248 Essay on the Ancient Geography of India. [No. 3. 



Rama for Hermes an ancient sage. It is designated also by the 

 appellation of the fort of Bam, in the treaties of peace concluded 

 between Nadir Shah, and the emperor of India; and by that of 

 Ramgar, Coydr, or Couhbar in the Ayin-Acberi. Our pilgrims, having 

 visited in a boat the Zeroed of Ram, cross over to the other side 

 of the Bay, and after a march of eight or nine cos, about 15 or 

 17 miles, they arrive on the banks of the river Hdb, which they 

 cross, dress their food, and sleep there. There is about one foot 

 of water in it, during the dry season : its bed is broad, and it is 

 a pretty large river during the rains. Its bed is full of large round- 

 ed stones called Gallets by Buffon. Its current is rapid, and makes 

 a considerable noise among the stones. It was called Ab-Indos by 

 the Portuguese, and in some maps Obandos, or the Indian Hdb ; 

 and by Father Monserrat Ab Indorum rivus in Latin. The country 

 between Ram-bag, and this river is full of stones, which were formerly 

 men, and who will resume their original shapes, at the end of the 

 world. On the fourth day, at night the pilgrims sleep on the banks 

 of the Hab, and, early on the fifth, resume their march. From this 

 river to Sdnemeydni, they reckon 20 cos, or 38 British miles. The first 

 part of the route is intricate, and having no fixed points, they never 

 agree about the particulars, till they come to a place called Rdmpra- 

 nala, or Rdmprabdh, which is acknowledged to be 12 cos, or 23 miles 

 from Sdnemeyani : these deducted, leave 8 cos, or 1 5 miles for the 

 distance from the Indian H&b to Rdmprabdh. To the West of the 

 Hdb is a range of hills, running parallel to it, and very close to the 

 river opposite to the ford, there is an opening in the range, which, 

 though narrow, affords an easy passage ; the range to the left runs 

 toward the sea, and the distance is supposed to be five or six cos, and 

 ends at Cape Mun'd, a name unknown to our travellers. The ford 

 and pass are guarded by a form of S'iva called Jhangdr, or Thangdr- 

 Bhairava, or the tremendous one, maker of jungles and twangs, from 

 the Sanskrit Jhah or Jhanjha, and Thah, in the spoken dialects Jhang, 

 and Thang ; both are expressive of the twang of a bow-string. These 

 are heard only, when he is not irritated, otherwise these sounds are 

 such, that people will either die through fear, or be driven to madness : 

 and here begins the country of Jhang, or noises. This tremendous 

 deity has a seat, or station in the bed of the river, and also in the 



