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the flesh-abhorring Hindoos, not only do other castes of the Hin- 

 doos, but even the brahmins themselves, eat flesh ; and one sect, 

 at least, eat human flesh. They do not kill human subjects to eat, 

 but they eat such as they find about the Ganges and other rivers; 

 and near Benares, they are not unusually seen floating down the 

 river on a corpse, and feeding upon its flesh; and the human 

 brain is judged by these epicurean cannibals to be the most deli- 

 cious morsel of their unsocial banquet. They are called Parama- 

 hansa, and arc by no means a low despicable tribe; but, on the 

 contrary, are esteemed, at any rate by themselves, a very high one. 

 Whether the exaltation be legitimate, or assumed by individuals, 

 in consequence of penance, or holy and sanctified acts, I am not 

 prepared to state, but I believe the latter; as I have known other 

 instances where individuals of differing sects, by persevering in 

 extraordinary piety, or penance, have been deemed incapable of 

 sin. 



The same humane writer fully proves the prodigality of the 

 Hindoos in human destruction. Besides the self-immolation of 

 widows, those of all ranks in religion and life, are in the habit of 

 carrying their aged and diseased parents and friends to the Ganges, 

 or some other holy stream, to perish by hunger, weather, or alli- 

 gators. " Mothers, incredible as it may seem, revolt not, as the 

 reader must do when he first hears it, at throwing their infants 

 into the sea, or river, to be eaten alive by alligators and sharks. 

 Whole tribes were in the habit of destroying, Avith but few excep- 

 tions, all their female children, until they were reclaimed and re- 

 formed by the personal influence and persuasion of Mr. Duncan, 

 governor of Bombay. Human victims were formerly immolated 



