Temples of India. 69 



bols, chosen by the family of Ham, rapidly vitiated the worship, 

 they were on the one side, a single numerical score or mark which 

 progressed into a mono-style or erection ; on the other a representa- 

 tion. The former was the prototype of that unhewn pyramidal 

 mass, propitiated by the Canaanitish Nations with the obscene rites 

 of Peor, which called down such severe punishment on the Israelites. 

 It is singular that on this point also do we find a correspondence in 

 the Boodhist land of India — in the Lingum Worship of Maha Deo. 



I have allowed myself to dilate on these subjects much more fully 

 than I at first intended in order that those individuals who may be 

 employed by the Government here in the investigation of those 

 Boodhist remains to which attention has been drawn Jby the authori- 

 ties at home — may, by having a general view of the whole question, 

 be enabled to know to what peculiarities they must most essentially 

 turn their attention : all may be briefly summed up in one word^ 

 Symbols — the greatest possible attention must be paid to the num- 

 ber of their component parts, carefully searching whether traces 

 exist of any partially obliterated by time — these symbols whether 

 numerical, or animal would probably be formed running along the 

 architraves, friezes, and cornices : but I again repeat, the greatest 

 attention should be paid to the number of their component parts ; 

 for instance, should there be a Star the number of its rays should be 

 noticed — the three-rayed Star is of the most antient and rare type ; — 

 a four-rayed one never occurs ; a five, is more antient than a six- 

 rayed one ; and the many-rayed are of a comparatively modern 

 epoch. For instance should a five-rayed Star be found over the 

 head of a figure, one would unquestionably be justified in asserting 

 that the whole was of an African type and family ; for the five-rayed 

 may be called the African, as the six-rayed is the Indian Star ; this 

 peculiarity explains a circumstance which has been a puzzle, and 

 which I am not aware has been solved ; and that is that Hor- Apollo 

 declares that among the antient Egyptians the number five was re- 

 presented by a star. Another instance of the stress laid on certain 

 numbers in the minds of a Boodhist is this ; whatever Astronomical 

 knowledge was possessed by the family of Ham, there is very little 

 doubt that they were indebted for it to the family of Shem. One 

 branch of the latter as they listlessly tended their flocks on the 



