Page:Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society - Volume 1.djvu/169



Inscription, of which I have the honour to present a copy and translation to the Society, is a memorial of an important period in the History of India, especially that part familiarly, though restrictively, de- nominated Hindust’hdn. To define the limits of this somewhat vague appli- cation, is of no great moment ; but I believe it is generally to be understood as denoting the space between the mountains of Himdlaya and the Nermada river, north and south: a line in the meridian of the source of this river at Ameracantac, passing through Praydg, and meeting the great northern chain, forms the eastern limit ; and westward, towards the Indus, it com- prehends all the tracts within the limits of cultivation. This is generally understood to be Hindust?hdn proper. What antiquity may be assigned to such restrictive definition of a word, implying the abode of the whole of the Hindu race, I know not;* nor should I have deemed it worth mention, but from its comprehending the space to which the inscriptionh as especial reference, the greater part of which acknowledged the power of the Prince, whose name it records. This name is PrirawirAsa, signifying « Sovereign of the Earth.” ‘

It was at Hansi Hisdr, in the beginning of the year 1815, I obtained the Inscription, when I left my post at Sindia’s court on a visit to a friend, now no more: one well known, and whose memory is honoured by some members of this Society; whose services were appreciated, and his loss publicly lamented, by the late illustrious Governor-General of India, be- cause talents, zeal, and honour, were synonymous with James LumspaIne. I need ask no pardon for this digression: when met for the purpose of recording what is worthy in the History, Physics, and Antiquities of India, a passing tribute to one, who, in his own bright example, raised the moral (Dacshin and Pirb) is the same with the Med’hya dés'a, or central region. See Menu, 2. 21. The Narmadé river is the limit of the Vind’hya range of mountains there mentioned. Vinas‘ana is the place where the Saraswati river terminates; losing itself in the great sandy desert.—H.T.C.
 * Hindust'hén proper, contradistinguished from the southern peninsula, and eastern India