SACRED ISLES IN THE WEST. 95 



m Cskira-dwipa^ or the JVhite Island^ said there to be Cshira-dwipa-' 

 dwipana-Sir-mor; that is to say Cshira-dwipa of all the dwipas is the first 

 and principal. This treatise is written in the spoken dialec^l of the coun- 

 tries to the we^t of Agra. Sir signifies head, and mor, as well as in 

 Galic, signifies great; Sir-mor implies either a man^ or any thing above 

 4he rest The Sir-?nor mountains, west of the Jum7ta, are thus called, be- 

 cause their heads are greater, or above the others, 



This Calpa-vricsha of the gods, bestows every thing that is desirable; 

 and when Jin a is going to be incarnated, the waters of the White Sea 

 cpme up to it Near this tree the Dic'hyddris, or disciples of JiNA, cut 

 their hair, and throw it into the White Sea. 



It appears also that the White Island is the Therapnoe of the Argo« 

 nautics ascribed to Orpheus. In the Purdn'as, ^Swe'tam is described as 

 the most proper place for making tarpana^ or libations in honor of the 

 Pitrts: and though not expressly called Tarpana, yet it is declared to 

 be the land of Tarpan'a: and a most proper place it was, as the Pitris 

 dwelt there, and in the adjacent islands: and we read of several holy 

 men going there, for the purpose of performing that ceremony. Thus 

 it appears that the White Island, Cshira, or Khira, Scheria, or Kyre, 

 was called also Tarpan'a, or Therapnce; from which the Greeks made 

 Drepane. That the White Island was called Tarpana by the Hi}idus is 

 attested by Mr. Lord, when he says that Visva-carma, or Twashta', 

 wejit to live in the country o^ Derpe, or Derpen, after having crossed 

 many seas. That gentleman's information is generally true; though 

 some times incorredl: and though it be found, occasionally, to differ 

 from the received opinions in this part of India, yet I find it in general 

 conformable to legends, which arc current in that part, in which he lived. 



