146 ESSAY ON THE 



they could not but suppose, that it had destroyed entirely tlie Atlantis, 

 and left nothing in its place but muda 



A DEITY is then introduced, putting a stop to the progress of this black 

 and poisonous substance, ready, according to the Purdnas^to overwhelm, 

 not only the IVhite Island, but the whole world also. The serpent 

 Midgard, living at the bottom of the sea, like Anantay and vomiting 

 torrents of deadly poison, and surrounding the wgrid like 'Sesha-na'ga, 

 is the subject of several fundamental legends in the rnythology of the 

 Goths : but absolutely unknown to the Qreeks ai;id Romans. This Cdla- 

 ci'ita, or black lump of poison, stuck in 'Siva's throat, like the apple that 

 Ad-am ate, and occasioned that prgtiiberanc^ since called Adam's apple 

 or bit. ■',,,.:_ . ! '. : 



III. The other jewels produced by this churnFng, were the Apsaras, or 

 nymphs, with Rambha' as their chief. These were jewels indeed, created 

 for the amusement of the Indrd-dicas or gods. Rambha'-devi is the first, 

 several others are mentioned, as Tilottama', Urvasi &c. These are 

 also of infinite service to Indra, whose situation is rather precarious. 

 He was originally a mere mortal ; but was informed, that the throne of 

 heaven belonged to whatever man could perform one hundred Asvame- 

 d'has, or sacrifices of a horse, which he did. The giant Bali was very 

 near succeeding : but Indra, with the assistance of Cacust'ha, proved 

 viftorious, and now wields the thunderbolt, and dispenses rain. Cacu- 

 s'th A was a most powerful prince, and granted his assistance to Indra, 

 on condition that he would carry him on his shoulders against his enemies. 

 Indra v/as forced to comply with this humiliating condition, and to march 

 against the giants, his enemies, with Cacust'ha seated on his shoulders, 

 (or Caciidaj in Sanscrit^ properly a hump, being the space between the 



