it, "grieved any of the PLOUGHMEN." The Tamul has the same idea: "If I have eaten the fruits thereof without paying for the labour, or have afflicted the soul of the cultivators."

Great land owners in the East do not generally cultivate their own fields: they employ men, who find all the labour, and have a certain part of the produce for their remuneration. The cultivator, if defrauded, will say, "The furrows I have made, bear witness against him; they complain." Job therefore means, if the fields could complain for want of proper culture, or if he had afflicted the tiller, or eaten the produce without rewarding him for his toils, then "let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley."

XXXII. 5. "There was no answer in the mouth of these three men."

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When men are completely confounded, when they have not a word to say in reply, it is said, “ in their vayila, i. e. mouth, there is no answer."

XXXIII. 6." I also am formed out of the clay." "The body and the herb, which come from the clay, will also return to it.' "The body must return to the dust, why then trouble yourself? Will it exist for an immeasurable period?"

16." He openeth the ears."

It is usual to say, "I will open that fellow's ears. I will take away the covering." "Ah! will you not open your ears?"

XXXIV. 7. "What man is like Job, who drinketh up

scorning like water?"

Of a man who does not care for contempt or hatred, it is said, "He drinks up their hatred like water." When a man is every way superior to his enemies, "Ah! he drinks them up like water." "He is a man of wonderful talents, for he

drinks up science as water." Thus, Elihu wished to show that Job had hardened himself, and was insensible to scorn, for he had swallowed it as water.

XXXVI. 3.—“I will fetch my knowledge from afar." There is something in our nature which places superior importance on any thing which comes from afar. When a man has to contend with a person who is very learned, should a friend express a doubt as to the result, or advise him to take great care, he will say, "Fear not, veggutooratila, from very far I will fetch my arguments." "The arguments which are afar off shall now be brought near." "Well, sir, since you press me, I will fetch my knowledge from afar."

XXXVII. 7.—"He sealeth up the hand of every man." (John vi. 27. Eph. i. 13. 1 Cor. ix. 2. Rev. xx. 3.)

Has a man something in his hand which he does not wish to show to another, he says, "My hand is sealed." Of a gentleman who is very benevolent, it is said, "His hand is sealed for charity only." "Please, sir, give me this." "What! is my hand sealed to give to all?” "What secret was that which Tamban told you last evening?"—" I cannot answer; my mouth is sealed." "That man never forgets an injury."-" No, no, he seals it in his mind." A husband who has full confidence in his wife, says, "I have sealed her." Canticles iv. 12. To seal a person, therefore, is to secure him, and to prevent others from injuring him.

22.

"Fair weather cometh out of the north." The Hebrew has for fair weather, "gold."

The Tamul translation may be paraphrased, " Equal to the brightness of gold;" i. e. as the sky appears in fair weather.

XXXVIII. 3.

-

"Gird up now thy loins like a man." "Well, Tamby, you have a difficult task before you;

gird up your loins." "Come, help me to gird this sāli, i. e. mantle or shawl, round my loins; I have a long way to run." "Poor fellow! he soon gave it up; his loins were not well girded."

16.-"Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?"

To a vain boasting fellow it is said, "Yes, yes; the sea is only knee-deep to thee." "It is all true; thou hast measured the sea."

34, 35.-"Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou send lightnings?"

This probably refers to thunder, and its effects in producing rain. It is said, "Why, fellow, are you making such a noise? Are you going to shake the clouds? Is it rain you are going to produce?" "What is all this noise about? Is it rain you "Cease, cease your roaring; the rain will not "Listen to that elephant, rain is coming."

want?

come."

39.

"Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion?"

To a man who is boasting of the speed of his foot, or his prowess, it is said, "Yes, there is no doubt thou wilt hunt the prey for the tiger." When a person does a favour for a cruel man, it is asked, "What! give food to the tiger?" "O, yes; give milk to the serpent." "Here comes the sportsman; he has been hunting prey for the tiger."

XXXIX. 13.-"Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks?"

These birds are exceedingly numerous in the East; and it gives a kind of enchantment to a morning scene, to see flocks of them together, spreading their beautiful plumage in the rays of the sun. They proudly stalk along, and then run with great speed, particularly if they get sight of a serpent;

and the reptile must wind along in his best style, or he will soon become the prey of the lordly bird.

A husband sometimes says to his wife, "Come hither, my beautiful peacock. Had they not their beauty from you?" This bird is sacred to Scandan.

26."Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom and stretch her wings toward the south?"

It is considered an exceedingly fortunate thing to see a hawk or a kite flying in circles from left to right, towards the south. When the south wind blows, those birds may be seen making their way in circles towards that quarter; but when they return, they fly in a direct line.

XLI. 19.-"Out of his mouth go burning lamps,

and sparks of fire leap out."

It is common to say, "See that angry fellow; the fire is flying out of his mouth."

20. "Out of his nostrils goeth smoke."

"Look at the ferocious brute; from his nose, pugipurakuthu, the smoke flies." To distend the nostrils is a sign of anger.

27.-"He esteemeth iron as straw."

A man seeing a powerful elephant secrete himself, exclaims to him, "Irrumbu-vikal-than, iron is straw." "Why, brass to that man is as a decayed stick."

XLII. 10. The Lord turned the captivity of

Job."

Our idea of captivity seems to be principally confined to prisoners of war; but, in the East, adversity, great adversity, and many other troubles, are spoken of in the same way. Thus, a man formerly in great prosperity speaks of his present state as if he were in prison. "I am now a captive."

"Yes, I am a slave." If again elevated, "his captivity is changed."

11.

"Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house; and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, every one an ear-ring of gold."

The custom alluded to of relations and friends giving relief to a person in distress, is practised in the East at this day. When a man has suffered a great loss by an accident, by want of skill, or by the roguery of another, he goes to his brothers and sisters, and all his acquaintances, and describes his misfortunes. He then mentions a day when he will give a feast, and invites them all to partake of it. At the time appointed they come, arrayed in their best robes, each having money, ear-rings, finger-rings, or other gifts suited to the condition of the person in distress. The individual himself meets them at the gate, gives them a hearty welcome, the music strikes up, and the guests are ushered into the apartments prepared for the feast. When they have finished their repast and are about to retire, they each approach the object of their commiseration, and present their donations, and best wishes for future prosperity.

A rich merchant in North Ceylon, named Siva Sangu Chetty, was suddenly reduced to poverty; but by this plan he was restored to his former prosperity. Two money brokers, also, who were sent to these parts by their employer (who lived on the opposite continent), lost one thousand rix dollars, belonging to their master; they therefore called those of their caste, profession, and country, to partake of a feast, at which time the whole of their loss was made up. When a young man puts on the ear-rings or torban for the first time, a feast of the same description, and