who might possibly give him some information, aad directed him to the place, three hundred Yojanas remote in the country of Kampilya: with this direction Saktideva cheerfully resumed his route.

Upon his arrival at the habitation of the elder ascetic, he speedily announced the purport of his visit, with no better success, however, than before. The Sage had never heard of the Golden city. He recommended Saktideva to visit an Island in the ocean named Utsthula, the Nishada Prince of which, would probably know something of the city, if any such place existed, and he directed his visitor how to shape his course for that Island. In conformity to the in structions of the Sage, Saktideva, after a wearisome journey, arrived at Vitankapura a flourishing city, on the sea shore. Here he found a vessel bound for Utsthula, and took his passage on board.

After they had been at sea a few days they encountered a furious storm. The lightning shot along the heavens like the forky tongue of fate, and the thunder growled as if a demon roared: the wrathful breeze bowing the light, and uprooting the resisting objects, lashed the ocean, and mighty waves as vast as mountains, angrily heaved upon the deep. The vessel now tossed to the clouds, and now precipitated into the abyss, was unable to resist the fury of the elements and was rent asunder: some of the crew clinging to the broken spars, were taken up by other vessels, which were scattered by the gale, but Sakti Deva who had clung to a plank, was cast ashore upon a distant Island. It happened, that this was the Island he was bound to, and one of the first persons he encountered on the head, was Satyavrata the king. Satyavrata having heard his story expressed great interest in Saktideva's adventure, and although unable to direct him to the Golden city, undertook to assist him in his search.

After a short time, Satyavrata proposed to Saktideva, to go to an island at some short distance, where

at a particular season of the year, now at hand, a solemn festival in honour of an image of Hari was observed: on this occasion people from all quarters resorted to the place, and some of them might probably afford information of the Golden city. Saktideva readily consented, and they embarked on board a sloop, and set off for the island named Retnakuta: on their way Saktideva observed an object in the middle of the sea, the nature of which he was at a loss to comprehend. It looked like a Ber tree, but in size equalled a mountain he called Satyavrata to look at it, who immediately exclaimed, they were lost: the object they beheld was a vast tree of miraculous growth, rising from the centre of a whirlpool: every thing caught within the gulph inevitably perished, and they had been carried by the current so near it that there was now no chance of escape. As he spoke this the ship was whirled within the circling tide, and in an instant was submerged. Saktideva, however, exerting all his activity sprang from the deck as they were sinking, and clung to one of the pendulous branches of the tree, from which he ascended, and perched himself securely on a more substantial bough.* The rest of the

* These incidents offer coincidences of exceeding interest, for they are neither more nor less than Homeric: in the same manner as the Ber or Indian Fig rises from the whirlpool so an immense Wild Fig tree hangs over Charybdis and Ulysses like Saktideva makes his escape by jumping upon the tree. The course of this fable eastward or westward cannot now be conjectured, but the specification of the Tree seems to make it of Indian origin. The character of the Ber and its spreading and pendulous branches render it appropriate enough in our story, whilst there is no obvious reason why Homer should have availed himself of the Fig, any more than of any other tree: the following are the passages referred to;

Τὸν δ ̓ ἕλεσον σκόπελον χθαμαλώτερον ὄψει, Οδυσσεν

Πλησιον αλληλων και κευ διοϊςεύσειας.

Τῶ δ ̓ ἐν ἑρινὲος ἐςί μέγας φύλλνοισι τεθηλὼς.

Τῶ δ' ὑπὸ δια Χάρυβδις αναῤῥοιβδει μέλαν ὕδωρ.

Close by a rock of less enormous height

Breaks the wild waves and forms a dangerous streight;
Full on its crown a fig's green branches rise,

And shoot a leafy forest to the Skies,

day was spent in this position, and Saktideva despairing of any chance of being extricated from it, was a bout to precipitate himself into the gulph below, when a sudden noise interrupted his design. This was occasioned by the approach of a flight of birds of enormous size; the progeny of Garura; the wind of whose wings fanned the ocean into foam. They perched for the night upon the tree, and their presence inspired Saktideva with the hope of deliverance. As morning was about to dawn he gently approached the stoutest of the flock, and threw himself

Beneath Charybdis holds her boisterous reign
Midst roaring whirlpools and absorbs the main.

Pope, Odyssey XII. 125 130.

Παννύχιος φερόμην ἅμα δ' ηελίω ανίονδι
Ηλθον ἐπὶ Σκύλλης σκόπελον, δεινὴν τε Χάρυβδιν.
* Η μὲν ἀνεῤῥοίβδησε θαλάσσης αλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
Αὐτὰς ἐγὼ πστὶ μακρὸν ἐρινεὸν ὑψόσ' αερθεις,
Τῶ προφὺς ἑχόμην, ὡς νυκτερὶς ἐδέπη εἶχον
Οὔτε σηρίξαι ποσὶν ἔμπεδον, ἔῖ ἐπιβῆναι
Ρίζαι γὰρ ἑκὼς ἦσαν, ἀπτώροι δ ̓ ἔσαν όζοι,
Μακροί τε, μεγάλοι τε, καεσκίαον δε Χαρυβδιν.
All night I drove and at the dawn of day
Fast by the rocks beheld the desperate way:
Just when the Sea within her gulfs subsides,
And in the roaring whirlpools rush the tides,
Swift from the float I vaulted with a bound
The lofty fig tree seized, and clung around;
So to the beam the bat tenacious clings,
And pendant round it clasps his leathern wings:
High in the air the tree its boughs displayed,
And on the dungeon cast a dreadful shade.

Pope, Odyssey XII. 517 516.

The translation is however exceedingly loose here, and the description of the tree in the original is in fact exceedingly applicable to the Banyan tree. Ulysses says he could neither find a place to fix his foot nor could he climb upwards,for the roots were far off, and the branches were lofty and long, and large, and hung over the gulph. but to what then did he cling-if he had got hold of a branch at all it might be supposed possible for him to have ascended it. If however it was a pendulous or radicating branch, the passage is clear enough-Cowper says.

"I seized the branches fast of the wild fig."

But the original is merely,

Sprung upon the tall fig tree."

T

upon the back of the bird. The bird startled from his repose immediately took to his wings, and carried his load rapidly through the air: at last he made for an island, and nearing the ground allowed Saktideva to cast himself on the grass. Thus the hand of destiny. -rescued him from death and being exerted still more wonderfully in his behalf, Fate brought him to the very place he was in search of, the site of the Golden city.

The bird alighting in a garden, Saktideva took the opportunity of sliding from off his back, and safely lodged upon the rich and downy turf. He then rose to survey the place, and observing two damsels gathering flowers, he approached and enquired where he was. To his great joy they replied, the place was named the Golden city, and that it was the residence of Chandraprabha their mistress, who as well as themselves were of the race of Vidyadharas, and that none but females resided on the island. Saktideva then desired them to lead him to their queen, with which they readily complied. They conducted him to a stately palace, the columns of which were radiant with precious gems, and the walks were of beaten gold,-a numerous train of beautiful damsels thronged wondering about the new comer, and having learnt his errand, flew to apprise Chandraprabha of the arrival of a mortal Brahman at their residence. She desired him to be admitted, and rising from her gorgeous throne, upon his entrance, welcomed him with every mark of attention and respect to her court.

Having heard the circumstances, which occasioned his visit, she proceeded to communicate her own story to him. We are four sisters, she observed; the daughters of the king of the Vidyadharas: my three sisters went one day to bathe in the Mandakini and observing a holy Muni immersed in meditation near the bank, they, giddy with youth, and mirth, disturbed his devotion by sprinkling water upon his holy person. Immodest girls, exclaimed the sage, be born of mortal wombs: after

wards, in consideration of my father he announced the termination of the curse to each, and gave them the power of recalling the events of their prior birth: they quitted their celestial forms and were born the daughters of men. My father overwhelmed with sorrow for their fate, abandoned his condition, and retired to the forests, leaving to me the uncontrolled sovereignty over this residence and the female train. I have expected you, she continued, some time, and, on your account have refused the proffered suit of many a Vidyadhara, for the goddess Ambika appeared to me in my sleep, and announced my espousal with a mortal bridegroom. She now fulfills her prophecy, and brings you hither, where no human means could possibly have procured your access. If you will accept my hand, it only remains that I give my father notice of the event, and ask his approbation. On the approaching fourteenth of the month, he holds the anniversary of a meeting of the Vidyadhara chiefs on mount Rishabha to offer worship to the God of gods: it will be but an absence of two days, and on my return, with his assent, of which there is no doubt, you may receive me as your bride. The charms of Chandraprabha were more than sufficient to secure her from Saktideva's rejection, and he awaited in joyful impatience the season that should so richly recompense his toils.

When the day of her departure arrived, Chandraprabha desired Saktideva to consider himself master of the palace, but she recommended to him not to ascend the central terrace, as nothing but evil would be the consequence, and with this caution, she quitted him the prohibition only served to whet his curiosity, and he very shortly found himself in the vicinity of the forbidden ground: he ascended the terrace, and beheld three doors richly decorated, leading to separate chambers. One of these he opened, and entered. In the chamber was a bed of gold, and gems, and on it something like a body covered by a sheet of fine cotton : having lifted this up, he was struck with horror to behold