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you look at the time, during which Brahma sleeps, who came and was born in the navel lotus of Vishnoo, how great is it? But even the Kalpas, during which Markandar has seen him die again and again (are numberless), yet he still survives. In consequence of the death of Yama, the souls on the great serpent-borne earth being exempt from death, greatly multiplied; on account of which, being unable to sustain the weight, the goddess Earth fell at the feet of her lord Vishnoo, and made complaint. When Vishnoo, Brahma, and Indran went to Cailasa to the black-necked Param-Easuran, and humbly worshipped him, Vishnoo and Brahma rendered him intense praises; and on Param-Easuran asking what they wanted, Vishnoo replied, "Brahma, the lotus king, and the rest perform their respective offices thus far: Swamy, according to your direction; and your humble servant, Swamy, by your grace, executes the office of preserving as well as I am able. But an untoward event has occurred, which please hear me to relate. Swamy, for slighting you, Yama is dead, the world is in consequence filled with life, so that the goddess Earth who sustains it is oppressed; yet while thus the goddess earth is in pain with the weight of all these lives, if all lives still continue to be born, and there be no doubt, what will avail my protection? Swamy, there is no one for the office of destroying; I beg you not to bear in mind Yama's evil deeds, but restore him to life." To this ParamEasuran condescended, and replied, "Yama! arise!” and Yama, who had died, arose, and came, and humbly worshipping Param-Easuran said, " Having been touched by your foot, I am blessed," and praised him. Param-Easuran rejoined, "Yama! listen! go not into the presence of such as wear sacred ashes and beads; neither regard my servants as men on the earth, but know that they are myself. If you see them, reverently worship them. To others, who by thought, word, or deed, perform virtuous or sinful actions give Swarga, or Naraga, according to their deserts." Having thus instructed him, he said, "Go with thy troops;" and immediately Yama humbly worshipped him; mounted his

buffalo; and, his armies attending him, departed to his own kingdom.

Perhaps this subject ought not to be concluded without saying, that in the existence of a future place of punishment; in the belief of the Hindoos, in the seven divisions and different awards of misery assigned to the guilty; in the person of a chief called Yama (corresponding with Minos), and his numerous assistants; in the person of the supreme Siva; in the all-preserving power of innocence and devotion, as seen in the case of the youth Markandar and his future happiness; we discover an agreement with the general opinion of nations, ancient and modern, barbarous and civilised, which serves to illustrate and confirm the scriptural account of future rewards and punishments.

37."How often would I have gathered thy children

together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens

under her wings."

The Psalmist says, "Hide me under the shadow of thy wings." "The children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings." (Ps. lvii. 1. lxi. 4. lxiii. 7. xci. 4. See on Isa. i. 18. Jer. xlviii. 40. xlix. 22.) The word wING primarily signifies PROTECTION, and not comfort, as some have supposed. They appear to have gained that idea from the comfort which chickens have under the wing of the hen. In the East, hawks, kites, and other birds of prey are continually on the wing; hence it is difficult to rear chickens, because at every moment they are in danger of being pounced on and carried off. Hence the eye of the mother is continually looking up to watch the foes, and no sooner does she see them skimming along, than she gives a scream, and the brood for PROTECTION run UNDER her WINGS.

XXIV. 28.

"Wheresoever the carcass is there will the eagles be gathered together."

It has often appeared to me that the sight and scent of in the East are keener than those of the same

birds of

prey

species in England. Any garbage thrown from the kitchen, or in the wilderness, will soon attract these winged scavengers. Should there be a dead elephant or any other beast in the jungle, vast numbers of ravenous birds and animals hasten to the spot. The eagles, kites, and crows begin to tear at the carcass and attack each other, and the jackals snap at their feathered rivals; thus, though there is enough for all, they each try to hinder the other from eating. There can be no doubt that birds of prey are very useful in the East, as they carry off the putrid matter which would otherwise infect the air. Hence Europeans do not often destroy such birds, and in the city of Calcutta there is a law to protect them from being injured.

XXV. 6.-" At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."

An Eastern wedding is always celebrated in the night; for though the fortunate hour for performing some parts of the ceremony may be in the day, yet the festivities of the scene will not take place till night. When the bridegroom goes forth to the house of the bride, or when he returns to his own habitation or to that of his father, he is always accompanied by numerous friends and dependents, who carry lamps and torches. When he approaches either house the inmates rush out to meet him, and greet him with their best wishes and congratulations. The path is covered with "garments,” and lamps like fire flies sparkle in every direction.

XXVI. 18." My time is at hand."

When a man believes himself to be near death, he says, "Go tell the priest I am going on my journey, my time is at hand." When dead, it is said of him, "His time has gone, he has fallen."

MARK.

CHAP. I. verse 3.-" Prepare ye the way of the Lord." When a man of rank has to pass through a town or village, a messenger is despatched to tell the people to prepare the way, and to await his orders. Hence may be seen some sweeping the road, others who "spread their garments in the way," and some who are cutting "down branches from the trees" (Matt. xxi. 8.), to form arches and festoons where the great man has to pass.

III. 25. — “ If a house be divided against itself that house cannot stand."

"As the fire produced by rubbing together two pieces of bamboo will burn and destroy that wood from whence it came, so the contentions of a family will destroy those from whom they come." "Can the tiger and the deer exist together?" "Will serpents and frogs take pleasure in each other's company?"* "What, do serpents and kites love each other?" +

IV. 24.

"With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you."

The Hindoo proverb on this subject is, Tān, tān, seythu

* In the wet monsoon millions of frogs occupy the fields and gardens, and then it is the serpents have plenty of food: people in England would be surprised at the agility with which the latter catch the former.

The kite, called MALLE-KANNE, will carry off nearly any serpent in the East; this bird, when the wings are extended, measures, to my knowledge, six feet five inches; he seizes the serpent with his talons just behind the head, and then flies aloft and bills the head of the reptile till he has made a hole in it, which produces death; he then retires to a tree to enjoy his repast. So soon as the serpents hear the whining cry of the kite or eagle, they begin to make a hissing, clapping noise: this may be heard in old buildings or walls.

vinne tanuku, i. e. What he himself has done, shall be done to him again. It is quoted, both in reference to actions which are good or evil: thus, a man having acted kindly towards another will receive a similar favour from others.

VI. 11. -"Shake off the dust under your feet for a

testimony against them."

When a person is made angry by another, he says, "I will shake thee off as I do the dust from my sandals." "I have washed my feet; never more shall they tread that place."

13." Anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."

The people of the East give a decided preference to erternal applications; hence, when they are directed to "eat" or "drink" medicine, they ask, can they not have something to apply outside? For almost every complaint a man will smear his body with bruised leaves, or saffron, or ashes of certain woods, or OILS; and he professes to derive more benefit from them than from those medicines which are taken internally at all events, he knows they cannot do him so much harm. It ought to be observed, that they do not attach any miraculous effects to the being " anointed with oil."

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21." Herod on his birth-day made a supper." (John xii. 2. "They made him a supper." Rev. iii. 20. "I will come into him and will sup with him.")

The Orientals have nearly all their great feasts in the evening thus, to give a supper is far more common than a dinner. Those evening festivals have a very imposing effect: what with the torches and lamps, the splendid dresses, jewels, processions, the bowers, the flowers, and the music, a kind of enchantment takes hold of the feelings, and the mind is half bewildered in the scenes.

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