4 ORIENTAL ILLUSTRATIONS Of fast;" and on another occasion, when in great trouble, It is not good that the man should be alone.-Verse 18. In the book called the Scanda Purana,* it is said, "By marrying a woman of a superior disposition, charity is promoted, penance is maintained, felicity in the celestial world is secured, the happiness of this world is acquired, and there is nothing difficult to obtain." I will make him an help meet for him.-Verse 18. "I This is the polite way of speaking of a wife in the East; though it must be confessed that they associate with this term too much of the idea of a servant. Docs an aged person advise a young friend to get married? he will not say, "Seck for a wife," but, "Try to procure a thunive, 'a help meet.' A man who repines at his single state, says, have not any female help in my house." A widower says, "Ah, my children, I have now no female help." A man, wishing to say something to his wife, will address her as follows: "My help-meet, hear what I am going to say." It is worthy of observation, that the margin has, for help meet, "as before him :" and this gives a proper view of her condition; for she literally has to stand before her husband to serve him on all occasions, and especially when he takes his food,--she being then his servant. Say to a woman, "Leave thy husband:" she will reply, "No, no; I will stand before him.” The Scanda Purana is one of the most sacred works of the Hindoos, and is regularly read through once a year in the temples of Siva. It contains some most curious allusions to, and illustrations of, antiquity; and may have been written more than fifteen hundred years, though it professes to detail events It is now in course of translation which occurred many thousands of years ago. for the Royal Asiatic Society. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field.-Verse 20. "It is well known, that the names affixed to the different animals in scripture, always express some prominent feature, and essential characteristic, of the creature to which they are applied."-Dr. Adam Clarke. It is an interesting fact, that nearly all the animals among the Hindoos have names given to them, which either allude to their shape or their habits. Hence, the horse is called, "the thought;" which means, he is as quick as thought; also, "the leaping one," "the learned or trained one," "he who causes dimness," that is, by swiftness; "the mad one," "the runner in circles," "he with the mane," "the triangle face," "the hot one," "the shot arrow," " the driver of the wind," "the driven swiftness." * The lion is called, "the king of beasts," "the victorious one," "he with claws." The tiger is "the springer," "the spotted one," "the beautiful one;" the elephant, "the "mountain with hands," "the slothful one," "the roarer," "he whose mouth hangs down," "the tusker," "he who drinks two ways," (through the trunk and mouth,) "the warrior," "he whose hand has a hole in it;" (alluding to the proboscis ;) when in love, "the mad one;" "he with the large foot," "the pie-bald one." The ox, or cow, in youth, is "the happy one;" mādu, "the teated one." The cat is "the tiger of the house," "the sleeper." The dog is "he who lives by the scent," "he who vomits," "the hero," "the idle one." The sheep is named, "the timid one," "the leaper." The alligator is called, "he who conceals himself," "he who comes from eggs;" the bear, "the triangle-stepped one." The monkey is "the thief," "he who never dies," † "he who lives in the branches;" the hog, "he who dwells in the forest," "the hot one," "the angry," "the tusked one," "the ground-tearer;" the jackal, "he of tricks, or cunning," "the envious one." The turtle is "the stonebodied one," "he who comes from eggs,' "he who conceals These animals are sometimes thus marked. In travelling through the Batticaloa district, in 1821, I saw one of that description. He was feeding in the long grass; and after giving a look at me and my companions, he resumed his employment. The natives believe that, except when killed by man or some animal, the monkey never dies. his members." The ass is "he with the large mouth;" the deer, "the small-mouthed one." Birds are generally called "the sickness-faced ones;" (meaning, the sickness of birds generally appears first in the face or head;) "those who come from eggs.' The arrows are "the givers of omens." The crow is "the receiver of offerings;" (alluding to those who fast on the Saturday in honour of Sanne Saturn, who give part of their rice to the crows ;) the ka-kā, "he with the iron beak;" the peacock, "he whose riches or pleasures are in feathers;" the eagle, "he who flies aloft," "the flesh-eater;" the pigeon, "the stonecater;" the serpent, "he who walks on his belly," "the secret one," "he of tricks," "he who fears a noise," "he who has a jacket," (alluding to his slipping off the skin,) "he who has eyes for ears," or "he who hears by his eyes," "the coiled one," "the circle." She shall be called WOMAN.-Verse 23. The term woman" in the original is the feminine form of the term translated "man," and may properly be defined "she-man ;" and it is a striking coincidence, that, in the Tamul language, manuthan is "man," but manuthe is "woman," or "female man ;" the e being the feminine termination. CHAP. III. The serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.-Verse 4. Every fact which casts light on the history of the serpent, as the agent of our fall, whether derived from its own habits or from Eastern story, must be exceedingly interesting. If that creature was the medium through which sin and misery entered into the world, is it not probable that, amongst a people possessing such ancient literature, of such curious and romantic habits, some references to that great event would be preserved? Accordingly we find, in their books, superstitions, and sayings, strong allusions to that fact. The following is principally taken from an ancient work called Brahma-Uttā Kāndam: The gods in the most remote antiquity were subject to death; in order to prevent which, they resolved to make amutham, (that is, "ambrosia,") by the eating of which they might gain immortality. They therefore went with great sprightliness to their work. The sea of milk was the churn; a mountain was the churning-stick; and the large serpent, called Väsuke, was the rope which whirled it round. The gods commenced their operations; but the serpent, by being thus pulled in contrary directions, became sick, and vomited poison into the ambrosia. They all then became greatly alarmed, as their hopes of immortality were destroyed. The body of Vishnoo became black from the heat, and they ran off with the greatest consternation. then made their prayers to Siva, the supreme, that this terrible evil might be removed; and he complied with their request, by drinking up the poison. From which time he has always been known by the name of the "azure-necked one," because the colour of the poison always remained in his neck, as a sign of what he had done. The gods then joyfully partook of the ambrosia, and gained immortality. They Amongst the gods there were two giants in disguise, who also began to eat the ambrosia: but the sun and moon, seeing them, gave the signal to the gods; and Vishnoo struck off their heads: but the ambrosia having gone down as far as the neck, that part could not be destroyed. The heads thus severed, they assumed the form of serpents: the one was called Irāku, which was black in colour; the name of the other was Keathu, which was red. They then, in revenge, seized the sun and the moon, which caused them to be eclipsed.* In former times, the serpent, and other animals, are believed to have had the gift of speech; and many instances are on record where their conversations are given. Thus, the great serpent, called Aathe Sealshan, when he had seized the Manthara-Mountain, said to the god of wind, who was trying to blow him away, "I am greater than thou." A king, called Aruchanan, once set fire to the jungle; when a serpent which was there, took its young one in its mouth, and flew away. The king saw this, and shot the mother with his bow and arrow; but the young one then flew off, and cried aloud, "Who is the enemy of Aruchanan? who is the enemy of Aruchanan?" The king, called KanThis, by the Hindoos, at this day, is believed to be the true cause of an eclipse. nan, replied, "I am the enemy:" from which time the young serpent became his arrow, and by it was destroyed the king Aruchanan. The god Siva is described as wearing serpents round his neck, as an ornament. Vishnoo reclines upon the serpent, Aathe Sealshan, as his couch. Nine large serpents are believed to assist in supporting the world. Temples are erected to the serpent Cobra Capella, and there these reptiles are regularly fed and worshipped.* No heathen would kill one of that description, though it had destroyed his own child. The Vireyan serpent eats dust. The Hindoos believe, that though the Brahminy kite is the enemy of all serpents, it dares not to attack the Capella, because the latter once went with a complaint to Vishnoo, saying, "O Swamy, the kite is always striving to kill me; therefore take me under your protection." The god then put two marks upon it; and when the kite sees them, he passes onwards. In a Tamul verse, the serpent is called a "creature of deep searchings and great secrecy." Thus, it is a proverb, when a man acts with such cunning as to elude the observation of others, Pambu pāmbin kāl areyum; that is, "The serpent knows its own feet: " meaning, no other is acquainted with its ways. A wicked man is called "the seed of the serpent," and he who is rapid in the accomplishment of his vile purposes, is called "the serpent-eyed one." In the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.-Verse 5. In the heaven of Indran, there is a tree called kat-pagaveerutcham, which sprang from the amutham, "ambrosia," which was churned by the gods. Those in the heavenly world, by eating of its fruit, have immortality, and whatsoever they desire. They knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons.-Verse 7. In the margin, " things to gird about." Children in the East do not, in general, wear any clothes till they are five or six years of age, except when they are • Since writing the above, Mr. Murray has brought to my notice an ingenious and erudite work, entitled, "The Worship of the Serpent," by the Rev. John Bathurst Dean, M. A., F.S. A. |