much attention. May, therefore, the feast of lights not have been derived from the miraculously lighted houses of the Israelites, in the universal darkness of Egypt?

"When the Egyptians met to sacrifice to Minerva at Sais, they hung up by night a great number of lamps, filled with oil mixed with salt, round every house, the wick swimming on the surface; these burned during the whole night, and the festival was thence named the lighting of lamps. The Egyptians, who were not present at the solemnity, observed the same ceremonies wherever they happened to be; lamps were lighted that night, not only at Sais, but throughout all Egypt. The reasons for using these illuminations, and paying so great respect to this night, were kept secret!" * "The feast was kept when they sacrificed to Minerva, the goddess of war, who sprang, armed and full grown, from her father's brain."

But the Chinese also have a feast of lamps, which led M. de Guignes to think that the first inhabitants emigrated from Egypt. "On this occasion, every city and village, the shores of the sea, and the banks of the rivers, are hung with painted lanterns, of various shapes and sizes, some of them being seen in the windows of the poorest houses. A Chinese, it has been said, knows not why, nor makes any enquiries wherefore, these things are. It is an ancient custom, and that is enough for him. The inscriptions on these lanterns would seem to point out its origin to be religious. The most common run Tien-tee Sansheai, Vaulin, Chin-tsai: Oh! heaven, earth, the three limits, and thousand intelligences, hail! "

The feast of lights, observed amongst the Hindoos, is held at the same time as that of the Jews, and is called Cartiki-Vellakedu, the lighting up of the November lamps. In that night, thousands of lamps may be seen sparkling about the streets, temples, schools, doors of houses, gardens, fields, rivers, public places: hence November is called the month of lamps.

* See Herodotus, Euterpe 62; also Universal History, Edition of 1747, vol. i. p. 476.; Maillet, and others.

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"When were you born?"—" In the month of lamps." My friend, I cannot pay you now, but you shall have it in the month of lamps," are sayings in common use.

Some believe this feast was instituted in honour of Scandan (Carticeya of Bengal), the god of war ! because in this month he was born from the frontal eye of Siva: and it is worthy of notice, that this month is called after him, and that its symbolical sign is the scorpion!

Others, however, believe it had its origin in the destruction of the cruel giant Maha-Velli, alias Bali. That monster had greatly oppressed mankind, and, in consequence of his having received the gift of immortality from the Supreme, no one could destroy him. At last the god Vishnoo determined to try his power, and, having assumed the dress and appearance of a Brahmin, went to the giant with a humble petition to be allowed to possess one foot of land in his dominions. After a pause, the request was granted; when immediately Velle*, his priest, appeared, and objected to the grant, saying, “If the Brahmin gain that, he will soon have the whole of your dominions;" but the word having gone forth, it could not be recalled. The giant, therefore, began to pour water on the ground as a confirmation of his promise; but the priest assumed the form of a beetle, and entered the spout of the vessel to hinder the water from running: the Brahmin, however, removed the beetle by thrusting a straw into the spout, which at the same time put out one of its eyes. The water then ran freely on the ground, and the agreement was confirmed. The god then arose from the shape of the humble Brahmin to the high bearing of his own majesty: the giant was astounded, and conquered, and sentenced to dwell for ever in the lower regions: but before he took his departure, he begged to be allowed to visit the world once a year, and that men should be ordered to place lamps in every direction, to enable him to take a view of his former dominions.

Here, then, we see, amongst the Israelites! the Egyptians!

The Hindoo name of the planet Venus.

the Chinese ! and the Hindoos ! a feast of lights ! The origin amongst the Egyptians was kept secret, which seems to point at their universal darkness, and at the lights in the houses of the Israelites. At the time they kept it, "they sacrificed to the deity of war. The Hindoos have it in honour of the god of war," or in memory of the destruction of the cruel giant Maha Bali! If we look, therefore, at the miraculous lights in Egyptian darkness, or at the war in which the Supreme Being was concerned, or at the destruction of the cruel and monstrous Pharaoh, we see leading facts, which, after the lapse of so many ages, and in the absence of regular records, would necessarily be obscured by the superstitions, traditions, and usages of such different nations in these remote years.

26. "Not an hoof be left behind."

Showing that the whole of their cattle also should go with them - that not one should be left behind.

The Hindoos, instead of saying not a hoof; say "not a tail!" Should a person have given some cattle to another to keep in a distant part of the country, and should they have been destroyed by wild beasts or by sickness, the servant will say, when the owner enquires after them, "There is not a tail left." "Where are those numerous herds given to you by your father?" Alas! I have not a tail left." A bridegroom, not having received the property he expected with his bride, on being asked, "How much did you get?" will answer, "Not a tail."

28.-"Take heed to thyself; see my face no more." Has a servant, an agent, or an officer, deeply offended his superior, he will say to him, "Take care never to see my face again; for on the day you do that, evil shall come upon you." ،، Begone, and in future never look in this face," pointing to his own.

XI. 2.-"Let every man borrow of his neighbour, and

every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold."

Dr. Boothroyd, instead of borrow, translates "ask." A. Clarke says, "request, demand, require."

Dr.

The Israelites wished to go three days' journey into the wilderness, that they might hold a feast unto the Lord.

When the Orientals go to their sacred festivals, they always put on their best jewels. Not to appear before the gods in such a way, they consider would be disgraceful to themselves and displeasing to the deities. A person, whose clothes or jewels are indifferent, will BORROw of his richer neighbours; and nothing is more common than to see poor people standing before the temples, or engaged in sacred ceremonies, well adorned with jewels. The almost pauper bride or bridegroom at a marriage may often be seen decked with gems of the most costly kind, which have been BORROWED for the occasion. It fully accords, therefore, with the idea of what is due at a sacred or social feast, to be thus adorned in their best attire.

Under these circumstances, it would be perfectly easy to BORROW of the Egyptians their jewels, as they themselves, in their festivals, would doubtless wear the same things. It is also recorded, the Lord gave them "favour in the sight of the Egyptians."

It does not appear to have been fully known to the Hebrews, that they were going finally to leave Egypt: they might expect to return; and it is almost certain that, if their oppressors had known they were not to return, they would not have LENT them their jewels.

The Lord, however, did say to Moses, in chap. iii. 11., that He would "bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt," and that they should worship Him upon that mountain; but whether Moses fully understood Him is not certain. But the Lord knew!-certainly He did. And as a father, or a master, who saw his children, or slaves, deprive each other of their rightful pay (as the Egyptians did the Israelites), had a

right to give to the injured what they had been unjustly deprived of: so the Lord, in whose hands are all things, who daily takes from one, and gives to another; and who builds up, or destroys, the families of the earth; would have an undoubted right to give to the Hebrews that property of which the Egyptians had so unjustly and cruelly deprived them.

XII. 2.-"This month shall be unto you the beginning of months it shall be the first month of the year to you."

The beginning of the year, both amongst the Jews, and the nations of Europe, appears always to have been distinguished by some particular feast or custom.

Yesterday, April the eleventh, 1830, was the first day of the Hindoo new year, which was ushered in at three o'clock, P. M. The name of the month is Sitteri, and its sign in the zodiac is Meadum, the Ram. According to the Sastrems, this sign is the most important amongst the twelve, and when the sun enters it the new year has begun.

It is worthy of notice, that the first month of the Jewish year answers to part of our March, and April, and comes near the commencement of the Hindoo

year.

On the first day of the year, the people go from house to house to congratulate each other. "Ah! may you live a hundred years!—this year may riches flow into your house!-no weeping—all joy." When they have found a fortunate hour, they invite each other to a feast. All are dressed in their best robes, and they go along the roads with the greatest glee. Numbers go to the temples to offer gifts, and worship the gods. Some weep, and cry aloud, because a relation or a friend has died during the past year.

No merchant, or tradesman, will make a bargain on that day, until he shall have found the lucky hour; and then, should it even be midnight, the business must be transacted.

People playing at rude games may be seen in every direction; and many a feat is performed that day, which serves for