from the Ancient Books op the Hindus. ^iy 



man or Shepherd; He was a prince mighty and warlike, though very re- 

 ligious ; but his brother Ta'ra c'hya, who reigned over the Vindhyan 

 mountaineers, was impious and malignant; and the whole country was 

 infefted by his people, whom he fupported in all their enormities : the 

 good king always protected the pilgrims to Cafi or Varanes in their paflfage 

 over the hills, and fupplied them with neceffaries for their journey ; which 

 gave fo great offence to his brother, that he waged war againft Irshu, 

 overpowered him, and obliged him to leave his kingdom; but Maha'de'- 

 v,\, proceeds the legend, affifted the fugitive prince and the faithful Palis, 

 who accompanied him; conducting them to the banks of the Call in 

 Sancha-dwip, where they found the Sharmicas, and fettled among them. 

 In that country they built the temple and town Punyavati or Punya-nagar) ; 

 words implying holinefs and purity, which it imparts, fay the Hindus, to 

 zealous pilgrims : it is believed at this day to fland near the Call on the low 

 hills of Mandara, which are faid in the Purdnas to confift of red earth ; 

 and on thofe hills the Pa/lis, under their virtuous leader, are fuppofed to 

 live, like the Gandharvas on the fummit of Himalaya, in the lawful enjoy- 

 ment of pleafures; rich, innocent, and happy, though intermixed with 

 fome Mle'ch'has, or people who [peak a barbarous dialeffi, and with fome 

 of a fair complexion. The low hills of Mandara include the tract called 

 Me roe or Merhoe, by the Greeks; in the centre of which is a place named 

 Mandara in the Jesuits' Map, and Manderaby Mr. Bruce, who fays, that 

 of old it was the refidence of the Shepherd, or Palli, kings: in that part 

 of the country the hills confift of red earth; and their name Mandara is a 

 derivative from manda, which, among other fenfes, means Jliarp-pointed, from 

 the root mand, which may have the fenfe of bhid to cut*, fo that Mandara- 

 parvata fignifies a mountain dividing the waters and forcing them to run 

 different ways; an etymology confirmed by Mr. Bruce in his defcription 



