SEEKS AND THEIR COLLEGE. 



*93* 



ftudents were all engaged in reading. From the fimi- 

 larity of the language to the Hindoovce, and many 

 Shanfcrit words, I was able to underftand a good deal 

 of it; and I hope, at fome future period, to have the 

 honour of laying a Tranflation of it before the Society. 

 They told me I might have copies of both their books, 

 if I would be at the expenfe of tranfcribing them. 



I next inquired why they were called Seeks, and they 

 told me it was a word borrowed from one of the com- 

 mandments of their founder, which fignifies, " Learn 

 " thou;" and that it was adopted to diftinguifh the feci 

 foon after he difappeared. The word, as is well known, 

 has the fame import in the Hindoovce. 



I afked them what were the ceremonies ufed in ad- 

 mitting a profelyte. A perfon having (hewn a fincere 

 inclination to renounce his former opinions to any five 

 or more Seeks afTembled together, in any place, as well 

 on the highway as in a houfe of worfhip, they fend to 

 the firit fhop where fweetmeats are fold, and procure a 

 fmall quantity of a particular fort, which is very com- 

 mon, and, as I recollect, they call Bat a fa ; and having 

 diluted it in pure water, they fprinkle fome of it on the 

 body, and into the eyes of the convert j whilft one of 

 the belt inftrufted repeats to him, in any language with 

 which he is converfant, the chief canons of their faith, 

 exaBing from him a folemn promifc to abide by them 

 the reft of his life. This is the whole of the ceremony. 

 The new convert may then choofe a Gooroo, or precep- 

 tor, to teach him the language of their fcriptures, who 

 firft gives him the alphabet to learn, and fo leads him 

 on, by (low degrees, until he wants no further inftruc- 

 tion. They offered to admit me into their Society; but 

 I declined the honour; contenting mvfelf with the 

 alphabet; which they told me to guard as the apple of 



my 



