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GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN. 307 



Can fuch wretches as you give to madnefs a vogue ? 



Though the priefthood of Fo on the vulgar impofe. 



By fquinting whole years at the end of their nofe ; 



Though with cruel devices of mortification 



They adore a vain idol of modern creation : 



Does the God of the Heav'ns fuch a fervice diredl. 



Can his mercy approve a felf-punifliing fedt; 



Will his wifdom be worfhipp'd with chains and with nails, 



Or e'er look for his rites in your nofes and tails ? 



Come along to my houfe, and thefe penances leave ; 



Give your belly a feaft, and your breech a reprieve. 



This reas'ning unhing'd each fanatical notion. 

 And ftagger'd our faint in his chair of promotion. 

 At length with reludance he rofe from his feat. 

 And refigning his nails and his fame for retreat. 

 Two weeks his new life he admir'd and enjoy 'd. 

 The third he with plenty and quiet was cloy'd ; 

 To live undiftinguifh'd to him was the pain. 

 An exiflence unnotic'd he could not fuftain. 

 In retirement he ligh'd for the fame giving-chair. 

 For the crowd to admire him, to reverence and flare : 

 No endearments of pleafure and eafe could prevail ; 

 He the faintfliip refum'd, and new larded his tail. 



Mr. Ricbardfon, in his Jrabic and Perjtan diilionary, gives 

 the following extraordinary account of thefe extraordinary re- 

 hgionifts, under the article Fakyr — " A poor man. A reli- 

 *' gious order of mendicants thns named by the Arabians^ 



R r 2 " by 



