258 AN ESSAY 0\- THE 



in Egi/ptiaJi astronomy, and called Drescdn in 

 Sanscrit. 



Perseus is called there Pretas'ira, or the man 

 with the Lamas liead, and the -same situation is 

 assigned to him in the heavens. He is also called 

 S'aila-muc'ha (or having- a stony lace or head), al- 

 luding to the head of Medusa, which turned the 

 beholders into stone. Pegasus is also mentioned 

 there under the name of Samu'dra-pacshi, or the 

 bird of the ocean. He is likewise called Samu'dra- 

 PADA, because his hindjjarts and feet are concealed 

 in the ocean. The lesser horse hc-^WQAHayagriva: 

 but the legends of ail these are still wanting, ex- 

 cept the last, which will appear in the course of 

 this work. Andromeda is called Veja'ra', and is 

 represented with her head shaven, and her hands 

 bound in fetters. Cassiopea is called Leeana', 

 and Cepheus Nr]!pa or Nri-rupa, and Persian 

 authors say, he is the same with Cai-caous. He 

 is slightly mentioned in other Hindu books as a 

 great king. He was the father of the Cephexes, 

 and Cephisene W'ds their native country ; In Sa}iscr it 

 Capis'liyana. Capes'a is Cepheus, ayd Capis'a is 

 the patronymic appellation of his descendants, 

 called also Sih Ideas. 



My essays on the chronology of the Hindus and 

 mount Caucasus^ are almost entirely free from the 

 forgeries which I have stated, because my chief 

 pandit had little to do with them. I recollecfonly 

 three instances in which he interfered ; and in tlieni 

 the legends were, as usual, disfigured l)y iiim. They 

 are legends respecting Pro.meiheus and the Eagle ; 

 with some particulars relating to Bardiyan and tlic 

 Lipari islands. Guritdds A(c\\ is well knov/n to this 

 day, to j^ilgrims, and th.e Hindus of these parts. 

 The place is called Sliibr^ in Major IIenn tl's maps, 



