tokened the most favage fatisfaction, the facred offspring of a fpotted cow. Yes, Zaarmilla, this unhappy calf, for whom a thousand holy Fakeers would have risked their lives, was flain at the command of these inhuman Europeans, and devoured by them, without one pang of remorse.

Does not nature itself revolt at fuch an action? And, had any spark of religious knowledge enlightened their minds, would they not have perceived, that the calf they flew, was, if not fo learned, at least more pious and more uncontaminated by the corruption of impure ideas, than themfelves. Tell me no more of the virtue of fuch men. And no more, I conjure thee, think of incurring the wrath of Mahadeo, by difhonouring thy Caft, and forfeiting its fublime privileges, at the inftigation of a curiofity, which has doubtless been kindled in thy mind, by the powerful charms of magical incantations. These spells would probably have failed in their ef fect, hadft thou not incurred the difpleafure of the Dewtah, by neglecting to perform the duty to which every Hindoo is bound; the indifpenfible duty of marriage. Four years have elapfed fince, in obedience to the command of my father, I married the daughter of the reverend Gopaul. She was ill-favoured, and of a bad temper: fo that, being difgufted with

her peevishness, and ftill more with the plainnefs of her countenance, (for in a beautiful woman many errors may be forgiven) I parted with her fome months fince, and prefenting her with her ayammi fhadee, fent her back to the house of her father. I will, therefore, with great pleafure accept of your fifter for my wife. With this intention, I fome time ago enquired after her difpofition, and heard that she was beautiful, and good tempered, which is the utmoft perfection in women. To what purpose fhould they have judgment or understanding? were they not made fubfervient to the will of man? If they are docile, and referved, with enough of judgment to teach them to adorn their perfons, and wear their jewels with propriety, and never prefuming to have a will of their own, follow implicitly the direction of their husbands, ftudying his temper, and accommodating themfelves to his humour, it is all that can be wifhed for. As to all that you say of the cultivation of their understandings, I can only look upon it, as the ravings of a diftempered imagination.

Bad as my opinion is of thofe English Christians, I cannot poffibly imagine them to be fo abfurd as to teach learning to their women. Allowing it poffible (which I am very far from allowing) that these VOL. I.

D

creatures, whofe fole delight is finery, who were born to amufe, to please, and to continue the race of man, fhould be capable of entering the facred porch which leads to the temple of knowledge, what would be the confequence of their being admitted to it? would their steps be steady enough to conduct them through the labyrinths of that awful fane? No. Con

tenting themselves with the firft tinfel ornament that caught their eyes, they would come out at the firft opening of vanity; and having made a depofit of their gentlenefs and humility, would clothe themfelves with the robes of arrogance, and reft dauntless upon the hollow reed of felf-conceit. Such are the confequences that would refult, from the foolish attempt, of teaching women more than nature defigned them to know.

Let Zaarmilla, therefore, hearken to the voice of reason; and, at the fame time that he gives his fister to be the wife of his friend, let him accept for his spouse the fifter of Maandaara. Without being firicly beautiful, her countenance is pleafing a mole of extreme beauty is feated on her cheek and her eyes fparkle like the gems of Golconda. She has been aught humility and obedience, and hasnever converfed with any man, except her father and her brother. I know fo well

the tenderness and extreme lenity of thy difpofition, that it is neceffary to caution thee against extreme indulgence, and to put thee in mind of the words of the facred Shaftra*, which fayeth, that a man both day and night muft keep his wife fo much in fubjection, that fhe by no means be miftrefs of her own actions. If fhe have herown free will, notwithstanding her having sprung from a fuperior Caft, fhe will nevertheless act amifs.'

If thou art inclined to difmifs the fpirit of delufion, and listen to the voice of thy friend, I will meet thee, not at Ferrockabad, but at Rampore; as, through the intereft of certain friends, I have fomé hopes given me that Fyzoola Khan may look upon me with the eye of kindnefs, and probably reftore me to the poffeffion of my fathers. I have juft received intelligence of the arrival of Sheermaal from England; whether he was induced to accompany the great man to whofe fervices he had lent the affiftance of his abilities; and from him I make no doubt of receiving fuch information respecting the country he has feen, as will fatisfy thy mind, and restore thee to the right use of thy understanding. What can I fay more?

* See Halhed's Tranflation of the Gentoo Laws.

D 2

LETTER III

From the SAME to the SAME.

THE powerful influence of the Goitterie*, which I have employed fome expert, and holy Fakeers to use, in order to dif poffefs thy mind from the influence of the anagic of the Chriftians, will, I hope, be aided in their operation by the following account of the obfervations of Sheermaal, during his abode in England.

If, then, Zaarmilla bas any value for the peace of Maandaara, he will inftantly quit the wild and fantastick project of seeking for truth in the regions of darkness; and remaining in the land of his fathers, receive the gifts of happiness into the bofom of content.

Let thine ears now liften to the words of Sheermaal; and from his experience be thou contented to receive the fruits of wifdom.

*A Gentoo incantation,