450 



to death, a punishment which is never remitted. * 

 As, however, they can, at any time abandon their 

 profession, and return to the world, the absti- 

 nence enjoined does not fall so heavily upon 

 them as it does on the monastic orders of Europe* 



The whole time of the priests is occupied either 

 in instructing youth, reading the sacred books, 

 preaching, or meditation* They preach always 

 after new and full moon, and the congregation 

 presents the officiating Talapoia with alms at the 

 conclusion of his discourse.^ 



The five precepts of the 'ft oral Law, the due 

 observance of which the Talapoios believe enti- 

 tles them to Heaven, are as follows.'!' First, Do 

 not kill; Second, Do not steal; Third, Commit 

 no impurity ; Fourth, Tell no untruth ; and Fifth, 

 Drink no intoxicating liquor. 



The first of these extends to vegetable, as 

 well as animal, life, thus compelling the Talapotn 

 to subsist wholly upon fruit, the seeds of which, 

 as being endued with vegetative power?, must be 

 carefully preserved. But this strictness of diet 

 is evaded by the priests, who, whilst they de- 

 clare the destruction oflife to be a sin, scruple 

 not to eat of that which is already dead, and 

 therefore partake unhesitatingly of the rice, &c, 

 prepared for them by their servants, or received 

 in alms. They also eat the cattle, brought as 

 offerings to the temple, if they be already dead. 

 Should they be alive, they allow them to giaze 

 about the enclosnre until they die, when they 

 are convened into food. The sin, committed by 



* La Croze, Chret, des Indea^ p. lis, 

 t Lc^obm, p. m. 



