1847,] 



or Scythian Vestiges, ^c. 



81 



own country, buried in a sepulchre with a quantity of gold-chains, and 

 other ornaments, part of the plunder, and covered with a cloth of 

 gold : corresponding- with what is stated, in one of the following trans- 

 lations,, as to the tombs of the Simancal, or honorable men. Native 

 history uniformly declares, that various tribes of barbarians from the 

 North, or North-West, at different times entered India: and even ruled 

 the whole extent of country. And a smile of incredulity will not easily 

 set this, however imperfectly given, testimony aside. I would not 

 draw any conclusion, without more extensive, and better data. But 

 I would suggest that some of the young, intelligent, and enterprising, 

 civil servants of the Company, who in pursuit of their revenue duties 

 are in the habit of intersecting the country, in all directions, might 

 inquire into, and describe these remains, if they still exist ; and others 

 better read than myself in Siberian, and other, travels might give 

 a comparative description of Siberian, Punfauhi, or Cashmerian an- 

 tiquities, of like character : whence possibly some definite conclusion 

 might be drawn. I will only add that Marcandeya-rishi mentioned 

 in the following papers, and so well known to Hindu fables, is, by 

 all fair inference, an antediluvian patriarch — that his name, in all 

 ancient maps, is given to a famous town North- West of India, — that 

 Samarcand, its modern Persic name, is an abbreviated corruption : 

 *' Marcand for Marcandeya (as they spell Bickermajit for Vicrama- 

 ditya) and the prefix su denoting good or sacred. The locality of 

 Samarcand is not very remote from Siberia. It is the locality of the 

 ancient Sacae ; whence I believe we derive Scythia and Scythians : 

 one with which India, in earlier ages, unquestionably had some con- 

 nexion, or relation. I shall not however here enlarge. We as yet 

 want a greater number of facts, on which deductions can be more 

 safely founded, as to the ancient relations of India; and the origin of 

 its various classes of people." 



So far proceeds the introduction heretofore written. At a period, 

 later than that of making two of the following translations, I met 

 with a notice of cutting into topes in the Punjauh, of which I took a 

 memorandum, sufficient for my own recollection, without being a 

 copy. It here follows, as I might spoil it by attempting emendation. 

 The reference to the number of the Journal will enable any one pos- 

 sessing it, to consult the entire paper. 



*' In twelve days — they — had discovered nothingbut a kind of square 

 *' cell, in the centre of the masonry, constructed of stones regularly cut. 

 " This cell which was about 8 feet square was filled with large rough 



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