SEEKS AND TKEIR COLLEGE. 29I 



faces with joined hands towards the altar, in the attitude 

 of prayer. A young man now flood forth ; and, with a 

 loud voice and diftincl accent, folemnly pronounced a 

 long prayer, or kind of liturgy, at certain periods of 

 which all the people joined in a general refponfe, fay- 

 ing, Wa Gooroo ! They prayed againfl temptation ; for 

 grace to do good ; for the general good of" mankind ; 

 a particular blefling to the Seeks ; and for the fafety 

 of thofe who at that time were on their travels. This 

 prayer was followed by a fhort blefling from the old 

 man, and an invitation to the affembly to partake of a 

 friendly feaft. The book was then clofed, and reltored 

 to its place at the altar; and the people being feated as 

 before, two men entered, bearing a large iron caldron, 

 called a curray, juft taken from the fire, and placed it 

 in the center of the hall upon a low ftool. Thefe were 

 followed by others with five or fix difhes, fome of 

 which were of filver, and a large pile of leaves, fewed 

 together with fibres, in the form of plates. One of 

 thefe plates was given to each of the company without 

 diftinftion; and the difhes being filled from the caldron, 

 their contents were ferved out till every one had got 

 his mare. Myfelf was not forgotten; and, as I was 

 refolved not to give them the fmalleft occafion for 

 offence, I ate up my portion. It was a kind of fweet- 

 meat, of the conhftence of foft brown fugar, compofcd 

 of flower and fugar mixed up with clarified butter, 

 which is called ghee. Had not the ghee been rancid, I 

 fhould have rehfhed it better. We were next ferved 

 with a few fugar plums : and here ended the fealt, and 

 the ceremonies of the day. They told me the religious 

 part of the ceremony was daily repeated five times. I 

 now took my leave, inviting fome of the principal men 

 amongft them, who were about to return to their own 

 country through Banaris, to pay me a vifit. 



In the courfe of the convcrfation I was engaged in 

 with the two Seeks before the iervice, I was able to 



gather 



