HURDWAR. 
193 
inonly said that the Hindoos are indifferent to the 
fascinations of the picturesque, but in truth it is far 
otherwise. Without erudition and refinement there 
is seldom any very quick susceptibility of the charming 
and the grand in nature, and therefore it would 
be absurd to look for the same degree of admiration 
in the untaught savage as is exhibited by the educated 
of our countrymen ; at the same time they have 
perhaps more than is possessed by the lower orders 
of the Europeans ; and among the high-born and 
cultivated Hindoos I have witnessed the most ex- 
pressive rapture at the sight of sublime or of homely- 
beautiful scenery. Their writings abound with 
descriptions of landscape ; the following quotation 
will give evidence of their taste. It is from the 
Bushanda Bamaian. 
“ In the far recesses of the scented valley of Dwa- 
rak rises, in soft and delicate outline, the air-fraught 
image of the azure mountain, like a celestial spirit 
assuming the garb of visible substance. Lo ! how 
the gods have crowned their favourite with a dazzling 
circlet of gold and silver, sun and snow; and in a 
rich mantle of crimson and green, studded with myriad 
coloured gems, have altered its graceful forms. The 
sacred peeple and byr drop glittering honey from their 
pendent leaves, and the gathering rills have spread 
themselves in a shining lake, like diamonds of exqui- 
site brilliancy, that they may together delight them- 
selves with sleepy pastime in the cool shadow. From 
