68 



On the Customs of 



[No. S2, 



the order, Gosaivees supported themselves by the alms they received 

 from good men. 



6. In process of time the fraternity became less distinguished for 

 their devotion than their ancestors, and some of the disciples com- 

 menced trading or followed the profession of Arms ; while others, 

 wandering still further from the road they professed to follow, formed 

 matrimonial connections, and became in every respect as worldly as 

 their neighbours. The latter in consequence are not acknowledged 

 as brethren at all, except in the DuJchun* 



7. Those Gosaicees who still adhere to the ancient land marks of 

 their order are called Dundee or pilgrims (literally mendicants who 

 carry a staiF) : the traders are distinguished by the name of Dimglee, 

 and the married Gosawees are called Ghurharee Gosaioees : as the 

 latter no longer profess to be guided by the original laws of their 

 order, they will be spoken of separately. 



Dwellings. 8. All Gosawees live in buildings called Mufhs 



or Temples, those especially devoted to purposes of worship are 

 called Purrumpuragut Muilis^ or ancient temples descending from 

 generation to generation ; the others are simple dwellings. 

 Laws. 9. The written laws by which Gosawees are profess- 



edly guided are the Dliurm and Munoo Shasturs : all questions how- 

 ever relating to the internal administration and discipline of the order 

 are decided by an assembly called the Dusname, which should consist 

 of the disciples of the ten founders from whom they take their names; 

 but as in some places members of each sect are not to be found, as 

 many as there may happen to be, are authorized to meet, their decisions 

 being as irrevocable as those of a perfect assembly. From the Dus- 

 •name there is no appeal. In the event of a difference of opinion 

 occurring among the members of the assembly, it is usual to convene 

 a grand meeting of the residents in the surrounding country, whose 

 opinion decides the point at issue, provided it has not in the mean- 

 time been settled, as it is very desirable in all cases that it should 

 be, by the original referees. 



10. The laws of the fraternity are said to be most correctly cx- 



* To compensate the good (?oiawee for the fallen state of these apostates, some are 

 Still found to be sufficiently devout to deserve the name of Purrumhonsh or " the most 

 devout of all Devotees." The hearts of these men are said to be as unspotted as the 

 feathers of the sacred Ilonsk -w hose name they bear, and their mind so unceasingly ab- 

 stracted in the contemplation of the deity as to be able to raise their bodies from the 

 earth into the air. 



