pullu, i.e. blind worm, SAID to be produced by the dew; it begins its devastations at what is called the cabbage part of the palm, and soon destroys the tree. v. 8. "God prepared a vehement east wind." I have already written on that parching, life-destroying wind. But the margin has it, or SILENT," which probably means calm. Thus when there

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is a lull of an easterly wind, and the sun pours his fierce rays on the head of the poor traveller, it seems as if life must depart: birds and beasts pant; there is the silence of death, and nature seems ready to expire.

МІСАН.

CHAP. I. verse 7.-" And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot."

Here again we have unalloyed and rampant heathenism: the "sacred" courtezans of the temple give a part of their hire towards the repairing and beautifying of the building; and, also, to purchase idols, or carry on the festivals. At the annual festival of Scandan, which continues twenty-four days, the females alluded to defray the expenses of the last day from the proceeds of their own wickedness.

IV. 4. 66 They shall sit every man under his vine and

under his fig tree."

The people of the East have great pleasure in sitting or lounging under their tamarind or mango trees in the grove. Thus, in the heat of the day, they while away their time in playing with their children, in taking up the fruit, or smoking their much-loved shroot.

Allusions are often made in the Scriptures to the value of oil; and to appreciate them, it should be recollected, that oil ONLY is used to light the houses, and also, for anointing the body, and MANY medicinal purposes. "Have you heard of the charity of Venase? Why he has given a RIVER of oil to the temple; and Muttoo has given a RIVER of ghee." "Milk! why that farmer has RIVERS of it; and the Modeliar has a SEA."

VII. 3." That they may do evil with both hands." We have seen that to do a thing with ONE hand, signifies earnestness, and a oneness of consent. Whenever a person

has to receive a thing from a superior, he must put out BOTH hands; for not to do so, would be a mark of great disrespect. "Alas! I went to that man with both hands (i. e. held them out to him), but he turned me away." "The greedy wretch eats with both hands," meaning, he is a glutton; because all respectable and decent people eat with the right hand ONLY.

19." Cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." When a devotee believes the guilt of his transgressions has been removed, whether by prayers or austerities, he says, My sins have all fallen into the sea.”

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HABAKKUK.

CHAP. II. verse 11.-" For the stone shall

cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall an

swer it." The margin has instead of "answer it," "or witness against."

When a man denies what he has solemnly promised, the person who complains of his perfidy, says, "The place where you stood shall witness against you." "A beautiful princess was once enjoying herself in a fragrant grove, when a noble prince passed that way; she became enamoured of his person, and he solemnly promised to return and marry her. When he left her, she wept bitterly, and said, 'Ah! should he not return, this tāli tree (pandanus odoratissima) shall WITNESS against him. Yes, the birds shall be my wit

nesses.

ZEPHANIAH.

CHAP. I. verse 12. "And it shall come to pass at that

time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees; that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil." The margin has in place of "settled," "curded or thickened."

The Tamul translation has this, "dregs stirred up,” i. e. sediment shaken together well thickened. Of people who are in great straights, of those who are a strange compound of good and evil, of things which are difficult to understand, it is said, “Ah! this is all kullumbin-vandal,” i. e. stirred up dregs. This appears to have been the state of the Jews, and they wanted to show that the Lord would neither do good nor evil; that in him was not any distinct character; and that he would not regard them in their thickened and mixed condition; that though they were joined to the heathen, it was not of any consequence. "I will search Jerusalem with candles:" thus were they mistaken in their false hopes. Does a man declare his innocence of any crime, the accusers say, "We will search thee with lamps." "Yes, yes, I will look into that affair with lamps." "What! have your lamps gone out? You see I am not guilty."

II. 14.

"The cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels." In the margin, instead of "lintels," we have "knops or chapiters."

The Tamul translation has, "lodge in the sickeram," that is, the peak, the crown. The retired water fowls were to perch on the mansions of the Ethiopians and the Assyrians, to show the desertion and utter desolation of their once pleasant homes. "Alas! the koku (a water fowl) is now living in the house of the Modeliar." (See on Isaiah, chap. xxxiv. 11.)