fire, according to the Gaures, is the purest of all the elements, yet they look upon it only as oue of God's most perfect creatures, and it is, as they imagine, his favourite habitation. When they pray, they neither make their addresses to Mithra, nor the sun, nor fire, but to God alone; many instances whereof are produced by the learned doctor Hide, above quoted, from whence we may very readily infer, that the imputations of idolatry are as rash and groundless in Asia as in Europe.

Zoroaster enjoined his disciples to adore the Deity with their faces towards the sun and the consecrated fire. It was the mode of worship amongst the ancient Persians, says the French translator of Dr. Prideaux's history, and this institution preceded the reformation of Magianism. When the Persians drew near to their consecrated fires in their divine service, they always approached them from the west side, because by that means their faces being turned to those, as well as the rising sun, they could direct their worship towards both at the same time. This form of worship was directly opposite to that of the Jews. For the holy of holies, wherein was inclosed the symbol of the divine presence, which lay on the propitiatory, or mercy-seat, being at the west end of the temple of Jerusalem, all such as entered therein to worship God, had their faces turned that way. That was the point towards which they constantly directed their divine worship; but that of the Magi being the rising sun, they always worshipped with their faces towards the east.

The Gaures, according to Lord, are obliged to turn towards the sun at their morning and daily service, and at night towards the moon. For these two planets are not only the two bright luminaries of the heavens, but likewise two of God's witnesses opposed to Lucifer; that is to say, the devil, or priuciple of evil. The priests are obliged to watch day and night to maintain and repair the consecrated fire. But it is absolutely necessary that it be rekindled after the purest manner that can possibly be devised; for which purpose they frequently make use of a steel and flint, or two hard sticks, which, by continual friction, will in time take fire. Sometimes likewise they kindle it by the lightning which darts down from heaven on any combustible matter; and sometimes again by those Ignes fatai which frequently arise in marshy grounds; or else by common fire, in case it is pure and undefiled, or with such as the Banians make use of to kindle the funeral piles. But they have one other method still, as noble as it is pure; and that is, by collecting the rays the sun into the focus of a burning glass. hey are strictly enjoined not to touch this fire ord or knife, and they are obliged to feed it purest kind of wood, without the least kind

on it. They are not allowed to blow it

with their mouths or a pair of bellows, for fear of the least profanation; which was formerly punished with immediate death; and that rigorous treatment for such offences continued till the destruction of the Magian monarchy by the Mahometans. The priests themselves never presumed to approach these consecrated fires without a piece of fine linen over their mouths, to prevent their breath from polluting these sacred flames, and this precaution was always observed whenever they drew near them, or when they read or repeated that form of prayer which might properly be called the service of the fire.— The Magian priests, who were the proper celebrants, performed this ceremony with such an humble and lowly voice, as not to be heard, or at least understood by the congregation. It was a kind of whisper, not unlike that practised by our Roman Catholic priests when they read low mass.

The language in which this office is wrote, is at present as unintelligible to the Gaures as the Latin to some of our illiterate Europeans. When their sovereign pontiff approached these consecrated fires, he was washed from head to foot, perfumed, and dressed in a vestment as white as snov. After this he prostrated himself to the very ground before the flames, and said his prayers with bitter sighs and groans; which are well understood by the devotees of all religions. These ardent acts of devotion, the affectionate respiration of his soul, were all addressed to the Deity, to him he offered up his prayers, extracted from their sacred scriptures, and in short to him alone he made confession of his sins.

These customs are all observed by the Gaures at this very day. Their religious devotion, according to Lord, is introduced by the Distocrc's seasonable exhortation to the people, the sum and substance whereof is as follows, viz. That the celestial fire having been delivered by God himself to Zerroost, (Zoroaster), their wise legislator, to whom he declared, that it was an emanation, or part of his own infinite virtue and excellence, they ought to look upon it as sacred and divine, and the proper object of their profoundest veneration, as being a portion of the divine essence, since it is of the same substance, and they ought to love and regard every object that bears any resemblance of it, as the sun and the moon, who are God's two awful witnesses, who will testify against them, if they contemn or neglect that worship, which has been enjoined them. After this, he exhorts them to ask pardon and forgiveness of God, if, in their daily use of fire, they should by accident, let fall the least drop of water into it, or, by any inattention, carelessness, or otherwise, be guilty of any impure action with regard to that element.

In some particular parts of the Indies, the faithful, who are professors of Magianism, are con

vened or assembled together by the tinkling of a little bell. But the Gaures in Persia are not allowed to give any such public notices; for which reason they meet together without any ceremony at the stated hours; and then, according to the custom observed by the Arminians of Zulpha, are convened only by five or six strokes on a plank with a hammer. In their temples, instead of a fire they have nothing but a burning lamp. Although during divine service these devotees have their mouths and some part of their faces covered, they must keep, notwithstanding, at an awful distance from their consecrated fires: but as to the priests, they may approach them in such a manner as to be able to officiate without the least inconvenience to themselves, or profanation of the fire.

The little twigs or switches which we have already mentioned, are looked upon as an essential branch of the rites and ceremonies observed in their religious worship. These rods are cut off with abundance of formality from one particular tree, which the Persians call a Hawm; and very much resembles the Tamarisk. If no such tree, however, can be found, they have immediate recourse to the pomegranate-tree. The knife made use of on this occasion must first be sanctified by a very careful ablution, and by several prayers pronounced in a low voice to the praise and glory of God, and of the sacred fire. These rods or twigs are deposited in a case or box made for that particular purpose: and whenever they read or pronounce any of the prayers contained in their Zend; or whenever they engage in any other religious exercise whatsoever, a proper quantity of these twigs must be taken out, and laid ready before them; for these sacred instruments are as essential to them on such solemn occasions, as to our Catholic devotees their chaplets or set of beads. The number of them, however, is not fixed and determined. Some prayers require thirty-five, and others only twenty-four. Five only are sufficient for an ejaculatory grace before their meals, but as they are of no further service after the prayer, they must be devoted to the flames.

Though the Persians had a peculiar veneration for the fire, yet they paid likewise such an extraordinary respect to the three other elements, that some ancient historians have charged them with paying divine adoration to them all. This accusation, however, is groundless and unjust. All their care and circumspection in former time was, and still is, to preserve those pure elements from the least stain or pollution. They look upon them as sacred, the principles and seeds of all things being, as they imagine, comprised in them; and for that reason they constitute distinct conservators for each of them, whose peculiar province it is to preserve them from any intermixture or profanation. This purity is the

principle whereon the Gaures have grounded their ceremonies with relation to the dead. The water, however, is the element next in repute amongst them to the fire. A scarlet and deep yellow are their favourite colours, and they may make choice of them before any other in every thing they wear, as being, in some measure, emblems or representations of the fire. For the very same reason likewise, a ruby, a carbuncle, and a granate, are much more valuable in their esteem than any other precious stones whatever. Notwithstanding this peculiar regard of theirs for scarlet, &c. it is undeniably true, that their priests are obliged to be dressed in white during their celebration of divine service.

The Gaures have their guardian angels for every month and day throughout the year, and to them they direct their prayers, according to the forms laid down in their rituals, but in such a manner as relates only to every one's particular functions. Here seems to be something of a contradiction, because it has been already taken notice of, that they acknowledge but one God. The truth is, like all other heathens, although they acknowledge but one Supreme God, yet they at the same time address their prayers to subordinate beings, whom they consider as mediators and intercessors for them. was the practice with the Greeks of old, as well as the Romans; and we may add, that it is the prac tice with the Roman Catholics, otherwise, "Why do they pray to saints to intercede for them with God?"

This

New-year's day is a grand festival with them, as well as with the people in other nations. They likewise keep six festivals in commemoration of the six days' work of creation, and each of these last five days successively; and besides these they have a great number of lucky and unlucky days, being, like most other heathens, very superstitious. These Gaures likewise commemorate their dead once every mouth throughout the year, and on such occasions they provide an elegant entertainment, in memory of their deceased friends and relations. This monthly feast is instituted and kept up by order of an express injunction in the sadder or liturgy of the Gaures, namely, remember the souls of your de parted fathers and mothers.

The first day of every month is set apart for divine worship, and so on, the eighth, fifteenth, &c. in the same manner as one out of seven is kept by the Jews, Christiaus, and Mahometaus. The sermons preached on those days consist chiefly of moral precepts, and exhortations to the people to observe strictly the rites and ceremonies of their religion.— In reading their prayers they resemble in their tone of voice, the Jews in their synagogues, and many of their ceremonies are similar. In singing they likewise resemble the Jews, and probably this must be

owing to some of the Jows remaining among them, after the rest returned to Jerusalem, and rebuilt the city and temple under their captain Zerrababel.

They keep several fasts, and a sort of abstinence for five days successively after each of them, so that great part of their time is spent in rites and ceremonies. On all festivals, each person carries a part of what he eats to the temple, as an offering to the fire, and this is done in order to. procure a blessing from heaven upon the fruits of the earth, and such other things as serve them for a subsist

ence.

It is probable they learned this custom from the Baniaus, who reside hear them; for it has no affinity with the ceremonies of the ingient Persians. On the mornings of their festivals, they repair Betimes to their sanctuaries, or temples, which are but niean huts, and take their victuals along with them. The rich distribute some part of their plentiful store among the poor, and all eat sociably in common together, like brothiers. Their devotees never fail going once every day to worship the sacred fires, in one or other of their temples, and there they confess their sins to the priest, much in the same manner, says Dr. Hide, as is practised in the church of Rome. Those who live too far distant from any of these places set apart for public worship, content themselves with performing their acts of devotion before their own fires at home: and for this purpose every Gaure brings home once in the year, a lighted lamp from the sacred fire, in the temple next to where they reside, and keep it continually burning.

Bodily purity is much attended to by them, for in that respect they are as scrupulous as the Jews or Mahometans; for they refuse to eat or drink with any person who is not of the same religion with themselves. Whether the Gaures are ambitious or not of making proselytes, like the professors of most other religions, does not appear from any of the accounts we have of them; but as no temporal advantages are to be derived from his profession, consequently they are but few in number; and Mr. Hanway tells us, that they are a poor despised people, who live in remote parts, and are very cruelly treated by the Mahometans. But notwithstanding all this poverty, and many hardships which they suf fer, yet they have the same love of ambition as is peculiar to other people; for they have their high priest, and all subordinate ones, and the election of these is carried on with the same intrigues as in other countries where the emoluments are worth seeking after. None, however, can be admitted to the priesthood but sous of priests, and this is one of the reasons why all their priests are obliged to marry. All their priests wear long beards from their chin, but they shave their cheeks, and if they have whiskers they cut them short. Their cap terminates

in a point, and the laps of it hang down to their neck. Their hair is generally long, and they are enjoined never to cut it, except when they go into mourning for a deceased relation. When they perform divine service, the priests hold a cloth before their mouths, that the people may not see their lips

move.

Their upper garment is of a reddish colour, but they are poor wretched rags, such as we would not take up in the streets. It falls down from the neck to the calf of the legs, and is bound round their waists with a sash of camel's hair. This sash or girdle is consecrated by the high-priest, and considered as containing many virtues. Every faithful Gaure is obliged to take care of his girdle, for if he should lose one, he must neither eat, drink, nor sleep, till he has purchased another of one of the priests, who have always some to dispose of. They imagine that he who loses his girdle, loses all the blessings inherent in it, and they have a proverb,— "A man without his girdle, is without his blessing." They begin to wear it when they are from twelve to fifteen years of age, for at that age they think they can comprehend all the principles, and practise all the duties of their religion.

The laity are enjoined to be very strict and pre cise in their deportment, and to perform the duties required of them with diligence and application.--Shame and fear, according to the Gaures, are the basis and foundation of all virtues. They are commanded strictly to examine and weigh every thing they propose to undertake, and put nothing in execution till they are fully convinced of its justice and equity. They are likewise obliged, when they go out in a morning, to return God thanks for the creation of all those animals, of what nature or kind soever which they see in their way, but their priests are subject to still greater austerities.

Besides the obligations they are under of being perfectly acquainted with all the principles in their religion, and all the rites and ceremonies used in divine service, they must abstain from every sort of carnal lusts or desires, and keep themselves pure, both before God and man. Thus they are not to tell lies, because God is truth; nor are they to be too curious, lest they should pry into things beyond their comprehension. They must not touch any thing that is impure and polluted, and they are to oblige all those whom they marry, to promise that they will not deviate from their religious principles; to attend constantly on divine worship, to habiturate themselves to the practice of patience, to be of a just, affable disposition, and imitate as far as in them lies, the perfections of the Deity, who is for ever merciful and gracious to the whole human race, notwithstanding their many sins, iniquities and ungrateful provocations.

.

They have likewise an ordinance of a very peculiar nature, by which their high-priest is prohibited from touching any secular person, but more especially one whom they reckon a heretic, or infidel. He is obliged to wash himself, and to put a hand to all his own necessary affairs, either as a mark of his humility and condescension, or for the better preservation of his bodily purity. He is to abstain from every thing that is superfluous, to spend part of his revenues in alms-deeds, and other works of piety, and to avoid all manner of extortion in collecting his tithes. He must habituate himself to the practice of contemplation, study, and reflect on the precepts of his religion without the least intermission; to reprove the vicious, and to stand in awe of no being, however illustrious and potent, but God himself. To conclude, he is under the necessity of taking care that the sacred fire never goes out, and to see that no person offers to profane it.

As the people are extremely poor, so they are obliged to use many expedients in order to support their priests, who, at the best, are but a miserable set of beings. Every devotee is obliged, on the twenty-fifth of April, to extinguish his lamp, and pay, the priest about the value of sixpence of our money to have it re-kindled from the sacred altar.The sun and the consecrated fire, which the Gaures believe to be the visible symbols of the divine presence, bear some affinity to that fire which the ancient Jews made use of on their altars, erected for their sacrifices, and which continued till the first destruction of the city and temple. Indeed, the sacred fire in the Jewish temple was always considered as an emblem of the Deity, although no divine honours were paid to it.

Neither the Jews of old could, nor are the Gaures at present permitted to put any but pure clean wood on these fires, There must be no bark upon the wood, nor any defilement whatever. Indeed, the strong conformity between them may serve to show, that some of the heathens, particularly in Persia, borrowed ceremonies from the Jews, which they did not understand.

1

At present their priests are not permitted to have any more than one wife, unless she proves barren, and in that case, in order to have children, they may take another, but not without the consent of the first. The Gaures are proud and ambitious of nothing more than that of having a numerous issue, and this they call adding numbers to the faithful; for, according to their notions, such an increase of their stock will be looked upon as meritorious at the day of judgment, provided they are born in wedlock.

All their marriages are performed in their places of public worship, where the priests join their hands, prays with them, and gives them his benediction. It is a received notion among the Gaures, that the

marriage state is the most honourable in the world, especially when they have children. All their marriages are performed before the sacred fire, and when the parties have joined hands, the bridegroom gives the bride some small pieces of money as a pledge of all his temporal substance being her's. They are ordered by their religion to marry very young, and the women whom they take to be wives, must be of the same sentiments with themselves.

The Gaures never circumcise, but wash their children, which is a kind of baptism or ceremony practised by them for the purification of the soul.The new-born infant is brought to the temple, and presented to the priest before the sun and the fire. The priest having taken an exact account of the time when the child was born, he then calculates what is to happen to him in this world. As these impostors must be often deceived, one would naturally imagine, that such circumstances would open the eyes of the people, and lead them off from deception; but the great misfortune is, that where the mind is once bewildered with superstition, all hopes of reformation are lost, and even the silly tricks practised by artful impostors, are considered as the quintescence of truth.

The parents having declared the name of the child, the priest pronounces it aloud, and then pours some pure water upon a certain piece of wood, called holm. In the next place he sprinkles the infant with the consecrated water, and prays that it may be the means of its purification. He then dips the child all over in the water, which concludes the whole of the ceremony.

When the infant attains to seven years of age, it is brought to the priest to be confirmed, as being then qualified to be admitted into their temples.— The priest asks the youth a few questions, suitable to the occasion, and teaches hini a few prayers, which the child must retain in his memory, and repeat them, holding his mouth over the sacred fire, with a cloth before both it and his nostrils, lest his breath should convey any sort of pollution. As soon as he has finished his prayers, the priest gives him some water to drink, and the rind of a pomegranate to chew in his mouth, as an internal purifi cation. To conclude, he bathes him in a tub of water, and afterwards binds his girdle on him; but, according to Hide, the latter part of this ceremony is not performed till the child arrives at years of maturity.

When a Gaure is dying, his friends send for à priest, who standing close by his ear, prays for him, and commends his spirit to the living God. A dead corpse defiles, the person who touches it, for which reason none of the priests must come within ten feet of it. They never bury their dead, because they ima gine it would profane and pollute the earth. They