SACRED ISLES IN THE WEST, 105 



the only heroes who ever penetrated beyond mount Atlas into the land of 

 darkness. 



IX. It is probable, that this land surrounding the known world, is 

 altogether the result of some fanciful idea of the Hindus y and other nations 

 in former ages. They conceived that it was absolutely necessary, to 

 prevent the waters of the ambient ocean, from running off into the 

 vacuum: and this idea alone was enough to establish its existence 

 among them. I was desirous, however, to ascertain, whether some 

 points in this imaginary boundary of the terraqueous world, could not 

 be traced through the Purdn'as, with the track, either real or imaginary, 

 of some of their Deities, or heroes, from hidia, in various directions, 

 to these parts. Very few indications and marks of such discoveries, 

 I was able to obtain, but these constantly pointed to the north-west 

 quarter of the old continent, consonant with the obscure hints of the 

 existence of such land, to be found in Plutarch, in the account 

 given by Silenus to Midas, and in the argonautics ascribed to Or- 

 pheus. It is not improbable, that some accidents, and fortunate cir^ 

 cumstances, from time to time, confirmed its existence. Through want 

 of intercourse, and owing to several centuries intervening without any of 

 these accidents recurring, which had brought to light its existence, it be- 

 came problematical and doubtful for a long time, and the severity of the 

 climate increasing in these northern regions, rendered these accidents 

 still more uncommon. The track of Crishna and Ra'ma-chandra, who 

 came originally from the H^hite Island, is pointed out, through the north- 

 west quarter, and the two Pushcaras, the British Isles and Iceland, 

 through which in the Trailocya-derpan a this track is also made to pass. 

 These fa6ts show, tliat once they had in the west, and in Indidj some 



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