358 



Religick. 



MCJNASTIC. 



Treatment of 

 THE Dead. 



GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN. 



It is fcarcely known from whence the religion of this coun- 

 try fprings, but it is pure and fimple in its fource, conveying 

 very exalted ideas of the Deity, with no contemptible fyftem of 

 morality; but ii its progrefs greatly changed and corrupted. 

 One grofs corruption is the mode of polygamy. Inrtead of a 

 plurality of wives, the woman is allowed a plurality of huf- 

 bands. A fet of brethren are allowed one wife in common, and 

 they live in the utmoft harmony together. True it is that a 

 modeft and virtuous lady, wife to half a dozen of the TayJJjo 

 LaiJia's nephews, complained to the uncle that the two youngeft 

 did not contribute that fliare of love and benevolence to the 

 common ilock, which duty and religion required*. 



The Lamas j or priefts, form the moil: numerous body in 

 the Hate, as well as the moft powerful, and have the priefthood 

 jcntirely in their hands, and befides fill up many monaftic orders, 

 which are held in great veneration among them. Celibacy, I 

 believe, is not pofitively enjouied to the hamas^ but it is held 

 indifpenfable for both men and women who embrace a 

 religious life ; and indeed their celibacy, their living in com- 

 munities, their cloyfters, their fervice in the choirs, their firing 

 of beads, their fafts and their penances, give them much the 

 air of chrillian monks. 



The Tbibetians neither bury their dead, not yet do they burn 

 them, like the Hindoos^ but expofe them at the bleak pinnacle 

 of fome neighboring mountain, to be devoured by the wild 

 beafts and birds of prey, or eonfumed by time, or the changes 

 of the feafon. Mr. Bogle adds, that amicUl this fcene of horror, 



• Phil. Tranf, Ixvii. p. 477. 



of 



