MEMOIR, &c. PITAMBURU-SINGHU, a Hindoo of the Writer cast, was born at Jagoolee in the district of Virooee. His father's name was Nidhi-ram-Singha, and his mother's Menuka. They had three sons, and one daughter: Pitambura was the eldest: the others died young. When Pitambura was six years old, his mother died; and when he was twelve, his father. They both died in a state of idolatry. B 2 About the age of sixteen, Pitambura married. He had one daughter, who is still living. Before he was twenty, he entered into service, and for some time was what is called a duruga, a native officer under the Judge of the district. He afterwards spent some months with a Gosayi, that is, a leader among the Viragees.* While with him he read the Bengalee translations of several popular Hindoo books, as the Ramayuna,† the Muhabharuta, &c. * Viragee literally means a person without passions. The mendicants who are called by this name are very numerous, and, wearing the marks of the sect on their forehead, arms, &c. wander from one sacred place to another, and may be seen begging in every town. fligate in their manners. great numbers of this sect They are in general very proBesides the mendicant viragees, continue in a secular state. + This work has been translated and printed by Dr. Carey and Dr. Marshman, God seems to have given Pitambura wisdom,to judge of character as it is displayed in habitual conduct,even from his youth; hence his knowledge of the quarrels, adulteries, and other evil deeds related of the Hindoo gods in the pooranus, the covetousness of their religious guides, and the pride and general depravity of the brahmuns, shook his veneration for the religion of his ancestors ;* and the effect which was produced in his mind is, probably, a specimen of the ideas which prevail among most thinking people, even though they continue idolaters. A view of these things will not change their dispositions; but it may prepare the *"This order of men is here (says Mr. Ward) placed beore kings in honour, and at their feet the whole nation is laid prostrate as before their sovereign." History of Hindoos, vol. iv. p. 3. way for the gospel, in the same manner as the ignorance, and ungodly lives, of the Romish clergy, accelerated the progress of the Reformation. Pitambura, however, before he heard the news of the gospel, lived in a state of perfect uncertainty respecting the way of salvation. He felt within himself a complete distaste of the muddy waters of heathenism; but where to obtain the water of life he knew not. During the latter part of the time in which he continued an idolater, he had a house in Virooee, about fifty miles to the west of Calcutta; but wandered about as a Viragee, holding conversations with such as were supposed to have some peculiar knowledge of God, or some revelation |