268 ON THE RELIGION ANI> 



♦' A fourth taught, that all living things neither had 

 *' a beginning, nor would have an end: and that 

 " every thing which happens arifes from a fortui- 

 " tous and blind fate. He denied the lot of good 

 " and evil deeds, which, according to the law of 

 " God AM A, is the efficient caufe of all the good and 

 " evil that happen to living beings. 



*' The fifth taught, that Nieban confifts in nothing 

 " more than the life of certain Nat and Biamma^ 

 " who live for the whole duration of a world. 

 *' He afferted, that the chief good works are to 

 " honour our parents, to endure the heat of the 

 " fun or of the fire, and to fupport hunger; that 

 ** there is no crime in killing animals. He faid, 

 " that fuch as performed thefe good works, would 

 " be rewarded in a future life ; and that fuch as 

 " did the contrary, would be punifhed. 



*' The laft taught, that there exifted a being, who had 

 " created the world, and all things which are 

 '• therein, and that this being only is worthy to be 

 " adored*. " Now 



* Hkre the Zarado probably alludes to Devadat, as the Rahuns 

 call Jesus Christ. The Siammefc painter before-mentioned told me, 

 that Devadat, or, as he pronounced it, Tevedat, was the god of the 

 Pyt-gyc^ or of Britain ; and he conceived, that it is he who, by oppofing 

 the good intentions of GoDAMA, produces all the evil in the world. I 

 I am inclined to believe, that the legend of Tevedat, of which 

 M. LovBERE has given us a tranflation, has been compofed H nee the 

 arrival of the Portugucfe in India, in order to prevent the propagation of 

 their religion, fo well adapted, by its fplendour and myftcries, to gain the 

 belief of an if^norant people. Some antiquarians have thought, that much 

 light may be thrown on the hiltory of Hindufian by the legends of the 

 gods as delivered by the Brahmins : but much caution would be neceflary, 

 even when for fuch a purpofe we made ufe of the lefs miraculous legends 

 of the Burma heroes, who are the fame with the gods of the Brahvicns : 

 for it is reafonably to be fufpeftcd, when they want to ferve any particular 

 purpofe, that both Rdhans and Brahmens tiring out occafionally either a 

 new lewnd, or an addition to an old one. In fo doing, the Brahmens are 

 indeed perfectly fafe ; for if ever there were any hiflorical writings among 

 the Hindus, they have long fince been deftroycd. The arguments of 

 Paulinos {Mus. Borg. pag. 121 ct feq.) on this fubjecl deferve much 

 attention, although to many he will appear to have puflied his conclufions 

 farther than his arguments will warrant. It is to be regretted, that the 

 vigilant zeal of the father fhould have induced him to forget the civility 

 due to advcrfarieg, and to be uncandid In attributing improper motives tQ 

 thofe, who happen to differ from him in opinion. 



