Usous and his brothers poured the blood of the wild beasts, they killed in hunting, on their idols.

2. "Nimrod was the inventor of Astronomy."

This is a bold assertion: since Calisthenes, the philosopher, is admitted to have found in Babylon regular astronomical observations, so far back as A. M. 1776 and Nimrod, being the younger son of Cush, could scarcely have been born at that period. That Astronomy was carried back to the time of Usous the brother of Hypsuranus, and contemporary of Mahalaleel, was proved in the preceding Letter.

3. "The Abranet of the family of Nimrod were renowned for their skill in Navigation."

Usous is the first person recorded as having ventured to sea in a boat.

4. "Nimrod was the fourth in descent from Noah."

Hypsuranus and Usous were the fourth in descent from Cain.

Supposing these four assertions to be true, and to be applicable to Nimrod and Hirenakassan, which is not proved, it must be admitted that they are equally applicable to the fourth descent from Cain. Neither of the giants are mentioned in the Lunar or legitimate pedigree, neither are they so considered by Sanchoniatho, who represents them as the spurious offspring of abandoned

mothers. Nevertheless, I am inclined to believe that the names of the Hindu giants are entirely circumstantial, and that they allude to Satan.

Having now arrived at the period stated by Rhadacanta as the end of the second age, A. M. 700, and having placed the second Dasaratha as the last of the children born to the third generation in the race of the Sun, it follows that Rama was the head of the next, as eldest son of the fourth generation in the race of Seth, or fifth from Adam exclusive; and this Rama was indubitably Rama Chandra of the Solar dynasty. This, I admit, militates, against the general opinion of those Europeans, who have treated on the subject; all of whom represent Rama as the son of the youngest Dasaratha, the last prince of the fourth generation from Seth, who ruled over a province. But these authors place Rama, fifty-six generations below Icshwacu, instead of three, supposing him to be the father instead of the brother of Cusha, and contending that the pedigree was of generations in succession. But, if these princes did not reign in succession, and that they did so is utterly impossible, then the objection is removed. This prince Rama appears among the Menus under the title of Cha'cshusha, or beaming with glory.' Dasaratha is likewise rather a circumstantial epithet, than a proper name; signifying that

his war-chariots bore him to all quarters of the world. The prince of that name, against whom I have placed an asterisk, was father-in-law to Bharata, and father of Rama Chandra; which warrants the conclusion, that the latter was Rama of the Solar dynasty. In the events recorded of this prince, we find some contradictions, owing to the divine Parasa being blended with Rama Chandra. The former was a prophet, or man of God, who does not appear to have actually entered into sanguinary warfare. His religious wars have been blended with the carnal ones of his father; to reconcile which, they make Rama Chandra regenerate in the womb of the mother of Parasa; who, in fact, was his daughter-in-law. Thus it is always said of this prince, that he was twice born; not according to the spirit, but that he had two carnal mothers.

TABLE VII. PART IV.

SWAYAMBHUVA or ADAM.

Children of the Sun.

Rama or Jared +.

Cusha.

Atithi.

* Born A. M. 461. 1

Ruler over a province, about A. M. 700.

incarnate God as Parasa Rama, it is asserted, that he never saw death; but that, when he vanished from the sight of men, he retired to certain delightful spots in the mountains; where he is still believed by the multitude to be living, on the Coromandel coast. While the more enlightened Brahmans believe with the Hebrews, that, in consequence of his superior piety, he was translated to heaven.

The placing a descendant of the sixth generation as the seventh Avatara, and one of the seventh as the sixth Avatara, may at first appear a contradiction. But not so, if we examine their history. In a former page, the Avataras are placed according to their birth; here they are recorded according to the period when they became Avataras, or servants of the Most High. By referring to the Hebrew Scriptures, we shall find that although Jared was born 162 years before his son Enoch, yet, that he lived 435 years after the translation of that son, and at least 700 years after he prophesied as an Avatara. For that he was so considered, when he foretold the deluge to the Hindus, as the Sapheri, and to the Chaldeans, as the Annadotus, is certain. But as an incarnation of the Deity he was desigated an Avatara, during the whole of his sojourn earth. For the Brahmans contend, that the

was absent from heaven a day and night of