Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/169

Rh to the north. The northernmost of all is Uttarakuru, the place where dwell the Siddhas, men who by their virtues have attained to immortality. This land, although in Central Asia, appears similar to the Sekhet-Hetep of the Egyptians. The multiplicity of rivers that exist there points to numerous islands on which lived the blessed, so I have no hesitation in including it under the heading of this paper. It is said to lie in the farthest north, where the sun and moon cease to shine. Journeying on northward you come ultimately to the river Sailoda, whose water petrifies those who touch it. "On either bank of that river grow reeds called Kichaka, which carry the blessed (Siddhas) to the opposite bank, and back. There is Uttarakuru, the abode of the pious, watered by lakes with golden lotuses. There are rivers by thousands, full of leaves of the colour of sapphire and lapis-lazuli, and the lakes resplendent like the morning sun, are adorned with costly jewels and produce precious stones, with gay beds of lotuses of golden petals. Instead of sand, round pearls, costly jewels, and gold form the banks of the rivers, which are covered with trees of precious stones, trees of gold shining like fire. The trees always bear flowers and fruits, they swarm with birds, they are of a heavenly smell and touch, and yield all desires; other trees bring forth clothes of various shapes All the inhabitants do pious deeds, all are given to love, all dwelling together with their wives, have their desires fulfilled. There one always hears the sound of song and music mixed with gay laughter, pleasant to all creatures. There is none who does not rejoice, none whose desires are not fulfilled ; and every day these pleasant qualities grow brighter."