damsels are not only dedicated to the principal idols, but to the 
pleasure of the priests. They seldom leave the place of their 
initiation, looking upon themselves as wedded to the deities: but 
as they frequently have children, who partake more of a terrestrial 
than a celestial origin, the boys are taught to play on musical in- 
struments, and the girls are early instructed in the profession of 
their mothers. 
All the large cities in Hindostan contain sets of musicians and 
dancing-girls, under the care of their respective duennas, who are 
always ready to attend for hire at weddings, and other festivities; 
or to finish the evening entertainment of the Europeans and na- 
tives; and many of them accompany the Asiatic armies to the 
field. 
The singing-men and singing-women mentioned by the aged 
Barzillai, and the daughters of music that we read of in the sacred 
pages, as well as in the ancient poets, resembled these characters 
in Hindostan. The women of Israel came out to meet David and 
Saul, dancing to instruments of music, and complimenting Saul 
with having slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 
The choristers of Palestine resembled those in India; who now 
celebrate a prince, or general, in the same manner at a public 
festival. 
It is not only the introduction of dancing-girls and musicians, 
but a variety of other customs, which remind us of similar 
scenes among the ancients. The Greeks and other nations kept 
their religious festivals among consecrated groves, gloomy forests, 
and sacred fountains. The Hindoos do the same, and have done 
so from the remotest antiquity. The Druids had their solemn 
