fathers."

"The prosperity of my house arises from the virtues of my forefathers."

In the Scanda Purana it is recorded, "The soul is subject to births, deaths, and sufferings. It may be born on the earth, or in the sea. It may also appear in ether, fire, or air. Souls may be born as men, as beasts or birds, as grass or trees, as mountains or gods."

By these we are reminded of the question, "Who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents."

26." Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar."

Some of the altars are said to be from ten to fifteen feet in height; consequently the priests have to ascend by steps.

XXII. 5." Shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field."

Nothing is more common than for people to drive their cattle into the fields of others; nay, they are so unprincipled as often to let them go amongst the tender corn. Passers by see this, but make not the least effort to turn them out.

18.- "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."

Amongst the Hindoos there are females who profess to tell to tell where things are, which have been lost, or by whom they have been stolen. They also affect to deal with familiar spirits. One great qualification for this, is to have a peculiar eye, especially if like that of the cat.

Women often declare that they are possessed with a devil. They then rage and tear themselves in the most dreadful way. They do not, like the Sibyls, write their prophecies on leaves, to be scattered by the winds; but all their incoherent declarations are most carefully remembered.

26." If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment

to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: "

27."For that is his covering only, it is his raiment

for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall

come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will

hear; for I am gracious."

The clothes which the Orientals wear by day, serve them as bed-clothes for the night.

Does a man wish to retire to rest, he needs not to trouble himself about the curtains, he requires not the bed-steps, he does not examine whether his bolsters or pillows are in order, he is not very particular about the adjustment of his sheets and counterpane; he throws a mat on the floor, places his little travelling bag or turban for a pillow, takes off his cloth (which is generally about nine yards long), puts one end under him; then covers his feet, and folds the rest round his body, leaving the upper end to cover his face.

Thus may be seen coolies in the morning, stretched side by side, having, during the night, defied all the stings of their foes, the musquitos.

XXIII. 4.—" If thou meet thine enemy's ox, or his

ass, going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again."

Amongst the Hindoos, malice often finds its victim in a dumb animal. If the wretch cannot revenge himself on the man, he will on his beast. The miscreant watches till the cattle go astray, or the owner shall be out of the way, when he pounces upon the innocent ox or cow, and cuts off the tail. Hence may be seen, in every village, cattle which thus proclaim the diabolical passions of man.

8." The gift blindeth the wise." Hebrew, "seeing." The Tamul has it "blindeth the sight."

13.

"Make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth."

The heathen attach great importance to the mentioning of the names of their gods. They do not generally pray as we do; but in time of difficulty or danger, repeat the name of their god, which is believed to have great power, carrying with it the nature of a charm which nothing can resist.

"Let

To be able to articulate the name of Siva, in the hour of death, is believed to be the password into heaven. him but do this; then, as the lightning strikes the palmirah tree, so his sins, and the power of the metempsychosis shall be destroyed."

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Nay, should he not be able to mention the names of his gods, let them but be whispered in his ears, and heaven is secure."

No wonder, then, that the Israelites should be forbidden to mention the names of other gods.

19. "The first of the first fruits of thy land, thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord."

The heathen generally give to their gods a part of the first produce of all fruit trees, and of the various kinds of grain, also the first milk given by a cow.

19. "Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk."

Cudworth, as quoted by Dr. A. Clarke, says, on this passage, "It was a custom of the ancient heathen when they had gathered in all their fruits, to take a kid and boil it in the milk of its dam; and then in a magical way to go about, and besprinkle with it all their trees and fields, gardens and orchards."-" Spencer also informs us, that the Zabei used this kind of magical milk to sprinkle their trees and fields, in order to make them fruitful."

It is a custom among the Hindoos to boil rice and milk,

with which they sprinkle their trees and gardens, in order to make them fruitful.

On the first day of the new year also the house is sprinkled in the same way; and a part of what is left is sometimes kept till the next year.

28.-"I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite." The goddess of Siva sent hornets to destroy the giants.

XXV. 6." Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense."

These are all used in the temples, and are supplied by the people. The anointing oil is chiefly for the lingam, but it is also used for the god Pulliar and others.

XXVII. 19. "All the vessels of the tabernacle shall

be made of brass."

All the utensils of the temples are made of the same metal. Thus the lamps used before the idols and other places, those vessels used for conveying water, or sacred fire, are always, in those temples that I have known, made of brass.

XXVIII. 22.—"Thou shalt make upon the breastplate." Some of the breastplates worn by the idols (when taken out in procession) are exceedingly valuable and beautiful; they are suspended from the neck by chains made of gold. I once saw one which was worn by the goddess Parvati, which had in its centre the largest and most perfect emerald that I had ever seen, and was studded with very valuable brilliants and rubies; the pearls which were pendant from it were exceedingly costly.

But breastplates are also worn by men of rank, and have generally been given by the sovereign, for services performed for the state. (Isa. lix. 17. Eph. vi. 14. 1 Thess. v. 8. Rev. ix. 9. 17.)

29..

"Aaron place."

when he goeth in unto the holy

The Hindoo temples have a holy place*, which has a dome top to it. Its name signifies the principal or original place; into it none but the priest can go, and when he enters and performs the poosy, or ceremonial worship, he rings a bell which is carried in his left hand. (Verse 34.)

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33. Upon the hem of it, thou shalt make pomegranates."

This fruit is plentiful, and grateful to the taste; and a representation of it may be seen in temples, on pillars, friezes, or painted on the drapery which clothes the cars. The only object is ornament.

42.-"Consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me, in the priests' office." The Hebrew has for "consecrate," "fill their hands." See also Judges xvii. 5. 12. and 1 Kings xiii. 33. and many other places where the word "consecrate" is in the margin rendered "fill the hand."

Is it not a remarkable fact that the word Kai-Reppi, which signifies, in Tamul, to consecrate a priest, also means to fill the hand?

When a layman meets a priest, he puts his hands together as an act of reverence, and the priest stretches out his right hand, as if full of something, and says, "Blessings."

XXIX. 7.-"Take the anointing oil, and pour it

his head, and anoint him."

upon

* In one of the large plates (No. 37.) illustrating the Researches of Belzoni in Egypt and Nubia, by John Murray, Albemarle-street, there is given a view of the temple at Erments, with a dome top, which corresponds exactly with the holy place of the temples of the Hindoos.

In reference to the representations given in the plates contained in Belzoni's Researches, I am of opinion that they principally refer to India; which I may, perhaps, hereafter attempt to prove.