1884.] 
E. T. Atkinson— Notes on the history ^c. 
39 
dakne matai maka!” Juchtere 
Tiomberombien oknok. Oliole'n 
komiaen, bliok enkane en inole 
onghae. Pomdaknede en matai, 
pompangsbede. Tiim ofae. Kapab- 
ende omtom. Leatende. 
island will break up again.” Now 
Tiomberombi was eating. His 
motber-in-law and bis wife related 
tbe story. Tben tbe island broke 
np and sank. They all cried out. 
They all died. Finis.* 
Notes on the history of Religion in the Himalaya of the N. W. Provinces. 
Part I. — By E. T. Atkinson, B. A., F. R. G. S., B. 0. S. 
In reading tbe wonderful story told by the great Chinese travellers 
Fab Hian and Hwen Tbsang of their wanderings through India in tbe 
fifth and seventh centuries, one cannot but be struck with tbe greatness 
and importance of Buddhism as tben understood, yet in the tenth century 
we hear very little about it, and about the twelfth century Buddhism 
appears to have ceased to be the faith of any considerable section of the 
Indian people. The inquiry naturally suggests itself, how did Buddhism 
disappear; what were the causes which effected the downfall of a system 
of religion which, for fifteen centuries occupied the thoughts, and held the 
affections of a great part of the population of this vast country, and had 
such defenders and expounders as Asoka, Kanishka, Nagarjuna, and the 
Guptas : a system too which has given us learned theologians, subtle 
metaphysicians and great writers on almost every subject whilst its 
apostles have converted the nations of Eastern Asia from Mongolia on 
the north to the islands of the Eastern Sea on the south. In the search 
for an answer to these questions one finds little aid in the existing litera¬ 
ture devoted to the religions of India. This for the most part consists 
of compilations from works which, however interesting and, however 
valuable they may be, have no part in teaching or guiding the actual 
living beliefs of the masses. For this reason we are compelled to adopt 
the analytic method, and first of all ascertain who are the deities worship¬ 
ped by the people and the ritual in actual use, and then attempt to trace 
* The Eev. C. H. Chard, Chaplain of Port Blair, has very kindly helped me 
with the English part of this paper. 
