JUNE 7, 1872.]

189

MISCELLANEA.

REVIEW. THE STORY OF GAUTAMA BUDDHA AND HIs CREED:

An Epic by Richard PHILLIPs. Longmans: 1871.

WE rise from the perusal of this elegantly got up volume with a feeling of disappointment. We had hoped for a solution of many of the problems which

ordinary resemblance is heightened by the fact that both employ only celibates as their agents. From a careful perusal of this volume, we cannot in any way learn that the author has the least ac

remain to students of Buddhistical literature ; but

quaintance with any of the Eastern languages; so that at the very outset he is prevented from adding

to none of these does the author direct his attention.

to our store of knowledge. The other course which

His sole object is an attempt to give “a reason able narrative of Buddha and Buddhism, looking at these subjects of course from a poetical standpoint.” These are stated so much better in prose by Hardy

lay open to him of presenting in a compact form the results attained by the many able scholars who have devoted long years to the study has been ut terly ignored. So that as far as the inquiring

in his “Manual of Buddhism,” that we should have thought the author would have abstained from “slaying the slain.” We fully agree with Mr. Phillips in his notion that “the great Ascetic” deserves to be better known ; but we cannot add the cheering hope that the present volume will in any degree advance the object most to be desired. The attractive beauty of Buddha's life, and the vast influence exercised by his creed over more than one-half of the human race, are in themselves power ful motives for an attentive study of his career. But the qualifications demanded for the task of able exposition are so numerous, that since the much-to-be-lamented death of Eugene Burnouf, we almost despair of hearing of an equally able suc cessor. There are Jaina works, Chinese works, Tibetan works, Pali works, and perhaps even Japan ese works, to be carefully mastered before we gain

reader is concerned, he is exactly where he was. Mr. Phillips tells us that “The poem,” as he calls

full and accurate information as to the results of

the teaching of Buddha and his missionaries on the Eastern races. The wonderful exertions made by the apostles of Buddhism, can only be likened to the great efforts put forth by the Jesuits during the nascent period of that great order; and the extra

it, “is founded upon a theory; but nothing short of a full conviction of the soundness of that theory would have led the author to represent Gautama as

a wilful deceiver, beguiling men to virtue ; and thus by impeaching his moral character to lessen him in men's eyes. But if his moral character is

lowered by this assumption, as undoubtedly it is, it must be allowed as a slightly compensating fact, that his intellectual status is considerably raised by it.”

The work consists of about 650 stanzas spun out with uncommon perseverance, with little regard for rhyme and none at all for rhythm. Thus we take, entirely at random, a specimen which is no better than its neighbours :“For, unlike many, Sakya-Muni weighed The Pundit's reasoning, and was not afraid, Nor did he deem it impious to doubt The Brahman's doctrines; so he soon found out The measure of his wisdom ; and discerned

Where lay his weakness: thus he soon had learned, All he could teach him. Then did he prepare To seek for wisdom and for truth elsewhere.”

MISCELLANEA, NOTES, AND QUERIES. KANGRA.

As Jamu is the chief of all the States on the

other side of the Ravi, so has Kangra always been regarded as the principal among a large circle of states on this side. The Katoch, or Kangra family, sprung from no mortal stock; the first Raja, Bhum Chand, was created from the perspiration from the brow of the Kangra goddess ; not born, like other men, a puling infant, but cast perfect in a mould, a god-like man, prepared for mighty deeds. This ap pears somewhat startling, but as it occurred some eleven thousand years ago, perhaps we may allow ourselves to believe that things were differently managed in those days. Coming down to more re cent days, we find the Greek historians, more than 300 years B.C., alluding to the mountain kings north of the Panjab. Almost all the noble families from the Ravi to the Satlaj claim connexion with, or descent from, the Katoch family.

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It is this extreme antiquity which makes Kangra, and particularly the Kangra Fort, of such value in the eyes of the natives of the district, who will still tell you that he who holds Kangra holds the Panjab. When the Muhammadans held sway in India, they plundered Kangra of immense treasure ; but the idol was restored to the temple, and the Hindus again obtained possession in 1044 A. D. From this time till 1360 A.D., when Firuz Tughlak again plundered the temple, the history is uncertain. This Emperor is supposed by Mr. Burnes, to whose settlement re port we are indebted for much of this history, to have resided in the Kangra fort, and to have there received, twenty-eight years after, Prince Muham mad Tughlak, who was a fugitive from Delhi. Ferishtah tells us that the great Akbar, having subdued Kangra, received the Katoch King, Dharm chand, with kindness. In this reign the Fort at

Kangra was held by Imperial troops ; and the