February, 1915.] Annual Address. XXXixX 
ally become richer and richer as we get down with the times. 
The most diffuse account is that of Maharajah Ajit Singh, the 
father and predecessor of Abhai Singh, and here the descrip- 
tion of the deeds of the latter, as heir-apparent to the 
throne, plays a prominent part. With the installation of 
Abhai Singh at the hands of the Emperor himself, the poem 
tion festivities, but also to draw a gorgeous picture of the 
splendour of the Court in Jodhpore and the lustre of the Durbar. 
is picture starts with a description of the magnificence of 
Jodhpore, the splendid gardens, the Monarch and his Court; 
and the description is embellished and vivified in such a wa 
Caranas, he similarly adds a minute 
description of all their Sanskrit learning and poetical abilities. 
But Karna Dan does not stop here. He imagines that Abhai 
Jainasastra for the Magadhi; for the vernaculars which he 
includes under the term Prakrit, he cites no authority, as, 
he says, he knows them by practice. It is. important to note 
Proceed with great circumspection and allow for exaggerations, 
for disguises of unpleasant particulars, which is a rule with the 
bards, who, above all, are favourites of the monarchs and are 
*nxious to please them. But Bardic poems are also important 
4s literary documents. They have a literary value, and taken 
together form a literature, which, when better known, is sure 
