from the Ancient Books of the Hindus. 427 



the flupendous pyramid, faid to have been fix hundred feet high, in the midft 

 of that lake, was raifed, we are told, by a king named M^ris, Myris, 

 Marros,, Maindes, Mendes, and Imandes (a) -, a flrong inftance of one 

 name varioufly corrupted j and I have no doubt, that the original of all thofe 

 variations was Mer hi or Med hi. Even to this day in India, the pillars or 

 obelilks, often railed in the middle of tanks, or pools, are called Merfa's; but 

 let us proceed to another legend faithfully extracted from the Makd calpa, in 

 which we fee, beyond a doubt, the affinity of Indian, Egyptian, and Grecian 

 Mythology. 



IL On the mountains of Jwdlamuc'ha In the interior Cujha-dwip, reigned 

 a. virtuous and religious prince, named C'harvana'yana's, whofe fon 

 Cape'yana's preferred arms and hunting, in which he was continually en- 

 gaged, to the -ftudy of the Veda, and was fo frequently concerned in contefts and 

 affrays with his neighbours, that his father, after many vain admonitions, 

 -banimed him from his palace and his kingdom : the dauntlefs young exile 

 •retired to the deferts, and at length reached M6cjl:efa, believed to be Mecca, 

 where, hungry and fatigued, he bathed in the Mocfloa-tirfha, or confecrated 

 well, and paifed the night without fleep, Visvacse'na, then fovereign of 

 that country, had an only daughter Padmamuc'hi', or with a face like a 

 htcs, who went to perform religious rites to Maha'dVva, God of the tem- 

 ple and the well ; and there feeing the prince, fhe brought him refrefhment 

 and heard his adventures : their interview ended in mutual love, and the old 

 king, who denied her nothing, confented to their marriage, which was folem- 

 nized with the ceremony of Panigraba, or taking hands ; and the young pair 

 lived many years happily in the palace of their father. It happened fome 



(<j) Strabo B. 17. p. 811. Diod. Sic. B. 1. p. 55. 

 F f f 2 



