393 



useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a 

 witch; or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a 

 wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an 

 abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations 

 the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee." 



Such were the people among whom I passed my last four 

 years in India. In detailing the divinations, outrages, and mur- 

 ders of the Gracias at Aland wa and the wilderness of Zinore, 

 as also their secret ambush intended at Surat, I have suppressed 

 many anecdotes, interesting to myself, and those immediately con- 

 cerned : for so much egotism, as unavoidably remains, I claim the 

 indulgence of my reader. I confess I cannot now contemplate 

 my extraordinary deliverance from the Gracia machinations with- 

 out feelings more appropriate to solemn silence, than expression. 

 The subject of a particular Providence requires the utmost deli- 

 cacy and caution; because few, perhaps, are more liable to mis- 

 conception and error; yet a reflecting mind must be conscious of 

 peculiar feelings in peculiar circumstances: and, although as a 

 fallible being, he may innocently fall into a mistake, if instead 

 of encourageing pride, presumption, and vanity, he finds his heart 

 filled with humility, gratitude, and adoration, to that Great First 

 Cause, without whose divine permission not a sparrow falleth to 

 the ground, he cannot be guilty of great aberration. I shall 

 conclude this chapter, written throughout with extreme diffi- 

 dence and humility, and no part of it, until very lately, intended 

 for publication with the other selections, with an extract from Alel- 

 moth, who has treated this subject delicately and satisfactorily. 



VOL. III. 3 e 



