(iii)
will, I hope, be a valuable supplement to those Sanskrit treatises named above, and specially to “Haya-Lakshana-Sara” which contains valuable contributions from Salihotra, Nakula and King Bhojo who are reported to be great authorities on horsemanship,
The puthi may broadly be divided into two parts, one dealing with the classes, colour and characteristics of ponies, and the other with diseases, their general symptoms and treatment. It is very interesting to note that unlike any other medical treatise in Assamese this puthi contains no symptoms of diseases except in very few cases. It is also interesting to note that no mention has been made in regard to a dose of medicine which according to the Garura-Puran is from 8 to 144 tolas. I should like also to add here in this connection that equal quantities of ingredients should be taken so as to make the required dose where measurements of the different ingredients have not been specifically mentioned.
The classification of the puthi is not systematic; I have however tried my best to impart a system to it purposely, for the convenience of readers without effecting any change in composition or attempting any correction in the spelling except in very few cases where there is a chance of misunderstanding the sense.
For clear elucidation of the technical terms this puthi badly wants a glossary. I found two puthis with Goswami of Kulbil Satra, namely “Ghorar Lakshana” and “Ghotoka Ratna” besides the one mens tioned above, the latter of which for all purposes can be used as a supplement to this puthi. But for the “Ghorar Lakshana” nearly 50 technical words used in “Ghora Nidan” would have remained inexplicable.
I travelled in many places and consulted the Ahom translator Rai Sahib G. C. Barua and many leading gentlemen of the province, but these were unable to help.
I am fully aware I have not been able to do justice to the subject as I would like to do, and I hope there should be some allowance made for this maiden
