No. 630.-xxvii. 16. Put the skin of the kids of the goats.] It is observed by Bochart (p. 1. Hierozoic. 1. ii c. 51.) that in the eastern countries goats-hair was very like to that of men: so that Isaac might very easily be deceived, when his eyes were dim, and his feeling no less decayed than his sight.

No. 631

-xxviii. 22.

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar shall be God's house.] It appears strange to us to hear a stone pillar called God's house, being accustomed to give names of this kind to such buildings only, as are capable of containing their worshippers within them. But this is not the case in every part of the world, as we learn from Major SYMES's narrative of his Embassy to the Kingdom of Ava. The temples of that people, vast as many of them are, are built without cavity of any sort, and he only mentions some of the most ancient of those at Pagahm as constructed otherwise. The following extract will sufficiently illustrate this matter.

"The object in Pegu that most attracts, and most merits notice, is the noble edifice of Shoemadoo, or the golden supreme. This is a pyramidical building, composed of brick and mortar, without excavation or aperture of any sort : octagonal at the base, and spiral at the top. Each side of the base measures one hundred and sixty-two feet. The extreme height of the edifice, from the level of the country, is three hundred and sixty-one feet, and above the interior terrace three hundred and thirty-one feet. Along the whole extent of the northern face of the upper terrace there is a wooden shed for the convenience of devotees, who come from a distant part of the country. There are several low benches near the foot of the temple, on which the person, who comes to pray, places his offering, commonly consisting of boiled rice, a plate of sweetmeats, or cocoa-nuts fried in oil: when it is given, the devotee cares

not what becomes of it; the crows and wild dogs often devour it in the presence of the donor, who never attempts to disturb the animals. I saw several plates of victuals disposed of in this manner, and understood it was the case with all that was brought."

"The temple of Shoedagan, about two miles and a half north of Rangoon, is a very grand building, although not so high, by twenty-five or thirty feet, as that of Shoemadoo, at Pegu. The terrace on which it stands is raised on a rocky eminence, considerably higher than the circumjacent country, and is ascended by above a hundred stone steps. The name of this temple, which signifies GoldenDagon, naturally recals to mind the passage in the scriptures, where the house of Dagon is mentioned, and the image of idolatry bows down before the Holy Ark."

"Many of the most ancient temples at Pagahm are not solid at the bottom: a well arched dome supports a ponderous superstructure: and, within, an image of Gaudona sits enshrined."

No. 632.-xxix. 6. Rachel his daughter.] Her name in Hebrew signifies a sheep. It was anciently the custom to give names even to families from cattle, both great and small. So Varro tells us (lib ii. de re rustica, c. 1.) Multa nomina habemus ab utroque pecore, &c. à minore, PORCIUS, OVILIUS, CAPRILIUS; a majore EQUITIUS, TAURUS, &c. See Bochart, p. 1. Hieroz. lib. ii. cap. 43.

No. 633.-xxix. 26. And Laban said, it must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born.] Mr. HALHED observes in his preface to the Gentoo Laws, (p. 69.) "We find Laban excusing himself for having substituted Leah in the place of Rachel to Jacob, in these words, It must not be so done in our country, to

give the younger before the first-born. This was long before. Moses. So in this compilation, it is made criminal for a man to give his younger daughter in marriage before the elder; or for a younger son to marry while his elder brother remains unmarried."

No. 634.-xxix. 32. And she called his name Reuben, for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon mine affliction.] Many names which occur in the scriptures were taken from particular incidents and circumstances. Other people besides the Jews have acted in this manner. "The children of the Mandingoes are not always named after their relations; but frequently in consequence of some remarkable occurrence. Thus, my landlord at Kamalia was called Karfa, a word signifying to replace; because he was born shortly after the death of one of his brothers. Other names are descriptive of good or bad qualities: as Modi, a good man: Fadibba, father of the town. Indeed the very names of their towns have something descriptive in them as, Sibidooloo, the town of siboa trees. Kenneyetoo, victuals here. Dorita, lift your spoon. Others appear to be given by way of reproach, as Bammakoo, was a crocodile. Karankalla, no cup to drink from. Among the negroes, every individual, besides his own proper name, has likewise a kongtong or surname, to denote the family or clan to which he belongs. Every negroe plumes himself on the importance or antiquity of his clan, and is much flattered when he is addressed by his kongtong."

MUNGO PARK'S Travels in Africa, p. 269.

No. 635.-xxix. 32. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben.] It seems probable that in common the mother gave the name to a child, and this both amongst the Jews and the Greeks; though perhaps not without the concurrence of the father. In the age of

Aristophanes the giving of a name to the child seems to have been a divided prerogative between the father and the mother. Homer ascribes it to the mother:

Him on his mother's knees, when babe he lay,
She nam'd Arnæus on his natal day.

Odyss. xviii. 6. POPE.

No. 636.-xxxi. 27.- That I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp.] A striking similarity prevails between the modern dance of the South Sea islands, as performed before Captain Cook, and the ancient coral dance of Egypt and Palestine. "A band or chorus of eighteen men seated themselves before us; they sung a slow and soft air; twenty women entered. Most of them had upon their heads garlands, of the crimson flowers of the china rose, or others. They made a circle round the chorus, and began by singing a soft air, to which responses were made by the chorus in the same tone: and these were repeated alternately. All this while the women accompanied their song with several very graceful motions of their hands towards their faces, and in other directions. Their manner of dancing was now changed to a quicker measure, in which they made a kind of half turn by leaping, and clapped their hands, repeating some words in conjunction with the chorus. Toward the end, as the quickness of the music increased, their gestures and attitudes were varied with wonderful vigour and dexterity." Last Voyage, vol. i. p. 250. See also O. C. No. 20.

No. 637.-xxxiii. 3. And he passed over before them.] In travelling it was usual to place the women and children in the rear of the company, This was evidently the si

tuation occupied by Leah and Rachel, in their journey with Jacob. From other sources we derive the same information. In the history of the caliph Vathek, it is said, that the black eunuchs were the inseparable attendants of the ladies, the rear was consequently their post. In the argument to the poem of Amriolkais, it is related that one day when her tribe had struck their tents, and were changing their station, the women, as usual, came behind the rest with the servants and baggage, in carriages fixed on the backs of camels. See also Gen. xxiv. 61.

No 638.-xxxiii. 4. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.] Such persons as are intimately acquainted, or of equal age and dignity, mutually kiss the hand, the head, or the shoulder of each other. SHAW's Trav. p. 237. This passage and Gen. xiv. 14 Luke xv. 20. Acts xx. 37. Seem to have a reference to the eastern way of kissing the shoulder in an embrace. HARMER, vol. ii. p. 53.

No. 639.-xxxiv. 12. Ask me never so much dowry.] It was usual for the bridegroom to give to his bride, or her father, a dowry or portion of money or goods, as a kind of purchase of her person. It was the custom of the Greeks and other ancient nations. (Potter's Greek Ant. b. iv. c. 11.) And is to this day the practice in several Eas-tern countries. (Complete System of Geog. vol. ii. p. 19. 305.

The modern Arabs who live under tents purchase their wives. De la Roque says, that "properly speaking, a young man that would marry must purchase his wife and fathers among the Arabs are never more happy than when they have many daughters. This is the principal part of the riches of a house. Accordingly, when a young man would treat with a person whose daughter he is inclined