446 
RUN RUN 
characters vary from the Runic, particularly in free-stones 
found in Helsingland, of which Mr. Celsius has given us a 
description, with an explanation. See Philos. Trans. No. 
445, sect. 5. 
From these Helsingland inscriptions an alphabet of sixteen 
letters may be derived, which is very singular. In other 
alphabets different sounds are generally denoted by different 
figures: but here the same character, according to the diver¬ 
sity of its place and altitude between two parallels, denotes 
different sounds. 
But these characters, however different they may appear at 
the first sight from the Runic, may easily be derived from 
them; or, vice versa, the Runic may be derived from the 
Helsingic, if these be supposed the most ancient. The 
subtraction of a perpendicular line in the first case, or its 
addition to the latter, brings the two characters to a near 
resemblance. 
RUNEKA, in Hindoo Mythology, is fabled as the mortal 
mother of Parasu Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu. Her 
husband was Jamadagni, one of the seven Rishis, or patri¬ 
archal sages.. On the death of Jamadagni, Runeka declared 
her intention of becoming Sati, that is, pure, by the act of 
self-immolation on her husband's funeral pile. The 
avaricious Raja, who had caused her husband’s death, 
became thus charged with a double murder. It is related 
of Runeka, that, to strengthen the potency of her maledic¬ 
tions on the head of the murderous Raja, she, in addition 
to her own self-sacrifice, performed also the ceremony of 
Naramedha, or the sacrifice of a man, thereby rendering her 
solicitations to the avenging deities absolutely irresistible. 
And so lasting is said to be the effect of the wrath felt and 
transmitted by the vindictive Sati, that a man is sacrificed 
to appease the wrath of Runeka Devi, in every generation, 
by the tribe called Karhara, a military sect, many of whom 
are settled in the Kokan, Guzerat, and other western pro¬ 
vinces of India. 
Mr. Wilford, discussing some of these topics in the third 
volume of the Asiatic Researches, observes, that although 
human victims, Naramedha, allowed by ancient authorities, 
are now prohibited under pain of the severest torments in 
the next world, the prohibition is said to be disregarded by 
the Pamaras, or Pariar races, in different parts of India. 
RUNG, pret. and part. pass, of ring .—The heavens and 
all the constellations rung. Milton. 
RUNG, s. [ hrugg, Goth, pronounced hrung, a rod, a 
staff.] A spar ; a round or step of a ladder: so used in the 
north of England .—Rungs are what the carpenters call those 
timbers in a ship, which constitute her floor, and are bolted 
to the keel. Skinner. [Icel. raung, pi . rungor; Su.—Goth 
rong.' Fr. varangues, the ribs of a ship. Dr. Jamieson.] 
RUNG-HEADS, are made a little bending to direct the 
sweep or mold of the futtocks, and naval timbers; for here 
the lines, which make the compass and bearing of a ship, 
do begin. 
RUNGPOOR, called also Takhut Koondy, an ex¬ 
tensive district of Bengal, situated about the 26th degree of 
northern latitude, bounded on the north by the Bootan 
mountains, and on the east by the river Brahmapootra. It 
produces a quantity of silk, rice, sugar, indigo, hemp, and 
tobacco. Some parts of it are very fine, but taking the 
whole, it is not so populous or well cultivated as other dis¬ 
tricts of this province. Couch Behar is now included in 
this collectorship. Glandular swellings of the throat are here 
very prevalent, although parts of the district are more than 
100 miles distant from the alpine region, or snowy moun¬ 
tains. Besides the Brahmapootra, it is watered by the rivers 
Teestah and Durlah. Its chief towns are Rungpore, Guz- 
gotta, and Mungulhaut. This district being situated at a 
short distance from Gour, was taken possession of, and 
colonised by the Mahometans, early in the 13th cen¬ 
tury, and was always governed by a foujedar or military 
collector. Between the year 1730 and 1740, it was ruled by 
Sayed Ahmed, nephew of Aly verdy Khan, who is accused 
of having been very oppressive, and having kept up a nu- 
tnerous army, for the purpose of reducing the rajahs of 
Dinagepore and Couch Behar, both of whom he compelled 
to pay tribute. It is now governed by a civil establishment 
of judge, collector, &e. and is subservient to the court of 
circuit and appeal of Dacca. 
RUNGPORE, the capital of the above-mentioned dis¬ 
trict. It is situated on the eastern bank of the Goggot 
river, is a very regular well-built town, and carries on a consi¬ 
derable trade with Bootan, Assam, and Calcutta. The judge 
and collector reside at a village called Nuwalgunge, about 
a mile from the town. Lat. 25. 47. N. long. 89. 5. E. 
RUNGPORE, an extensive fortress which defends 
Gergong, the ancient capital of Assam. It is situated on 
an island, and can only be approached by a bridge, which 
was built some centuries ago, and remains as a monument 
ol the abilities of the Bengal artificers, who were employed 
to construct it. Lat. 26. 55. N. long. 94. 40. E. 
RUNHALL, a village of England, in Norfolk; 5§ miles 
north-west of Wymondham. 
RUNHAM, a village of England in Norfolk; 4 miles 
west of Caistor. 
RU'NIC, adj. [See Rune.] Denoting the letters and 
language of the ancient northern nations.—Odin was the first 
inventor, at least the first engraver, of the Runick letters or 
characters. Temple. 
The huge Colossus rose with trophies crown’d. 
And Runic characters were grav’d around. Pope. 
RUNIC STAFFS, a kind of calendars or compen¬ 
dious almanacks used in the North, marked out by lines 
upon short peices of board or smooth sticks ; some of which 
bear the appearance of great antiquity. They were called in 
the North, rim-stocks and prim-staffs; and exhibited, by 
different lines or marks, the fasts and festivals, the golden 
number, Dominical letter, epact, &c. Dr. Plot, in his 
History of Staffordshire, p. 418, &c. describes one of these 
instruments under the name of a clog, and illustrates the 
construction of it by a figure. He observes that this kind of 
almanack is a remain of the Danish government, and that it 
was still in use amongst the meaner sort of people. Those 
which he met w’ith in Staffordshire had only the prime and 
immoveable feasts upon them; whereas others of a more 
perfect kind, preserved in the cabinets of the curious, have 
likewise the Dominical letters. And of those imperfect ones 
there are two kinds; some public, of a larger size, which 
were commonly hung at one end of the mantle-piece of the 
chimney, for the use of the whole family, as Wormius 
informs us they disposed of them in Denmark; and others 
private, of a smaller size, which they carried in their pockets. 
This chronological instrument is sometimes, by an evident 
corruption, called runs toe lot 
RUNIUS (John), one of the most celebrated of the 
Swedish poets, was borii in West Gothland, in 1679. He 
received the rudiments of his education at Skara, where he 
gave early proofs of his genius, and made so much progress 
in Greek literature, as to be able to compose verses in that 
language with care and correctness. He wrote with so much 
care, and his versification is so smooth and pleasing to the 
ear, that he is accounted by the Swedes one of the most 
successful of their poets. His poems were published after 
his death under the title of “ Dudaim,” Stockholm, 1714, 
in two parts, 4to. In 1733, it was reprinted with the addi¬ 
tion of a third part containing pieces on different subjects* 
not before published, among which were several ingenious 
poems written in Latin, Greek, French, and German. 
Gezelii Biographiska Lexicon. 
RUNKEL, a small town of the west of Germany, in the 
duchy of Nassau, on the Lahn. It gives name to the small 
principality of Wied-Runkel, but the chief town of that 
principality is Diersdorf; 5 miles east of Limburg. 
RUNKHORN, a village of England, in Cheshire, near 
the mouth of the Mersey. 
RU'NNEL, s. A rivulet; a small brook. 
With murmur loud, down from the mountain’s side, 
A little runnel tumbled neare the place. Fairfax. 
RUfNNER, 
