366 . AN feSSAY ON THE 



" Verily thou hast forsaken t]iy people, the house 

 ** of Jacob; because tliey are filled with diviners 

 *' from the East, from more than or beyond tlie 

 *• East; who are sor^thsayers like those of the 

 *' Phllistmes ; and they delii2,-Ht in the society of 

 " cliildren of strano-ers." This passag-e I conceive 

 to allude to H'n?dus, from the very forcible expres- 

 sion of from the East, jroin beyond the East, or 

 from the remotest parts of the East. The prophet 

 did not mean the Chaldeans, who were well known 

 to him, as he repeatedly takes notice of them. 



IV. The next mountains are those of Sifanta, 

 many yojanas in extent, abounding with all sorts 

 of metals and gems. Ic is skirted by a most de- 

 lightful country, well w^atered, enlivened with the 

 harmonious noise of the black bee and frogs. 

 There are towns with gates: and the refreshing 

 moisture of this country, proceeds from Urupa, or 

 the Loi'd of the Zodiac ; and re-uniting together, 

 forms a stream, called the Vahd of the Moon, or 

 CJian^dra-vahd. There live the Skld'has and Yac- 

 shas, in caves, with intricate but delightful mazes. 

 There, among immense caves, is the Criddvana, 

 or place of dalliance of Maiiendra, where know- 

 ledge and the completion of our wishes is fully 

 obtained. There is the great forest of the Pciri- 

 jdta tree, of the kings of the Gods, known through 

 the three worlds : and the whole world sings his 

 praise from the Vedas: such is the place of dalli- 

 ance of him with 1000 eyes, or Ixdra. 



One side is Siivarn'a of gold, as implied by its 

 name, full of hills of the purest gems and corals. 

 In this charming grove of 'Sacra, or Indra, the 

 Gods, the Ddnavas, the snakes, Yacshas, RdcsJia- 

 sas, Guhya, or Circerus^ Gand'harvas, Vidyddliaras 

 live happy, as well as numerous tribes of Apsard- 

 sas, fond of sport. 



