68 
V. A. Smith —On the Civilization of Ancient India. [N"o. 1, 
It appears to me proper, before I go further, to insert here a brief 
review of what is known as to the coincidences between the subjects of 
Greek and Indian tales. 
I shall not undertake in individual cases to decide which of the 
five points of view is the true one, that is, to decide whether each story 
(1) developed naturally, (2) or is of Indo-Germanic, or (3) of Western, or 
(4) of Greek origin, or (5) was conveyed from India to the West. At 
present such a determination is for the most part impracticable. But 
I can at least arrange the whole generally in a certain chronological 
order. 
[Prof. Weber then proceeds to give, with references in each case, 
a long catalogue of myths relating to the sun-bird, Garuda, Cinderella, 
the wisliing-cow, etc., which are all descended from primitive, Indo- 
Germanic, Vedic times. He classes in the same category the stories of 
enchanted princes, castles, etc., etc., in which German folk-lore is so 
rich. Some of these myths may have arisen in India, and the Greeks 
and Romans knew a good many of these things on their own account. 
An extensive and rich field of investigation here lies open. I may note 
that the Indian Antiquary for several years past has published numerous 
stories of Indian folk-lore, which are not here referred to by Prof. 
W eber. 
He then gives a similar list of myths which have travelled from the 
West to India, such as the treasure-chamber of Rhampsinitus, the Rape 
of Ganymede, the Sibylline books, Orpheus and Eurydice, etc., etc. 
Christian legends w r ill be dealt with further on. He then proceeds to 
discuss the origin of the Indian drama. He holds that the germ of the 
Indian drama is to be found in indigenous religious festivals, resembling 
the German Passion plays, and that this opinion is strongly confirmed 
by passages in the Mahabhashya (see Ind. Stud. 13, 490 seqqf. But the 
beginnings of dramatic art thus indicated are of a simple and grotesque 
kind, separated by a very wide interval from the finished work of Kali¬ 
dasa. The scope for Greek influence was found in this interval. He 
then briefly notices with approval the treatises of Brandes and Windisch, 
which I have discussed in my former essay. 
He next takes up the subject of astronomy, his remarks on which 
I shall translate at greater length. V. A. S .] 
So far as the sciences are concerned, astronomy is above all that in 
which Greek influence is plainly and clearly visible. The [Indian astro¬ 
nomers themselves expressly describe the Yavanas as being their 
teachers. Among the five ancient Siddhantas which the astronomer 
Varahamihira (A. D. 504-87) has specially made use of there are two, 
the Pulisa and Romaka Siddhantas, which [prove this by their very 
