58 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
lowers a profound secrecy is imposed, as to the imme- 
diate forms and observances with which their tenets are 
bound up; they are subject entirely to the Brahmins 
in the direction of their domestic affairs, and subsist 
upon a common stock, which is in the hands of the 
Brahmins. There is throughout all these features such 
a wonderful resemblance to the doctrines of Pythagoras, 
that we can only conclude that both spring from the 
same source. The antiquarian who has not troubled 
himself to investigate the strange discoveries of the 
present century in the East will tell us it is probable 
they were brought by some pilgrim from Egypt or 
Chaldea, while the philosopher of Samos was teaching 
in those countries. Of course there has been a consi- 
derable admixture of Hindooism with the original 
system ; a whole firmament of lesser divinities is framed 
to suit the Hindoo mythology, but they are all in sub- 
servience to the Supreme Being, who has created and 
who upholds the universe. Here truly is most abun- 
dant matter for speculation, and although aware that 
this is not exactly its proper place, I cannot refrain 
from alluding to the strange analogy existing between 
the religious and social manners of the Hindoos and 
Egyptians, of which this is a fresh instance. Early 
education teaches us to regard Egypt as the well and 
fountain-head of literature, science, and the arts, from 
whence the streams have flowed on all sides throughout 
the world : but notwithstanding classic authority, not- 
withstanding the silence of Greek and Latin authors as 
