164 AN ACCOUNT OF THE SCULPTURES 



The word here ufed is common to mod of the Hin- 

 doo languages, and fignifies the leaf of the Palmyra 

 tree. M. de la Loubere mentions it as a Siamefe 

 word, without feeming to know its origin, or primary 

 fignification. 



4thly. The priefts of Buddou, as well as thofe of 

 Sommonacodom, are bound to celibacy as long as they 

 continue in the profeffion ; but both the one and the 

 other are allowed to lay it down and marry. 



$thly. They both eat flefti, but will not kill the 

 animal- 



6thly. The priefts of either nation are of no parti- 

 cular tribe, but are chofen out of the body of the 

 people. 



Thefe circumftances plainly fhow that this is a fy ftem 

 of religion different from that of the Vcds ; and fome of 

 them are totally incontinent with the principles and 

 practice of the Bramins. And, indeed, it is manifeft, 

 from Knox's whole account, that the religion of the 

 Chmgelays is quite diftincl from that which prevails at 

 this day among the Hindoos ; nor does it appear that 

 there is fuch a race of men as that of the Bramins 

 among them. The only part in which there feems to 

 be any agreement, is in the worfhip of the JDebtahs, 

 which has probably crept in among them from their 

 Tamulian neighbours ; but that is carried on in a man- 

 ner very different from the Braminical fyftem, and ap- 

 pears to be held by the nation at large in very great 

 contempt, if not abhorrence. Knox's account of it is 

 this : " Their temples (i. e. thofe of the Debtahs) are, 

 he fays, " called Covels," which is the Tamulic word 

 for Pagoda, He then goes on to fay, " A man pioufly 

 *' difpofed, builds a fmall houfe at his own charge, 



which 



