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. XXVI. 

 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS, 



THE ORIGIN OF MECCA, &c. 



From the Hindu Sacred Books. 



BY LIEUT. FRANCIS WILFORD. 



FN the Scdnda-purdna and Vis'va-sdra pracdsa, or 

 -■" declaration of zvhat is most excellent in the world, we 

 find the following legends, which have an evident 

 relation to the origin of Semiranus, the Syrian dove, 

 Ninus, and the building of Niniveh, Hierapolis, and 

 Mecca, &:c. 



Maha'-de'v a and his consort Pa'rvati, with a 

 view to do good to mankind, quitted their divine 

 abode on Cailasa, and proceeding towards the north, 

 alighted on the summit of the Nishdda mountains, 

 where they found the Devdtas ready to receive them, 

 with a numerous retinue of Celestial Nymphs, and 

 Heavenly Ouiristers. Maha'-de'v a was so struck 

 with the beauty of some of the Apsaras, and his looks 

 were so expressive of his internal raptures, that 

 Pa'rvati, unable to conceal her indignation, utter- 

 ed the most virulent reproaches again ft him. Con- 

 scious of the impropriety of his behaviour, Maha'- 

 db'va used every endeavour to pacify her; he hum- 

 bled himself; he praised her, and addressed her by 



the 



