ON THE GANGA KINGS. 



149 



drugs (or pepper), &c, with seed for sowing. The whole of 

 this, freed from all imposts, is given with pouring of water. 



Witnesses to this gift : — The existing chiefs of the Ninety- 

 six Thousand Country. 



Moreover thus are the slokas delivered by Manu : — Who so 

 seizes upon land presented by himself or by another shall be 

 born a worm in ordure for sixty thousand years. To make a 

 gift oneself is very easy, to maintain another's gift is diffi- 

 cult ; but of making a gift or maintaining one, maintaining 

 another's is twice as meritorious. The earth has been enjoyed 

 by Sagara and many kings ; according to their gifts of land 

 so was their reward. Poison is no poison, a gift to the gods 

 that is the fearful poison : for poison kills one man, but a gift 

 to the gods (if usurped) kills sons and descendants. Who so 

 maintains this will derive the merit thereof. 



Written by Visvakarmma* 



Bangalore, October 1878. 



Lewis Bice, 



