84 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
and refer to the history of each division, he will 
readily allow the necessity of omitting such a passage, 
however picturesque it might he ; unless, indeed, the 
weighty taste of our ancestors should suddenly return 
and convert our petit annuals into the profound folios, 
those “harbours of inexpungable ignorance,” of the 
olden time. 
The ancient name of Benares is Kasi (the mag- 
nificent), and by this it is still called among the 
Brahmins, w'hose history of the place is so authentic 
and entertaining as to deserve a few lines where an 
uninteresting statistical account is not allowed even 
a few words. For a trifling sum of money this 
history may be obtained viva voce from any Brah- 
min ; I thus became possessed of it, and being struck 
with the effect imparted to it by the manner of rela- 
tion, I shall as nearly as possible adhere to the priest’s 
words. 
“ It is commonly thought by Christians, Mohamme- 
dans, and others who are unacquainted with the truth, 
that this Holy City of Kasi rests upon a portion of 
this earth, but such an opinion is altogether erroneous,, 
as it has been revealed to us by the gods, and as our 
senses are at times permitted to discover. The world 
itself, since the day of its creation, has remained sup- 
ported upon the thousand heads of the serpent Ananta 
(eternity), and so it will continue to be upheld until 
the command of Brahma shall be proclaimed for it to 
he for ever enveloped in the coils of that interminable 
