66 Captain James Low on Bupp Ma and the Phrabdt. 
in veneration by the Malays along the opposite coast; who, notwithstanding 
their conversion to a purer and more orthodox Mahommedanism than is now 
professed throughout most parts of India, are yet wedded to many obscure 
and unexplained remnants of their ancient superstitions. The modern 
Siamese however do not regard them. 
No opportunity of visiting the spot, when on Junk Ceylon in 1824, 
occurred to me: nor, indeed, is it of much consequence, while we are sure 
that there exists a belief that such figures, or objects, were once venerated 
there. Some credit may be attached to the account, because Dr. Leyden, 
while treating of the Anamite religion,* remarks “ that many local and pecu- 
“ liar superstitions are blended with it, such as the worship of the dog and 
“ the tiger; traces of which are to be found amongst the mountaineers on 
“* the borders of India, as well as in the countries of China Proper.” 
Whence so strange a species of belief originated, it would be difficult to 
determine ; but, on a transient view, we shall perhaps be convinced that its 
dissemination was wide, and its hold on superstitious nations firm. 
Thus we have Sirius, the celestial barker, whose heliacal rising announced 
in Egypt the beginning of the new year, and who is otherwise Anusrs with 
a dog’s head ; supposed by Mr. Maurice (from whom these two remarks are 
taken) to have typified the god Bupa, or to be the horizontal circle 
personified. 
Terrestrial dogs are mentioned in the account of the mysterious rites of 
Ists in Egypt. Maurice imagines that Toru, who went from Phoenicia, 
in the earliest ages of the world, to Egypt, and there erected a great empire, 
was the true AnuBis, who was afterwards raised to a conspicuous station in 
Sirius, the brightest constellation, who was also one of the eight greater 
gods. The Kowwas, or watch-dog of the skies, is worshipped in Abyssinia, 
according to Bruce. Sir W. Jones supposed, that the Gymnosophists of 
Ethiopia professed the doctrines of Bupp,Ha; and, subsequently to these 
authorities, further reasons have been adduced (I think by the late Colonel 
Wilford), in support of the supposition that Bupp,1a was worshipped in 
Africa. There are in that country the mountains of Soma, or the moon: 
and we know that many accounts make Bupp,HA to have sprung from 
Soma; which title is still retained in Sanscrit. Recent travellers have 
favoured the supposition that Ethiopia gave its religion to Egypt; and we 
may believe that it was received into Ethiopia from Chaldea, or some 
* Asiatic Researches, vol. iv. 
