OR THE BURNING OF THE DEAD. 123 
Brachmans devoted themselves to a fiery death, we are assured 
by Srernanus Byzanrinus, from Hrerocres, that they were 
chiefly consecrated to the sun*. ‘tian expressly declares, 
that. Catanus, the Gymnosophist, after he had ascended the 
funeral-pile on which he devoted himself, adored the sun which 
shone on him; and that this was indeed the signal which he 
had agreed’ to. give’ to. the Macedonians, that they should set 
fire to the pile +. Lucraw. gives a similar account of the death 
of Perecrinus, who, although a Parian by birth, seems to have 
imitated the customs of the Gymnosophists. The pile being 
kindled, “ he called for incense; which when he had received 
“ from some one, he cast into the fire. Then looking stedfast- 
“ ly towards the meridian, (for the meridian was concerned in 
“ this tragedy), he said, O! ye maternal and paternal demons, 
“ receive me graciously ! Having said this, he threw himself 
“ into the flames.” He subjoins, “ It has been lately report- 
“ ed, that, as he ascended the pyre, he saluted the rising sun, 
“ as it is said the Brachmans are wont to do t.” It. merits ob- 
servation, that the Bramins of our own time daily pay their de- 
voirs to the sun ; not considering him, they pretend, as the pro- 
per object of worship, but as the visible representative of the 
Supreme Being. Incense, I am assured on good authority, is 
uniformly used by them, in the manner above described, in the: 
Q2 inhuman: 
eee ; : : 
™ Beceyeecivay ide QUAcv avdeav, Pirorapay xal bois Pirwy grlw oe et risce nabercromcvav. 
SrePu. BYZANT. voc. Beaypmires. 
. 
HY; ] : 3 
Kal o pty Hass cevrov HeordounAsy : @ O& auroy meorewves > nal vero gy TO cUbne es +O 
mare? mueay ois Mexedoct, ABELIAN. Var. Hist. Lib. v.c. 6. 
£* ‘Eve ares AiGavorey as tmiocros em) ro mie. week aveedovros Thv0s, emtoans Te, noe eearny & 
Thy peconubeiey amobAtway, nol yee 3 7T8t0 eos Thy “eerste & ay Py pont Dect eoves penrea- 
ot xak TOT EMO. Shard: fe. évpeeverg.—Kas yee 02 rade ™ meoregice Beledore, ws 7 @05 avorovre. 
Tay rw aorerapesves, womep autre Se TB; Beoryzcvas Derr mosci, emioyrerdas whe meds, Lis - 
cian. De Morte Perecrin. Oper. ii. p. 584,—586, . 
