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JUNE 7, 1872.]
MISCELLANEA.
189
REVIEW. THE STORY OF GAUTAMA BUDDHA AND H18 CREED: ordinary resemblance is heightened by the fact that An Epic by RICHARD PHILLIPS. Longaans: 1871. both employ only celibates as their agents.
We rise from the perusal of this elegantly got up From a careful perusal of this volume, we cannot volume with a feeling of disappointment. We had in any way learn that the author has the least achoped for a solution of many of the problems which quaintance with any of the Eastern langunges ; 80 remain to students of Buddhistical literature ; but 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- lay open to him of presenting in a compact form able narrative of Buddha and Buddhism, looking at
the results attained by the inany able scholars who these subjects of course from a poetical standpoint." have devoted long years to the study has been utThese are stated so much better in prose by Hardy terly ignored. So that as far as the inquiring in his “Manual of Buddhism," that we should reader is concerned, he is exactìy where he was have thought the author would have abstained from Mr. Phillips tells us that "The poem," as he calls " slaving the slain." We fully agree with Mr. it," is founded upon a theory; but nothing short of Phillips in his notion that "the great Ascetic" & full conviction of the soundness of that theory deserves to be better known ; but we cannot add would have led the author to represent Gautama as the cheering hope that the present volume will in a wilful deceiver, beguiling men to virtue ; and any degree advance the object most to be desired, thus by impeaching his moral character to lessen The attractive beauty of Buddha's life, and the vast him in mnen's eyes. But if his moral character is influence exercised by his creed over more than lowered by this assumption, as undoubtedly it is, one-half of the human race, are in themselves power
it must be allowed as a slightly compensating fact, ful motives for an attentive study of his career.
that his intellectual status is considerably raised But the qualifications demanded for the task of by it." able exposition are so numerous, that since the
The work consists of about 650 stanzas spun out much-to-be-lamented death of Eugene Burnouf, we i with uncommon perseverance, with little regard for almost despair of hearing of an equally able suc- rhyme and none at all for rhythm. Thus we take, cessor. There are Jaina works, Chinese works, entirely at random, a specimen which is no better Tibetan works, Pali works, and perhaps even Japan- than its neighbours : ese works, to be carefully mastered before we gain "For, unlike many, Sakya-Muni weighed full and accurate information as to the results of The Pundit's reasoning, and was not afraid, the teaching of Buddha and his missionaries on the
Nor did he deem it impious to doubt
The Brahman's doctrines; so he soon found out Eastern races. The wonderful exertions made by
The measure of his wisdom; and discerned the apostles of Buddhism, can only be likened to
Where lay his wakness: thus he soon had learned, the great efforts put forth by the Jesuits during the All he could teach him. Then did he prepare nascent period of that great order; and the extra- To seek for wisdom and for truth elsewhere."
MISCELLANEA, NOTES, AND QUERIES. KANGRA.
It is this extrenie antiquity which makes Kangra, As Jamu is the chief of all the States on the and particularly the Kangra Fort, of such value in other side of the Ravi, so has Kangra always been the eyes of the natives of the district, who will still regarded as the principal among a large circle of tell you that he who holds Kangra holds the Panjab. states on this eide. The Katoch, or Kangra family, When the Muhammadans held sway in India, they sprung from no mortal stock; the first Raja, Bhum plundered Kangra of immenso treasure ; but the idul Chand, was created from the perspiration from the was restored to the temple, and the Hindus again brow of the Kangra goddess; not born, like other obtained possession in 101 A. D. From this time men, a puling infant, but cast perfect in a mould, a till 1360 A. D., when Firuz Tughlak again plundered god-like man, prepared for mighty deeds. This ar- the temple, the history is uncertain. This Emperor pears somewhat startling, but as it occurred some is supposed by Mr. Burncs, to whose settlernent reeleven thousand years ago, perbaps we may allow port we are indebted for much of this bistory, to ourselves to believe that things were differently have resided in the Kangra fort, and to have there managed in those days. Coming down to more re- received, twenty-eight years after, Prince Muhau. cent days, we find the Greek historians, more than mad Tughlak, who was a fugitive froin Delhi. 300 years B.C., alluding to the mountain kings Ferishtah tells us that the great Akbar, having north of the Panjab. Almost all the noble families subdued Kangra, received the Katoch King, Dharmfrom the Ravi to the Satlaj claim connexion with, chand, with kindness. In this reign the Fort at or descent from, the Katoch family.
Kangra was held by Imperial troops; and the
