70 ESSAY ON THE ...:;A3 



White Island \s the holy land of the Hindus, and to it they refer every 

 thing; and they have made of it a sort of fairy land. E$§n the chalk with 

 which they mark their foreheads must come from the White Island, no 

 other would answer their purpose. Accordingly, they suppose that Vishnu 

 and several holy men brought numerous lumps of it at different times; 

 and some of these, particularly that at Dwdraca, are s^s large as any 

 county in England. .... £n.. . ,. y 



We may admit that some sacerdotal tribes are really 'Sa,cas, and that 

 they came from the west ; perhaps, as assegited, in the time^ of Cjeiishn a ; but 

 that they came from the White Island, as well as the Vedas, is questiona- 

 ble. Certainly it is by no means impossible; but it requires str(^ngej* 

 proofs of its being true. As I do not write, history, .let us proceed to 

 •the legend itself, - :,-. :^;•?;,- Jn^a j^--'' ' -^n-^V^; v^^ 



" In the Dwipa of Jambu is th^ ""Adyast'hanam ; in tliis islaitid oVJamhu 

 " are three st'hans of the sun, the first called Indrava'n, the second Man- 

 ^^ da'ra, and the third Ca'lapnyam, as every body knows: but there is a 

 «* fourth revealed to mankind by Brahma', in the tat or countries border- 

 ." in^ on the Chandra-bha'gd, or China'b: it is called 'Sa'mba'-ptira, or. the 

 ^' town of \Sa'mbd. This place is, jn^apable^ of deqay ; and there the sun 

 " resides, .,-...^,-, . -'.-,. . ../.,■ - _,^. .•;,., 



" 'Sa'mba is the son of Va'su-deVa-CrishnAj born unto him from 

 ^* Jambavati', daughter of the bear Jamba, slain by him. 'Sa'mba Wa's 

 " proud ; he met one day Durva'sas, a choleric saint, and made wry faces 

 " at him. The holy man cursed him, and wished that he might become a 

 " leper. Soon after Na'rada came to see Crishna, and spoke much in 

 ^*'' praise of 'Sa'mba ;" all your wives," says he, " admire him much." 



