BY THE ANCIENT HINDUS. 



209 



The language is simple, terse and antiquated, and in 

 many instances the age of the work manifests itself in this 

 respect. The Sukraniti contains also a large number of 

 half verses and this is another circumstance speaking for its 

 antiquity. In some places it contradicts the precepts of Manu, 

 and as it is not likely that any Hindu would dare to oppose 

 that most venerated law book, we may conclude that the 

 compilation of our work is anterior to or at least contempo- 

 rary with our revision of Manu's Dharmasastra. 



Sukra is regarded as the preceptor of the Demons, and 

 though this tradition should be received cum grano salts, 

 nevertheless the work written by or ascribed to him may have 

 been regarded as the special law book of the warriors or 

 Ksatriyas. It was also for this reason originally not much 

 patronised by the Brahmans, but now it is held in great 

 respect by theo. 82 



CHAPTEE III. 



ON THE USE OF GUNPOWDER AND FIREARMS IN 

 GENERAL. 



No invention has, within the last five hundred years, been 

 so influential in shaping the destinies of nations as the 

 introduction of gunpowder and of firearms into warfare. 

 The fate of whole realms depended, and depends to a certain 

 extent even now, on the proficiency attained by the comba- 



82 A copy of the Sukraniti was bought for the Government MSS. Library 

 by my predecessor Mr. Sesagiri Sastri as far back as 1871, but as long as I 

 could consult only this copy, I could not well attempt to print it. Since that 

 time I have received three more Manuscripts of this work from other parts of 

 the country, which, though coming from different places and being written in 

 different characters, are in very close agreement. A printed specimen 

 published a few years ago by H.H. the Holkar has also come into my hands, 

 and though it is a print abounding with mistakes, it serves me as another 

 Manuscript. 



The Sukraniti is now very scarce, and its owners do not like to part with 

 it. I have therefore been obliged to get two MSS. copied, as I could not 

 obtain the originals. 



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