imilar to that told of the Yamuna and Rama
in the _Visnu Purana_ (tr. Wilson, ed. Dutt, Calc. 1894, p. 386).

* * * * *

Many of the poems describe religious customs practised in India. Of such
customs the practice of asceticism in its different forms is one of the
most striking and could not fail to engage the poet's attention. Thus
the peculiar fast known as _Candrayana_, "moon-penance," is the subject
of a poem, p. 278; so also "Titanische Bussandacht," p. 283, has for its
theme the belief of the Hindus in the supernatural power conferred by
excessive penance, as exemplified by the legend of Sakuntala's birth.
The practice of _pancatapas_, "the five fires" (_Manu_, vi. 23. See
Monier Williams, _Indian Wisdom_, Lond. 1876, p. 105) is the subject of
the poem "Des Buessers Laeuterungswahn," p. 285. The selfish greed of the
Brahmans (cf. _Manu_, vii. 133, 144; xi. 40) is referred to in two poems
on p. 287. The supposed powers of _cintamani_, the Hindu wishing-stone,
suggested the poem on p. 275 (cf. Bhartrhari, _Vair._ 33). Of other
poems of this sort we may mention "Die Gottverehrung des Stammes
Karian," p. 322 (Ritter, _Erdk._ iv. 1. p. 187), "Vom Genuss der Fruechte
nach Dschainas Lehre," p. 307 (ibid. iv. p. 749), and "Die Schuhe im
Tempel Madhuras," p. 301 (ibid. iv. 2. p. 4).

* * * * *

Again, many poems belong to the realm of physical and descriptive
geography. Their source, in most cases, was undoubtedly the great
geographical work of Ritter. To it may be referred the majority of the
purely descriptive poems, e.g., "Das ewige Fruehlingsland der Tudas," p.
301 (op. cit. iv. 1. 951), "Das Fruehlingsland Kaschmir," p. 315 (ibid.
ii. 1142 and 630), "Die Kokospalme," p. 304 (ibid. iv. 1. 834 seq., 838,
851, 852). The sun and moon lotuses, so famous through Heine's beautiful
songs (see p. 58), are described on p. 343. Animal-life also comes in
for its share, e.g. the ichneumon in "Instinctive Heilkunde der Tiere,"
p. 336.

* * * * *

Lastly, we come to the historical group, poems relating to the history
of India. The poem on the burning of Keteus' wife, p. 382, is evidently
inspired by the reading of Diodorus Siculus (xix. 33). On page 311 we
have a poem celebrating the valor of the Raja Pratap Singh, who held out
so bravely against Akbar in the mountain fastnesses of Citor, 1567.[184]
The heroic queen-regent of Ahmadnag