investigation, I do not defpair to prove the real family of every one of these painted idols; and in the profecution of this laborious work, I fhall not difdain to imi. tate the method purfued by the antiquarians of England, for wife men will not difdain to learn, even from the counsel of fools.' I recommend thee to the protection of Veefhnu, and the favour of all the inferior Gods.

What can I fay more?

LETTER VI.

Third Letter of the Bramin.

BEFORE the delivery of my letter

into the hands of the Dauk*, I refolved to re-examine the counsellors of memory, left any circumftance, that would have influence to enlighten the mind of the noble Rajah, fhould unfortunately, have been omitted. It was a happy precaution! By it I am enabled to add to the proofs I have already given of the Braminical origin of the English nation, one other proof, which establishes the opinion of the Pundit, beyond the reach of human controversy.

* Meffenger.

Let it be known then to the friend of Maandaara, that the performance of the ceremony of the Purekah is known to the Chriftian, and fo much is the practice of its myfterious rites encouraged, that the moft trifling and infignificant difputes are frequently referred to its decifion as, for example; in speaking of the colour of the eyes of a dancing-girl, one man fhould fay that they are black, and another aver them to be blue, the common method of deciding the difpute (either between people of ftyle, or fuch as pant for admiflion into that honourable Caft) is the performance of Purekah. The method of performing this fublime ceremony, is not, it is true, exactly fimilar, in all refpects, to that which is fo piously obferved in India. A little confideration on the genius of the people, and their deficiency in religious knowledge, will, however account for the difference. In England, I never heard that the performers of the Purekah took the precaution of preparing themselves for the award of fate, by the obfervance of long and rigorous abftinence: or that they were particularly affiduous in their acts of devotion; or that they bound themselves by any oath before the Magiftrate to abide by the infal lible decifion of the Gods. All these paratory duties are, by these trifling peo

pre

* Trial by Ordeal, ftill practifed in Hindoftan.

ple, altogether omitted, and the ceremony itfelf, instead of being performed in the prefence of the Magiftrate, and the affembled people, is ufually gone through under the immediate infpection of only two witnesses *. In the Purekah of the English, they neither thruft their hands into veffels filled with boiling oil, nor do they fay to the Balance, thou, O Balance, art the manfion of truth, thou waft anciently contrived by Deities. If I am guilty, O, venerable as my own mother, fink me down; but if innocent, raife me aloft in air.' Neither do they fwallow poison, nor caft an Idol into the water, nor take into their hands the red hot iron; nor make any ufe of the seven leaves of the trembling Pippel, or the feven blades of Dharba grafs, but by means of the diminutive Agnee Aftors, called Pistols, the two dif putants attempt to convey little leaden bullets into one another's bowels, or brains. In the opinion of fome philofophers, a worthlefs fellow will continue to be as much a worthlefs fellow after the performance of the Purekah as before; but in the opinions of the performers themselves, it has efficacy to change the nature of guilt, and to wash away the fouleft spot of difhonour. What can I say more!

For an account of the Indian Ordeal, in which all these accounts are mentioned, fee Afiatic Re fearches, vol. ii.

LETTER VII.

Seeta Juin Zaarmilla, Rajah of Almora; to Kifheen Neaay Maandaara, Zimeendar of Cumlore.

I BOW with reverence to Ganefa, and fubmit the ardent ftruggles of my foul to the decrees of friendfhip. The requeft of Maandaara I am unable to refift, even when his arguments are too feeble to make any impreffion on my mind: though my reafon is unconvinced, I am fubdued by my tenderness; and fhould confider myfelf unworthy of the name of friend, could I perfift in tearing myfelf from my country at the moment that Maandaara is about to be reftored to its bofom. Yes, my friend! I have this moment received the delightful intelligence, that the Firman, which reftores thee to thy Zimeendary, hath been iffued! Thou mayeft return in peace to the land of thy fathers! The Gods of Baandarefa fhall be raised from their hiding places in the earth, to be placed upon the altars of his fon: they fhall fee him perform the rites of hofpitality fpread his feaft for the poor, and af

ford fhelter to the oppreffed. The Daivers, who delight in beholding the reward of virtue, fhall hover round your dwelling. Serafwatee fhall blefs your hours of study, and the bees of Cama, divefted of their ftings, fhall pay you the tribute of pure and genuine fweetness.

I have prepared amarcanda for receiving you as her husband. Her mind is too gentle to require the harsh restraint of authority: let me, therefore, conjure you to treat her with tenderness; and you will be repaid by that willing obedience, which is the offspring of affection, in a docile, and ingenuous mind. For my fhare, I declare to you, that while I accept, with pleasure, of your fifter for my wife, I, at the fame time, muft inform you of my intention of acting in direct oppofition to your advice. From me fhe fhall receive every indulgence. If the has any understanding, I will take pleasure in improving it: nor fhall I dread any confequences that can arife from doing fo. The more I meditate, the more am I convinced, that to tread firmly in the path of virtue it is neceffary that we fhould be fupported by the ftaff of knowledge. Ig-norance is the mother of many follies.

It is with grief that I behold a mind, great and noble as that of my friend's, darkened by the tleuds of prejudice. Had