BAUDDHA TRACTS PROM NEPAL. 45I 



formulee and ceremonies very soon become common property, and whatever 

 may be the ruling principles, the popular practice easily adopts a variety of 

 rites that are peculiar to different creeds. This is every where the case 

 throughout Hindustan, and the sectaries of Vishnu often assimilate to those 

 of Siva, whilst the worshippers of the female Principle are constantly identi- 

 fiable with both. Nepal, evidently, constitutes no exception, and the worship 

 of Siva, and Tantra rites, are so widely blended with the practices and notions 

 of the BauddhistSf that an accurate appreciation of the latter is no longer 

 derivable from any but original and authentic sources, or the ancient works 

 of the Bhotiyas in which the pure and primitive doctrines are enshrined. 



Of the number and character of those works which are the authorities of 

 the Bauddhas of Nepal, the only description on which any reliance can be 

 placed is contained in the preceding communication, from Mr. Hodgson, to 

 whose active and intelligent zeal the Society is so largely indebted. It yet 

 remains, however, to estimate the contents of the volumes he has enu- 

 merated,' and which for the far greater part, it is believed, are written in the 

 language of Tibet, and not in Sanscrit, as he seems to suppose. We must wait 

 therefore for the acquirement of this language by European scholars, before 

 we can pronounce with confidence upon the character and contents of the 

 Bauddha Scriptures, and how far they may be originals or translations. If the 

 latter, which, except to a limited extent, is very unlikely, we may safely 

 assert, that the Sanscrit originals are no longer procurable in Hindustan. 



The paper already referred to, furnishes us also with the only outline of 

 the Bauddha philosophy and mythology that can be consulted with advantage, 

 for, although some of the particulars are to be found in Giorgi's ponder- 

 ous volume, they are so obscured by his parade of learning, and spirit of 

 theory, that they are to be selected only with great trouble and uncertainty. 

 The account given by Pallas, as quoted by Buchanan, seems also to be 

 derived from oral information only, and to be confined to superficial and 



4 s. 



