﻿424 ON THE RELIGIOX AND JIANNERS 



be three months durincr the year away from their 

 ordinary habitation. They ditier in their opinions 

 as to tlie cause of this regulation. It appears to me 

 to have been made for the purpose of spreading their 

 doctrines more generally, as they are obliged to 

 preach whene\'er there is an assemblage of the faith- 

 ful. They live partly on the produce of the lands 

 annexed to the teniples, but more particularly by 

 the alms they receive, in raw or boiltd rice, vege- 

 tables, pastry, clarified butter, or ghee, &c. &c. 

 They must clean out their temples twice a day, and 

 always keep at least one lanip lighted in them. 

 Every morning they are to spread fresh flowers on 

 the statue or pedcb-tal of Boudiiou, and must have 

 music both morning and evening. There are only 

 two orders of priesthood, the novices, and the or- 

 dained ; the first are called Saman Lroo Ounanse, 

 They can be novices from their puberty, if they 

 know how to read a little, and have some know-^ 

 ledge of the precepts of thtir religion. Previous to 

 their admission, they are examined, and it depends 

 on their answers whether they gain their object. 

 They are asked whether they are afflicted with the 

 falling sickness, or the leprosy ; if they be herma- 

 phroclites; whether they have been born slaves; if 

 their parents be alive, and if they have obtained 

 their consent to embrace the priesthood ; with several 

 other questions. 



At twenty years of age they can be ordained, that 

 is, become Tirounnanse. Questions are then put to 

 them so numerous as to fill a small book. Previous 

 to becoming a candidate, the novice must provide 

 himself with eight things, whicli are indispensably 

 necessary towards admission. A wooden plate for 

 his food; three difi^erent yellow garments; a stick, 

 for no other purpose than to enable him to walk ; a 

 round fan, called fFatapele, to hide his face when 

 be speaks ; a coarse sack to filter his water ; and a 

 needle to mend his garments. There is a law that 



makes 



