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lowers of the Arabian prophet have attempted; many arc almost 

 incredible. In my journey from Surat to Baroche, I saw some 

 which, as I was then just returned from Europe, much astonished 

 me; they, however, bore so near a resemblance to those formerly de- 

 scribed that I shall not enter into particulars; but it may be interesting 

 to mention the parent stock from which the Hindoo devotees seem 

 to have derived their severest penances; which Mr. Halhed traces 

 to Tarakee, a devotee in the wood Midhoo, on the confines of the 

 kingdoms of Brege, who there performed incredible penances. 

 This ingenious writer enumerates their variety, and the length of 

 time he allotted to each; which 1 omit as fabulous, and foreign 

 to the subject, but the penances themselves seem to have formed 

 a model for his misguided disciples; and as such, I select a few 

 from the number there mentioned. 



For many years Tarakee held up his arms and one foot to- 

 wards heaven, and fixed his eyes upon the sun. For a consider- 

 able length of time he remained standing on tiptoe, nourishing him- 

 self with water; sometimes he stood and made his adorations in 

 the river, at others buried up to his neck in the earth, and fre- 

 quently enveloped with fire. He often stood upon his head, with 

 his feet towards heaven; or upon the palm of one hand resting 

 upon the ground; and then varied the penance by hanging from 

 a tree by one hand, or suspending himself from a branch with his 

 head downwards. 



These I believe to be the principal penances of the Hindoo 

 enthusiasts, and I have seen most of them performed. Cui bono? 

 necessarily occurs on the perusal of such things. The monastic 

 institutions in the church of Rome, although in some respects 



