should he be weighed down by that, which scarcely checked for a moment the merriment of a hundred, similarly situated, as I deemed? He, I remembered, had higher spirits and more firmness of character than generally fall to the lot of the same individual.

"About this time I returned to Calcutta, and my first task was to seek Edward-my kind, generous, noble-souled, Edward. I found him, at least so much of him as constant and consuming care had left. A cold reserved manner usurped the place of the ardent greeting of but five years back. A nervous quivering of the face and eyelids betrayed the shattered constitution, which, so short a time since, seemed framed to encounter the inroads of toil and years without impression from their attacks. The light of the eye was gone-the arch of the brow was pointed-its brave and noble space furrowed by a ridge of wrinkles; the tone of the voice changed from the music of the heart, to the broken whispering of a care-worn wretch. Such was the friend I found; and his frank and generous bearing was shrouded from the eye under a cold, suspicious glance, which seemed afraid of all encounter with mine. To the appeal of remembrance, he was all but dead-the rites of hospitality were grudgingly afforded-our conversation languished—and, finally, after a short interview, we parted; and the only gleam of pleasure that passed over his wan countenance, met my look as I extended my hand at bidding farewell. That evening, however, I learned the cause of this appalling change; but the whole truth did not come upon me at once.

"It appeared that as soon as the real nature of his embarrassments came to be understood, when he found that the notes he had given on board ship must be met with payment, his agony and distraction were beyond control or endurance. At last, some friend introduced him to a native usurer, who gladly found the money, although at a most ruinous rate, and to the absorption of about nine-tenths of his income. I do not attempt to account for the blindness and madness of the gamester, or of any other delivered over to the dominion of the passions: I have seen enough to know that extrication from the immediate pressure of present evils, seduces the unhappy individual to continue in his fatal course.

"Few, I believe, are aware of the suffering of those upon whom this vice has fastened itself. The bitter regrets-the solemn resolutions, framed only to yield to the next temptation; the hopes of recovery by some turn of luck, cherished only to sink in deeper despair. Fewer still reflect upon the gradual but sure growth of selfishness, which comes like a cloud of death over the noblest natures, as they become inured to the feelings of the gamester. None ever looked back with tenderer love to the ties which bind them to the absent than Edward; and yet, as you will find, none ever more effectually loosened those ties than this unhappy victim. But to proceed.

You may suppose that my visits were not frequent, although the affection which held me to him would not allow me wholly to desert him. I called, yet no return of my visits, even in the most formal manner, was ever made. I wrote, when I heard of his accumulating difficulties, making him the offer of whatever assistance I could render; yet there came no reply. Time passed on, and my return to the scene of my duties was at hand. I wrote again, adjuring him by our friendship to listen to me, and allow me to aid him and announcing my departure. To this letter he replied. There was a show of regret at his estrangement, and a cold, although not an offensive, rejection of my offer. I was now entering upon my last week of absence, and, consequently, much engaged; so that no occasion of our meeting presented

itself. He was still attentive to his duties, although every moment, which could be snatched from them or from rest, was devoted to play-the same wild reckless play.

"One evening, the last but one of my stay, I was at dinner with some officers, several of whom had recently arrived from Europe, when the subject of inveterate gaming was discussed. One of them seemed to have collected all the narratives which have ever been handed down upon the subject; and, among the rest, mentioned a case which had made some stir in London a short time before his departure. A woman, whose appearance was far superior to her wretched condition, had been brought before some magistrate for attempting suicide. It appeared from her broken statement, that she was highly connected, although dependent upon a son in India for her support; that he had long since discontinued his remittances, and it was but too certain that the cause of his neglect was a ruinous devotion to the gaming-table; that all remonstrances from her and his kindest friends were disregarded, and finally her letters unanswered. I leave you to guess my dreadful suspicion of the author of this misery. I could entertain no doubt of the truth of the statement, and but little of the parties to whom it related. I had seen enough, in Edward's altered manner towards me, to lead me readily to admit the extension of that alteration towards even a mother. I was depressed and abstracted all the evening, and retired as soon as I well could from table. About 11 o'clock, as I was preparing to go to bed, my servant came hastily and said some one wished to see me upon urgent business. He proved to be the bearer of a note, evidently written under great excitement, entreating me to come back with the bearer, and signed "E. M." I was so absorbed in the consideration of Malcolm's case, that I was hardly surprized at the coincidence. I followed the messenger, and soon reached the house. I was shewn in and left alone some short time,―agitated, as you may conceive, beyond all power of concealment. When the servant returned, he asked me to accompany him quietly to an adjoining room. The dimness prevented me from noticing more than that some one lay on a couch, surrounded by attendants, and, as it proved, a surgeon. Upon my approach, the patient endeavoured to rise, and extending his hand, called me faintly by name. I could, with difficulty, gather composure to reply. He returned my hand-pressure feebly, and looking towards the surgeon, implored him to leave us alone together. After some demur and professional exhortation to remain tranquil, he and the natives withdrew. I, by this time, perceived that my poor friend was bandaged round the head, and that his dress was still wet with his blood. After a pause of some minutes, during which he appeared to be gathering his energies and struggling with his feelings, he exclaimed, with a burst of tears: Lewis, forgive me; and aid me to implore it of those who still more need to bestow it upon me. O my mother! my mother! You know not what a devil you hold by the hand, or you would shrink from the touch. Read-read that paper.' He pointed to an European paper, which lay on the floor. I stooped to take it up, but it was so soaked with blood that I could not fix my eyes upon it. He saw my emotion, and continued: 'Just God! so should it be! O that these veins could wash out the record for ever! Lewis, I have starved her who fed me with her own life! I am my mother's murderer- but I must be calm-not for his bidding, but because the proclaiming of my guilt must be my own act. I have been spared one sin, if it could be a sin, to cut off all hope from one, who had ceased to deserve any. I sat at that table with a pistol, waiting until all should be still, that I might pass away-I cared not whither-secure from

all interruption-I am not mad-do not believe it—you are a witness that I am not-yet I was nearer to madness an hour ago-my nerves were shaken, and wine only could string them for what I had to do. I drank deeply, and cast the bottle heedlessly from me-that act has saved me-but for what?saved me from suicide. Hear me-a thought came over me that I should die more happily, if my mother's image was before me, looking upon me as she was wont to look, ere I wrung her heart and murdered her! I rose and swerved from my balance, fell, and with the fragments of the wine-bottle severed the temporal artery; and I, who had sat waiting for death at my own hands, cried aloud for help, when it seemed rushing upon me from another source. Can you explain this, Lewis?-Can you forbear to smile at my cowardice? You know the rest; you see me to-night, but where shall you look for me to-morrow? I sent for you, my friend, that I might see one face I loved before I died—I cared not for the curse that I knew would arise in your heart upon me. It is my recompense for long years of toil, and should not be withheld. But, Lewis, I adjure you by all you love and I have to dread, to renew that offer of your aid, which you so lately, so devotedly, through slight and coldness past all human endurance, so earnestly made. It may be that others have preserved that life, which I would have destroyed by a most cruel means. My mother may live,—be to her all she hoped for in him, who left her to perish. She will not need your aid long. Give me her picture from that lowest drawer; look well upon it; now your hand. Farewell, farewell-leave

me, for God's sake leave me, and curse me-Lewis, farewell!'

"Exhausted with speaking, he turned from me; but, just as I was leaving the room, thinking it better that he should have the repose which nature seemed to court, he partly turned, and in a much feebler tone again called me to him, gazed earnestly in my face, implored my forgiveness; and, lastly, entreated me not to let any one disturb him. I complied, and silently left him. About half an hour afterwards, it occurred to me that I might have left him exposed to all the dangers of his excited feelings, and determined to steal back as softly as possible to watch his slumbers. I was too late. The bandages were torn from his head, and life had evidently long ceased.

"I lost no time in forwarding to England such instructions as were necessary for the fulfilment of his wishes, but the object of my anxiety could never be discovered."

J. H.

A HINDU COLONY IN ANCIENT ARMENIA.*

BY JOHANNES AVDALL, ESQ., OF CALCUTTA.

A SINGULAR account of a certain colony of Hindus, that emigrated from India into Armenia, is recorded in the historical work of Zenobius, a Syrian bishop and primate of the convent called Innaknian,† who flourished in Armenia in the beginning of the third century. The narrative was evidently written in Syriac, and intended for the Syrian nation, though the writer seems to have subsequently re-written the same in the Armenian language, but with Syrian characters; the letters of our alphabet having been invented a century posterior to that period. By a very long residence in Armenia, Zenobius was successfully enabled to acquire a perfect knowledge of the Armenian language, in which his history has been handed down to us. This interesting work was published in Venice, in the year 1832, being carefully collated with five manuscript copies, written in different periods.

I shall, in the present memoir, first give a description of this Hindu colony, the narrative of Zenobius, and then an account of the religious wars waged between them and the first propagators of Christianity in Armenia.

"This people had a most extraordinary appearance. They were black, longhaired, ugly and unpleasant to the sight. They claimed their origin from the Hindus. The story of the idols, worshipped by them in this place, is simply this: Demetr‡ and Keisaney were brothers, and both Indian princes. They were found guilty of a plot formed against their king, Dinaskey,|| who sent troops after them, with instructions either to put them to death or to banish them from the country. The felons, having narrowly escaped the pursuit, took a shelter in the dominions of the king Valarsaces, who bestowed on them the principality of the country of Taron. Here a city was founded by the emigrants, who called it Vishap or Dragon. Having come to Ashtishat, they raised idols there in the name of those they worshipped in India. Fifteen years after their settlement in the country, both of the brothers were put to death by the king, for what fault I do not know. He conferred the principality on their three sons, named Kuar, Meghti, and Horain. The first built a village, and called it after his own name Kuars. The second founded a village on the plain, and called it after his own name Meghti. The third also built a village in the province of Palunies, and gave it the appellation of Horains. After a certain space of time, Kuar, Meghti, and Horain, of one accord, resolved on changing their abode. They sojourned on the mountain called Kárki, which to a delightful temperature added a fine and picturesque appearIt abounded in game, herbs, wood, and all that is adapted for the comfort and convenience of man. Here they raised edifices, where they set up two idols, respectively dedicated to Keisaney and Demetr, in honour of whom attendants were appointed out of their own race. Keisaney had long flowing

ance.

• From the Journ. of the As. Soc. of Bengal, for June.

↑ Innaknian, literally meaning, nine springs or fountains, which existed in the place.

Demetr is a Greek name, probably borrowed by the Hindus from the Bactrians or the descendants of the troops of Alexander the Great.

§ Keisaney is derived from

Keis, which, both in Armenian and Persian, signifies a ringlet or

a curling forelock. Thus we have in Richardson

كيسوي عنبر آميزه

"locks fragrant as amber.', Dineskey is the name of the Indian king mentioned in the Armenian text, for which I have in vein searched in all old historical records and chronological tables of the dynasties of ancient India.

Ashtishat was a city in Armenia major. It was so called from two Armenian words signifying "sacrifice," and "many;" for innumerable sacrifices were offered there to the gods and goddesses of Armenia. It might, perhaps, be well compared to Jagannath or Káli Ghát of this country.

Asiat.Journ. N.S. VOL.22.No.87.

2 B

hairs, in imitation of which his priests allowed the hairs of their heads to grow, which custom was afterwards prohibited by authority. This class of people, on being converted to Christianity, were not deeply rooted in their faith. They durst not, however, openly profess the religion of their pagan ancestors. They continued, therefore, dissemblingly to allow their children to wear plaited hairs on the crown of their heads, in remembrance of their idolatrous abominations."

The description of this idolatrous colony is entirely accordant with the colour, appearance, manuers and religion of the present Hindus. The cause of their emigration from India is distinctly stated by Zenobius, but through what route or in what period they found their way into Armenia, it is very difficult to determine. It is, however, clearly evident that they had formed a permanent settlement in our country prior to the commencement of the Christian era. Valarsaces, under whose government they found protection, was grandson of Arsaces, the Parthian, and brother of Arsaces the Great, by whom he was appointed king over Armenia, Anno Mundi 3852, or a century and a-half before Christ. I shall now proceed to give a translation of Zenobius's narrative of the religious wars of this Hindu people with the first Christian converts of Armenia.

"Having taken our departure from Thordan, we intended to proceed to Carin and Harc. St. Gregory was informed by some of the princes of the existence of two idolatrous temples in the province of Taron, the inhabitants of which offered sacrifices to the devil. Hereupon, our course was changed to the place where these temples stood, with a view to effect their demolition. Having arrived in the country of Palunies, in the extensive village called Keisaney, near the town of Kuars, we met there some of the heathen priests. Having ascertained from the prince of Hashtens that, on the following day, the great images of Keisaney and Demetr were to be levelled to the ground, they repaired to the temples in the dead of the night, and removed from thence all the treasure into subterraneous places. Intimation of the impending danger was forthwith sent to the heathen priests in Ashtishat, who were earnestly urged to collect warriors, and quietly join them on the morrow, in order to take an active part in the battle, which was to be fought by the great Keisaney with the apostate princes. In like manner, the inhabitants of Kuars were also instigated to lie in ambush in the hedges of gardens, and ruffians were sent to waylay the Christians in the forests. The head priest, called Arzan,* and his son Demetr, took the command of the troops stationed at Kuarstan, and halted there, awaiting the arrival of reinforcements from other quarters. On the following day, they made a descent to the skirts of the mountain, in order to indulge in marauding and pillage. St. Gregory, accompanied by the prince of Arzrunies, the prince of Anzevazies, and the prince of the house of Angl,‡ and followed by a small number of troops amounting to about 300, ascended the mountain in the third hour of the day, when Arzan lay in ambush. They had not the least knowledge of the position of the enemy, and never expected to meet him there. On a near approach to the acclivity of the mountain,

* Arzan, literally means in Armenian, statue,' 'image,' or 'idol.'

+ Arzrunies was the title of a satrapy in Armenia, and signifies eagle-bearers.' The Satraps known by this appellation, used to carry eagles before the Arsacian king Valarsaces and his successors.

Angitún, the genitive of which is Angltan, means the house of Angl, or vulture. This was a title of distinction, conferred on a noble family in Armenia, compared to that bird of prey, on account of the ugliness and deformity of their features.

§ This is to be understood according to the mode of the computation of time, obtaining in eastern countries. The hour mentioned here, corresponds with nine o'clock in the morning. Thus we have in be Acts: "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day."