they push off their canoes or catta-marams*, each carrying a lighted torch, and, in the course of a few hours, may be seen out at sea, or on the rivers, like an illuminated city. They swing the lights about over the sides of the boat, which the fish no sooner see than they come to the place, and then the men cast in the hook or the spear, as circumstances may require. They have many amusing sayings about the folly of the fish in being thus attracted by the glare of a torch.

VII. 3.

"He sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him." (Verse 19. "John calling unto him two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come?")

This is the oriental way of making an enquiry or a propitiation. Does a man wish to know something about another, he will not go himself, because that might injure him in his future operations; he calls for two or three confidential friends, states what he wants to ascertain, and tells them how to proceed. They perhaps first go to some neighbour to gain all the information they can, and then go to the man himself, but do not at once tell him their errand: no, no, they TRY the ground, and make sure of their object, before they disclose their purposes. Should they, however, be in doubt, they have the adroitness to conceal their plans; and if asked what they want, they simply reply "CHUMA," i. e. nothing; they only came to say SALAM, "had not seen the honoured individual for a long time, and therefore wished to set their eyes on him." When a person desires to gain a favour, as did the centurion, he sends an elder, a respectable person, to state his case, and there is generally an understanding that the messenger, if he succeed, shall share in the benefit. If flattery, humiliations, and importunities can do any thing, he is sure to gain the point.

* Three trees lashed together.

4.5.

"This woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet."

See that poor woman whose husband has committed some crime, for which he is to be taken to the magistrate; she rushes to the injured individual, she casts herself down and begins to kiss his feet; she touches them with her nose, her eyes, her ears, and forehead, her long hair is dishevelled, and she beseeches the feet of the offended man to forgive her husband. "Ah! my lord, the gods will then forgive you." My husband will in future be your slave, my children will love you, the people will praise you; forgive, forgive, my lord." (See on John xii. 3.)

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IX. 59. "Suffer me first to go and bury my fa

ther."

It is considered exceedingly desirable for children to be with their parents when they die; they then hear their last requests and commands, and also can perform the funeral rites, in such a way as none but themselves can do. It is just before death, also, that the father mentions his property; especially that part which he has concealed in his house, gardens, or fields. It is, therefore, a very common saying, "When I have buried my father, I will do this or that." Should a young man be requested to do that which is not agreeable to his father, he says, "Let me first perform the funeral rites, and then I will do it."

X. 18. "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

Very sublime allusions are often made in Tamul poetry to the velocity and power of lightning. The bow with which Indran, the king of heaven, fought his enemies, had lightning for its string. Of the movements of the gods, "They sprang, they darted like lightning." Those who are struck by lightning are believed to be favoured of the gods.

XII. 2." There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known." "The goddess of the earth will only conceal things for a season, the time will come when she will make all things known." "Your secrets must all come out: is there any thing large enough to cover the mouth of the world?" "True, true, that which is known to one person only is a “ All secret, but that which is known to two! is not so." thy secrets are known to another!"

XIV. 19." I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I

This was not such a trifling affair as some have supposed, for it should be remembered it is with oxen only the Orientals perform all their agricultural labours. Such a thing as a horse in a plough or cart, amongst the natives, I never saw. A bullock unaccustomed to the yoke is of no use; they therefore take the greatest precaution in making such purchases, and they will never close the bargain till they have PROVED them in the field.* Nor will the good man trust to his own judgment, he will have his neighbours and friends to assist him. The animals will be tried in ploughing softly, deeply, strongly, and they will be put on all the required paces, and then sent home. When he who wishes to purchase is fully satisfied, he will fix a day for settling the amount and for fetching the animals away. Five good yoke of oxen from the opposite coast cost from 60l. to 70l.

XVI. 3. "I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.” How often are we reminded of this passage by beggars when we tell them to work. They can scarcely believe their ears; and the religious mendicants, who swarm in every part of the East, look upon you with the most sovereign contempt when you give them such advice. "I work! why I never have done such a thing; I am not able." Surely, my lord, you are not in earnest ; you are joking with me.”

* The bargain alluded to in the verse was probably not closed.

How offensive to good taste, and to the FIGURE of the text, is the notion of some painters, who represent Lazarus in heaven as reposing in the bosom of the patriarch. Such attempts have a tendency to lessen that veneration and awe which we owe to subjects of so sacred a nature. This world is the legitimate field for the painter, but let him not presume to desecrate with his pencil the scenes beyond. A beloved son, though at a distance, is still said to be in the BOSOM of his parents. "The king is indeed very fond of that man, he keeps him in his bosom.” Yes, the servant is a great favourite with his master, he has a place in his bosom." Why,Mutoo, do you never intend to allow your son to go out of your bosom?" The ideas implied by the term bosom are intense affection, security, and comfort. But objects of endearment are sometimes spoken of as being in the HEAD. "He not fond of his wife! he keeps her in his head." ،، My husband, you are ever in my head." "Yes, beloved, you are in my eye; my eye is your resting place."*

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XIX. 5.—"To-day I must abide at thy house."

Zaccheus did not appear to have seen our Saviour before, but he would not be surprised when it was said, "I must abide at thy house." Hospitality may almost be called a sacred rite in all parts of the East; and, were it no so, what would become of travellers and pilgrims? In general there are no places for public entertainment, for the rest houses and choultries are seldom more than open places to shelter passengers from the sun and rain. View the stranger passing through a village, he sees a respectable house, and having found out the master, he stands before him, and puts out his right hand, and says, paratheasi, i. e. a pilgrim or traveller: he is then requested to be seated, and is asked, whence he came, and whither he is going? His temporal wants are supplied, and when inclined he pursues his journey.

* See on Deuteronomy xiii. 6.

40.-"If these should hold their peace, the stones would

immediately cry out."

Has a man been greatly favoured by another, he says, "Ah! if I ever forget him the stones will cause me to stumble." "I cease to recollect his goodness! then will the stones make me to stumble and die." The idea appears to be, they will arise up and cause him to fall.

XXI. 18. "But there shall not an hair of

perish." (Matt. x. 30.)

your head

"Let him go, not a hair "I advise you to take you." "He! the "What care I for

“Well, friend, have you heard that Chinnan has gone to the judge to complain against you?” of this head will be spoiled by that." care, for the Vedān has sworn to ruin jackal cannot pull out a single hair.” thy anger? thou canst not pull out one hair." my son! let him touch a single hair."

"He injure

XXIII. 31." If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"

The venerable Mr. Wesley has caught the idea when he says on this passage, "The Jews compare a good man to a green tree, and a bad man to a dead one." Thus still an abandoned character, a decided profligate, is called a pattaMARAM, i. e. a dried or a dead tree. "Why water that tree?" "Your money, your influence is all wasted there: cease, cease to attend to that dead tree.” "The tree is dead, there are no leaves, it will never more give blossoms nor fruit, it is only fit for the fire." A spendthrift or one who has been unfortunate says, "I am a patta-maram, I have been struck by the lightning." A good A good man is compared

* In palmyra or cocoa groves many trees may be seen that have been struck and destroyed by the lightning. I once saw six trees struck and set on fire in an instant; and though I was some hundreds of yards from the spot, the lightning appeared to fall at my feet. Even the majestic banyan has, sometimes, many of his giant arms withered at a single glance.