1840.] 



Existing in the Telugu Language. 



55 



Baptista; there are also a few Hindastani expressions. There is in 

 some passages an appearance of a foreigner's composition, but in gene- 

 ral the style is unobjectionable, unless as being a little pedantic. 



These books (all unprinted) are usually styled the Veda : and those 

 who desire to obtain them should enquire for them under the name ot 

 the Christian Veda. But the New Testament is often denominated 

 Suvisesham : which denotes Good News. It is to be observed that in 

 the Gospels the doctrinal portions are usually omitted. 



Another volume much read among natives is usually called Jnana 

 JBodha, or Instruction in Wisdom, but I do not find any title in the 

 volume. It is a mere set of sermons on various doctrines, wherein there 

 are many allusions to history (even including a notice of CcBsar Borgia) 

 but there are few references to the Bible. It is not well written or 

 interesting An European reader, if acquainted with Telugu, will under- 

 stand it with ease : but to the natives it is extremely obscure. 



There are some trivial compositions which call for little notice : such 

 as the Devara Talli Dundacam, or " Chant to the Mother of the Lord." 

 Another hymn or chant is denominated Jesu Natha Swami Dandacam. 



There remain two volumes which call for more notice, being the 

 Tohhya Charitra and the Vedanta Rasayanam. These are written in 

 verse. 



The first of these is the legend of Tobit : written in padya metre, and 

 contained in three cantos. It is an amplification of the story described 

 in the Apocrypha, and possesses no great literary merit. It is the com- 

 position of Pingala Ellaya^ the son of Magaya, whom the introduction 

 shews to have been a Jangam. The Jangams narrate regarding their 

 teacher Basava, a variety of legends ; part of which, particularly those 

 describing his birth are mere imitations of the first book of the Ra- 

 MAYAN : and these stories are in the present poem related regarding 

 Tobit. 



The Vedanta Rasayan is entitled to more particular notice : like 

 the poem last mentioned it is in the padya metre, or stanzas, and is the 

 composition of Ananda, son of Timmaya, of the Mangalagiri family : the 

 style is purely classical ; and judging from circumstances we may consider 

 it to have been written about a century ago. The author's poetical powers 

 are considerable, the taste he shews is good ; and the extent of his learning, 

 particularly in Sanscrit, and the classic dialect of Telugu, has gained him 

 much applause. His poem which we may denominate A summary of the 

 Gospels^ has been mentioned in a former essay, but it merits a more detailed 

 notice. In the usual mode pursued by Catholic writers it describes the 

 five sorrowful^ and the (i\e joyful mysteries^ and omits much of the di- 



