IV. 3." He had nine hundred chariots of iron."

(Chap. i. 19. Josh. xvii. 16. 18.)

From the ancient writings of this people, it is evident, that kings and heroes often fought in chariots of iron, or of other metals. Some of those cars are said to have been large enough to accommodate fifty warriors. As may be supposed, elephants were principally used to draw them, and the concussion, when the vehicles met, joined with the choler and feats of the combatants, often afforded the historian a subject for using words of a thundering sound, and at the same time appropriate meaning.

*

10. "Ten thousand men at his feet." (Exod. xi. 8. 1 Kings xx. 10.) See the marginal reading of those passages. (Isa. xli. 2. also 1 Sam. xxv. 27.)

The phrase "men at his feet" did not, I believe, refer to any particular class of soldiers, but applied to ALL, whether they fought in chariots, on horses, or on foot. This form of speech is used in Eastern books to show how many obey or serve under the general. It may be taken from the action of a slave being prostrate at the feet of his master, denoting submission or obedience. In this way devotees, when addressing the gods, always speak of themselves as being at their feet. When the Orientals speak of his Majesty of Britain, they often allude to the millions who are at his feet. The governors, generals, or judges in the East, are said to have the people of such countries, or armies, or districts, at their feet. Nay, it is common for masters, and people of small possessions to speak of their domestics as being at their

British lines, and went over to the Kandians. The chiefs of that nation held a council, and the Malays were sent for (who had previously agreed on a signal for the destruction of the chiefs); after some time the sign was given, and in an instant the kreese was drawn from every man's waist, and plunged into the breasts of all who did not submit.

The Hindoo writers equal any thing I have seen taken from Greek or Latin authors, in the selection of words to suit the noise of the action described.

feet. It is therefore heard every day, for "I will send my servant," en-kāl-adiyila, "those at my feet.",

VIII. 7.—“I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the

wilderness, and with briers."

Thus did Gideon threaten the inhabitants of Zeba and Zalmunna; and thus do masters, fathers, and schoolmasters swear they will punish those who have offended them. To see the force of the figure, it must be kept in mind that the people are almost in a state of nudity. To tear a man's naked body, therefore, with briars and thorns, would be no small punishment. See poor travellers sometimes, who, in consequence of a wild beast or some other cause, have to rush into the thicket; before they can get out again, in consequence of thorns, they are literally covered with blood.

There have been instances where a master, in his anger, has taken the jagged edge of the palmirah branch, to tear the naked body of his slave, and nothing can be more common than to threaten it shall be done to those who have given offence. People also often menace each other with the repetition of the old punishment of tying the naked body in a bundle of thorns, and rolling it on the ground.*

18. "Each one resembled the children of a king."

Of a person who is beautiful or of a fair complexion, who is courageous and stately in his gait, it is said, "He is like the son of a king." "He is as the son of Manmathon (Cupid)." "He is the son of a god."

IX. 8." They said unto the olive tree, reign thou

* Disappointed lovers sometimes vow they will ride (as a child does on a stick for his horse) on the jagged edge of the palmirah branch to punish the obdurate female.

One of the weapons mentioned in the history of Arachandron is made of sharp points; and one of the punishments in the Hindoo hell is described as having the body torn with iron thorns.

The people of the East are exceedingly addicted to apologues, and use them to convey instructions or reproof, which with them could scarcely be done so well in any other way. Has a man been told a secret, he says, in repeating it, for instance, "A tree told me this morning, that Kandan offered a large bribe to the Modeliar, to get Muttoo turned out of his situation." Does a man of low caste wish to unite his son in marriage to the daughter of one who is high, the latter will say, "Have you heard that the pumpkin wants to be married to the plantain tree?" Is a wife steril, "The cocoa-nut tree in Viraver's garden does not bear any fruit." Has a woman had children by improper intercourse, it is said of her husband's garden, "Ah, the palmirah trees are now giving cocoa-nuts." Has a man given his daughter in marriage to another who uses her unkindly, he says, "I have planted the sugar-cane by the side of the margossa (bitter)

tree.

IX. 33.

"As thou shalt find occasion." The Hebrew has, "As thine hand shall find." (1 Sam. x. 7. margin.)

In asking a favour, it is common, to say, "You must not deny me, sir; but as your hand finds opportunity, so you must assist me."-" Well, my friend, when I have the opportunity of the hand, I will assist you." "The man has assisted me according to the opportunity of his hand; what can he do more?"

X. 8.-"Oppressed the children." The Hebrew has,

"crushed."

Of a severe master it is said, "Ah! my lord, crush me not." to crush his people?"

"He crushes his servants." "When will the king cease

XI. 40." The daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah."

Some suppose the above not to be a correct translation; and others believe that the daughter of Jephthah did not suffer. It is, however, a custom in all parts of the East to lament once a year (on the anniversary of the death of a relation), and to go to the place where the deceased was buried, or burned, or where the ashes may be deposited.

XII. 3. "I put my life in

my

hands."

The Ephraimites had found fault with Jephthah because he did not call them to war against the Ammonites, but he vindicated himself, and addressed them in the language of the verse, as a proof of his courage, and that he had been exposed to danger. The Hindoos use the same figure; and the idea appears to be taken from a man carrying something very precious in his hands, and that under circumstances of great danger. When a son who has been long absent returns home, his father says, "My son has returned from the far country with his life in his hand;" which means, he has passed through many dangers. "Last night, as I went home through the place of evil spirits, I put my life in my hands." "The other day, in passing through the forest, I put my life in my hands, for the beasts were near to me in every direction." Danger! truly so; I put my life in my bosom." "O that divine doctor! my son was at the point of death, but he brought his life in his hand."

14." He had forty sons."

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To an Englishman, this may appear almost incredible, but we have a great number of similar cases. A man of property has as many wives as he thinks proper to support; and such is the state of morals, that he finds no difficulty in procuring them. I have known men who have had, in each of the neighbouring villages, a wife or concubine. Santherasega, Modeliar of Oodeputty, who has been dead about thirty years, had two wives and six concubines, who bare to him

thirty children. The old man is described as being of large stature, and as having indulged in strong kinds of food.*...

XIII. 5." Thou shalt conceive, and bear a son, and

no razor shall come on his head.”. ·

This command was given to the wife of Manoah, the father of Samson, who had previously been steril.

and

Hannah, the mother of Samuel, was also steril, she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but will give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head." (Numbers vi. 5. Acts xviii. 18.)

All who are married in the East, have an intense desire for children. It is considered disgraceful, and a mark of the displeasure of the gods, to have a childless house. Under these circumstances, husbands and wives perform expensive ceremonies; and vow, that should the gods favour them with a son, no razor shall come upon his head," (i. e. excepting "the corners,") until he shall be ten or twelve years of age. In all schools, boys may be seen with elf-locks of ten or twelve years standing, giving a testimony to the solicitude,

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* A friend of mine in Manilla knew a man who was the father of forty

children.

Lieut.-Colonel Johnson says (in his Travels through Persia) of the king, "The number of his children I could not exactly ascertain: it is generally agreed that he has at least sixty boys and sixty girls living; and many persons add, that there are an equal number deceased, so that their total number must have been two hundred and forty. He has already given in marriage twelve of his daughters; and about twenty-five of the elder of his sons are governors of the principal provinces and cities of the empire. Preparations of fire-works, &c. were at this time making at the palace to celebrate the nuptials of one of his sons, which were to take place in about three weeks.

"Some of the king's elder sons, besides their commands of provinces and cities, which all of them possess, are in confidential situations about his person or household: the present monarch appears to be about forty-five years of age, and has reigned twenty years.”—P. 132.