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XXIV. Remarks on the Religious mid Social Institutions of the Bouteas, or 

 Inhabitants of Bout an, from the unpublished Journal of the late Samuel 

 DAris,EsQ. F.R.S, S^r. Communicated by J.F.Davis, Esq. F.R.S. M.R.A.S. 



Read February 20, 1830, 



Many principles and forms of the religion of the Lamas are evidently 

 borrowed from that of the Hindoos. They have similar ceremonies per- 

 formed on the banks of rivers, and the Ganges is held in equal veneration. 

 A little of its water is a most valuable acquisition to one of their faquires 

 or pilgrims, who carries it in a small brass or silver bottle, carefully corked, 

 and tied to his girdle. Their supreme deity, called indiscriminately by the 

 name Sijamony, Mahamony, and Sejatoba, is said to have been brought 

 many ages ago by one of the superior Lamas from Benares, and others of 

 them must have been of foreign extraction ; for although plainly drawn and 

 carved as females, the priests will not allow them of that sex ; and often, as 

 they think, decide the distinction with a pair of whiskers, when the turn of 

 the features and swell of the bosom shew whiskers to be misapplied. 



Certain forms of their devotion and principles of their religion bear al- 

 most as much resemblance to particular observances of the Romish church, 

 such as the celibacy of the clergy, and the monastic life of societies of both 

 sexes ; to which might be added their strings of beads, their manner of 

 chanting prayers, their incense, and their candles. With regard to the 

 first, it is strange that men should voluntarily impose so severe a duty on 

 themselves as that of celibacy ; or, if originally imposed upon them by 

 others, " when old and past the relish of delight," it is equally to be 

 wondered at that so large a proportion of the people as compose the class of 

 Gylongs, have at no time exerted that authority and that superiority of 

 understanding which they certainly possess, in exploding so grievous and 

 unnatural a custom. The inclination which every one of them must se- 

 cretly feel for such a reform, one would think, might have pointed out the 

 favourable circumstances under which it could be attempted in Boutan, 

 where, from the strength of the country, they are in no danger of feeling 

 tiie resentment of the church of Thibet, and where their other neighbours 



