being taken that every thing is done according to the directions given in their religious books.

"The only religious ceremony of universal interest, and in which all the village unites, is that which they celebrate when on the eve of commencing hostilities.

"After feasting, dancing, and beating their gongs for some time, the Datu takes in his hand the rombu siporhas in the presence of all the people, when he invokes the wrath of the gods and of their ancestors upon their enemies, and desires them to make it manifest by rombu siporhas, whether at that time they may revenge the wrongs of their country; then letting drop the cords, the Datu discovers by their relative situation and peculiar appearance what may be expected as the result of an attack at present; and should his report be favourable, they immediately commence opera

tions.

Though the Bataks do not worship idols, in every village is found an image of wood or stone, the figure of a man, which they chiefly use in the administration of oaths. To this test are referred suits upon which positive evidence cannot be obtained; and it is thought that few are so daring as wholly to disregard its sanction.

"Of a future state of rewards and punishments these people have no conception. They imagine the spirit to become more powerful and independent after the dissolution of the body, and to be wholly exempt from suffering, and consequently look forward to death without terror, except such as may arise from the prospect of corporal pain. Whether the soul be immortal or not, they do not pretend to know, but speak of it as lost when its memory is no longer cherished on earth.

"Almost all crimes are punished with fines proportioned to the offence and to the rank of the criminal; and since the chief, who acts as judge, may always be bribed, and usually receives the fines himself, oppression must no doubt exist to a considerable extent. Persons caught in the act of house-breaking or highway robbery are publicly executed with the knife or matchlock, and then immediately eaten : no money can save them. But if the delinquents are fortunate enough to escape immediate seizure, they

are only fined. A man taken in adultery is instantly devoured and may be lawfully eaten piecemeal without first depriving him of life. Men killed, or prisoners taken in a great war, are also publicly eaten; but, if only two villages be engaged this is not allowed: the dead are then left on the field to be buried by their respective parties, and the prisoners may be redeemed.

"A man cannot marry a relative of his own, however distant. For instance, two brothers agree to settle, the one in Toba, the other in Angkola. They marry there and have several children, but the descendants of these two families can at no future period intermarry. Divorces are very rare, being seldom granted except for adultery; when the woman, her head having been first shaved, is sold out of the country.

"A feast is always made on the day of a funeral, and the jaw of the animal killed on the occasion (usually a pig) is fastened to a stake at the head of the grave, together with a bag containing gambir sērīh, tobacco, &c., and a bamboo filled with water. These, when dried up by the sun, they suppose the spirit to have eaten."

BEDAS of CEYLON.

"The Bedas are of no caste; but they are not considered as impure, and enjoy, as a body, a certain degree of consideration. They inhabit the woods, and live up in the trees. They feed principally on the game they kill with their arrows, and have the reputation of being good archers. Their bows are remarkably difficult to draw; their arrows have a piece of iron at the end six or eight inches long, and about one and a half broad. With these they can kill an elephant by striking him between his eyes, a thing very possible from the construction of the bone about that part. When a Beda wants an iron lance, or a tool, which is the only thing he may stand in need of that he cannot procure for himself, he places in the night before the door of a smith, some honey or game, together with a model of the instrument he requires in wood or earth. In a day or two after, he returns, and finds the instrument he has demanded. This good faith and reciprocal * Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society.

BEDAS OF CEYLON.—COCHIN AND TONQUIN CHINESE.

369 confidence prove, at least, that some honesty exists in a country where swindling and robbery are carried to a great excess. They would consider themselves extremely criminal if they cheated a Beda, who from his way of living, can never impose upon them. Once a year the Bedas send two deputies with honey, and other little presents to the king. When they arrive at the gate of the palace, they send word to his majesty that his cousins wish to see him. They are immediately introduced. They then kneel, get up, and inquire of the king, rather familiarly, about his health. The king receives them well, takes their presents, gives them others, and orders that certain marks of respect be shewn them on their retiring from the palace. These Bedas are black, like all the Singalese."*

COCHIN and TONQUIN CHINESE.

In explanation of figs. 1 to 5, in plate 39, it will be necessary to say a few words respecting the worship of these people. Some part of the Cochin Chinese pay their devotions to deceased ancestors; others are worshippers of Buddha; but they have also small temples dedicated to tutelary deities, in which they burn and let fly pieces of coloured and gilt paper. A similar practise prevails, as I have elsewhere observed, among the Japanese.

The Tonquin Chinese, according to Tavernier, worship, some of them Chacabout (or Buddha), others the celestial bodies, and others deities, evidently derived from the Hindu pantheon; among which are three named Raumu, Brama, and Satyabana. In fig. 1, plate 39, we may recognise Rama; fig. 3, Siva with the trident; and fig. 4, Brahma: the other two are not so clear: perhaps fig. 2 may be Vishnu, and fig. 5 Durga.

Fig. 7 to 13, in the same plate, are from Burmese carvings and casts in my possession. Fig, 10 I imagine to be the Kinaro, a form half-human, half-bird, mentioned in number 59, page 211, and indistinctly shewn in one of the divisions of the foot of Buddha, fig. 4, plate 30.

* Asiatic Researches.