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THE UNKNOWN LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST.
TOI 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 scries of miracles performed in the presence of Pharaoli; it has cven been mistaken in declaring that he was an Israclitc by birth.
The Hindu chroniclers, on the contrary, thanks to the invention of the alphabet, have been able to preserve not lcgends, but the accounts of dccds 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 tiincs, all the public life of the Orient was concentrated in tlic bazaars where the news from forcign countries were propagated by caravans of mcrchants who were usually followed by dervishics whose business it was to recitc,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 rith EA1 and artertarris 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 icmples. Merchandise from Europe arrived at Jerusalem by sca and was unloaded in a harbor which is now the site of Jaffas
*Froin very ancient times it has been a very common practice in the Orient for the pilgrims und 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 niemory and often recited by the people. There are numerous such poems among the Jains.-Translator.
SI have proved the antiquity of the Indian trade in my lutruduction.- Translator.
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