er India, for about five; and in the Panjab for about
seven. The rains in Bengal Proper are more violent and protracted
than in Hindustan and the Panjab. In the latter country they last
for hardly more than two months, and even then only fall at
intervals. Plays were acted on solemn and festive occasions, on
lunar holidays, and especially at the changes of the season.

6. _Of fragrant Patalas_.

The Patala or trumpet-flower; _Bignonia suaveolens_.

7. _With sweet [S']irisha flowers_.

The flowers of the _Acacia Sirisha_ were used by the Hindu women
as ear-ornaments.

8. _King Dushyanta_.

For the genealogy of King Dushyanta see Introduction, page
xxxviii.

9. _That wields the trident_.

[S']iva is called Pinakin, that is, 'armed with a trident,' or
according to some, a bow named Pinaka. Siva not being invited to
Daksha's sacrifice, was so indignant, that, with his wife, he
suddenly presented himself, confounded the sacrifice, dispersed
the gods, and chasing Yajna, 'the lord of sacrifice,' who fled in
the form of a deer, overtook and decapitated him.

10. _Their waving plumes, that late
Fluttered above their brows, are motionless._

The Chamari, or chowrie, formed of the white bushy tail of the
Yak, or _Bos grunniens_, was placed as an ornament between the
ears of horses, like the plume of the war-horse of chivalry. The
velocity of the chariot caused it to lose its play, and appear
fixed in one direction, like a flag borne rapidly against the
wind.

11. _The steeds of Indra and the Sun._

That is, the speed of the chariot resembled that of the Wind and
the Sun. Indra was the god of the firmament or atmosphere--the
Jupiter Tonans of Hindu mythology--and presided over the
forty-nine Winds. He has a heaven of his own (Swarga), of which
he is the lord, and, although inferior to the three great deities
of the Hindu Triad (Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva), he is chief of the
secondary gods. The Hindus represent the Sun as seated in a
chariot, drawn by seven green horses, having before him a lovely
youth without legs, who acts as his charioteer, and who is Aruna,
or the Dawn personified.

12. _Puru's race_.

See Dushyanta's pedigree detailed at page xxxviii of the
Introduction.

13. _The great sage Kanwa_.

The sage Kanwa was a descendant of Kasyapa, whom the Hindus
consider to have been the father of the inferior gods, demons,
man, fish, reptiles, and all animals, by his twelve wives. Kanwa
was th