SP^ OBSERVATIONS OV 



subsequent to those sects, and that the 'Sahas also, 

 are of more recent date. 



I state it as an hypothesis, because I am not at 

 present able to support the whole of this position on 

 grounds which may appear quite satisfactory to others; 

 nor by evidence which may entirely convince them. 

 Some arguments will, however, be advanced, to show 

 that the supposition is not gratuitous. 



The long sought history of Cashmir, which, in the 

 original Sanscrit, was presented to the emperor Ac- 

 BER, as related by Abul-fazil in the Ayin Acberi*, 

 and of which a Persian translation exists, more ample 

 than Abul-faztl's brief abstract, has been at length 

 recovered in the original language f. A fuller ac- 

 count of this book will be hereafter submitted to the 

 society : the present occasion for the mention of it, 

 is a passage which was cited by Dr. Buchanan J, 

 from the English translation of the Ayin Acberi, for 

 an import which is not supported by the Persian or 

 Sanscrit text, 



The author, after briefly noticing the colony esta- 

 blished in Cdshmir by Casyapa, and hinting a 

 succession of kings to the time of the Curtis and 

 Pandavas, opens his detailed history, and list of 

 princes, with Gonanda, a contemporary of Yud'- 

 hisht'hira. He describes Asoca (who was 12th 

 in succession from Gonanda,) and his son Ja^oca, 

 and grandson Da.modara, as devout worshippers of 

 Siva ; and Jaloca, in particular, as a conqueror of 

 the MlecKhas, or barbarians. Damodara, accord- 

 ing to this history, was succeeded by three kings of 



* Vol. 2. p. 17s. 

 t The copy wliicli I possess, belonged to a Br6hmana wlio died 

 fome months ago (l 805) in Calcuila, I obtained it iVoui his h«?irs, 

 I As. Res. Vol. VI. p. l6'5. 



