OR SACRED WRITINGS OF THE HINDUS. 497 



doubt, merely because I am not acquainted with 

 any external evidence of their genuineness *. But 

 it is probable, that further researches may ascer- 

 tain the accuracy of most of them, as extracts 

 from the Vklas ; and their authenticity, as works 

 quoted by known authors. In point of doctrine, 

 they appear to conform with the genuine Upa- 

 nishads. 



The preceding description may serve to convey 

 some notion of the Vedas. They are too volumi- 

 nous for a complete translation of the whole : 

 and what they contain, would hardly reward the 

 labour of the reader ; much less, that of the trans- 

 lator. The ancient dialect, in which they are 

 composed, and especially that of the three first 

 V^das, is extremely difficult and obscure : and, 

 though curious, as the parent of a more polished 

 and refined language (the classical Sanscrit)^ its 

 difficulties must long continue to prevent such an 

 examination of the whole Vidas, as would be re- 

 quisite for extracting all that is remarkable and 

 important in those voluminous works. But they 

 well deserve to be occasionally consulted by the 

 oriental scholar. 



* The same observation is applicable to several Upanishads, 

 which are not inserted iu the best collections, but which occur in 

 others. For instance, the Scanda, Caula, Gopichandana, Dar~ 

 Sana, and Vajrasdchi. I shall not stop to indicate a few ques- 

 tionable passages in some of these dubious tracts. 



Vol. VIII. K k 



