European literature can be traced back to oriental sources. Sir fWilliam Jones, in his discourse on the Hindus, observes that they are said to have laid claim to three inventions—the game of chess, the decimal scale of notation and the mode of instructing by apologues. The universal prevalence among the Hindus of the doctrine of metempsychosis was calculated to recommend to their belief the notion that beasts and birds could reason and converse and consequently the plan of such dialogues originated with them. Despite the questionability of the evidence in favour of the originality of the Hindus in the art of instruction by apologues, the purposes to which the. Hindus directed it are peculiarly their own. Fable is witfe them practical ethics-—the science of niti or polity. Each fable is calculated to illustrate some reflection on worldly vicissitudes or some precept for human conduct.
The oldest Aryan fables, dating from centuries before Christ, have, according to Dr. Rhys Davids, travelled to different parts of Europe and have assumed various modern shapes* Otto Keller maintains the Indian origin of fables common to India and Greece and suggests an ancient Assyrian channel of communication. The substantial link of connection with the west is the literature of the beast-fable. The Makavaipulya sutras of the Buddhistic literature appear to contain the earKest Sanskrit legends in prose styled Ityuktha and Vyakarana (corresponding to the Itihasa-puranasin the Brahmanas) or legends in the form of parables styled ayadma exhibiting many elements of the later animal fables and further tales of presages and wonders adbhuta-dharma and lastly special instruction in and discussion of definite topics, denominated upadesa and nidana. All these tales, -ptrfly mythical, partly didactic and partly allegorical, reappear in a more archaic dress in the Brahmanas.e been pleased with hisa of his court and the rest by himself. It is doubted if the work had really anything to do with the royal author. Perhaps his name was purchased. BhojVs poetry is even more appreciated than his prose ; for in the latter the vices described of later Sanskrit prose had already begun to make their mark. Yet the language is very harmonious and musical. His choice of words is especially noteworthy. Tradition, unsupported however