260 AN ESSAY OX THE 



It evinces also some remote communication, at least, 

 if not some affinity, at an early period, between the 

 nations among which we find these legends equally 

 current. 



In the Hindu books we read of some princes who 

 raised mountains of gold, silver, and precious stones ; 

 some three ; others only one : but whether this be 

 applicable to Egypt does not appear, rather the con- 

 trary. It was, however, a practice formeri}^ and, 

 if restricted to a single pyramid, it was intended 

 for the mountain of God, the holy mount Meru. 

 if three pyramids were constructed, they were in- 

 tended to represent tlie three peaks o^ Meru. There 

 is a beautiful pyramid at Sarnath near BaiareSy 

 built by a king of Gaur, or Bengal. It is conical, 

 and of earth, with a coating of bricks, and is about 

 seventy feet high. In the inscription found there 

 some years ago, it is declared to be intended as a 

 representation of Meru, which is represented of a 

 conical figure by the Hindus, but like a sc[uare py- 

 ramid by the followers of Budd'ha. The tower, 

 or pyramid of Babel, was of a square form, with 

 seven stages or steps, like Meru. 



The recession of the sea from the valley of Egypt 

 is no where mentioned : but the same miracle is re- 

 corded as performed by several holy men, particu- 

 larly on the western shores of LuUa. Indeed, when- 

 ever the Hindu writers treat of the accession of 

 lands, which were formerly occupied by the sea, 

 they never fail to attribute it to the prayers of 

 some holy personage. 



In the course-of my correspondence with the ve- 

 nerable Sir William Jones, the Institutor and first 

 President of the Asiatic Society, and iny patron in 

 Oriental literature, I mentioned the discoveries 

 which I thought I had made, and particularly re- 



