2'0 '&n account of the Maun 'Blioius. [Jan. 



The Maun Bhows reckon it a meritorious act to persuade 

 persons to become converts to their faith ± they however ex- 

 ercise a very considerable degree of caution in guarding 

 against persons of improper character being admitted into 

 their society, unless the candidate or person desiring to be- 

 come a Neerwan (a sanctified character) is known to some 

 of them : they interrogate him very particularly for the pur- 

 pose of ascertaining what his reed motives are in wishing to 

 renounce the world and to join their fraternity : and if the 

 candidate is an inhabitant of the place at which they are 

 residing at the time, they will make enquiries to the same 

 effect in the village. The Maun Bhows are always extremely 

 anxious to avoid giving the least umbrage to the relatives and 

 friends of a candidate. They warn him publicly to consider 

 well the nature of the step he is desirous of taking, and that 

 they cannot comply with his wish, until they are well inform- 

 ed respecting him. It is probably after asserting he would 

 apply to some other Maun Bhows to be instructed by them„ 

 that they are induced to listen to his arguments : however 

 they deem it necessary to watch closely the conduct of the 

 novice for some time. They point out to him the propriety 

 of reconsidering the step he is about taking, before he de- 

 cides finally on becoming one of their brethren; for that in his 

 new life (they look upon it as a state of regeneration) he will 

 have to encounter many difficulties and privations, and that 

 unless he is satisfied in his own mind that he possesses suf- 

 cient resolution, patience, temperance and virtue, it will not 

 be in his power to conform with the obligations he places 

 himself under, after he has forsaken temporal things and put 

 himself under the guidance of one of their Gooroos (spiritual 

 instructors). 



The novice is now exhorted to be steady in his conduct 

 and to venerate and adore their god Krishen, and to reject the 

 worship of all other gods. That the name of Krishen is 

 never to be forgotten but always to be uppermost in his 

 thoughts. That in all his dealings he is invariably to evince 

 the greatest meekness, resignation and contentedness. Al- 

 ways to be most particular in telling the truth, and to speak 

 evil of no one,, and he is recommended to confess readily any 



