. A very fine copy, in the Devanagari character, without notes; but unfortunately not 

 finished, the writer having been reduced to a state of insanity, by habitual intoxication. S. W, J~. 



3. a. Sri Bhagavata. A poem in 12 books, attributed to Crishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, the reputed 

 author of the Maha-bharata, and many other works ; with notes by Sridhara Swami. Devanagari cha- 

 racter. It is to be found in most of the vulgar dialects of India, and in the Persian language. It has 

 also appeared, in a very imperfect and abridged form, in French, under the title of Bagavadam, trans- 

 lated from the Tamul version. The chief subject of the Bhagavata is the life of Crishna; but, being 

 one of that species of composition which is called Purana, it necessarily comprises 5 subjects, including 

 that which may be considered the chief. The Brahmans, in their books, define a Purana to be " a poem 

 treating of 5 subjects: primary creation, or creation of matter in the abstract; secondary creation, or 

 the production of the subordinate beings, both spiritual and material ; chronological account of their 

 grand periods of time, called Manwantaras ; genealogical rise of families, particularly of those who 



* The Sanscrita words are spelt according to the method practised by Six William Jones, in his works. — Orig. 



3 I 2 



