The sage Bhavabhuti--Eastern teller of these tales--after making hisinitiatory and propitiatory conge to Ganesha, Lord of Incepts, informs thereader that this book is a string of fine pearls to be hung round the neck ofhuman intelligence; a fragrant flower to be borne on the turband of mentalwisdom; a jewel of pure gold, which becomes the brow of all supreme minds;and a handful of powdered rubies, whose tonic effects will appear palpablyupon the mental digestion of every patient. Finally, that by aid of the lessonsinculcated in the following pages, man will pass happily through this worldinto the state of absorption, where fables will be no longer required.Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS was a British explorer, geographer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer and diplomat.