195:157 Also Khasíkas and Khasákas. The first of these is probably most correct, being equivalent to Khasas, barbarians named along with the Śakas and Daradas by Manu, &c.; traces of whom may be sought amongst the barbarous tribes on the north-east of Bengal, the Kasiyas; or it has been thought that they may be referred to the situation of Kashgar. Two copies have, in place of this, Tukháras, and the same occurs in the Rámáyańa; the Váyu has Tusháras, but the Márkańd́eya, Tukhára: these are probably the Tochari, Tachari, or Thogari, a tribe of the Śakas, by whom Bactria was taken from the Greeks, and from whom Tocharestan derives the name it still bears.

195:158 Also Pahlavas and Pallavas. The form in the text is the more usual.

196:159 The Rámáyańa has Gahvaras. The mountains from Kabul to Bamian furnish infinitely numerous instances of cavern habitations.

196:160 These two, according to the Váyu, are amongst the northern nations; but they might be thought to be religious fraternities, from the sages Atri and Bharadwaja.

196:161 The latter member of the compound occurs poshikas, páyikas, and yodhikas, 'cherishers,' 'drinkers,' or 'fighters:' the first term denotes the female breast.

196:162 Also Drońakas, 'people of vallies.'

196:163 Also Kajingas. Kalingas would be here out of place.

196:164 These and the preceding are included by the Váyu amongst the mountain tribes of the north.

196:165 Many names indeed might be added to the catalogue from the lists referred to in the Váyu, Matsya, and Márkańd́eya Puráńas, as well as several capable of verification from the Rámáyańa, and other passages of the Mahábhárata. This is not the place however to exhaust the subject, and it has been prosecuted too far perhaps already. It is evident that a very considerable proportion of the names recorded can be verified, and that many of them may be traced in the geographical notices of India left by the historians of Alexander's expedition. That more cannot be identified is owing in a great measure to incomplete research; and a more extensive examination of the authorities would no doubt discover passages where circumstances, as well as names, are given by which the places would be recognised. It is evident, however, that much embarrassment also arises from the inaccuracy of manuscripts, which vary widely and irreconcilably. I have given instances from four different copies of the text; one in my own possession, three in the library of the East India Company; all very excellent copies, but manifestly erroneous in many respects in their nomenclature of places, and particularly of those which are least known. No assistance is to be had from any commentary, as the subject is one of little interest in native estimation.

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Hinduism

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