SECTION XLVIII.

On Geography.

The Hindoos have not been wholly inattentive to this subject; but as nothing but actual observation could make them acquainted with the surface, contents, and dimensions of the globe, and as their laws and institutions very much discourage the disposition to travel, as well as the translation and perusal of the enquiries of other nations, they have consequently, in this department of knowledge, completely failed. The Geography of the pooranus is utterly contemptible; and the description of different countries found in the astronomical works, though more correct, yet is too confined to be of the least use, either for instruction, or for the purposes of trade and commerce. The Hindoos sometimes amuse themselves by forming maps of the earth, according to the pooranus as well as the astronomical works; but neither these maps, nor the descriptions contained in the shastros, are introduced into schools; nor do lectures or a course of reading on Geography, Astronomy, or History, constitute any part of the public education.

The reader will find in the sixth page of this volume a description of the earth according to the pooranus; the author begs leave now to add another description, translated from the Tara Tăntră :

Ungu extends from Voidya-Nat'hu to the extremity of Bhoovănéshă;-Băngŭ from the sea to the Brumhŭ-pootrũ;—Külingă from the east of Juggunnathu to the north bank of the river Krishnů: many vamacharees reside in these parts ;-Kérǎlů from Soobrămhǎnyǎ to the temple of Junarddună, in which country the benefits of religious ceremonies are soon realized, as it contains the holy places Raméshwără, Vůnkötéshŭ, and Hõngshukérŭlă-vadhōků ;—Sörvéshŭ (in Kérǎlů) from Ŭnuntă-sénu to Büllü ;-Kashmere extends, 400 miles, from Sharǎda-măhă, to the extremity of Koonkǎ and Dérhů;-Kamŭ-roopů comprizes, on mount Günéshů, Koléshwůru, Shwétů-giree, Tripoora, and Neelă-părvătă; --Măharashtră or Kurnată, including Oojjuyinee and the holy place Marjarů, extends from Tripǎnchuků to Kola-poorů. Andhră includes all the country from the south-west of Jugunnat'hǎ to Bhrumăra. Sourashtră extends from Hingoola to Jambŭků by the sea side on the west of Konkănă; after this is Goorijŭră. Between Shree-shoilu and

Choléshǎ is Troiling, in which country learning and abstraction of mind are pursued by many. The country extending from Soorambika to mount Măluyŭ is called Mŭluyana, in which dwell many who practise various superstitions by incantations. Kurnată ex

tends from Vamu-Nat'hŭ to Shree-Rungatŭvinéshwuree, the inhabitants of which country live in plenty. Uvintee extends from the river Tamrupurnee to the top of mount Sholadree, and contains a famous image of Kalee. The country lying between MŏhaBhudrů-Kalēē in the cast, and Ramu-Doorga in the west, is called Vidŭrbhů. Mŭroo* reaches from Goojjură eastward to the south of Dwarŭka.† From Konkună southwards to the western bank of the river Tapee, the country is called Abheerů. Malŭvů, extending from Ŭvăntee eastward to the north of the Godavŭree, is a fine country, very productive in corn. Between Draviru and Troilingů is a country called Cholu, the people of which are famous for having long ears. To the west of Kooroo-Kshétrŭ and to the north of Cholu, from Indré-Průst’hů, extending 480 miles, is Punchalŭ, the people of which country are very robust and spirited. From Punchală to the south-east of the country of the Mléchchūs, is Kambojū, famous for fine horses and excellent borsemen. Virată is bounded on the north by Voidůrbhă, on the south by Indro-Prust'hu, and on the east by Muroo. Pandyŭ is bounded on the south by Kambojů, and on the west by IndrŭPrůst❜hů. From the river Gündŏkee to Chůmparůnyŭ is the country Vidéhŭ-Bhōōmee. From Kamboju to the east of Muha-Mléchchů is Valheeku, famous for its horses. Kirată, a mountainous country, extends, on the northern boundary of Kambojů and Valheeků, to Ramu-Kshetrů. Vukŭgnanŭ extends from the river Kurůtoya to Hingoola, the inhabitants of which country are called Muha-Mléchchu, or great barbarians. Khoorasanu extends from Hingoo-Peet'hi to Mŏkshéshu; the inhabitants are all Mléchchus. Bhotă extends from Kashmeeru to the west of Kami-roop, and to the south of Manuséshй. On the south-east of Manusésha is Cheenă (China). Amŭrogů, or Mŏha-Cheenů, (Great China) extends from Koilaneerů to the source of the Suruyōō. Népală extends from Gănéshwără to Yoginēe. Shiluhuttu (Sylhet), a mountainous country, extends from Gănéshwără to the sea. What is called Gour㧠extends from Băngů to Bhoovǎnéshǎ : here learning is much cultivated. Mŏha-Koshŏlă is bounded on the east by Gokŭrnéshu, on the north by Aryavŭrttă, and on the west by Toilubhooktů: this formed the territory of the kings of the race of the sun. Măgădhu extends from Vyaséshwără to

* The desert.

ed away by the sea.

+ At Dwaruka was Krishnu's palace, which is said to have been since wash.
Perhaps the country now called Balk.
A part of Bengal.

Sss

Průkrityantŭků: the southern part of Mugudhu, that is, from mount Vărănă to mount Gidhrükōōtă, is called Keetuků, and the northern part, Magŭdhă: Keetükŭ contains many vamacharees, and some atheists. Keetuku was the capital of the Magudhu kings. On the north of Jugŭnnathŭ is Ootkulu.* Shree-Koontălă extends from Kamă-Giree to Dwarika. Muroo is situated on the south of Shree-Koontulů; and on its north is Rinu, the inhabitants of which are very robust. Konkonů extends from Tyŭdů to the sea, having in its centre Kotee. Between the Brůmhŭ-pootrů and Kamu-roopů, lies Koikuyă. To the south of Magudhu, and to the west of mount Vindhō, is Shōōrōsénů. Kooroo lies on the borders of Hustina-poorů,† to the south of Kooroo-kshétră, and to the east of Punchalu. Singhălă, a fine country, lies on the east of Mŭroo, and on the south of Kamŏ-Giree. Poolindă lies to the east of Shilühüttă (Sylhet) and to the north of Kamu-roopů. Kutt'hŭ lies to the east of Ginéshwùră, and to the north of the sea. Mutsyŭ lies to the north of Poolindă and to the west of Kutt'hă. Mudră is situated between Virată and Pandyŭ. Souveeru, the worst of countries, lies on the east of Shōōrůsénŭ, and on the west of Kuntuků. Lulamă is situated on the west of Ŭvăntee, and on the south of Voidŭrbhů. Vůrvvůrů extends from Maya-poorů to the north of mount Suptushringu. Soindhăvă, a mountainous country, extends along the coast of Linka to Mukka. Thus are described fifty-six countries; but in the midst of these, innumer、 able other countries are found.

The author has also the pleasure of adding, from the pen of a young and esteemed Friend, the translation of an extract from the Siddhantu-Shirominee, by Bhaskără, containing a Geographical Description of the Earth:

Lonka is situated in the middle of the world. To the cast of it lies Yumukotee; to the west Romŭků. Its antipodal region is Siddhee-poorů. On the south of Lunka lies Vurà-Vanilo, and on the north, mount Sooméroo. Those who are skilled in geography, have determined the situation of these places, which are respectively distant from each other one fourth of the circumference of the globe. the gods, and the divine sages who have attained perfection. doityŭs are placed in Võră-Vanŭlŭ.

On Sooméroo reside

The wicked and the

On whatever spot a man may happen to be, he considers himself as standing on the highest point of the globe. Those who are in the four quarters appear to stand horizontally; those who are mutually antipodal, are seen like the shadow of a man in the water, with their heads turned from each other. Those who appear in a horizontal position, as well as our antipodes, are equally as secure as ourselves.

To the north of the salt-sea lies the island Jumboo, which occupies one entire hemisphere. This fact has been established by learned geographers. In the southern hemisphere are six islands and seven seas;* namely, the salt sea, the sea of milk,† the sea of curds, the sea of clarified butter, the sea of sugar-cane juice, the sea of spirituous liquors, and finally the sea of pure water, beyond which lies Vără-Vanŭlă. In the centre of the globe is Patalo, where the darkness is dispelled by the splendour which issues from the pearly heads of the hydras. There the usoorus and the hydras remain; there the daughters of the hydras, of exquisite beauty, sport with each other, and there reside the immortals, enjoying the splendor of their own forms, brilliant as gold.

The second island‡ is called Shaku, the third Shalmůlu, the fourth Koushŏ, the fifth Krounchu, the sixth Gomédüků, the seventh Pooshkarů. Each sea runs between two of these islands, and each island is situated between two seas. To the north of Lunka lies mount Himalŭyğ; north of Himalŭyŭ, Hémůkétoo; and to the north of Hémŭkétoo, Nishůdě, which extends to the sea. Northward of Siddhee-poorů, in succession, are the mountains Shringů-vanů, Shooklů, and Neeli. The country between Siddhee-pooră and Sooméroo is called Drounidéshů. That which extends northward from Lunka to Himalŭyŭ, is called Bharută-vărshu; that between Himalŏyŭ and Himŭkétoo, Kinnŭrŭ-vărshŭ, and that between Himŭkétoo and Nishůdŏ, Hăree-vürshi. North of Siddhee-poorů, as far as Shringuvan, the country is called Kooroo-virshu; and, proceeding still northwards, the country between Shringŭvan and mount Shooklů, is called Hironmŭyu-vůrshů. Between Shooklǎ and Neelu, lies Rămyňků-vărshu. North of Yumŭkotee is Malyŭvan,

The seas encircle the globe like a belt. and from which arose Lukhsmēē and the moon. on its surface reposes Vishnoo.

+ From which was obtained the water of immortality, On its banks reside Brumha and the other dévŭtas; and

Jumboo-dweepŭ, though occupying half the globe, is reckoned only the first island.

and north of Romŏků, Gündhůmadănă. This ridge of mountains reaches to Neelu and Nishădă. The country between Malyŭvan and Gundhŭmadănŭ is called Ilavrită-vůrshŭ; that between Malyŭvan and the salt sea, Bhudrashwă-vŭrshu, and that between Gŭndhămadună and the sea, Kétoo-malükŭ-vŏrshů. On the mountains Nishŭdů, Neelů, Soogundhŭ, Malyŭ, Kérŭlă, and Ilavritů, the immortals partake of extatic pleasures.

Sooméroo is situated in the middle [of the island Jumboo.] It is enriched with mines of gold and with precious stones; and is moreover the residence of the gods. The pooranus maintain, on the contrary, that Sooméroo is in the midst of the earth, and that the inhabitants of the world surround it like the encircling petals of the lotus. Around Sooméroo, towards the four quarters, are four other mountains, viz. Măndără, Soogăndhŭ, Vipoolů, and Sooparshwň, on which are four trees which serve to distinguish them, the kŭdămbŭ, the jumboo, the vŭto, and the pippůlú. From the juice which flows from the jumboo, arises the river of that name;* the ground over which it passes is transformed into gold; and, to partake of its delightful waters, the gods and the immortals forsake even the water of immortality. On these mountains are four forests, namely the excellent Chitrărăť'hă, (where the upsŭrus reside), Nundině, Dhritee, (inhabited by the dévŭtas,) and Voibhraju; on which are likewise four lakes, Ŭroonů, Manüsü, Müharhŭdũ, and Shétă-jŭlů, where, during the scorching heat of the summer, the gods resort; and, dallying with the goddesses, refresh themselves with the cool waters of the lakes. On the summit of Sooméroo are three peaks formed of gold, pearls, and precious stones, where the three gods, Brumha, Vishnoo, and Muha-Dévă reside. At the foot of these peaks reside the regents of the eight quarters, Indré, Vunhee, Yumă, Rakshůsů, Vŭrooně, Vayoo, Koovérů, and Eeshů.

Vishnoo-Pudee, or Gunga, proceeding from the foot of Vishnoo, fell on Sooméroo; from thence, on mount Vishkumbhu, and from thence, on the head of Maha-Dévů. Falling from the head of this god, in her descent, she became divided into four streams, and flowed through Bhůdrashwů-vŭrshů, under the name of Seeta; through Bharătă-vărshů, Ŭlükŭ-Nunda; through Kétoo-vůrsho, as Vunkshoo, and through Kooroo-vărshů, un

as

* A comment by Lukshmee-Dasŭ adds, that the river Jumboo, after encircling Sooméroo, enters the earth at the foot of the tree from which it issues.