ON MOUNT CAUCASUS. 525 



justly observes, the olive tree in the western parts 

 of India^ is sterile, at least its truit is useless, like 

 - that of the Oleaster. According to Fenestalla, 

 an ancient author cited by Pliny,* there were no 

 olive trees in Spain, Italy or Africa in the time of 

 Tarquin the eldest. Before the time of Hesiod, it 

 had been introduced into Greece : but it took a long 

 time before it was reconciled to the climate, and its 

 cultivation properly understood : for Hesiod says, 

 that, whoever planted an olive tree, never lived to eat 

 of its fruit. The olive tree never was a native of 

 Armejiia i and the passage ofSrRABO, cited in sup- 

 port of this opinion, implies only, that it was culti- 

 vated with success in that country* But let us re- 

 turn toSHARMA and his disciple Sarasala, the le- 

 gends concerning whom are to be found in trie Bud- 

 dha-dharma-chdrya-Sindhiih. 



" The chiefof the followers of Buddha isendow- 

 " ed with knowledge : great are his riches and power. 

 "He shewed mercy to the living creation j andin- 

 " structed them all in their respective duties : he was 

 " deeply skilled in the "Sastras. He is the abode of 

 " human and divine knowledge, which he imparts to 

 " all. He, whose name is Shama, is the chief of 

 " living beings : he gives an increase of pleasure to 

 " every body : he travels over the whole world, in- 

 " structing every one in their respective duties. Once 

 " he went north east, then turning toward the north- 

 " west, he arrived at the Himdni mountains. There 

 " he saw a variegated hill : it was beautiful : there 

 ** were numerous springs : all sorts of animals and 

 " chirping birds. In this forest, he, whose name is 

 " Shama-Maha'-Muni, began to perform Tapa- 

 " sya : for he saw that the country was Tapoblmmi^ 

 ** (land fit for the performance of religious rites.) 



* Pliny B la C. 6. 



2 L 3 " Here, 



