VIII. 6." He took the seven loaves and gave thanks." Before the Hindoos eat their food, they take a little in their fingers, and lift it to the height of the forehead, and in thought offer it to Siva. And in the same way they offer their rice and fruits to the gods, and then eat them. The ceremony is called Siva-Purethe, i. e. agreeable to Siva. It is considered disgraceful not to attend to it, and only "low or vile people" neglect it. The sect of Vishnoo put a little of the food to the forehead as above, and think on the name of Nariyanan (one of the names of their deity). In general the people do not return THANKS; but those of the Saiva sect, after having washed their hands, repeat a mantheram or prayer.

24. "I see men as trees walking."

So said the blind man of Bethsaida to whom our Saviour gave sight. To "see men as TREES walking" is a singular form of expression. Perhaps this man was not BORN blind; and therefore compared men to trees moving about, of which his vision had still a distinct recollection; or could he allude to the custom of the Eastern hunters, who tie branches to their bodies until they resemble a tree, by which they can walk into the midst of a flock of wild animals or birds, and single out any they please? The sportsman having in the forest changed himself into the appearance of a tree goes gently to the skirts; and so soon as he sees the he watches till their heads are turned FROM him, and game, then moves on till he is in the midst of them, and is then sure of his object. And this is a custom of great antiquity; for in the Scanda Purāna there is the following question:"Is it like the hunter, who to deceive and ensnare the birds that warble in the forest ties shrubs about him?" When the Moomen have their festivals they sometimes so disguise themselves with branches as to resemble trees. "I see men as trees walking."

X. 46. Blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by

the highway side begging."

Here again the picture is teeming with life. See that blind man seated under a shady tree "by the highway side," he has occupied the place from infancy. Travellers who are accustomed to pass that way always expect to see the blind beggar; and were he not there they would have a sense of discomfort, and anxiously enquire after the cause. So soon as he hears the sound of a footstep he begins to cry aloud, "The blind the blind! remember the blind!" He knows almost every man's voice, and has always some question to ask in reference to the family at home. Should a stranger be passing he enquires, Ath-ar, i. e. Who is that? Those who cannot walk are carried to their wonted place, as was the man who was "laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple." Some cripples are carried about in a basket by two men, who have a share of the alms. Sometimes they have tremendous quarrels, as the bearers take too great a share of the money or provisions, which induces the lame man to use his tongue: they, however, generally get the victory by threatening to leave the poor fellow to get home as well as he can. Some of the blind mendicants have not the patience to remain in one place; hence they get a person to lead them, and here again they have a constant source of quarrel in the suspicions of the one and rogueries of the other. The guide falls into a passion, and abuses the beggar, tells him he is cursed of the gods, and pretends to take his departure: the blind man retorts, and calls him a low caste, a servant of beggars, and tells him he shall not have any more of his rice. They both having expended all their hard words become a little calmer; and after a few mutual expostulations, once more approximate, and trudge off in pursuit of their calling.

XIV. 35. Fell on the ground and prayed."

How often are we reminded of this by the way in which the heathen worship their gods! they fall prostrate before the temples and repeat their prayers. In our own chapels and school rooms natives sometimes prostrate themselves at the time of prayer.

51.- "A certain young man having a linen cloth cast about his naked body."

The majority of the people in the East are dressed in the same way; a single piece of cotton cast round their loins is all they wear, and all they desire.

Numbers of people in every village are known by some designation, which is taken from their size or disposition; thus, Chinny Tamby is a common name, and, therefore, they add something to it to show what Chinny Tamby they mean. Thus the less, the great one, the stout, the deformed, the black, the fair, the high, the low caste, the ignorant, or the wise.

A person having long arms is always known by the name of the "proboscis-armed one," alluding to the trunk of an elephant. He with a large head is called the "ox-headed one;" a large mouth, the "oyster-mouthed one;" if large ears, the "umbrella-eared one;" and so on: to every possible defect they attach a significant allusion; and, should the unfortunate individual give offence, the opprobrious epithet will be immediately repeated. I knew a white man, who never went by any other name than the "ass!" another, who talked through his nose, was called, "the snuffler!" another, who was fond of cheroots, "the smoker!" In short, every Englishman has an Oriental appendage to his name; and were our countrymen aware how narrowly they are watched, and how appropriately designated, they would perhaps be a little more careful of their conduct. See ten or

a dozen natives assembled, one of them says, Let us have a little fun; recollect, I am such a gentleman, i. e. he will personate that individual: another says, Good; I will be Mr. Such-a-one: they then affect to be seated at the table, and make such observations and allusions as draw forth roars of laughter at the expense of those who are, in most respects, their superiors.

LUKE.

CHAP. I. verse 78.-"The dayspring from on high." A king's minister once said of the daughter of Pandeyan, after she had been in great trouble on account of the danger in which her husband had been placed, "She had seen the great ocean of darkness, but now she saw the rising sun, the dayspring appeared."

II. 44. They, supposing him to have been in the

company, went a day's journey."

We are assisted in our view on this subject by the large companies which go to and return from the heathen festivals. Ten or twenty thousand sometimes come together to one ceremony, and it is almost impossible for friends and relations to keep together; hence, in going home, though they cannot find each other in the way, they do not give themselves any trouble, as they consider it to be a matter of course to be thus separated.

IV. 23." Physician, heal thyself."

In the same way do the people recriminate on each other. "You teach me to reform my life! go, reform your own." "Doctor, go heal yourself, and you shall then heal me.” "Yes, yes, the fellow can cure all but his own wife and himself."

V. 5.-"We have toiled all the night, and have taken

nothing."

In general, the fishermen of the East prefer the NIGHT to any other time for fishing. Before the sun has gone down