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morphosis of the former was the effect of enraged jealousy, that 

 of the latter was exerted for the protection of chastity. Oriental 

 and occidental poets are allowed the same privilege, and the man 

 of taste enjoys their pleasing fictions. Narmada graces the Hin- 

 doo mythology, Pope has immortalized Lodona. 



I shall, for the present, take leave of the Nerbudda with Beas 

 Muni's address to her in the character of the goddess Narmada, 

 extracted from the Vayer Purana, and presented by the pundits 

 of Ruttonpoor to captain Blunt. " O Narmada! glorious as the 

 sun and moon are thine eyes; but the eye in thy forehead blazes 

 like fire: bearing in thy hand a spear like the tresul, and resting 

 on the breast of Byroe. The blood of Anduk is dried up in thy pre- 

 sence; thy weuson (a sort of snow) is the dispeller of dread from 

 the human race: Brahma and Siva resound thy praises ; mortals 

 adore thee. The Munis reverence thee; dewas (demi-gods) and 

 hindras (angels) are thy progeny: thou art united with the ocean; 

 thou art descended from Surya. By thee are mortals sanctified. 

 Thou dispeller of want, thou increasest the prosperity of those 

 Avho perform their devotions to thee. By thee are mortals directed 

 to the blissful regions, and taught to avoid the mansions of punish- 

 ment: thou art also Reba, a child of Hemala, the mountain of 

 snow! Narmada answered, O Muni! thy words are perfect, and 

 thy heart is pure: be thou chief of Munis! By reading this a 

 man's life will be lengthened, his happiness and fame increased, 

 and his progeny multiplied." 



The affection of the Hindoos for lakes and rivers has been 

 mentioned; in no part of Hindostan are they more venerated than 

 at Dhuboy, Zinore, and Chandode; where I so often resided, en- 



