HISTORY OF CAS.H^IR. 73 



in the use of his weapons. Death put a stop to his ferocious practices, and 

 released Cashmir from his tyranny, after it had endured it little more than 

 two years. 



The son of the Parricide, Sura Verma* succeeded him: he was yet an 

 infant, under the management of his mother, and his nominal reign was 

 of short duration. Camala Verdhana, who had been employed to clear the 

 country of the Ddmaras, had succeeded in the undertaking, and had made 

 peace and alliance with the chiefs of Campana and Mamma. He now return- 

 ed accompanied by all the leaders, and the Tatris and Ecdngas, and dis- 

 played all the pomp of royalty, although he had not assumed the name of 

 king: doubtful of his purpose, and deserted by all her late adherents, the 

 queen fled with her infant, unattended, into the forests , 



Camala Verdhana although now in possession of the military power, and 

 consequently of the kingdom, hesitated to mount the throne : a piece of 

 folly our author observes, only ascribable to the treacherous counsels of 

 unfaithful ministers or to the adumbration of his intellect, as a punishment 

 of evil done in a former life. His moderation did not proceed from indiffer- 

 ence to royalty, as he collected the brahmans, and desiring them to no- 

 minate a king, attempted to win them over to his interests. The opportu- 

 nity was lost ; the brahmans desirous of selecting a suitable person, or 

 instigated by other mptives, deliberated for some time about the choice, 

 and dispatched emissaries to ascertain {he merits and claims of various 

 candidates. 



Amongst others, the widow of Unmattiverti sent messengers to the 

 brahmans to solicit their support of her son. On their road, they were 

 encountered by a youth, who was just returning to his own country, and 

 who accompanied them to the capital, where the brahmans, unable to re- 



* Abulfazl confounds this with the former prince of the same name, 



J 



