ago an immense hoard was found at Putlam, which must have been buried for several ages.

XIV. 26." They were troubled, saying, It is a spirit." (Mark vi. 49.) "They supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out."

The Hindoos have to do with so many demons, gods, and demigods, it is no wonder they live in constant dread of their There is not a hamlet without a tree, or some secret power. place, in which evil spirits are not believed to dwell. Hence the people live in constant fear of those sprites of darkness, and nothing but the most pressing necessity will induce a man to go abroad after the sun has gone down. See the unhappy wight who is obliged to go out in the dark; he repeats his incantations and touches his amulets, he seizes a firebrand to keep off the foes, and begins his journey. He goes on with gentle step, he listens, and again repeats his prayers; should he hear the rustling of a leaf, or the moaning of some living animal, he gives himself up for lost. Has he worked himself up into a state of artificial courage, he begins to sing and bawl aloud, "to keep his spirits up." But, after all his efforts, his heart will not beat with its wonted ease till he shall have gained a place of safety.

I was once sitting, after sun-set, under a large banyan tree, (ficus religiosa), when a native soldier passed that way. He saw me in the shade, and immediately began to cry aloud, and beat his breast, and ran off in the greatest consternation. That man had conducted himself bravely in the Kandian war, but his courage fled when in the presence of a supposed spirit. On another occasion, having to go to some islands to distribute tracts, and having determined when to return, I

therefore, they came by the Red Sea or the Persian Gulf. The coins are, I believe, in the possession of Sir Edward Barnes, and I should like much to have them examined by a person who is thoroughly versed in such

matters.

directed my servant to bring my pony to a certain point of land, where I intended to disembark. Accordingly, when I had finished my work, I returned in a little canoe, and saw my pony and the boy in the distance. But the sun having gone down, the unfortunate fellow, seeing us indistinctly, thought we were spirits; he mounted the pony and galloped off with all speed, leaving me to my meditations on a desolate beach. 66 They were troubled, saying, It is a spirit."

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XV. 2. They wash not their hands, when they eat bread."

No Hindoo of good caste will eat till he have washed his hands. Thus, however numerous a company may be, the guests never commence eating till they have performed that necessary ablution.

The sex, on all common occasions, are always addressed with this distinctive appellation. Thus, people in going along the road, should they have to speak to a female, say, manushe, i. e. woman, hear me. The term sometimes is expressive of affection; but, generally, it is intended to convey an intimation of weakness and contempt.

XVIII. 6. "Better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck."

It was a favourite punishment in ancient times, to tie a large stone round the neck of a criminal, and then to cast him into the sea or deep waters. Thus, Appa-Murte, a man of rank, was destroyed in this way, for changing his religion, Budhism, for Hindooism.

The punishment is called sala-paruchy. The millstones in the East are not more than twenty inches in diameter, and three inches thick, so that there would not be that difficulty which some have supposed in thus despatching criminals. It is common, when a person is much oppressed, to say, “I

had rather have a stone tied about my neck, and be thrown into the sea, than thus suffer." A wife says to her husband, "Rather than beat me thus, tie a stone round my neck, and throw me into the tank."

21. "Till seven times."

This number is in common use, to show a thing has been often done. "Have I not told you seven times to fetch water and wash my feet?" "Seven times have I been to the temple, but still my requests are not granted." "Seven times have I requested the father to give me the hand of his daughter, but he refused me: and, therefore, will not ask him again.” "Have I not forgiven you seven times, and how shall I forgive you again ?"

XIX. 6.

"They are no more twain, but one flesh." Of a happy couple it is said, "They have one life and one body." If they are not happy, "Ah! they are like the knife and the victim." "They are like the dog and the cat, or the crow and the bow, or the kite and the serpent.”

24." It is easier for a camel to go through the eye

of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

This metaphor finds a parallel in the proverb which is quoted to show the difficulty of accomplishing any thing. "Just as soon will an elephant pass through the spout of a kettle." "Ah! the old sinner, he finds it no easy thing to die; his life is lingering, lingering; it cannot escape; 't is like the elephant trying to get through the spout of a kettle.” *

XX. 11.-" They murmured."

Pay a man ever so liberally, he will still murmur; he looks

* For a man to die a lingering death is a sure sign amongst the Hindoos that he has been a great profligate whereas those who easily breathe away their souls are believed to be favoured of the gods.

at the money and then at your face, and says, " POTHĀTHU,” i. e. not sufficient. He tells you a long story about what he has done and suffered, about the great expense he has been at to oblige you, and he entreats you for a little more. I ask any Englishman who has been in India, if he ever met with a Hindoo who was not at ALL times ready to MURmur.

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XXI. 8. Spread their garments in the way."

Campbell is right, "Spread their MANTLES in the way." The people of the East have a robe which corresponds with the mantle of an English lady. Its name is sĀLVI, and how often may it be seen spread on the ground where men of rank have to walk. I was not a little surprised soon after my arrival in the East, when going to visit a native gentleman, to find the path through the garden covered with white garments. I hesitated, but was told it was for "my respect." I must walk on them to show I accepted the honour.

XXII. 9.-"Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find bid to the marriage."

It is as common in the East for a rich man to give a feast to the poor, and the maimed, and the blind, as it is in England for a nobleman to entertain men of his own degree. Thus, does he wish to gain some temporal or spiritual blessing, he orders his head servant to prepare a feast for one or two hundred poor guests. Messengers are then despatched into the streets and lanes to inform the indigent, that on such a day rice and curry will be given to all who are there at the appointed time. Long before the hour the visiters may be seen bending their steps towards the house of the RĀSA * : there goes the old man who is scarcely able to move his palsied limbs, he talks to himself about better days; and there the despised widow moves with a hesitating step; there the sanyāsi or pandārum boldly brushes along and scowls upon all who

• The King.

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offer the least impediment to his progress; there objects suffering under every possible disease of our nature congregate together, without a single kindred association, excepting the one which occupies their expectations. The food is ready, the guests sit in rows on the grass (Luke ix. 14.), and the servants begin to hand out the portions in order. Such is the hunger of some they cannot stay to let the mess get cool, and thus have to suffer the consequences of their impatience; others, upon whom disease or age has made a fatal inroad, can scarcely taste the provision; some are of high caste who growl as they eat at those of lower grades, for having presumed to come near them; and others, on account of the high blood which flows in their veins, are allowed to take a portion to their homes. What a motley scene is that, and what a strange contrariety in their talk, some are bawling out for more food though they are already gorged to the full: others are talking about another feast which is to be given in such a village, and others who have got a sight of the host, are loudly applauding his princely generosity. He is delighted to hear their flattery; it all falls sweetly on his feelings, for the higher the tone, the greater the relish. He has gained his object, taramum, i. e. charity has been attended to; he has been exhilarated with adulation, he has got a "name in the street," (Job xviii. 17.) and the gods have been propitiated.

XXIII. 33.

"How can ye escape the damnation of hell?" Mark ix. 43. "The fire that never shall be quenched." "Their worm dieth not."

The Hindoos have seven hells. The first is the place of darkness and mud; into it go those who rob and defraud their neighbours: its name is allal. The second called rāvarum is full of poison and bad vapours. There also are

* "Shall burn unto the lowest hell," Deut. xxxii. 22. If we read this "lowest hades," it is still a striking expression. Calmet says, "As the Jews acknowledge seven degrees of torments in hell, so do the Mussulmans seven gates."— Alcoran, chap. of the Stone.