1804.] 
a neceflity either to model themfelves 
agreeably to his ideas, or to be fervile 
and perfecuted. All the produétions bear 
the impreflion of his feal, and had but one 
phyfiognomy. He prefcribed even to the 
ornaments of the locks and bolts of the 
gates of Verfailles, and the Mefirs, Girar- 
don themfelves worked upon his plans. 
Thus, in lieu of the genius and the ori- 
ginality which the great artifts of that 
epoch would have impreffed on the art, 
we find a cold monotony in the execution, 
and a dull uniformity in the defign; for 
artifts could only confecrate their pencils 
to flattery. Some endured perfecution, 
others were removed to a diftance.’ But 
after the death of Pouffin, of Le Sueur, 
and Le Brun, there only remained the 
elements, asit were, of decay, whieh this 
laft had prepared. This decay was fud- 
den and deplorable ; for the art funk into 
utter contempt, under the reign of Lewis 
XV. 
o_o 
ASIATIC SOCIETY INSTITUTED IN 
BENGAL. 
N conformity with the defign and plan 
of this inftitution, Mr. Colebrcoke 
has prefented to it an elaborate account of 
the religious ceremonies of the Hindus, 
particularly of thofe of the Brahmens, 
from which we fhall extraé&t the leading 
ariicles. . ! 
Daily and frequent ablutions, and the 
ftudy of the Veda,- are among the moft 
Important duties attaching to the life of 
a Brabmen; next to thefe is the facrament 
of the manes, of deities, and of fpirits, 
which confifts tn oblations to fire, with 
prayers addreffed to various divinities. 
The ceremony of confecrating the fire, 
and of hallowing the facrificial impiements, 
is the ground-work of all relizious aéts, 
and is thus performed. 
Firft the prieft fmears with cow-dung 
a level piece of ground, four cubits fquare, 
free from all impurities.: Having bathed 
and fipped water, he fits down, with his 
face towards the eaft, and places a veffel 
of water, with c#s-a grafs on his let; 
then, dropping his right knee, and refting 
on the {pan of his left hand, he draws 
with a root of c#s-aa line directed to- 
‘wards the eaft. From the neareit ex- 
tremity of this line, he draws another, at 
right angles to it, and direSted to the 
north. Upon this line he draws three 
others parallel, and egual in length to the 
firt. The firft line ts yellow and facred 
to the earth ; the fecond is red, and facred 
‘to fire; ‘the third black, and facred to 
‘Brahma, the creator; the fourth blue, 
Proceedings of Learned Societies: 
461 
and facred to Indra, the regent of the 
firmament; the fifth, white, and facred 
to Soma. He next gathers up the duft 
from the edges of thefe lines, and throws 
it away towards the north-eaft, faying, 
“© What was (hereiz) bad, is caft away,” 
and he concludes by f{prinkling water 
on the feveral lines. 
Having thus prepared the ground 
for the fucrificial fire, he takes a light. 
ed ember and throws it away, laying, 
‘* I difnifs far away carnivorous firé; 
may it go to the real of Yama, bearing 
fin.” He then places the fire before him, 
faying, ‘* Earth! Sky! Heaven! fire alone 
remains here, may it convey my oblation 
to the Gods!” He next proceeds to place 
the Brahma, or faperintending» priet, 
which, in general, is nothing more than a 
-bundle containing fifty blades of cés-@ 
grafs, to reprefent the Brahma ; but up- 
on very extraordinary occaficns, a learned 
Brabman+ difcharges the functions of the 
fuperintending prief. The officiating 
prieft takes up the veflel of water, and 
walks round the fire, keeping his right 
fide turned towards it; he then pours 
water near it, directing the ftream to- 
wards the eat; he fpreads czs-a grafs 
thereon ; and croffing his right ‘knee-over 
his lett, without fittmg down, he takes 
up a fingle blade of grafs, between the 
thumb and right finger of his left hand, 
and throws it away towards the foutk. 
welt, faying,** What was herein bad is catt 
away.” Wext, touching the water, reft-_ 
ing the fole of his rigit foot on his left 
ancle, and fprinkling the grafs with water, 
he places the Brahma on it, faying, “* Sit 
on this feat until thy fee be paid.” 
If any profane word have been fpoken 
during the preceding ceremony, atone- 
ment mult now be made, by pronouncing 
a certain text; and if :t be intended to 
make oblations of rice, mixed with milk, 
curds and butter, this is the proper time 
for mixing them ; and the prieft afterwards 
proceeds toname the earth, in the follow- 
ing prayer, which he pronounces witha 
downcatt look, refting both hands on the 
ground: ** We adore this earth; this 
au{picious and mof excellent earth: do 
thou, O fire! refift our enemies: thow 
duft take on thee the power and office of 
other deities!’ With blades of cits. 
grafs held in his right hand, he mutt 
next ftrew leavcs of the fame grails on three 
fides of the fire, arranging them regularly, 
fo thatthe tip of one row fhall cover the 
roots of the other. He then bleffes the 
ten regions of fpace; aud. rifing a little, 
puts fome wood on the fire, with a ladle 
full of clarified butter, while he meditates 
; in 
