I am aware that there are standard works which contain a good deal of the information here given, but there are also many things now described, which will, I trust, be found interesting. I have seen no mention of some of these in any books to which I have had access. The work represents the result of personal observations during a period of twenty-seven years spent in India, when I was in daily intercourse with the people of the land.

The Sanskrit quotations have been given to me by learned pandits from whom I have received much help, especially in the translation of these statements. I have not attempted a free material translation into English verse; but have tried to give the original and the translations, as far as possible, in corresponding lines. Many of the quotations are not to be found in printed books, but are taken from the private palm-leaf manuscripts of purohitas (priests), which have been handed down from generation to generation. Thus, it was manifestly desirable to give the original text from these' unusual sources of information.