The Maha Bharata, and the Ramayuna are the most ancient historical books, and for the information of the lower classes there are some works adapted for them, as none but the twice born, that is the three highest castes are permitted to read either the eighteen Vedyas or the two great poems.

There are besides these works of the heterodox sects upon almost all the subjects above enumerated.

The most ancient Indian poem is the Ramayuna, of Valmiki. Three volumes of it have been printed at Serampore, in the Devanagari character, accompanied by a literal translation by the missionaries Cary and Marshman. I do not know whether it was wise to translate literally so long a poem, especially as it abounds in those repetitions and tedious details which deform the eastern writings, and as the closeness of the translation to the original, naturally makes it obscure to persons accustomed to the English idiom, and takes from it, to me at least, the character of poetry*,

The first section of the first book may be

* Three hundred rupees per month are allowed to the translators by the Asiatic Society and the College of Fort William, and it is proposed to translate and publish a series of the oriental poems.

considered as the argument of the whole poem. It opens with a salutation to Rama, the hero of the poem, and to Valmiki the author, who is denominated a Kokila, (a singing-bird) mounted on the branch of poetry chanting the delightful note Rama, Rama, Rama! Valmiki is then introduced consulting Nareda, the deity of song, upon a fit hero for the subject of a poem, and is accordingly directed to Rama, the son of Dusharuthra, king of Ayodhya or Oude.

The pious Dusharuthra, in order to obtain children, performed an Aswa-medha or the sacrifice of a horse to the gods, and soon afterwards were born to him four sons-Rama, whose mother was Kooshulya; Bharata, whose mother was Kikeeya, and Lukshmana and his twin brother, sons of Soomitra. The old king designed Rama for his heir, and had already prepared all the ceremonies for his inauguration, when Kikeeya, the mother of Bharata, claimed a promise that her son should reign, upon which," To preserve inviolate the promise, made through affection to Kikeeya, the hero at his father's command, departed into the forest. He departing into exile the wise, heroic Lukshmana, his younger brother, through affection, accompanied him. His beloved spouse,

always dear as his own soul, the Videhan Sita, of Januka's race, formed by the illusion of the Deva, amiable, adorned with every charm, obedient to her lord followed him into exile. Endued with beauty, youth, sweetness, goodness, and prudence, she was inseparably attendant on her lord as light on the moon. Accompanied by the people and his sire Dusharuthra, he dismissed his charioteer at Shringuvera, on the banks of the Ganges."

The three illustrious exiles built themselves a pleasant bower on the mountain Chitrakoota, and shortly afterwards Dusharuthra “departed to heaven lamenting his son." Bharata who was called to the succession, immediately sought Rama, and intreated him to reign, but the hero, respecting his father's promise, gave his sandals to Bharata, and commanded him as his elder brother to return and govern the kingdom.

Rama and his companions retired into the forest of Dundacca, whence after some adventures he departed and fixed his residence in the country of Panchwattee, where he carried on an exterminating war against the Rakshusas, and while absent on one of his warlike expeditions, Ravuna, the king of Lanka, entered his bower and carried off Sita. Rama and his brother then turned their arms to the South, and in

their way towards Lanca met with many singu lar adventures, and performed deeds of arms which would have graced the knights of Ariosto, and like them they also met with enchantresses and wizards, who alternately assisted and distressed them. At length, however, they met with the monkey Hanuman who became their constant and most useful attendant. Hanumân introduced them to his king Soogriva, who, delighted with Rama's prowess, became his friend, on condition that he should aid him in his war with Bali, a rival baboon monarch.

"The chiefs of monkeys and of men, Rama and Soogriva entered the cave of Kishkindhya. There the mighty ape roared like thunder. At this terrible sound Bali, lord of the monkeys, came forth. Having comforted Tara, he went out to meet Soogriva, and was there slain by an arrow of Rama's."

The monkeys then went to the different quar ters of the earth in search of Sita; and Hanumân being directed by the vulture Sumpati, having leaped across the ocean, obtained a sight of her in the gardens of Lanca, and was even able to deliver to her a pledge from Rama, and to receive one in return, with which he hastened back to the impatient hero.

Rama having conquered and slain Ravuna, suspected Sita of infidelity towards him, but she,

indignant at the accusation, went through the fiery ordeal, and having thus established her innocence, she was received by Rama, while heavenly music sounded in the air, and showers of flowers fell upon the earth.

Rama and his companions then took leave of the sylvan nations, and returned to Ayodhya, where he reigned happily and honoured.

Valmiki lived at the court of the monarch whose actions he has immortalized, and whose reign Major Wilford places at least fifteen centuries before Christ.

Besides the mere subject of the poem, there are many curious topics treated of in the Ramayuna, particularly details of religious sacrifices and ceremonies, descriptions of cities, and of the pomp of royalty and of the priesthood. But I am particularly pleased with the picture it gives of the amusements of the court of Rama. After a great and pompous sacrifice, accompanied by games and exercises, the two disciples of Valmiki, the sons of Rama and Sita, Kooshee, and Luva, with voices by nature melodious, and skilled in music, rehearsed the actions of their father in the assembly, when the surrounding sages united in a joyful burst of applause, saying, "Excellent! excellent! The poem, the very expression of nature, the