TIBET. 
519 
It is worthy of notice, how materially an effect depends upon a pre¬ 
viously declared design, and how diametrically opposite the emotions 
may be, although produced by appearances exactly similar. In 
England, I had been accustomed to esteem general illuminations, as 
the strongest expression of public joy; I now saw them exhibited 
as a solemn token of melancholy remembrance, an awful tribute 
of respect paid to the innumerable generations of the dead. The 
darkness of the night, the profound tranquillity and silence, inter¬ 
rupted only by the deep and slowly-repeated tones of the nowbut, 
trumpet, gong, and cymbal, at different intervals; the tolling of bells, 
and the loud monotonous repetition of sentences of prayer, sometimes 
heard when the instruments were silentwere all so calculated, by 
their solemnity, to produce serious reflection, that I really believe no 
human ceremony could possibly have been contrived, more effectually 
to impress the mind with sentiments of awe. In addition to this exter¬ 
nal token of solemn retrospect, acts of beneficence performed during 
this festival, are supposed to have peculiar merit, and all persons are 
called upon, according to their ability, to distribute alms, and to feed 
the poor. 
This is a festival of equal celebrity in Bengal and Hindostan, with 
both Mohammedans and Hindoos; by the former it is called Shubi- 
bauraut, by the latter Cheraug-pooja. 
Being governed in all the concerns of life, by an awful regard to 
the dictates of superstition, it is no wonder that we find this people 
placing implicit confidence in a series of lucky and unlucky days. 
Devoted to astrology, they yield a willing homage to its professors. 
