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Summary
the human memory and its relative incapacity, with Oriental fancy added to it, the historical facts soon degenerated into fabulous legends which later on, were collected together by the unknown compilers and given to the world under the name of the “ Five Books of Moses;" legend also attributes to the Hebrew law-giver an extraordinary divine power and credits him with a series of miracles performed in the presence of Pharaoh; it has even been mistaken in declaring that he was an Israelite by birth.
The Hindu chroniclers, on the contrary, thanks to the invention of the alphabet, have been able to preserve not legends, but the accounts of deeds recently performed or the reports of merchants who had just returned after visiting foreign countries.
It should be remembered here, that in ancient as well as in our own times, all the public life of the Orient was concentrated in the bazaars where the news from foreign countries were propagated by caravans of merchants who-were usually followed by dervisheś whose business it was to recite. new events in public places and temples and thus obtain a living. Soon after their return from a journey or from business the merchants related all that they had seen or heard.*
The commerce of India with Egypt and afterwards with Europe passed through Jerusalem, where even in the time of King Solomon. Hindu caravans brought precious metals and all materials for the construction of temples. Merchandise from Europe arrived at Jerusalem by sea and was unloaded in a harbour which is now the site of Jaffa.**
From very ancient times it has been a very common practice in the Orient for the pilgrims and travelers to compose in verses the description of the places they visit and the recital of events that impress them; and these little poems are committed to memory and often recited by the people. There are numerous such poems among the Jains.- Translator.
** I have proved the antiquity of the Indian trade in my Introduction.Translator
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