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vileges, by the laws of Menu, and the invariable respect and 
affection of their followers. 
Beloe, the elegant translator of Herodotus, says “ he is dignified 
by courtesy with the title of the Father of History; that his mat- 
ter is no less curious than diversified; and his history, as far as his 
own knowledge and diligent researches could make it, is entitled 
to attention and belief.” This is readily admitted, as far as his 
own knowledge extends; and it is not impossible to throw light 
upon many passages in his history, which appear to have no 
more foundation in truth than the fables in the Odyssey, or the 
voyages of Sin bad the sailor. 
Herodotus says that Darius, king of Persia, on a certain occa- 
sion sent for some of the Greeks who were subject to his power, 
and asked them what recompence would induce them to eat the 
bodies of their deceased parents; they replied that no sum could 
prevail on them to commit such a deed. In the presence of the 
same Greeks, who by an interpreter were informed of what passed, 
he sent for the Callable, a people of India known to eat the bo- 
dies of their parents; he asked them for what sum they would 
consent to burn the bodies of their parents; the Indians were dis- 
gusted at the question, and entreated him to forbear such language. 
This has staggered the belief of those who have only taken a gene- 
ral view of Hindoo manners and customs, and have always ob- 
served them burn the bodies of their dead: but this strange as- 
sertion is wonderfully illustrated by the following passage in Moor's 
Hindu Pantheon; “ Not only do the Hindoos, even the brahmins, 
eat flesh; but they eat, one sect at least, human flesh. They 
do not, I conclude, kill human subjects to eat; but they eat such 
