BETWEEN INDIAN AND JEWISH IDEAS AND CUSTOMS. 93 
asked whether the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly 
prognosticators could save her from the things that should come 
upon her. The forbidden practices were the fashion and belief 
in our own Middle Ages. Are they neglected now ? All 
through India the horoscope is the guide in life for every 
Hindu. Marriages are fixed by it. Ho journey is undertaken 
without consulting the stars, or the omens being taken. Thags 
or professional stranglers, and Dakctits — or highway robbers, 
took the omens or consulted the stars before they started on 
their expeditions. Every action in life for many people in the 
world depends upon astrology. The horoscope of a chief or 
noble or great man, may be 20 or 30 feet long, and should be 
constantly kept up to date. Trial by ordeal was not unknown 
amongst the Jews, as in the case of the jealous husband. In 
Malwa appeal to it by an accused person, was allowed. 
Generally, according to Malcolm, “ this required putting the 
arm into boiling oil or water, or having a red hot iron placed in 
the hand, the leaf of the sacred pipal tree (Ficus religiosa ) being- 
first bound upon it. If the man was scalded he was guilty. By 
art or collusion escapes sometimes occurred.” Many of the 
minor Levitical regulations, as for instance, on sanitation, 
ceremonial cleansing, or the marriage laws, might be discussed 
and parallel illustrations given from Indian practice amongst 
not only Brahminical Hindus but Mohamedans ; but the subject 
is too wide for the present paper. 
I shall only advert to a few points. In our Bibles we read 
that “ the newly married man shall not go to war, neither shall 
he be charged with any business for a year, but he shall be free 
at home for one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath 
taken.” The faint-hearted were also told to stay at home. 
Josephus, however, in his book against Apion, has a slightly 
different version, as he couples the two classes together. He 
says, “ Leave in wartime was given to continue in their own 
country to several classes of men, amongst them being those 
who have betrothed or lately married wives, lest they have 
such an affection for these things that they be too sparing of 
their lives, and by reserving themselves for those enjoyments, 
they become voluntary cowards, on account of their wives ! ” 
I had a striking proof that this practice is in accord with 
Indian views. 
My brother, being on active service in Burmah when his 
future wife arrived in India to join him, the Maharaja of 
Jeypore, on hearing of his dilemma, asked me why he 
could not come, because, he said, “ it is the invariable 
