from the Ancient Books 'of -The Hindus. 4.53- 



on it, have named Meru-fringa. Names- are qftcn fo ftrangely corrupted, 

 that we fufpect Deo-naush to be alfo the Scythian monarch, called Ta- 

 naus by Justin (a), and Taunasis by Jornandes, who conquered 

 AJia, travelled into Egypt, and gave his name to the river otherwife called 

 Iaxartes : we have already mentioned Nous as a Greek name of the Ni[e, 

 and the Danube or IJter was known alfo by that of Danufius or Tanais (b); 

 in which points the Purdnas coincide with Horus Apollo, Eusta- 

 thius, and Strabo. 



X. The author of the Fiiva-pracds gives an account of an extraordinary 

 perfonage, named Darda'na'sa, who was lineally defcended from the 

 great Jamadagni: his father Abhaya'na's lived on the banks of the 

 river Vita/la, where he conftantly performed acts of devotion, explained the 

 Vedas to a multitude of pupils, and was chofen by Chitrarat'ha, who 

 though a Vaifya, reigned in that country, as his guru, or fpiritual guide. 

 Young Darda'na'sa had free accefs to. the fecret apartments of the palace, 

 where the daughter of the king became enamoured of him, and eloped with 

 him through fear of detection, carrying away all the jewels and other wealth, 

 that me could collect : the lovers travelled from hill to hill and from forefl 

 to foreft, until they reached the banks of the Call, where their property fe- 

 fured them a happy retreat. Pramo'da, a virtuous and learned Brahmen of 

 that country, had a beautiful daughter, named Pram ad a\ whom Dar- 

 da'na'sa, with the afTent of the princefs, took by the hand, that is married 

 according to the rites prefcribjd in the Veda; and his amiable qualities 

 gained him fo many adherents, that he was at length chofen fovereign of the 

 whole region, which he governed with mildnefs and wifdom. His anceitry 

 and pofterity are thus arranged : 



(a) Lib. 1. Cap. 1- and Lib. 2. Cap. 56. {/>) Euflaib. on Dionvs. Vencg. <v. 1^%, 



