Indian Antiquary Vol 04

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 99

BOOK NOTICES.
MARCH, 1875.]
Hades; 14 the seven gates of Hades will open before thee, 15 Nin-ki-gal will see thee and be pleased with thee. 16 When her mind shall be grown calm, and her anger shall be worn off, 17 awe her with the names of the great gods! 18 Prepare thy frauds! On deceitful tricks fix thy mind! 19 The chiefest deceitful trick! Bring forth fishes of the waters out of an empty vessel!* 20 This thing will please Nin-ki-gal: 21 then to Ishtar she will restore her clothing. 23 A great reward for these things shall not fail. 23 Go save her, Phantom! and the great assembly of the people shall crown thee! 24 Meats, the first of the city, shall be thy food! 25 Wine, the most delicious in the city, shall be thy drink! 20 To be the Ruler of a palace shall be thy rank! 27 A throne of state shall be thy seat! 28 Magician and Conjuror shall bow down before thee.'
"20 Nin-ki-galt opened her mouth and spoke; 30 to Namtar her messenger a command she gave: 31 Go, Namtar! clothe the Temple of Justice! 32 Adorn the images (P) and the altars (P)! 33 Bring out Anunnak§! Seat him on a golden throne! 34 Pour out for Ishtar the waters of life, and let her depart from my dominions!' 35 Namtar went, and clothed the Temple of Justice; 36 he adorned the images and the altars; 37 he brought out Anunnak; on a golden throne he seated him; 38 he poured out for Ishtar the waters of life, and let her go. 30 Then the first gate let her forth, and restored to her-the first garment of her body. 40 The second gate let her forth, and restored to her-the diamonds of her hands and feet. 41 The third gate let her forth, and restored to her the central girdle of her waist. 42 The fourth gate let her forth, and restored to her-the small lovely gems of her forehead. 43 The fifth gate let her forth, and restored to her-the precious stones of her head. 44 The sixth gate let her forth, and restored to her-the earrings of her ears. 45 The seventh gate let her forth, and restored to her-the great Crown on her head."||
Having devoted so much space to the first volume, we can hardly do justice to the second somewhat larger one, devoted to Egyptian texts, with an interesting preface by the general editor, who also contributes the translations of the Inscription of Una, and four texts under the general heading of the Annals of Tothmes. The other papers are Instructions of Amenemhat, by G. Mas
The present legend was probably a kind of Miracle Play which was actually performed in one of the temples. Juggling tricks, which have been known in the East from time immemorial (vide Pharaoh's magicians), were probably introduced for the amusement of the audience. Only one is related here, but there may have been many more.
+ The things commanded are now supposed to have been successfully performed.
This seems to be the final scene of the Play, represent
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pero; the War of Rameses II. with the Khita, by Prof. Lushington; Inscription of Pianchi MerAmon, by the Rev. Canon Cook; Tablet of NewerHotep, by P. Pierret; Travels of an Egyptian, by Fr. Chabas; Lamentations of Isis and Nephthys, by P. J. de Horrack; Hymn to Amen-Ra, and Tale of the Doomed Prince, by C. W. Goodwin ; and Tale of the Two Brothers-in which a story very like that Joseph and Zuleika forms the turning pointby P. Le Page Renouf; with Calendar, Table of Dynasties, Weights and Measures; and a list of further texts for translation, the Assyrian arranged by G. Smith, and the Egyptian by P. Le Page Renouf, which lists sufficiently indicate the large extent of these literatures as already known to us. A third volume is also announced, containing among other interesting texts the Deluge Tablet and the Assyrian Canon of Berosus, by George Smith.
ESSAYS on the LANGUAGES, LITERATURE, and RELIGION of NEPAL and TIBET: together with further papers on the Geography, Etymology, and Commerce of those countries. By B. H. Hodgson, Esq. Reprinted with corrections and additions from "Illustrations of the Literature and Religion of the Buddhists," Serampore, 1841; and "Selections from the Records of the Government of Bengal," No. xxvii. 1857. London: Trübner and Co.
The anonymous editor of this volume informs us that the articles in it are reprints of the papers as first reprinted in the Phoenix, consisting of the original essays in the "Illustrations" and volume of "Selections," with numerous marginal notes, introduced into the text, from Mr. Hodgson's own copies of these two volumes. To the papers that appeared in the Phoenix only eight pages, completing the paper on the 'commerce of Nepal,' have been added. Hence the present volume wants three of the papers that appeared in the "Illustrations," viz. IX. Remarks on an Inscription in the Rancha and Tibetan characters'; 'X. Account of a visit to the ruins of Simroun'; and 'XII. Extract of Proceedings of the Royal Asiatic Society'; and of those that appeared in the "Selections"-'IV. Route from Kathmandu to Darjiling'; 'V. Route of Nepalese mission to Pekin'; XII. 1, Some account of the systems of Law and Police as recognized in the state of Nepal'; and, '2, On the Law and Legal Practice of Nepâl as regards familiar intercourse between a Hindu and an outcast." These are serious deficiencies, and all the more so
ing a magnificent hall or palace.
SA Genius, who is often mentioned. Here he seems to act the part of a judge, pronouncing the absolution of Ishtar.
There are 18 more lines, but they are much broken, and they appear not to relate to the above legend. At any rate they belong to another Chapter of it, which has not been hitherto alluded to. A satisfactory translation of them can therefore hardly be given.