THE MAKING OF WOMAN.

Northland Age, Volume IV, Issue 49, 27 July 1908, Page 7

THE MAKING OF WOMAN.

The Sanscrit story of the creation of Woman differs much from our Biblical account. It is not, however, without interest. This Oriental version occurs in a very old volume enr titled “The Surging of the Ocean of Time."

Premising that, according to tradition. there was a security of solid elements at the time of Woman's creation, the antitipe Sanscrit writer proceeds thus with his story : At the beginning of Time, Twashtri —the Vulcan of the Hindu mythology —having created the world and made man, wished to create a woman. But he had used up all suitable material in man. Falling into a profound meditation, he presently d’id thus ; He took the roundness of tho moon the undulations of the serpent, the entwining of climbing plants, the trembling of the grass, the slenderness of the rose-stem and the velvet of tho flower, the lightness of the leaf and the glance of tho fawn, the gaity of the sun’s rays the tears of the mist, the inconstancy of tho wind and the timidity of the hare, the vanity of the peacock and tho softness of the down o« the throat of tho swallow, the hardness of the diamond, the sweet flavour of honey and the cruelty of the tiger, the warmth of fire, tho chill of snow, the chatter of the jay and the cooing of the turtledove, He united all these and formed a woman, Then he made a present of her to man, Eight days later the man camp to Twaslhtri and said :

. “My lord, the creature you gave me poisons my existence. She ters without rest, she takes all my time, she laments for nothing at all, and is always ill." And Twashtri received the woman again, But eight days later the man came again to the. god and said : “My lord, my life is very solitary since I returned this creature. I remember 9he glanced at me from the corner of her eye, and she played with me, clung to me."

And Twashtri returned the woman to him.

Three days only passed, and Twashtri saw the man coming to him again.

“My lord," said he, “I do not understand exactly how, but I am suro the.woman causes me annoyance than pleasure. I beg of j r ou to relievo me qf her.’’

But Twashtri cried, “Go your way and do vour best !" A”d the man cried, “I cannot live with her !” • iNiimer can you live without her,’ replied Twashtri. And the man was sorrowful, murmuring, “Woe is me ! I can neither live with her nor without her."