236 HINDOO MYTHOLOGY. 



Hindostan. They combine in some measure the practice and 

 doctrine of the two rival systems of Brama and Boodh. In 

 accordance with the former, they have four castes, while 

 their ceremonies, as well as their order of priesthood, are very 

 similar ; and they agree wise with the Boodhists in various 

 tenets, particularly in worshipping only deified heroes. 

 They have very splendid temples, with images of more gi- 

 gantic size than are now made by other Hindoos. One of 

 these, called Gomut Iswara, is eighteen times the height 

 of a man ; while a tradition is preserved of another five 

 hundred times as large, consisting of pure gold, but 

 which is now sunk in the bottom of the sea. It has been 

 supposed that the Jains were originally pure Boodhists ; 

 but when the Bramins attained the superiority, fear or inter- 

 est induced them to admit into their system various modi- 

 fications from that of the triumphant sect. 



The Seiks have already been mentioned as having at- 

 tempted to form an alliance between the two creeds of the 

 Mohammedan and the Hindoo. These sectaries are equally 

 remarkable for their political as their religious principles ; 

 and the furious persecutions to which they were once ex- 

 posed have stamped upon them a peculiarly fierce and vin- 

 dictive character. As a nation they are now masters of a 

 great part of the territory bordering on the Indus, and form 

 the only state in that part of Asia which is completely inde- 

 pendent of the English, with whom they have never mea- 

 sured their strength. 



An interesting fact is presented by the colonies of early 

 Christians and Jews formed in the interior of Cochin and 

 Travancore at the southern extremity of the coast of Mala- 

 bar. The Christians are called Syriac from their using that 

 language, and are supposed to have been disciples of St. 

 Thomas. In 1806 Dr. Claudius Buchanan paid them a 

 visit, and was much edified by the amiable and primitive 

 simplicity of their manners. They had places of worship 

 whose structure much resembled that of some old English 

 churches, where, by the unwonted sound of bells, the vis- 

 iter was strongly reminded of his native country. A bishop 

 in white vestments courteously received Dr. Buchanan, and 

 introduced him to three presbyters, Je? i, Zecharias, and 

 Unas. The people were poor ; but the general diffusion 

 of intelligence, and the liberty allowed to the female sex, 



