Some cavern, dark and drear; Where in a torpid state they lie, Till warmer sunbeams gild the sky, And renovate the year. Thus some, despising common sense, To wit superior make pretence, And chuse a trackless way; Such e'er with Nature are at strife, Reject the social sweets of life, And scarce exist their day. SONG. SWEETLY the poet sings, when he That braves th' inclement skies; That terminates the bliss. For unsuspected winds may blow, Then Emma, dearest maid! reflect, SONNET H. B. WM. TAYLOR. ADDRESS TO THE Spirit of a Departed Friend. Deep o'er my darken'd eye to roll, To tranquillize my troubled soul; And, weeping, wreathe them round thy bed; That sounds on high to Zion's lays ; I lean, and mourn in accents low, "Repress those tears, and hush that sigh, "Soon will arrive the happy day, "When here by mine thy dust will lie; "Then in the beams of endless light, "Our blissful spirits will unite." Fairfield. J. CONNOR AN ADDRESS TO THE RIVER DART. By ABRAHAM KYNE. SPIRIT of the DART! to meet the vernal year, Whose early blossoms deck the frozen plain, Glide o'er the surface of thy limpid sphere, Led by thy Naiads and their lepid train. Arise, bright Pow'r! behold Favonius springs, To rend the fetters of a brumal spell, To strip its demon of his frigid wings, And bind him to an hyperborean ceil. Smile on the boundaries of thine oozy bed, Diffuse the treasures of thy copious urn; For, blest by thee and Flora's fairy tread, Earth's slumb'ring stores with varied charms return. Translucent stream! clad with the robe of spring, Elysium reigns where'er thy branches roll; Deen in the dell, where soft-ton'd echoes sing, 1 by wildest murmurs elevate the soul. And And where the shepherd tunes his Doric reed, Be mine to dwell with solitude and thee! TO THE RAINBOW. A PARAPHRASE ON THE 104th PSALM. TH' Almighty's finger taught the beauteous bow, That crowns the clouded concave, where to glow; Tip'd with ethereal hues his compass bright, And none can say just where each tincture Where one begins, or where another ends! Of fertile showers, that bring reviving health, TRANSLATION OF AN ODE OF JORTIN; AS thro' the shade of silent groves, Irriguous vales, and coverts green, Yon stream with gentle murmur roves, And glides along its path, unseen PROCEEDINGS OF PUBLIC SOCIETIES. THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL. This celebrated Society has just published at Calcutta, a new volume of its interesting Researches; and we hasten to lay before our readers, an uncommonly interesting portion of its contents. It is now twelve years since we unnounced Captain, now Major, WILFORD'S curious discovery of some Sanscrit Manuscripts, which described the BRITISH ISLANDS at periods of very remote antiquity, under the name of the WHITE ISLANDS, or SACRED ISLANDS OF THE WEST. Major Wilford has now fully gratified the world, by presenting these interesting records, with his reasonings upon them, through the ASIATIC SOCIETY, MONTHLY MAG. No. 237. consulted a rude map of the north-west quarter of the old continent, from the Puranas. The shape and general outlines of the western shores, bear no small affinity with those of Europe, which they were intended to represent. We may there trace the Bay of Biscay, the German Sea, and the entrance into the Baltic. But, above all, the greatest resemblance is in the arrangement of the British Isles, Iceland, and the adjacent shores of America: and this surely cannot be merely accidental. The islands of Sthula, or Thule, now Ferro, Chandica, the Shetland Isles, Intradwipa, or the Orkneys, are placed beyond the British Isles; and I have ar ranged them in the manner they are in the map, on the supposition that they really answer to the above islands. Another striking peculiarity in the north-west quarter is the threefold gap of Crauncha, which I conceive to be three belts leading into the Baltic. These were made by Scanda, called also Canda in many of the spoken dialects, and Candaos by the Thracians or Goths. As he Is a form of Hara, he is really Haraja, and Hara-cula, or Hercules; and the Cronian straits were known also in the west, under the appellation of Straits of Hercules, according to Tacitus; and the denominations of Scandia, and Candavia, may be derived from him. The first passage to be examined is from the VARAHAPURANA. South (it should be north) of Nila, and north (south) of Sweta, or the white mountain, is Vayavyam-Ramyacam, or the country of Ramyaca in the north-west. (Vayavyam is derived from Vayu, or olus, the guardian of the north-west; and of course is used here to designate that quarter.) To the south (north) of the range of the Sweta, or white mountains, and north (south) of the range called Sringavan, is the country of Hiranmaya. There is Tri-sringa (or Tri-cuta) in the ocean in the west. There is the Cshira tree, and island 4000 yojanas in cir cumference. There is the ChandraYarita, a great river: its banks are co. vered with trees, and it receives many other streams. This is Curuvarsha, or Country of Curu; (or this is part of, or belongs to, Curu.) To the north is Suryadwipa, or the island of the sun, in which gods abide it is in the middle of a sea full of waves, like so many garlands. It is 1000 yojanes in circumference: in the middle is a mountain 100 yojanas high, and as many broad. From it flows the river Surya-varita. There is the sthan, : or place of the sun there they worship the sun. To the west of it (north,) at the distance of 4000 yojanas, is Rudracara; read Bhadra-cara-dwipa :) there is Bhadrasana-Vayu-Vigrahavan, or the seat of Vayu, with the epithet of Vigrahavan, or in a human shape. This last part shews positively that Tri-cutadri, of which Sweta is part, lies in the quarter of Vayu, or the north-west quarter of the old continent. In the Vayu-purana, the author, hav. ing described the country of Cetu-Mala, which includes Europe, the northern parts of Africa, the lesser Asia, Iran, &c. informs us, that south of the range of Nila, and north of that of Sweta, is the country of Ramanacam, or Ramyacam, inhabited by white men, who live 1500 years; do not grow old, have many servants; and there is a famous Nyagrodha tree. North of the range of Sweta, and south of that of Sringa, is the country called Hiranyavatam. There is the river Haimavati, or full of snow. People live there 1100 years. There are the peak lands of Hiranya-maya, Manimaya, Ratnamaya. South of the shores of the northern Ocean are the two Curus, (or north and south Curu:) it is a holy country, inhabited by Siddhas, or saints; men, falling (or returning) from heaven, are born again there, and live 1300 and 1500 years. Jatudhi, and Saila-raja, abounding with caves, are two large mountains, There are also the two famous mountains called Surya-canta and Chandra-canta. Between them flows the river Bhadraso una, &c. In the SANTIPARVA, one of the greater divisions of the Maha-Bharata, section of the Mocsba-d'harma, Narada is intro duced, saying to Narayana, “ Thou who wert incarnate through thy own power, now perform that for which thou wert born. I am going to see thy Adhyam, or first and original form, (which resides in Sweta dwipa, in the commentary,) to perform the puja in honour of him who is Guhya, or concealed. Nayrayana said, Go. Narada made his obeisance, and flew through heaven to Meru. There he remained about two hours, when he looked towards the north-west, and descried at a great distance an object of an astonishing size. He saw, in the north of the Cshirodadhi, or White Sea, the island Sweta, thus called, which, as every body knows, is very great In the VAYU-PURANA is to be found *Ficus Indica. the the following passage: "Know ye, that to the south of Uttara-Curu, or NorthCuru, in the ocean with waves like so many garlands, at the distance of 5000 yejanas, is the Suraleyam, or abode of the gods, famous for the various sorts of deities living in it, and Chandradwipa thus called. There is the Mandalam, or sacred road of Lunus. To the west of this western island, in the Mahodadhi, or great sea, is an island called Bhadra. cara, where is the Bhadrasana, or throne of Vigrahavan-Vayu, who resides there in a human shape, and is worshipped as ▲ god." Vayu,orYah, is olus, and the guardian of the north-west quarter of the world. By the country to the south of Uttara-Curu, or North-Curu, we must understand here South-Cura, and which is bounded on the north, as I have shewn before, by the arctic circle; I mean the sensible one, where there are days of 24 hours, and which passes through the meridional parts of Iceland, or Pushcara; which island is declared to be in Uttara Curu, or in the same climate. This distance from Uttara-Curu, or from the arctic circle, to Chandra-dwipa, or Swetam, is equal to nine degrees of latitude; for 5000 is the twentieth part of 100,000 yojanas, the length and breath of the superior hemisphere, answering to 180 degrees. These nine degrees will bring the White Island between the parallels of 50 and 55 degrees of north latitude. In the passage from the VARAHAPURANA, which I mentioned before, the name of Sweta is not very obvious: but its identity is ascertained from the famous Cshira tree growing there; and the river Chandra-vartta: and the passage seems to imply that the island was also called Cshira, as it is constantly denominated in the Trai-locya-derpana. "There is the Three-peak-land in the ocean; the Cshira tree and island to the west of the Continent, 4000 yojanus in circumference: there is the river Chandra-vartta." To the north of the island of Cshira is the Surya-ewipa, or the Island of the Sun, called also Hiranya and Suvarna, or IreJand, and placed to the north of Britain, by Strabo and Mela. Bhadracara-dwipa is placed to the west of Surya-dwipa erroneously. Scotland is not noticed by Strabo; otherwise he would, in all probability, have placed it also to the west of Ireland. The compiler has placed, however, the three islands in a triangle, which was his chief, if not sole, object. In the Vayu-purana there is some in accuracy with regard to the names of these three peak-lands, which are said to be Hiranya, Mani, and Ratna; whilst Mani and Ratna are considered as the saine, and are really so. The White island, Sweta-dwipa, or Swetam, simply in a derivative form of the neuter gender, is called also Sucla, which is synonymous with Sweta. Cshiradwipa, or Khira-dwipa, in the spoken dialects, signifies the Milk Island," from its whiteness. All names signifying White are applicable, and occasionally applied, to the White Island. Swetasaila, or the White Cliffs, is often used, and is literally the Leucaspetra of Homer, and Al-Fionu in Galic. It is called the Silver Island, because it is supposed to abound with that metal, and more probably from a supposed affinity between the moon and silver. Gold, says Proclus, is a solar, and silver a lunar, form. Rupa and Rajata are Sanscrit names of that metal: hence the White Island is called Rajata-dwipa, or the Silver Island; Rajata-cuta, the Silverpeak-land. Raupya is used in the Bhagavata in a derivative form; and Raupyabhumi, or Silver Land. Arajata, or Arjata, in Sanscrit, implies full of silver, abounding with silver. This word is pronounced, in the west of India, Aryata; and in this manner the word argentum is pronounced argentum in Germany; arjata, argoid, and arget, in Irish. The White Island is called Chandradwipa, or the island of Lunus, or the moon, because he was born there; and it is also the place of his residence: Chandram-Suca, as it is called, I believe, in the Bhagavata, signifies also resplen dent like the moon. Sasi-chanda, the Canton or country of Sasi, another name for Lunus, is mentioned in the Vrihatcatha. The White Island is called also Ratna-maya and Ratna-dwipa, the island of jewels; because, at the churning of the ocean, fourteen invaluable ratna, or jewels, were produced by the churning, and deposited there till disposed of. Gomeda and Mani, which signify jewels also, are denominations of the White Island. All these names are often met with in composition, with Saila, cliff, or cliffs; for, in composition, a noun in the singular has often the force of the plural. number. Thus, Sweta-Saila signifies the White Cliffs: Chandra-Saila, Soma Saila, the cliffs of the moon: Ratna-Sails, the cliffs abounding with jewels, &c. The third peak-land, or Scotland, is called Aya-cuta, or the Iron peak or island. It is called Ayasa in the Bhagavata, a word of the same import. In a G 2 derivative derivative form we might grammatically say Ayeya, though this term be never used: but that is no reason for supposing that the term never was in use: for it is the Island of Aiaia, or Aæa, of the western mythologists. It might be called also Loha-dwipa: but this denomination is never found in the Puranas; though there is every reason to believe that it was used also formerly: and I believe that it was really the original name, as we shall see when we come to treat of that country. We have seen before that England is called Chandra-canta; Ireland, Surya-canta. Scotland is likewise denominated Ayascanta. We read in Plutarch, that a certain Thespesius of Soli, was transported in the spirit to the islands of the departed, where he saw three Genii sitting in a triangle. He saw there also three lakes of melted gold, lead, and iron. The first looked like gold. The second, of lead, though in fusion, was exceedingly cold, and looked white. This was meant perhaps for white-lead or tin. The third take, of iron, was black, and its surface very rugged, as if full of scoriæ. The three Genii were Vishnu, Brahma, Siva, or rather their Sactis, or female energies, which are the three Parce of the western mythologists. This relation of Thespesius alludes visibly to the ternary number of these islands; and the three lakes have an obvious reference to the three peaks. "The famous Atlantis no longer exists," says Proclus, in his commentary on the Timæus of Plato: "but we can hardly doubt but that it did once. For Marcellus, who wrote a history of Ethiopian affairs, says, that such and so great an island once existed, is evinced by those who composed histories of things relative to the external sea. For they relate that, in their time, there were seven islands in the Atlantic Sea sacred to Proserpine: and besides these, three others of an immense magnitude; one of which was sacred to Pluto, another to Ammon (Jupiter), and the third, which is in the middle of these, and is of a thousand studia, to Neptune. And, besides this, that the inhabitants of this last island preserved the memory of the prodigious magnitude of the Atlantic Island, as related by their ancestors, and of its governing for many periods, all the islands in the Atlantic Sea. From this isle one may pass to other large islands beyond, and which are not far from the Firm land, near which is the true sea. Whether the Atlantis ever existed or not, is immaterial; but this description of seven islands, of a great magnitude, in the external or in the Atlantic Sea, and from which one may pass to the other islands beyond, and which are not far from that Firm-land which incloses all the world, is applicable to the British Isles only, beyond which are several other islands, such as the Orkneys, Shetland, Fero, and Iceland, which last is near that famous Firm-land of which the ancients had some notion, and, with the Hindus, conceived it to be the boundary of the universe. The sea towards it, or the Atlantic, is the only true sea; for the other seas are really but gulfs and bays. These three islands constitute the seventh division of the world, according to the followers of Buddha; and the sixth only according to the Pauranics, who divide the world into seven, as the former doʼinto eight, dwipas. The three superior deities, according to the Hindus, are Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, who preside over these three islands. To Brahma belongs Suvarneya; and it is also the abode of Yama, or Pluto. Vishnu presides over the White Island; he who is Narayana, or abiding in the waters, and consequently often inistaken for Neptune. The third island, says Marcellus, belongs to Jupiter Ammon, who is the same with Siva in the charac. ter of Barcara, or with the head of a hegoat. The word barcara was formerly used in the west for a ram and a sheep; for in the Latin of the middle ages, barcuria, or bercaria, signified a sheep-fold, bercarius, a shepherd: hence the French word berger. Besides the three principal islands, there are four inferior ones, according to the Hindus, and five, according to the followers of Buddha. Hence, in the peninsula, the islands of Lanca are called Yail-Lanca, or the seven islands of Lanca; and these are the seven islands of Jambulus. In the north-west there are either eight or sixteen, according to the Bauddhists. The Pauranics are silent on that subject'; but the mytholo gists in the west reckoned seven islands under the dominion of olus; and the British Isles are the original and real Eolian I-les of the ancients. The three islands are asserted, by the followers of Buddha, to be three and four: the three are certainly four; yet these four islands really make but three: and with such quibbles they are highly delighted. Ac cording |