39S On Egypt and the Nile 



which was a! To called the City of the Sun (a), from a celebrated temple 

 dedicated to that luminary, which I fuppofe to be the Suryefwdrd-fih&n of 

 the old Hindu writers: the following legend concerning it is extracted 

 from the Bbdfcara-mdhdtmya. The fon of So'mara'ja, named Pushpa- 

 Ce'tu, having inherited the dominions of his father, neglected his publick 

 duties, contemned the advice of his miniflers, and abandoned himfelf to 

 voluptuoufnefs ; till Bhi'ma, fon of Pa'mara, (or of an outcaft) descend- 

 ed from the hills of Ni/ddri, and laid fiege to his metropolis : the prince, 

 unable to defend it, made his efcape, and retired to a wood on the banks 

 of the Call. There, having bathed in the far red river, he performed 

 penance for his former diffolute life, ftanding twelve days on one leg, with- 

 out even tailing water, and with his eyes fixed on rhe Sunj the regent of 

 which appeared to him in the character of Su'rye'swara, commanding 

 him to declare what he moll defired. " Grant me mdcJJia, or beatitude,'* 

 faid Pushpa-ce'tu, proflrating himfelf before the deity j who bade him 

 be patient, afTured him that his offences were expiated, and promifed to 

 defbroy his enemies with intenfe heat, but ordered him to raife a temple, 

 infcribed to Su'rye'swara, on the very fpot, where he then flood, and 

 declared, that he would efface the fins of all fuch pilgrims, as mould vifit 

 It with devotion: he alfo directed his votary, who became, after his refto- 

 ration, a virtuous and fortunate monarch, to celebrate a yearly feflival 

 in honour of Si/rya on the feventh lunar day in the bright half of Mdgha* 

 We need only add, that Hcliopolis in lower Egypt, though a literal tranfla- 

 tion of Surya-ft'bdn, could not be the fame place, as it was not on the 

 banks of the Nile. 



X. One of the wildefl fictions, ever invented by Mythologies, is told in 



(a) Diod. Sic. B t 2. c. i.j 



