116 General Observations on [Feb, 



And as to the Hindus generally, they had an immemorial affinity, 

 observes Sir W. Jones, with the old Persians, Ethiopians and Egyp- 

 tians, the Phenicians, Greeks, and Tuscans, the Scythians or Goths, 

 and Celts, the Chinese, Japanese, and Peruvians. 



For many centuries after the conquests of Alexander, there seems to 

 have been an eager desire in India for foreign arts and sciences, curiosi- 

 ties, instruments of music, wine, and even beautiful women. Those 

 who desiderated such objects however were not Buddhists after Sakya's 

 taste, and must have been either brahmans or people from some 

 other body of Indians. If the Greeks made statues while in the Pun- 

 jab, the brahmans may have adopted the gods or heroes there represent- 

 ed. For many interesting facts respecting the ancient intercourse 

 betwixt India and western nations, Col. Wilford's learned Essay V. 

 (Vol. X. T. A. S. B.) may be consulted. 



The gods and devatas, who still grace the 22 heavens of the Bud- 

 dhists must, if we believe and can prove that the latter were a heretical 

 offset from brahmanism, be the same as those worshipped at the period 

 of the separation of the two sects, by the brahmans. This would serve 

 to fix the date in the above supposed case. 



But I cannot suppose that the chief of these Devatas, Indra, was 

 born out of India, although some foreign ideas may have been mixed up 

 with his history. 



From the following extract from the Milinda Raja, the qualifications 

 of Indra might have entitled him to Nirvana. His apotheosis however 

 had a lay character, rather than a religious one. He was doubtless the 

 ruler of some powerful empire, the capital of which was perhaps termed 

 Meru, which name, after his Dynasty had passed away, remained as a 

 mythological region. 



The seven names of Indra. 



1 . Maghawa, which appertained to him while yet a holy man in 

 this world. 



2. Burinthatho, when he was in the full exercise of the virtue of 

 charity. 



3. Sakko. Because of a benignant and humane disposition. 



4. Wasawo Phalawo. When he built houses for the poor and was 

 in other respects munificent. 



