^^288 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book III. 



CHAP. II. 



The fim'tlarity of Polity^ Cujioms, and Manners^ between nations fo 

 remote as Egypt and India^ wonderful^ atid without example^—— 

 not to be found even in nations contiguous. — The frjl refemblance 

 isy in a thing fingular to both nations^ — vi%. the divifion of the peo- 

 ple into claffes^ according to their feveral occupations. — This divi- 

 fion in India^ more accurate and minute than in Egypt. — Another 

 Jingularity in ivhich the two nations agree is, the veneration of the 

 Cow. — Of the divifion of Time into Months and Years \ — the fame 

 in India as it ivas in Egypt, and is among us. — The divifion into 

 Weeks not necejfary for any purpofes oj life, yet obferved both in 

 India and Egypt. — The days alfo confecrated to the fame planets 

 and in the fame order, — The conformity betwixt the two nations, as 

 to the ftgns of the Zodiac, mofl extraordinary. — Of the Religion 

 of India. — The fame dijiinElion 7nade there, betwixt the Popular 

 Religion of the country and the Religion of Philofophers. — The 

 fall of man maintained by the Indians, and a future fate of re- 

 wards and punifhments, — alfo the doElrine of the tranfmigration of 

 minds, -which came originally from Egypt. — The diet and manner of 

 life of the Indians, the fame as in antient Egypt. — They eat no 

 fief 3, but of the bcafs which they facrifice. — They drink no wine or 

 frong liquors ; and neither did the Egyptians in very antient times. 

 — The fame regard for the animal life in India as in Egypt. — The 

 killing of fow.e animals ivas a capital crime in Egypt, and is fo in 

 India. — There a mul& is impofed for the killing of any animal, even 

 Tygers. — A refemblance betwixt the two nations alfo in their fefi- 

 vals, and exhibitions on thofe occafions. 



THE 



