426 



is every where preached, and the Bible every where read, a British 

 ploughman can tell us in strains of poesy, peculiarly his own, that 

 religion, in a lovely form, is to be found where neither the aid of 

 sacred music is employed, nor the splendid ornaments of religious 

 worship are adopted. 



" The cheerfu supper done, wi serious face, 



" They, round the ingle, form a circle wide ; 

 " The sire turns o'er, wi patriarchal grace, 



" The big ha-Bible, ance his father's pride : 

 " His bonnet reverently is laid aside, 



" His lyart haffets wearing thin an bare} 

 " Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide, 



" He wales a portion with judicious care ; 

 " And, " Let us worship God !" he says with solemn air. 



" They chant their artless notes in simple guise; 

 " They tune their hearts, by far the noblest aim. Burns. 



The share of the territorial revenue appropriated to the brah- 

 mins, has caused a digression from the general subject. The cha- 

 ritable distributions, and jaghires of landed property in Guzerat, 

 are various and extensive; not only small villages, and particular 

 fields are set apart for the maintenance of religion, and charitable 

 purposes, large districts and whole provinces have been sometimes 

 assigned by sovereigns in jaghire to their favourites. As men- 

 tioned in the Mahratta history, these jaghiredars hold their lands 

 upon the feudal system. The revenue is their own; they assess 

 their subjects as they please, and have an uncontrolled power of 

 life and death in their dominion. For these honours and advan- 

 tages they pay an annual tribute, or maintain a stipulated number 

 of troops for public service. Under these chieftains are pundits, 



