172 Ox THE RELIGION AND 



that subject ; for they consider it as the most useful 

 and noble of sciences. We are not however to be- 

 lieve, that it is always used from ignorance. I am 

 persuaded, that, like the augurs among the Romans, 

 the Brahmens arc often called upon forpolitical pur- 

 poses. When pressed to dispatch business, whicli 

 the government wish to defer, the easiest way of 

 procuring delay is for the Brahmen to mention a 

 distant day as the favourable time : or when insult- 

 ed by a nation of whom they are afraid, the minds 

 of the people can easily be quieted, by a distant 

 time being found propitious for revenge. Although 

 I am convinced that political advantage is thus taken 

 of the art, yet there can be no doubt, but that the 

 greater part, even of the best informed among the 

 people, are firmly persuaded of its existence. 



No person will commence the building of ahouse, 

 a journey, or the most trifling undertaking, with- 

 out consulting some man of skill to find a fortunate 

 day or hour. Friday is a most unlucky day, on 

 which no business must be commenced. I saw se- 

 veral men of some rank, who had got from the king 

 small boxes of theriac, or of something like it, and 

 which they pretended would render them invulner- 

 able. I was often asked for medicines, that \rould 

 render the body impenerrable to a sword or musket 

 ball, and on answering that I knew of none such, 

 my medical skill was held in very low estimation. 

 Indeed every Burma doctor has at tlic end of his 

 book some charms, and what are called magical 

 squares of figures, which he copies, and gives to 

 be y^ocn by his patients. And althougii these 

 squares are all of uneven numbers, and consequent- 

 ly of the easiest construction, yet the ignorant 

 multitude repose great confidence in their virtue. 

 Some men whom wo. saw, had small l)its of gold or 

 jewels iritioduced under the skin of their arms, in 

 order to render themselves invulnerable: and the 

 tatooing on the legs and thighs of the Burma men 

 they not only think ornamental, but a pi-eservative 

 against the bite of snakes. Almost QWGxy man of 



any 



