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pepal-tree (ficus religiosa) which I carefully preserved ; a hollow- 

 cavity on the top contained the tulsee, or tulsi, (ocymum) a sacred 

 plant of the Hindoos, to which they frequently resorted; as also 

 to a few of their dii penates, which were left in the surrounding 

 niches; it was a scene nearly resembling that of Priam's palace 

 in Troy. 



" jEdibus in mediis, nudoque sub setheris axe, 

 " Ingens ara fuit, juxtaque veterrima laurus 

 " Incumbens arae, atque umbra complexa penates. Vieg. VEn. 



" In the centre of the court, and under the naked canopy of heaven, stood a large altar; 

 " and near it an aged laurel, overhanging the altar, and encircling the household gods with 

 " its shade." 



I sometimes almost envied these peaceful Hindoos the plea- 

 sure they enjoyed in the performance of their religious duties, and 

 the delights of social worship; in my solitary situation I felt, for 

 near four years together, a privation of all the sacred ordinances 

 of Christianity, and from attendance on public worship. During 

 that period I had very little communication with Europeans, and 

 no personal intercourse with one kindred mind: in such situations 

 the Christian can happily experience, in some degree, the conso- 

 lations so sweetly mentioned by the pious Cowper in a letter to a 

 religious friend in a foreign country : 



" Ah ! be not sad, although thy lot be cast 

 " Far from the flock, and in a dreary waste; 

 " No shepherds' tents within thy view appear, 

 " But the chief Shepherd is for ever near: 

 " Thy tender sorrows, and thy plaintive strain, 

 ' ' Flow in a foreign land, but not in vain : 



