but concise chapter, in which the principal of these ceremonies are enumerated and described. As that author is not in the hands of every body and was an eye-witness to the scenes which he relates, I shall present my readers with it entire, as it stands in the Calcutta edition of his voyage, without presuming to make any other alteration in it than the occasional one of a proper name, to render it more consonant to my own orthography, in which, throughout this work, I have endeavoured, as closely as possible, to follow Mr Wilkins.

OF THE DIFFERENT CEREMONIES USED IN THE INDIAN POOJAS.

"Under the name of Pooja," says M. Sonnerat, "all the ceremonies which the different deities daily exact are comprehended. They consist in bathing the god with water and milk, anointing him with butter and odoriferous oils, covering him with rich clothes, and loading him with jewels, which they change every day, as well as the other ornaments, when the pagoda is opulent. They also present him with lamps, where butter is

used

used instead of oil: and throw to him flowers of a particular sort, which are consecrated to him separately, one after another; the number they throw is fixed in their sacred books. During the whole time of the ceremony, the dancers move in measured steps before his statue to the sound of instruments.

A part of the Brahmins, with ehouries of white hair or peacocks feathers, keep off the insects, while the rest are employed in presenting him the offerings; for, the Indians never come emptyhanded to the temple. They bring, ad libitum, rice, camphire, butter, flowers, and fruit. When they have none of these, the Brahmins give them flowers, of which they have always baskets ready; and, after they have received payment, they offer them to the god in the name of the worshippers. It belongs to the Brahmins alone to make the Pooja in particular houses, because the divinity must be present, and they alone have the right of making him descend on the earth. On certain festivals of the year, all the Indians are obliged to perform this ceremony, which consists in making offerings and a sacrifice to God. For this purpose, the Brahmin prepares a place which is purified with dried cow-dung, with which the pavement is plastered; and the room.

is

is sprinkled with the urine of the same animal. A vase full of water, covered, is placed in the middle of the room, round which they light lamps filled with butter. When every thing is ready, the Brahmin, sitting on the ground with his head uncovered, recites prayers and from time to time flings flowers and rice upon the vase': when the invocations are finished, the god should be found in the vase. They then make him offerings in which they are interested; for, they present him with that which they desire the year may return to them a hundred fold, such as fruits, rice, and beetel, but no money. The Brahmin afterwards makes the sacrifice, which consists in burning several pieces of wood before the vase, which he only has the right to throw into the fire, one after another, and at those moments which are engaged during the prayer he recites. After this ceremony, the Brahmin takes his leave of the deity with another prayer.

OF DIBARADANÉ.

The Dibaradané, or offering of fire, is also a daily ceremony in honour of the gods, and makes part of the Pooja. The Brahmin who

officiates

officiates holds in one hand a small bell, which he sounds; and, in the other, a copper lamp full of butter: he makes it pass and repass round the statue of the god he worships. During this time, the Bayaderes dance and sing his praises; after which, the assistants in contemplation, with hands joined, address their vows to the idol. The Brahmin then breaks the garland with which the idol is adorned, distributes the fragments to the people, and receives from them the offerings they have brought to the divinity.

OF THE ABICHEGAM.

The Abichegam makes a part of the Pooja; this ceremony consists in pouring milk on the Lingam. This liquor is afterwards kept with great care, and some drops are given to dying people, that they may merit the delights of the Calaisson. We find traces of the Abichegam in the earliest antiquity. The primitive race of men had a kind of sacrifice, called Libation, which was made in pouring out some liquor, but especially oil, in honour of the divinity. It was also ordained in the written law.

The

The Indians have preserved this custom, not only in respect to the Lingam, but also in honour of their other deities. They actually offer them libations, wash them with cocoanut-oil, melted butter, or water of the Ganges. They always rub them with oil or butter when they address prayers or present offerings to them; so that all their idols are black, smoked, plastered, and soiled with a fetid

grease.

OF SANDIVAN E.

The Sandivanc is a ceremony which the Brahmins alone make daily to the gods in general; and, in the morning, particularly, to Brahma, as the author of their origin. At spn-rise, they go and take water out of a tank, with 'the hollow of their hand, which they throw sometimes before and sometimes behind them, and over their shoulders, invoking Brahma and pronouncing his praises; by which they are purified and made worthy of his favours. They afterwards throw water to the sun, to testify their thanks and their respect that he has had the goodness to appear and chase away the shades of darkness; they then finish purifying themselves by

bathing,