158 THE REV. W. YATES' ESSAY 



In reference to the artificial specimens it may be observed, that 

 since every form which pleases the imagination of the Poet may be select- 

 ed as a kind of mould into v^hicli the verse may be cast or shaped, it 

 is manifest that many other forms, beside those given, might be produced. 

 Among these are commonly enumerated the flag, the dove-cot, the boat, 

 the serpent, the earth, the door, the curls, the pond, the chain, the chariot, 

 the sun or moon, and constellations, &c. Of all these I have not been able 

 to obtain good specimens, and as most of them are of modern invention, 

 and may be formed and increased at the pleasure of the Pandits, I have 

 not deemed it of much importance to seek after them. The examples 

 that have been supplied wiW be sufficient to explain the nature of this kind 

 of poetry ; and taken in connection with the other ten orders, to shew that 

 alliteration in Sanscrit, is a subject of no inconsiderable extent. I have 

 not yet seen any thing in print on this curious topic ; it would be vanity 

 therefore to suppose that I have exhausted it in this short attempt. Should 

 what has here been advanced lead some scholar, better capable of fulfilling 

 the task, to discuss it at a greater length, I shall consider that I have 

 done more service to the cause of literature, and the objects of the Asiatic 

 Society by prompting that individual to write, than by any thing I have 

 written. The little information I have collected, has been gleaned with 

 some trouble from different native works, there not being to my know- 

 ledge even among them a complete treatise on the subject, 



I cannot conclude without observing, that the very ingenious speci- 

 mens of alliteration which have been brought forward, must convince every 

 unprejudiced mind that the natives of this country are by no means defi- 

 cient in intellect. No nation has ever penetrated to a greater extent the 



