361 



afforded a sort of sacred shade to the Hindoos who were sum- 

 moned to the adawlet, and proved at least a useful shelter to other 

 castes. 



I was far from discouraging this idea respecting such umbra- 

 geous canopies in the torrid zone. It prevented their destruction, 

 and added to the ornament and refreshment of the city. Among 

 the ancient Scythians, a stately tree with out-spreading branches 

 was considered an emblem of the godhead, and an object of wor- 

 ship. Trees and groves were either worshipped or consecrated by 

 most pagan nations; and from them the same idolatrous custom 

 was introduced among the Jews, who were reproached by the 

 prophet for the oaks which they had desired, and for the gardens, or 

 groves, which they had chosen. Not only the Scythians, but the 

 Persians, Druids, and many other people, rejected enclosed temples 

 for the worship of God, as too narrow a limit for the adoration 

 of a Being who filled immensity. The modern brahmins seem in 

 many instances to adopt the same idea; they most probably all 

 derived their religion from the same source, and the most en- 

 lightened among these various tribes have united in their ado- 

 ration 



" To Him., whose temple is all space, 



" Whose altar, earth, sea, skies; 

 " One chorus let all beings raise, 



" All Nature's incense rise ! 



An ingenious writer in the Asiatic Researches asserts, appa- 

 rently on well-grounded authority, that from Noah and his de- 

 scendants, who established themselves on the mountains of Taurus 



VOL. II. 3 A 



