The importance of this point, which tends so much to throw light on the history of India, makes it necessary for me to correct the errors of these writers. The Brahman book, _Amarasinha_, which the Indians hold in high esteem, according to the testimony of Sir William Jones, Wilkins, Anquetil du Perron, and Davis, contains, besides other things, in the division entitled _Samudravargga_, a description of the principal rivers in India. The author begins with the Ganges, which in the Samscred language is distinguished by the following names: _Ganga_, _Vishnuvadi_, _Gehnutanayà_, _Suranimnaga_, _Bhaguirathi_, _Tisròda_, _Bhishmasù_. After these come the names of the river _Jamunà_; which are, _Jamunà_, _Càlini_, _Suryatanayà_, _Shamanasuasà_. Then those of the _Rèvà_; viz. _Rèvà_, _Nammadà_, _Somolbbavà_, _Mèghala_, _Canyagà_, _Karatoyà_, _Sadanirà-bahudà_, _Saidavahini_. These Samscred names are accompanied with the following Brahman observation, written in the common dialect of Malabar: _Vindyattinguelnina purapetta Revajede per_; that is, names of the river _Rèvà_, which has its source in, and springs from the mountain _Vindhia_. We next find the names of the river _Sarajuvà_; viz. _Shududri_, _Shadrada_, and _Sarajevà_, with the following gloss: _Himavànguelnina purapetta Sarayùvinde per_; that is, names of the river _Sarayùvà_, which has its source in, and flows from the _Hima_. And after these the names of the river _Dèva_; viz. _Vipàshà_, _Vipal_, and _Dèva_. On this occasion the Brahman glossographer says: _Sanhjattinguelnina purapetta Dèvadajede per_; that is, names of the river _Dèva_, which has its source in, and flows from the mountain _Sanhya_. The names of the next five most remarkable rivers are then mentioned; viz. _Sharavadi_, _Vetravadi_, _Ciandrabhagà_, _Sarasvadi_, and _Caveri_; but not a word is said in the gloss respecting their origin. All these different appellations are contained in three Indian manuscripts, which I have now before me. I must, however, observe, that there is no gloss in the Samscred text of the _Amarasinha_, which is written in _Shlogas_, or distinct paragraphs; but it is found in all the other Samscred manuscripts of this work, which the Brahman literati have explained word by word. I have in my possession a copy of this kind, written on palm-leaves; and that it is genuine, no one who understands the Brahman characters will entertain the least doubt. It is evident that the above passage, which I have quoted from the _Amarasinha_, is of the utmost importance; for it makes us acquainted with the sources of the three largest rivers in India, which have hitherto been confounded by geographers. This will appear from what follows: