ITALY, AND INDIA. 26l 



ribands, acrofs the bread ; with bracelets too on one 

 arm, and on each wrilt : they are naked to the waifts, 

 and uniformly with dark azure flefh, in allufion, pro-< 

 bably, to the tint of that primordial fluid on which 

 Narqyan moved in the beginning of time; but their 

 fkirts are bright yellow, the colour of the curious peri- 

 carpium in the center of the water-lily, where Nature, 

 as Dr. Murray obferves, infbme degree difclofes her fe- 

 crets, each feed containing, before it germinates, a few 

 perfect leaves: they are fometimes drawn with that 

 flower in one hand; a radiated elliptical ring, ufed as a 

 miiftle weapon, in a fecond; the facred fhell, or left- 

 handed buccinum, in a third; and a mace, or battle- 

 axe, in a fourth. But Crijhna, when he appears, as he 

 fometimes does appear, among the Avatars, is more 

 fplendidly decorated than any, and wears a rich garland 

 of fylvan flowers, whence he is named Vanamdli, as low 

 as his ankles, which are adorned with firings of pearls. 

 Dark blue, approaching to black, which is the meaning 

 of the word Crijhna, is believed to have been his com- 

 plexion ; and hence the large bee of that colour is con- 

 fecrated to him, and is often drawn fluttering over his 

 head. That azure tint, which approaches to blacknefs, 

 is peculiar, as we have already remarked, to Vijhnu : 

 and hence in the great refervoir or cittern at Cdtmdndu, 

 the capital of Nepal, there is placed in a recumbent 

 poflure,a large well-proportioned image of blue marble, 

 reprefenting N dray an floating on the waters. But let 

 us return to the actions of Crijlina, who was not lefs 

 heroick than lovely, and, when a boy, flew the terrible 

 ferpent Cdliya, with a number of giants and monflers. 

 At a more advanced age, he put to death his cruel 

 enemy Can/a ; and, having taken under his protection 

 the king YudhiJhChir, and the other Pdndus, who had 

 been grievoufly oppreffed by the Curus, and their tyran- 

 nical chief, he kindled the war defcribed in the great 

 Epick Poem, entitled the Mahdbhdrat, at the profperous 

 Conclufion of which he returned to his heavenly feat 



in 



