refidence in it; yet we will depend on their natural goodness of heart, generofity and candor, that they will in future look on these their Gentoo fifters of the creation, in a more favorable, and confiftent light, than probably they have hitherto done; and not deem that action an infatuation, which refults from principle. Let them alfo recollect that their own hiftory affords illustrious examples in both fexes of voluntary facrifices by fire, becaufe they would not fubfcribe even to a different mode of profeffing the fame faith. Befides-a contempt of death, is not peculiar to the women of India, it is the characteristic of the nation; every Gentoo meets that moment of diffolution, with a fteady, noble, and philofophic refignation, flowing from the established principles of their faith.

Before we close this fubject, we will mention one or two more particulars relative to it. It has been already remarked in a marginal note, that the Gentoo women are not allowed to burn, without an order of leave from the Mahommedan government; it is proper alfo to inform our readers this privilege is never withheld from them.-There have been inftances known, when the victim has, by Europeans, been forceably rescued

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from

from the pile; it is currently faid and believed (how true we will not aver) that the wife of Mr. Job Charnock was by him fnatched from this facrifice; be this as it may, the outrage is confidered by the Gentoos, an atrocious, and wicked violation of their facred rites and privileges.

Having now brought our fourth general head to a conclufion, and faithfully, to the beft of our knowledge (with the materials we are poffeffed of) exhibited the original tenets of the ancient Bramins, according to the firft book of Bramah's Chartah Bhade ; and having in our remarks given fuch elucidations as we thought our subject called for, we fubmit our imperfect work (for imperfect we muft ftill call it) with all due deference to the public; hoping that fome more capable head and hand, will be ftimulated by our endeavours, to produce a more full, and fatisfactory relation, of the reft of his doctrines. A large field is yet left open, for the exercise of industry and talents. Bramah's first fection of his fecond book on the creation of this globe, will be the fubject of our next general head.His third book directing the plain and fimple modes of worship to be paid to God, and the three primary created beings, and

5

his

his fourth fublime book, (which the Gentoos commonly call Bramah Ka, Infoff Bhade, or, Bramah's book of juftice) wherein is exprefly recited and enjoined, the duties and offices, which the delinquent Debtah fhall observe and pay to each other; these two last mentioned books, and part of the second, we fay, muft lie in oblivion, until fome one, bleffed with opportunity, leifure, application, and genius, brings them to light,

The End of the Fourth Chapter.

CHAP.

113

I

CHAP. V.

Of the Creation of the Worlds.

INTRODUCTION.

N the fifth fection of our laft general head, Bramah recites, that the Eternal ONE, (after he had promulged his gracious intention, of mitigating the punishment of the fallen angels, at the interceffion of the remaining faithful hoft;) "retired into

himself, and became invifible to them, for the space of five thousand years."- -In his introduction to the act of creation of the worlds in his fecond book, he takes again occafion to repeat the above mentioned pasfage, and explains it by an inference, that during THAT SPACE, the Eternal ONE was employed in meditation on his intended new creation; and although it appears, from the fame section, that this ftupendous work, was produced by an inftantaneous fiat of the

Deity,

Deity, yet Bramah, to display the infinite and amazing wisdom of his Creator, enters into a fublime, and philofophic difquifition and description, of his modes (if we may be allowed the expreffion) and manner of creation, in the marvellous conftruction of the fifteen Boboons, that conftitute the Dunneaboudah, or univerfe ;-thefe defcriptions, he couches under allegories, then commonly and familiarly understood, at which the reader will the lefs wonder, when he knows, that at this day it is the usual mode of converfing, amongft well educated Gentoos.

In this exhibition of infinite wisdom, Bramah gives a short, fimple and elevated defcription, of each of the fifteen Boboons, their fituation, their rank, and peculiar deftination, with the appellations appropriated to the angelic inhabitants, in their progreffive paffage from one fphere to another. Our memory only fupplies us with the names of the fojourners of the ninth, fifth, fixth and feventh, that is, the firft, and three laft of the feven regions of purification, to wit, the fpheres of the Pereeth logue*, the Munnoo

*Logue, literally people. Pereeth logue, purified people,

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logue,