VII. 6.-"They gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and

fasted on that day, and said, there we have sinned against the Lord."

Samuel had been reproving the people for their sins, and exhorting them to repent, and come to Mizpeh to fast and pray, and confess their sins. They complied with his directions, and in CONFIRMATION of their solemn vows, they poured out water before the Lord, to show that their words and promises had gone forth, and were "as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again."

To pour water on the ground is a very ancient way of taking a solemn oath in the East. When the god Vishnoo, in the disguise of a dwarf, requested the giant Mahā-Ville (Bāli*) to grant him one step of his kingdom, the favour was conceded, and CONFIRMED by Maha-Ville pouring out water before the dwarf.

But in that ancient work, the Scanda Purana, where the account is given of the marriage of the god Siva with Pārvati, it is said of the father, "He placed the hand of the goddess Pārvati, genetress of the world, in the hand of Parama Easuran (Siva), and, POURING OUT THE WATER, said, "I give her with a joyful heart." This, therefore, was also done in conFIRMATION of the compact.

The children of Israel, in their misery, came before the Lord: they wept, they fasted, and prayed, and made their solemn vows; and, in CONFIRMATION of their promises, they "poured out water before the Lord!”

VIII. 6.—"The thing displeased Samuel." Hebrew, "was evil in the eyes of Samuel."

When any thing gives displeasure to another, it is said to be evil in his eyes. "This thing is evil in his sight." "Alas! my lord, I am evil in your sight!"

* Of the splendid ruins of Maha-Balli-poor.

IX. 7.-"There is not a present to bring to the man

of God."

A present always precedes the man who has to ask a favour. Those who come on a complimentary visit, or to ask a favour, always present a lime*, or a nosegay, with a graceful bow, to propitiate their benefactor.

10." Well said." Hebrew. "Thy word is good." When you give orders, or advice, or warnings, or promises, those who hear you keep saying, at the close of every sentence, "Nallathu," good, good.

15. "The Lord had told Samuel in his ear."

The priests have a remarkable custom of whispering something in the ear of those who are to be initiated. When a boy has reached the age of eight, he is eligible to have the Ubatheasum whispered in his right ear. The communication is generally made in the Grandam language, which, of course, is not understood: they do, however, sometimes speak in familiar speech; but it will never be repeated, for the priest assures him, should he do this, his head will split in two. This ceremony is believed to have the power of a charm, and to possess talismanic influence. It is sometimes very expensive, but the benefits are believed to be so great as to warrant the expense.

X. 27.-"He held his peace." Hebrew, "He was as though he had been deaf."

This figure is also used to denote silence.

XIV. 14.- "Within, as it were, an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plough."

Dr. A. Clarke says, "The ancients measured land by the quantum which a yoke of oxen might plough." The same

* Precious stones were formerly put into the limes, as a genteel way of giving a present or a bribe.

mode of speaking is still used by this people.

Thus, in de

idea of their

scribing a man's possessions, they convey an extent by saying, "How many yoke of oxen will be required to keep the fields in order ?" *

26.-" And when the people were come into the wood,

behold, the honey dropped."

Bees, in the East, are not, as in England, kept in hives: they are all in a wild state. The forests literally flow with honey; large combs may be seen hanging on the trees as you pass along, full of honey. Hence this article is cheap and plentiful, and is much used by the Vedahs to preserve the flesh of animals they catch in the chase.

The ancient poets take great pleasure in speaking of the value of milk and honey.

41.-"Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot."

42.- "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” (1 Chron. xxvi. 14, 15, 16. Prov. xviii. 18. Jonah

i. 7. Matt. xxvii. 35.)

To cast lots where human wisdom was either not able, or not allowed to decide, appears to have been the custom of all antiquity.

The Hindoos often settle their disputes by casting lots. On particular occasions they do it opposite to the temple; and before they begin, they appeal to their gods, that they may show the right. "Let justice be shown," "Show the innocent," and such-like appeals, are often made. But sometimes they cast the lot in the rest-house or a private dwelling. Should there be a dispute betwixt two people respecting the possession of any given article, the name of each will be writ

The Eastern farmers who wish to have a good crop, plough their fields eight and ten times over. Having made their furrows lengthwise, they then cross them. The corn is also covered by the plough instead of the harrow.

ten on separate pieces of olah, and thrown into a vessel half full of water. A person who is chosen by mutual agreement takes out an olah, and he whose name is inscribed thereon is in the right. See on 1 Chron. xxvi. 14, 15, 16.

XV. 9.—"The best of the sheep--the fatlings and the lambs." The margin has, instead of "fatlings" of the "second sort."

This curious way of designating the quality of animals finds an exact parallel amongst the Hindoos. They do not usually compare, as we do, by good, better, best; but first, second, or third sort. An animal of the finest proportions is said to be of the first sort; the next, of the second; and the last, the third. All the productions of art and nature are compared, as to their value, in the same way. They tell us there are three kinds of fruit they prefer to all others: first, gold; second, precious stones; and third, land.

XVI. 23.-"David took an harp, and played with his

hand; so Saul was refreshed, and was well."

Several kinds of diseases are believed to be removed or alleviated by music; and devils and evil spirits are (with the addition of charms) ejected in the same way. Thus, to a person suffering under the possession of a fiend, a man beats a small tambourine, and sings songs respecting the wife of Siva. Those who are deranged, also, are said to be much benefited by music.

XVII. 18. Look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge."

The sons of Jesse were serving in the army of Saul; and as he probably had not heard from them for some time, he sent their brother David to take a present to the captain, to induce him to be kind to his sons; also to bring a pledge, or token, from his sons themselves, to assure him that they were well. A person in a distant country sends to those who

are interested in his welfare a ring, a lock of hair, or a piece of his nail. This is his "pledge" of health and prosperity. A man who has returned from a far country, in calling upon an old friend (should he not be at home), will leave a handkerchief as a token, to testify that he had called.

40.-"His sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine."

David was a keeper of sheep, and required a sling, not only to keep off the enemies of his flock, but also to chastise any of his charge which might go astray. Shepherds in the East (especially on the continent) carry a sling and stones for the same purpose.

43.-"The Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog,

that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods."

Men of high caste will not strike those who are of low caste with the hand, because the touch would defile them they therefore beat them with a stick or some other weapon. Hence to offer to strike any person with a stick is very provoking, and the person so struck will ask, "Am I a dog?" When a man wishes to make another angry, he pretends to be looking for a stick, which will produce a similar question and feeling. Sometimes, however, they only repeat the proverb, "Take up a stick, and the dog will run off.”

As did the Philistine, so do these people curse each other by their gods. The imprecations are generally of such a kind as it would be improper to repeat. The extremes of filthiness, of sin and hell, are put under contribution, to furnish epithets and allusions for their execrations.

44.-"I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field."

The rhodomontade of Goliath is still the favourite way of terrifying an enemy. "Begone, or I will give thy flesh to