2l6 ON THE RELIGION AND 



" defcend into a ftate of mifery yet more wretched. 

 '• Thofe men are changed into animals who do not 

 " refrain their tongues, or the inordinate motions of 

 " their bodies or minds, and who neglect to bellow 

 " alms." 



" XXIII. The fecond miferable ftate of exiftence 

 " is called Prcitta, of which there are various kinds. 

 " Some Preitta are nourifhed on fpittle, excrement, 

 ^^ and other foul fubftances, and dwell in public halls, 

 " cifterns, and fepulchres. Others, wandering about 

 " in woods or deferts, half wafted by hunger and 

 '^ nakednefs, pafs the whole duration of a world in 

 " howling and groans. Some by fiery whips are forced 

 '' to plough the earth with red-hot iron. Some, who 

 ^' live on their own flefti, with their nails tear to pieces 

 " their own limbs. Others, who are a gaut in fi^e, 

 ^' have a mouth no larger than the eye of a needle, 

 *' hence are they tormented with perpetual hunger. 

 '' Others are within on fire, fo that at times the flames 

 " even burft through their bodies. There is ftill 

 *' another fpecies of Preitta^ who by day enjoy the 

 " pleafures of the Nat, but by night are tormented 

 " as above. Thofe in a future life are changed into 

 " Preitta, who during this give no daily provifions 

 *' to the priefts, who do not fupply them with cloath- 

 " ing, who corrupt their manners, or who offer 

 " violence to their perfons, who give abufive language 

 '• to the obfervers of the law, who are avaricious, &c." 



" XXIV. The third milerable fpecies of beings, 

 ^' called AJfurighe, refide chiefly in the roots of certain 

 ♦' mountains far remote from the habitations of men. 

 " Some of them however dwell in woods, and on the 

 " defert coafts of the fea. They are fubjeft to punifti- 

 *' ments nearly the fame with thofe of the Preitta. 

 " There is a kind of intermediate fpecies, called 

 ^' AJfurighe-Prcitta. Thefe beings have bodies three 

 " gaut in length, but as emaciated as a corpfe deprived 

 *<' of flefhand blood. Their eyes project from the fockets 

 '' like thof^ of a crab : and their mouths are on the 



" crowns 



