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are very fond of: if that is beyond their reach, they content them- 

 selves with a mat, and frequently a terrace of cow-dung, where 

 the worshipper remains motionless for many hours together, in a 

 stupid kind of absorption. With the other sacrifices the Hindoos 

 often mingle a small quantity of oil of sandal, mogrees, and 

 odoriferous plants; more common unguents are rubbed on the 

 stone. The custom of anointing stones with oil, and converting 

 them into altars, is very ancient. When Jacob had been favoured 

 with the heavenly vision on his journey to Mesopotamia, he took 

 the stone on which he had slept, and set it up for a pillar, and 

 poured oil upon it; as is practised at this day on many a shape- 

 less stone throughout Hindostan. 



Although the object of their worship is erroneous, and painful 

 to the feelings of more enlightened minds, it is pleasing to see 

 the Hindoos every morning perform their ablutions in the sacred 

 lakes, and offer an innocent sacrifice under the solemn grove. 

 After having gone through their religious ceremonies, they are 

 sealed by the officiating brahmin with the tiluk, or mark, either of 

 Vishnoo or Seeva; the followers of those respective deities form- 

 ing the two great sects among the Hindoos. The mark is impressed 

 on the forehead with a composition of sandal-wood dust and oil, 

 or the ashes of cow-dung and turmeric: this is a holy ceremon3 r , 

 which has been adopted in all ages by the eastern nations, how- 

 ever differing in religious profession. Among the Hindoos of 

 both sexes, and all descriptions among the castes permitted to at- 

 tend the temple worship, it is daily practised. To the Jews it was 

 well known, as also to the Mahomedans. Many passages in the 

 Old and New Testament allude to it; and a Jewish rabbi says 



