h

buries it, or lets it out to usury, at an ana per month on the roopee. He spends nothing, except in ornaments for his wives; he neglects the prescribed offerings to the manes of his ancestors, and never entertains bramhuns, or, if he sometimes gives a feast of this kind, he invites as few as possible.

Voikoont'hu.

I have heard, that his sons are very loose in their conduct; that all their married neighbours are alarmed for the chastity of their wives; and that these sons neglect their ablutions in the Ganges, and almost all the daily duties of bramhŭns.

Ramu-juyů. It is but too true: this is the case, not only with his sons, but with great numbers of young people in our neighbourhood. It is plain enough, that, as Junhoo swallowed Gunga in her descent from heaven, the kalee-yoogŭ is swallowing up all the religion that is left amongst us.

On rejecting a person, and restoring him again to

his cast.

At an assembly of the villagers. Kanaee. O RamŭRayu! you are the head man of the village: it is therefore our duty to make you acquainted with every thing: we can no longer have intercourse with Huludhuruchŭkrůbŭrttēē.

Ramu-Rayй. Why?

Kanace. You, Sir, know what took place formerly: at

More than 35 per cent.

present he has a mistress, the daughter of a washerman : for some time past, nobody has visited him, but he goes and eats every where.-Now, we hear, that they have destroyed the child in the womb-and the noise of this is gone over all the village. With such a person therefore we cannot eat.

Ramu-Rayй. If this is true, it is very bad; and nobody can have intercourse with him; but let him be called.

Huludhuru arrives, and says to Ramu-Rayŭ, Why have you called me, Sir?

Ramu-Rayй. Why?—You know, that for a long time back, you have been in a disorderly way: nobody has visited you; but through my influence your friends did not wholly discard you. Now, I hear, that you have been guilty of destroying your illegitimate child in the womb: you have broken down the fence, and gone into forbidden ground and your friends have now utterly renounced you. He goes away very sad.

[After two years, during which time Hülŭdhůrŭ had solicited forgiveness by the most humiliating intreaties, he again appears before the village council.]

Ramu-Rayй, addressing the villagers assembled, says, O Sirs may I be heard? They reply, what commands, Sir.

Ramu-Rayu. You are all assembled: here is a person without a friend; he lays hold of your feet. If ten persons decide on a question, the authority of ten makes

even that which is wrong, right; and the strength of ten united becomes that of a lion. You see this man, cast off by you for many days; he has endured misery equal to his sin; and he comes to me with his distress continually, whether I am sitting, eating, or sleeping. I have told him to solicit pardon from door to door; and that against your will I can do nothing. He says, ' God is now on my left; I cannot shew my face, and nobody speaks a kind word to me.' He knows that you respect me, and therefore he comes to me. Whatever may have been his fault formerly, let that go; he is now very anxious to be restored; and he is now afraid of incurring your displeasure: you will do well, therefore, to shew him favour.

One of the company. Favour! How can that be, Ramŭ-Rayŭ! Do you mean to receive him back, or his concubine? I suppose, you, Sir, have before this bestowed your favours on the concubine. Do you wish us all to become Musulmans? Well-you are at the head of the village-all respect you-nobody will run back if you advance; let the wedding feast be kept at your house.

Another. Dismiss this filthy subject; let us repeat the name of God, and something good will come on it. Besides, how can you go into this business; he was warned by a thousand persons not to go into this connection. Day and night he staid at this woman's; and I suppose he has eaten with her; what should hinder? And now you hear of an abortion; and this has been proclaimed as by the sound of the drum. True, he is a very proper subject for favour; two or three others in the village are anxious to follow his footsteps. But you, Sir,

can do every thing; you can kill, and then cook, what you please; but we are poor people; we cannot. If I could do this, I might have taken a gift the other day, and have sat down with the Musulmans.

Another. Oh! friend, don't forbid it-let the thirtysix casts all eat together.

Ramu-Rayй (to himself). I suppose then, Hulŭdhŭru's sin is still upon him; for if ten persons are not well disposed towards him, it seems that God is still angry with him. To the villagers. Do you intend then, Sirs, to pursue this man to death? When we come into the world, every one does good and evil, and sometimes a person falls into a snare; but you have already punished this culprit as far as possible: for two years he has been enduring every sort of misery, lying in his house as a corpse.- Whispering to Hůlůdhůrů, and advising him to put his garment round his neck, and fall at their feet

Hŭludhurů does so, and Ramu-Rayŭ continues, See, Gentlemen, would you tread on the dead? Is there any thing left to punish? However, do as you like, if you wish to destroy him, do so-and if you wish to save, he is in your hands. I will only add one word, For my sake, forgive him-bestow this alms on me.

One of the village. Sir, your words are irresistible. Well-a bramhŭn has fallen—it is right to pity the miserable; but if it is beyond our power? We can lift a hundred weight, but we cannot raise a ton. We can stop one mouth, but how shall we stop a thousand?

Ramu-Rayu. Gentlemen, I only want your consentand then, I will manage all the rest: you know, that

money can do all things; only pardon the culprit, and two or three of us will see what he is worth, and examine how every thing can be brought about.

They consent, and the assembly breaks up . [ Sometimes, when the persons who have been bribed to consent, are called to eat with the culprit, they hang back, complaining that the money has been unequally distributed; they reproach the culprit, and the food he has prepared, and at last go into the measure with much disgust, and with a thousand hard words against the person to be restored.]

SECT. VI.-Specimens of Letters.

শ্রীশ্রীহরিঃ শরণ

পোষ্ণ শ্রীরামমোহনদেবশর্মণঃ প্রণামা নিবেদনঞ্চ বিশেষঃ ১৭ আঞ্চিন শুক্রবার শ্রীশ্রী শারদীয়া পূজা হইবেক। মহাশয়েরা কলিকাতার বাটীতে আজিয়া প্রতিমা দর্শনাদি করিবেন! পত্রদ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণ করিলাম। ইতি। তারিখ ১৪ আশ্বিন। —

Translation.

Shree Shree Hüree. My Preserver.

I, Ram-Mohůn-dévŭ-shŭrmůnŭ, who am supported by thee, with respect make this request : On Friday, the 17th of Ashwinŭ, will be the dewy season festival. You will please to come to the house in Calcutta, and see the image, and partake of the offerings, three days. By this letter I invite you. This. 14th Ashwinŭ.