Genesis are
really such as to require, nay as to admit, the hypothesis that the
Hindus borrowed their account of the Deluge from their nearest Semitic
neighbors.

We read in the _S_atapatha Brahma_n_a I. 8, 1:

"In the morning they brought water to Manu for washing, as
they bring it even now for washing our hands.

"While he was thus washing, a fish came into his hands.

"2. The fish spoke this word to Manu: 'Keep me, and I shall
save thee.'

"Manu said: 'From what wilt thou save me?'

"The fish said: 'A flood will carry away all these creatures,
and I shall save thee from it.'

"Manu said: 'How canst thou be kept?'

"3. The fish said: 'So long as we are small, there is much
destruction for us, for fish swallows fish. Keep me therefore
first in a jar. When I outgrow that, dig a hole and keep me
in it. When I outgrow that, take me to the sea, and I shall
then be beyond the reach of destruction.'

"4. He became soon a large fish (_gh_asha), for such a fish
grows largest. The fish said: 'In such and such a year the
flood will come. Therefore when thou hast built a ship, thou
shalt meditate on me. And when the flood has risen, thou
shalt enter into the ship, and I will save thee from the
flood.'

"5. Having thus kept the fish, Manu took him to the sea. Then
in the same year which the fish had pointed out, Manu, having
built the ship, meditated on the fish. And when the flood had
risen, Manu entered into the ship. Then the fish swam toward
him, and Manu fastened the rope of the ship to the fish's
horn, and he thus hastened toward[140] the Northern Mountain.

"6. The fish said: 'I have saved thee; bind the ship to a
tree. May the water not cut thee off, while thou art on the
mountain. As the water subsides, do thou gradually slide down
with it.' Manu then slid down gradually with the water, and
therefore this is called 'the Slope of Manu' on the Northern
Mountain. Now the flood had carried away all these creatures,
and thus Manu was left there alone.

"7. Then Manu went about singing praises and toiling, wishing
for offspring. And he sacrificed there also with a
Paka-sacrifice. He poured clarified butter, thickened milk,
whey, and curds in the water as a libation. In one year a
woman arose from it. She came forth as if dripping, and
clarified butter gathe