1898.] G. A. Grierson — Tulasl-ddsa and the Plague in Benares. 147 



bird. Thus, they are usually, from Oarrulax to Zosterops^ remarkably 

 and demonstratively sociable, exliibiting an intense love of company, 

 and being given to cuddling up to and caressing other birds, including 

 those of another species, or even group, if the latfcer permit. Chlorojpsist 

 however, and apparently jEgithina, is not thus disposed. 



This social disposition, which, by the way, is less noticeable among 

 Bulbuls, is obviously different from that of Thrushes and Warblers, and 

 though a mental or moral character, should be allowed its due weight in 

 considering the relationships of such difficult and closely-related groups 

 as the Thrush-like Passeres.* 



3. A further note on Tulasi-ddsa and the Plague in Benares. — By 

 G. A. Grierson, C.I.E., Ph.D., I.C.S. 



In my Notes on Tulasi-dasa published on p. 253 of the Indian 

 Antiquary for October, 1893. I referred to the Hanumdn-bdhuka as an 

 appendix to the Kavitta-rdmdyana written when the poet was suffering 

 from a severe sore in the arm. 



A note by me on the date of the composition of the Kavitta- 

 rdmdyana appeared in the Proceedings of the Society for last March. 

 In it I mentioned the references made in that poem to the Plague 

 which devastated Benares in the first half of the 17th century. A copy 

 of this note was sent by me to Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Sudhakara- 

 dvivedi of Benares, and he now points out to me that it is most 

 probable that the poet himself died of the disease, and that the 

 Hanumdn-hdhulca was composed by him while suffering from it. The 

 following remarks are based on his communication. 



Tulasi-dasa died in Sambat 1680, equivalent to 1623 A.D. The 

 plague appeared in India in 1616 A.D., and lasted for eight years. It 

 is therefore not impossible that the poet should have fallen a victim 

 to the pestilence. 



One of the most characteristic symptoms of the disease is the 

 extremely painful boils or bubos, which commonly first appear in the 

 groins or armpits. In the 25th verse of the Hanumdn-bdhuka^ the poet 

 says in so many words that his sore is in his armpit, bdhu-taru-mula, 

 the root of the tree of his arm. In the 37th verse he tells how the 

 pain cannot be borne by night or by day, and that it is in the arm 

 which Hanumat had once grasped as a friend, i.e., in his right arm. 

 In the last line of verse 35 he thanks Hanumat for having relieved his 

 pain, in accordance with the prayers which he commenced in verse 30. 



* I may also mention, in this connection, that I found that being confined and 

 watched in a cage, Mgithina tiphia and Argya earlii did not produce " castings " 

 from insects given, while Cittocincla macrura did so. 



