WESTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 49 



The religion of the Cq/Jjmerians is the fame as that of the 

 Hindoos; poffibly the pardonable fuperftition of the inhabitants, 

 warmed by their romantic fituation, may have multiplied the 

 places of worfliip oi Mahadeo^ oi Befchafi, and of Brama. Here 

 is a fedt of religionifts, free from idolatry, which wordiip the 

 Deity alone. They are remarkably benevolent, and abftain 

 from the other fex. They muft therefore be continued by 

 difciples. As to the Mahometans^ they are not numerous, and 

 thofe fplit into fecfts*. 



The Ca/Jjmerian^ feem to have had an idea of the deluge, 

 for, fay they, in the early ages of the world, all CaJJjmere, except 

 the mountains, was covered with water. One Kujhup brought 

 the Brahjuins to inhabit the country as foon as the waters had 

 fubfided t. Neither were they ignorant of the hiflory of Noah, 

 for the Indians fpeak of him under the name of Sattiaviraden, 

 who, with his wife, was by the god Vichenou, who fent to them 

 an ark, preferved from deftru6lion in a general deluge |. The 

 firft monarch of the country v/as Ozvgnundj who was elected, 

 fays AbuIfazMl, 4444 years before his time §, 



Here are numbers of hermits in places nearly inacceffible. 

 They are highly venerated, fome being fuppofed to have power 

 to excite the fury of the elements. Bernier, p. 104, found an an- 

 tient anchoutc, who had inhabited the fummit of the lofty moun- 

 tain Pire-poijale ever fince the time of Jehattgire, who was here 

 in 161 8. His religion was unknown. To him was attributed the 

 power of working miracles. He caufed at his pleafure great 



* Ayeen, ii. 155. f SamCj 178, J79. J Sonncrat, vol. ii. 158. § Ayeen, 179. 



Vol. I. H thunders, 



