from the Ancient Bocks of the Hindus. 



437 



tifed religious aufterities. Tamo'vatsa became a warlike and ambitious, 

 but wife and devout, prince : he performed auftere acts of humiliation to 

 Vishnu, with a defire of enlarging his empire; and the God granted his 

 boon. Having heard, that Mifra-ft'han was governed by Nirmarya'da 

 (a name, which may poffibly be the origin of Nimrod), who was power- 

 ful and unjuft, he went with his chofen troops into that country, and, 

 without a declaration of war, began to adminifter juftice among, the people 

 and to give them a fpecimen of a good king : he even treated wkh difdain 

 an expoftulatory meffage from Nirmarya'da, who marched againft him 

 with a formidable army, but was killed in a battle, which lafted twelve 

 days, and in which Tamo'vatsa fought like a fecond Parasu Ra'ma^ 

 The conqueror placed himfelf on the throne of Mifra, and governed the 

 kingdom with perfect equity: his fon Ba'hyavatsa devoted himfelf to 

 religion and dwelt in a foreft ; having refigned his dominion to his fon 

 Rucmavatsa, who tenderly loved his people,, and fo highly improved 

 his country, that from his jufl revenues he amaffed an incredible treafure. 

 His wealth was fo great, that he raifed three mountains, called Rucmddrip 

 Rajatddri, and Retnddri, or the mountain of gold, of Jilver, and of gems: 

 the author fays mountains; but it appears from the context that they were 

 fab ricks, like mountains, and probably in a pyramidal form. 



Tamo'vatsa feems to be the Timaus of Manetho, who fays, accor- 

 ding to Mr. Bryant's tranflation, that •* they once had as. king, called 

 " TiMAUs y in whofe reign there came on a fudden into their country a large 

 *' body of obfeure people, who with great boldnefs invaded the land, took it 

 M without oppofition, and behaved very barbaroufly, flaying the men, and 

 " enflaving their wives and children." the Hindus, indeed, fay, that the in- 

 vaders were headed by Tamo'vatsa, who behaved with juftice to the na~ 



