DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12249#0340
304 THE PRESENT TENANTS OE THE TOMBS.
Ere the twilight dimmed the crests of the hills, he
approached the wondrous creation; and lo! it was
the object of his search. The blessed Nile, bright with
the light of the divine presence, was descending from
the heavens, and commencing its earthly career on a
sparkling beach of diamonds.
The legend of which this is something like an out-
line was, perhaps, intended by the writer of the book
from which it was said to have been read, as an allegory
indicating the inestimable character of the river by
ascribing to it a birth so sacred amid accessories which
popularly, and particularly to the Eastern mind, are
the types and manifestations of pre-eminent value;
and in this point of view, the fable in its scope and
structure was not wanting in beauty or fancy. But
on the occasion I have mentioned, when it was retailed,
the listeners and reciter thought only of a literal inter-
pretation, and were disposed to embrace so satisfactory
a solution of a problem so mysterious yet so inter-
woven with the daily current of their lives. They
were more than half content to believe as the Hindoos,
who also
" Draw
Tlieir holy Ganges from a skiey fount."
AVordswortli'a Excursion.
Ere the twilight dimmed the crests of the hills, he
approached the wondrous creation; and lo! it was
the object of his search. The blessed Nile, bright with
the light of the divine presence, was descending from
the heavens, and commencing its earthly career on a
sparkling beach of diamonds.
The legend of which this is something like an out-
line was, perhaps, intended by the writer of the book
from which it was said to have been read, as an allegory
indicating the inestimable character of the river by
ascribing to it a birth so sacred amid accessories which
popularly, and particularly to the Eastern mind, are
the types and manifestations of pre-eminent value;
and in this point of view, the fable in its scope and
structure was not wanting in beauty or fancy. But
on the occasion I have mentioned, when it was retailed,
the listeners and reciter thought only of a literal inter-
pretation, and were disposed to embrace so satisfactory
a solution of a problem so mysterious yet so inter-
woven with the daily current of their lives. They
were more than half content to believe as the Hindoos,
who also
" Draw
Tlieir holy Ganges from a skiey fount."
AVordswortli'a Excursion.