378 On Egypt and the Nile 



world, and did a great deal of mi f chief that is, according to the Pur 'anas ', deftroy- 

 ed the infolent C r o'r a's ura, who was probably revered in the more weftern 

 countries, where Vaea'he's'wara once reigned according to the Hindus, 

 and where they believe his poflerity ftill to live in the fhape of white Vard- 

 has, or Boars : the legend of the wars between thofe Vardhas and the Sara- 

 bbas, a fort of monfler with the face of a lion, and wings like a bird, fhall be 

 explained in another elfay on Var dba-divip ; and I fhall only add in this place, 

 that the war was reprefented, according to.HEsioD, on the fhield of Her- 

 cules. At prefent the place, where the temple of Ammon formerly flood, 

 has the name of Santariab, which may be derived from fome altar anciently 

 dedicated to Chinta'hara, 



II. We are told in the Ndreda Puran, that Su'rya, the regent of the Sun, 

 had chofen a beautiful and well peopled countiy in Sanc'ba-dwip, for the pur- 

 pofe of performing his devotions ; but that he had no fooner begun, than the 

 whole region was in flames, the waters dried up, and all its inhabitants def- 

 troyed > fmee which it has been denominated Barbara. The Devatds, it is 

 added, were in the greatefl diftrefs, and Vishnu defcended with Brahma', 

 to expoflulate with the author of the conflagration : Su'rya praifed and wor- 

 fhipped them, but lamented, that his devotion has not profpered, and pro- 

 mifed to repair the injuries dpne by his flames. " It is I, faid Vishnu, who 

 cs muft repair them; and, when I fhall revifit this country, in the cha- 

 ss racier of Crishna, to deflroy the demon Sanc'ha'sura, the land fhall 

 ^ cool and be replenished with plants and animals ; the race of Pali fhall 

 se then fettle here, with the Cutila-cefas* the Yavanas, and other M/ec/fba 

 ff tribes/' 



