ravagant compliments; and in this manner he ceded me the whole distance, about four miles, il we arrived at the gates of my compound, en, with a profound salam, he took leave and urned.

In this manner I consider that Elijah, although detested the crimes of Ahab, was desirous of ing him all that respect which his exalted sta

as king of Israel demanded-thus affording practical comment on the apostolic precept, Honour the king." By this means the prophet wed his deep humility in not assuming to himFany glory because of the mighty works which d had performed by him; and at the same time nced his entire dependence on the protecting ad of God, by thus accompanying the king to very place where his greatest enemies, Jezebel her prophets, dwelt.

The same man afforded me an illustration of nesis xxiv. 9. "And the servant put his hand der the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware him concerning that matter."

On having communicated to him at a subsequent iod his appointment to the situation, and exted him to fill it with fidelity, so that I might be blamed for having recommended him, he opped on one knee, and laying hold of my knee ch one hand and placing the other at the back the thigh, he solemnly vowed to be faithful in e discharge of his duties, and professed entire mission to myself,

CHAPTER VII.

"Prostration in the very dust

The pupil too must yield, and bless the feet
Of him who saves the soul, and lend his head
A footstool meet for holy guest. If aught
Of injury happen to the man rever'd
From his ungracious learner, he will pay
For such temerity in other births,
Crawling to life a base abhorred worm,
Fattening upon the dunghill."

THE CHURRUCK POOJAH-DEATH OF A DEVOTEE-PRO

CESSIONS-POLICE

MAGISTRATE-ANECDOTE

OF A

SYCE-ORIGIN OF THE FESTIVAL-ANECDOTE OF A BRAHMIN-GREAT SUPERSTITION-SUTTEES.

AMONGST all the annual festivals of the Hindoos the Churruck Poojah and Dhoorga Poojah are the most famous. The latter has not been established many years in the magnificent style in which it is now celebrated; and I consider this is, in a great measure, owing to the presence of Europeans, who accept invitations from the rich Baboos, and thus give an eclat to the proceedings which causes a vast deal of money to be expended on them annually. I knew one Baboo, who lavished half a lac of rupees away at every Dhoorga Poojah, whilst I was in India. This sum, equal to

ten thousand pounds, is annually given by one individual to support a false system of religion, and surely ought to convey reproof to those, who, enjoying all the privileges of the blessed Gospel, in which life and immortality are brought to light, still refuse to devote a small pittance annually towards the dissemination of those truths, that alone are capable of dispelling the clouds of ignorance and superstition, which have so long hovered over and enveloped the Pagan nations of the earth.

The cruelties practised by devotees towards their own bodies should also teach us the value of that blessed book, in which a Saviour is revealed; who hath suffered for us the pains and penalties which our sins deserve.

To know the value of the Gospel we have only to view the rites of Heathenism and the state of

Pagan society-this view will declare it.

The Churruck Poojah is a festival in honour of the sanguinary goddess Khali; this takes place at the end of the old and beginning of their new year. At this season the most painful acts of self torture are performed. These have been so often described, that it is needless for me to enter into a full detail. I thought when first I became an eye witness to them that some deception was practised, especially in the swinging, as the persons thus tortured seemed to bear the punishment, which the hooks must inflict, with the greatest self possession; however, on investigation, I found that all was real. I have seen some victims since

Christian religion. In several instances I have witnessed their arduous exertions to stem the torrent of cruelty which so freely flows at this festival, and often with great success. The cry formerly was, "it will not do to meddle with these matters, the Hindoos will revolt;" but, I believe, it is now pretty generally acknowledged that the government might, by one enactment, do away with them altogether. In the first place, their Shasters do not prescribe them, as fasting is all that they require; neither do they (as is generally supposed) consider these self-tortures in the light of an atonement for sin committed, although many have an idea that by submitting to them they insure a thousand years of happiness in future transmigrations. I am led to suppose, that most persons, who thus suffer, do it in consequence of vows made in trouble or affliction. About three days before the festival of the Churruck Poojah commenced, my syce came and solicited a fortnight's holiday; knowing that his family lived in a neighbouring village, I asked the reason why he wished for holidays? Had I not been aware of this contiguity I should have granted his request without observation, as it is the custom to allow all servants some weeks in the course of the year to visit their relatives. In answer to my inquiry, he said, that when his child was very ill, some months gone by, he had made a vow before the Brahmins, that if the boy lived he would swing at the Poojah, and it was for the purpose of fulfilling his vow (as the child had re

covered), that he wished for the holidays. I told him, I certainly could not, for his own sake, grant his request; if he chose to be so foolish as to swing it would certainly cost him the loss of his place, as I never could tolerate such wanton cruelty. I then reasoned with him on the awful consequences of such superstitious practices, and directed his attention to the only means of obtaining the favour of God, or of making a propitiation for sin. The poor fellow left me much dejected, and went to inform the Brahmins of my refusal, on hearing of which they told him, that under the circumstances in which he was placed, the god would accept an offering in lieu of the performance of his vow; this was rated at five rupees, exactly the amount of one month's wages. He had just before received his pay and disposed of it; so he came to me again, and besought me to give him five rupees in advance, that he might carry them to the Brahmins, who were waiting at the gate, not doubting but I should cheerfully comply with his wishes. His disappointment was apparently very great, when I told him, "I certainly would not advance the money for any such purpose." After a long parley, finding I was inexorable, he went to the Brahmins, and by my advice told them, that he could not get the money then, neither should he ever be able to spare it for such use. Their anathemas were many and loud. Amongst other curses, they declared that the child should die in a week, and the syce, as well as myself, in a few days after