ANTIQUITIES AND PLANTS OF INDIA. 



357 



Indus, the people were already, at that early day, distinguished for 

 their skill in manufactures. 



Earlier, however, than the Pharaonic Ages, we have the religious 

 symbol of the water-lily (Nymphsea) at the very commencement of the 

 monumental history of Egypt. The presence of the same symbol, 

 on the earliest Indian monuments, plainly indicates actual intercom- 

 munication. 



The asp or cobra, is another religious symbol common to the mo- 

 numents of India and Egypt. I have not found representations suffi- 

 ciently exact, to determine the species figured on the Indian monu- 

 ments : and it should be observed ; that of the two known species 

 of cobra, one, is indigenous in India ; and the other, in Northern 

 Africa. 



c. Domestic A7iimals and Plants of Andefit India. 



In enumerating the domestic animals and plants of India, I shall 

 begin in chronological order, with the earliest monuments. The 

 BuDHiST Caves, as already stated, contain representations of the fol- 

 lowing animals and plants : 

 The goose, the species undetermined. 

 The dog. — Not observed in the Braminical caves. 

 The sheep; the head forming part of an imaginary animal. — Repre- 

 sented also in the Braminical caves, but only in the ram-headed 

 personages. 



The horse; an animal that does not thrive in Southern India. 



The elephant. — Represented also, in the Braminical caves. — The 

 above five animals, are all mentioned, according to Stevenson, in 

 the Sama Veda ;* and according to the modern Bramins, in the 

 Institutes of Menu. 



The buffalo ; an animal, apparently indigenous either to India or to 

 the Indo-Chinese countries. — The buffalo, is likewise figured in 

 the Braminical caves. — And is mentioned, according to Stevenson, 

 in the Sama Veda ; and according to Deslongchamps, in the Insti- 

 tutes of Menu. 



The banana ; a plant, probably derived from the Malay countries. 



* Stevenson's Sanhita of the Sama Veda. London, 1842. 

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