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Silex and alumine metals give a hardness to metallic alloys; and hence they may be of use to the arts.

Cast-iron is made malleable by charcoal; and this process being examined, it appears to take from the cast-iron something equivalent to the metal of silex.

Metal ore is an improper name for the new metals. Potasium, the lightest, is no lighter, compared to tin, than tin is to platina.

Mercury and copper, with potasium, make an illustrious brass.

Volcanoes and earthquakes have been explained by sulphur and iron. But if this was true, lava should be sulphate of iron, which is not the case; for lava, and other volcanic productions, are silex and other earths. It is therefore a synthesis, that the state of these in the earth was silex metals, or metals of earth; and, when they take fire, become agitated and hot, pouring out their great fluid streams; cooling in that form exactly as the new metals do.

It is calculated that the density of the earth is greater than if it was all earth and stone; and the proportion agrees with the supposition that the interior of the globe is metal of earth.-Exper. Potasium, in pipe-clay, does not ignite until wet, and it then bursts out like a volcano.

So of meteoric stones. Professor Davy thinks there are earthy metallic comets, which, coming into moist air, break off flakes ignited as fire-balls, and when cool are vitreous stones.-Exper. Hurl a wet piece of potasium through the room, it throws off vitreous pieces.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED RELATIVE TO THE MYTHOLOGICAL PERSUASION OF THE CANDIANS, IN THE ISLAND OF CEYLON.

THE Dutch paper, of which the following is a translation, is one of the documents relative to the doctrines of the Budhu reli

gion, as professed at Ceylon, which is in the extensive and valuable collection of papers explanatory of the history and the people of that important island, in the possession of Sir A. Johnston, late chiefjustice, and president of his Majesty's council on Ceylon; and, at our request, is published with his permission.

Many important advantages have been derived by the British government from the manner in which the right of sitting upon juries, and that of being tried by juries of their own caste, have been introduced. The first time it was ever done in India was amongst the natives of Ceylon, of every

caste and of every religious persuasion, by Sir A. Johnston, when chief justice, and president of his Majesty's council on that island.

Amongst other advantages, one of the most important is, the facility it affords the members of the government, and particularly the judges of the supreme court, of obtaining, from the native jurymen themselves, the most valuable and the most authentic information relative to the history, religion, manners, and customs of the people of the country.

According to a rule made by Sir Alexander Johnston, all the jurymen, who are for the most part men of the greatest intelligence, and of the highest influence in each of the provinces of Ceylon, were required, at every session held in each province, publicly to lay before Sir Alexander Johnston, in the presence, and subject to the correction, of all the people of the province, assembled in the court, such authentic information relative to the religion, morals, and prejudices of the people, as might enable him thoroughly to comprehend the character of the inhabitants, and the principles which influenced their conduct.

On one of these occasions, upon Sir Alexander inquiring into the state of the doctrines of the Buddhu religion as they prevailed amonst the followers of Buddhu on Ceylon, who amount to about half a million of people, some very intelligent jurymen publicly gave him the Dutch original, of which the following is a translation, as containing, according to their knowledge and observation, a very correct view of the principles of the Buddhu religion, as they prevail amongst the common people of Ceylon.

This paper is an account, in Question and Answer, of an inquiry made at the time of the Dutch government in Ceylon, by a Dutch clergyman, from some of the most eminent Buddhu priests on the island, relative to the doctrines which prevailed amongst those natives who professed that religion.

Query. Do the learned acknowledge a Most High God, Supreme Being, and how do they describe the same?

Answer. No; at least, one cannot draw that inference from their writings: they acknowledge one Being, who is the first and chief of all gods, and they say that he, as well as his servants, have no flesh nor bone, but, however, has shining skin, teeth in the mouth, and hair on the head, and body, which are not to be felt, but are merely

MYTHOLOGY OF THE CANDIANS.

appearances: so that one must infer they are spirits, or immaterial beings, although it is not expressly said so by the learned in their writings.

Boodoo, who is described to have been a human being, was more equal to the chief god, in knowledge, as well as other qualities, having even had the power of being present every where. He was also in brightness and lustre much more magnificent, and notwithstanding he was a human being, he could alter his figure, so as to make excel Mahabrachmea in height ar size.

It is further said, that Boodoo, after his death, in the glory-hall, a place higher and more excellent than the hereafter to be mentioned twenty-sixth heaven, was born again, and is living there always in joy, magnificence and immortality, without being born again in the world; and that his doctrine, which is maintained in full lustre till now, according to his prophecy, will last five thousand years after his death, so that the same will continue still two thousand six hundred and seventy-nine years; as the Singalese, according to their chronology, write at present, two thousand three hundred and twenty-one years after the death of Gauteme Boodoo. So many years are already elapsed upon the prophesied number of five thousand.

A long time after the expiration of all those ages, another Boodoo, called Maittrie, is to be born.

The direction of the said chief god shall terminate after an unutterable number of ages, when the world will perish, and another will be in his place. Afterwards he will ascend by degrees into seventeen heavens more, which are extended above the nine heavens, until he at last obtains the properties of Boodoo.

The Singalese take for granted, that the world did terminate before, more than once, and did begin again every time under the direction either of one or two, or even up to the number of five Boodoos; and although the place of a Boodoo is vacant, or none of them is to be found in the direction of the world, yet a chief god, a superior to all gods, is found always.

Q. Have the learned Singalese any notion of a ghost, or immaterial being?

A. No, in no writing of learned Singalese is it known; notwithstanding, according to the demonstration respecting the gods, one should conclude that they are ghosts. Q. Was there any Supreme Being from all eternity?

A. No, the Singalese do not even know what eternity signifies.

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Q. Did any superior being create the inferior gods.

A. No, although the Supreme Being is denied, none of the gods has, how great soever he is, the power to create an inferior god, nor even men, but they take their origin from nature; and when men are dead, those that come in the sixth below heavens, are judged of according to their works, and are again therefrom born in the world, either as men or as irrational creatures; and this regeneration takes place so often, till they get into the ascending heavens of supreme gods; and afterwards by degrees into the others, and at last into the highest heaven: so that with regard to the blessed, the regeneration or transmigration of souls has only place with respect to those who come in the Duvelokes, and not else. But according to the public doctrine of Boodoo, not the least mention is made of souls created; and the learned speak also, of nothing else than of a breath of life in men, which they compare to a creeping worm or leech, that at first with his mouth takes hold of any thing before he lets loose his hinder part; and they consequently are of opinion, that the body does not die before the breath of life lays hold of something, and that he either has a prospect of getting into heaven, or that his termination is appointed to damnation, to suffer there for a certain time, or for ever, the pains of hell.

Q. Is any being the creator of heaven and earth, and does that being interfere still with the direction thereof?

A. All is out of nature: if there was a creator, the world would not perish, the creator would on the contrary know how to keep the same permanent.

Q. Are the said four gods of whom you speak, of the same superiority, and have they the same power? and what are their chief transactions?

A. They are independent from their chief god, being the director of the world, and the lowest heaven, where he resides together with the said four gods. These four gods being of the same superiority, and having the same power, do constantly watch over their said chief god, having the direction over the four parts of the world. So that each of them has one part under his direction.

The performances of these four gods consist herein, namely: that they and their servants guard the chief god against the attack of his enemy. The habitation of one god, who in power is as great as Tyekkerea himself, keeps his residence below the bottom of the sea, and below

the world; and they further send out their writers on or about the day of the new moon, to watch the conduct of men, and to make out a list of the good or mischief which they happen to do. Eight days after new moon, being the first quarter, they find out their bodily sons to make a similar description. Eight days afterwards, or about full moon, the said four gods go in person to make the last description; and upon a report being made in the supreme council of Tzekkerea, consisting of him as president, and thirty-two inferior gods, who, however, are higher in rank than the aforesaid four gods, and other inferior gods more, of their transactions; the supreme council rejoice when the number of virtuous men in the world exceed that of the dishonest men; but in the contrary case, the council is sorry in the highest degree.

Q. How many inferior gods are there besides those four?

A. The number of gods and their servants is unutterable, but as far as they according to the published doctrine of Boodoo, are known by names, the number of them amounts to one hundred and twenty thousand five hundred and thirty-five.

Q, Are not these inferior gods much the same as our angels, who execute the will of the Supreme Being, or of the four supreme gods.

A. Neither the superior nor the inferior gods are angels, but their servants are angels, and they therefore were called heretofore Koembandea. These angels, as well as inferior gods, are obliged to obey and execute the commands of their superior.

Q. It appears from the Singalese book, that there were more Boodoos than those which were on Ceylon?

A. This question is explained hereafter, and it is merely mentioned herein that the names of the Boodoo signify as much as Omniscience, a saint above all saints, and even above the chief God; that the Boodoo, properly speaking, is no god, but is considered as born like a human being, who, in process of time, on account of his excellent and salutary virtues and proper ties, did come to the state of Boodoo; yet not that he got this name froin a supreme power, but he took the same from his own sovereign will.

Q. Is Boodoo descended from gods or from men?

A. He was god before his birth, as man; and had the direction over other gods in the heaven; and he was afterwards, at the request of all the gods, born as a human being, from a princess, and his father was the king, called Soeddoodene

Raja.* The manner of his birth, or how his mother had brought him forth, was not different from another woman; so that the system of some, that he should have been born from the left side, is false.

Q. Is he not to be considered as one sent from heaven to publish to men the way to salvation?

A. No; but in the fulness of times, according to the prediction of a number of ages before, and at the request of the said gods, he, through his own power and free will, became man, for the salvation of all those who submit to his published doctrine.—(This passage deserves serious attention.-Editor.)

Q. How many such Boodoos were there?

A. As many as appear in the Singalese writings are in the present age; namely, before this world was created there were twenty-two Boodoos in the ten times that the world did terminate and commence again; besides those ten times, the world did formerly perish many times, and in proportion thereto there were so many Boodoos; but they were not mentioned in the writings, but for the direction of this world, till the same after an unutterable number of ages shall have perished. Five Boodoos are limited, whereof the four past were already, or the fifth or the last is still expected, who, they say, is in heaven, and shall be born from a Bramin woman.

Q. Where do the Boodoos remain after they leave the world?

A. They are born again in the body of the glory-hall.

Q. What God is that which is worshipped at Katteregam?

A. He is one of the gods upon earth; his place of residence is near a rock, situate between the bottom of the sea and the underground world. He has six heads and twelve hands, whereof the ten last were made use of for the purpose of wielding ten warlike weapons.

Q. What deeds has he performed?

A. When Gauteme Boodoo was at Katteregam in his pagoda, for a few minutes, Kande Koemare, who was on guard upon the offering-tree, Boodoo called Bogoha, or commonly called Devil's tree, made a bow for Gauteme, and got immediately from him the power to cure the sick in general, especially those who are of king's blood, to do wonders, to do good to irrational animals, and to assist men in distress;

This looks like a corruption of the incarnation of Jesus, and also of his divinity.

MYTHOLOGY OF THE CANDIANS.

with a direction however, that men should respect, but not worship him as one of the powerful inferior gods. But the divine respect shewn to him by human beings of the persuasion of Boodoo, became a custom, and was propagated, and the offering-house erected in his honour at Kattergamme, is considered as more sacred than the temple built in Candia in the residence town of the king for the use of him and his subjects.

Q. How is he served and worshipped in the temple?

A. The first day of new moon of the month of July, is the day fixed to begin with the ceremonies of offering. But if, according to the prediction of the astronomers, that day is not prosperous, then it is put off till the day of new moon of the following month of August, when the people assemble, consisting of a great number, namely, Singalese, and other inhabitants of the island, as well as Gentives, Bramins, Pattanies, and Maurs, who in great number come from the coasts of Madura and Coromandel, together with a great concourse of people for the purpose of attending at that ceremony. On the same day the worshipping begins, attended with many costly ceremonies.

Q. What do the Candians believe of devils?

A. They believe that there are devils in the world, and that, according to the doctrine of Boodoo, they may not honour them.

Q. What is the origin of devils? did the Supreme Being create them, or were they from eternity; or are they fallen gods or angels?

A. They say that devils, when nature produced sun, moon, and stars, were human beings, and, on account of their horrible sins, did fall from a state of felicity; but their having been gods or fallen angels, or their having been created, or having existed from eternity, is finally denied ; and they say further, that devils, who commit greater sins than those already committed by them, are condemned to greater damnation, and that even the damned men are reckoned by them amongst the devils: and that on the contrary, the devils, who die and are born again as men, and commit no more sin, can come to the state of felicity; and consequently, that angels are found superior or inferior in rank, in proportion to the sins committed by, but not imputed to them.

Q. What are their performances?

A. The devils obey their head, make war against the enemy of Tzekkerea, and eat

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the flesh of people who die. According to the doctrine of Boodoo, they are entitled to no honours, as being enemies of the human race; yet the Singalese shew them some homage, and do them some services, because they fear that devils have the power to visit human beings with sickness.Hence it is, that in case of sickness they conjure the devils, shew them honours, and make them offerings of money, as well as of boiled and unboiled meat. They also cause the throat, arms, legs, and bodies of the sick, to be closely tied by the conjurors with neeklaces or threads dyed yellow with saffron water.

Q. What do the Candians believe further of devils?

A. According to the doctrine of Boodoo, they may believe nothing, but that they are enemies of the human race.

Q. In what language is the sacred book written?

A. In the renowned Palia language, or the Magedige language, in which Boodoo has preached and published his doctrine.

Q. Is that book to be procured here? A. Yes, in Candia it is to be got complete, but at Adam's Hill it is not complete.

Q. Is it not the same book which the Bramins have?

A. No, the book of the Bramins is a description of secular erudition; such books are known to be more than one.

Q. May every one read the law-book, or bible?

A. No, only the learned, who can understand when they read it, have liberty thereto.

Q. When was the world or universe created, or, according to the Singalese system, produced by nature?

A. To state this perfectly, one should especially know how long the direction of the world was vacant after the aforesaid four Boodoos have left the world; but this is not possible for want of the eight chronicles, and the complete Singalese bible, which is to be found in Candia.

Q. In what manner has nature produced the world?

A. The worlds which were before the present, namely, the earth, and the sea, with every thing which they contained, as well as the sun, moon, and stars, which are supposed to have their course in the lowest heaven; together with the fourteen below heavens and their inhabitants, namely, the inferior gods, who expected to get into the triumphing heavens, all perished through wind, fire, and water, with the exception of

the hell, which is concealed under the abyss of the earth. How the present world in its stead, through a wonderful operation of nature, took a beginning, the following is related.

In the first place, every thing that stood on earth, the earth itself, the hills, the seas, the heavens, and the stars, were destroyed through a violent motion, and working of the wind, and hereupon seven pillars of fire descended from above, whereby every thing was burned into ashes; and that the space which contained the former earth, as well as the burned fourteen below heavens, as far as the heaven Soebhekierneze, were overflowed by a deluge, or, to express it with the proper words of the Singalese, were filled up with the general ruin of the world.

A long while after this revolution, or rather destruction, the gods who were in the aforesaid heaven got knowledge thereof for the first time, when they saw the flowers, which we call water-roses, and appear above the surface of the water, which was risen up to that heaven, and which was a certain proof that there was already a new earth, from which the flowers proceeded, and that the appointed time of those gods to remain in the said heaven having been expired, they were to descend, in order to take their abode in the new earth. They therefore sat in great number upon the aforesaid flowers; and afterwards, when the water sunk down, descended in that world whereof the foundations were but then newly laid. The hills, rocks, seas, rivers, and all sorts of animals, were then forthcoming, and they inhabited the same with such great satisfaction, that they could exist without bodily maintenance, and even without the light of the sun, moon, and stars, as they had such lustre from themselves, that the whole earth could be lighted thereby. But those gods were afterwards carried away so far by pride and pleasure, that they grew wicked, and not only became human beings of both sexes, but also having lost the lustres of their glory, were obliged to spend their days in great darkness, with much fear and anxiety, till a new sun, moon, and stars, should be brought forth by nature. And as they, by this fall, on account of their sins, could not afterwards miss their bodily maintenance any longer; they supported themselves with the clay of earth, and used it as food; and as they, on account of its good taste, and from a sinful desire, had made a great collection thereof, it was rendered tasteless, to punish them. Afterwards a sort of shrub served them for food, of which also they could not long

make any use for that purpose on the same account.

After this they had recourse to a sort of kam pernoelye, commonly called devil's bread, or paddestoelen; to which they having conceived a great aversion, were maintained with a sort of nourishing grains; but as, in using the same, they committed greater sin through excess, they were at last compelled to take the plough in hand, and to earn their bread by their own zeal and labour, and to propagate the human race.

Q. Have the Singalese any idea of the fall of men, and of the first sin?

A. Not of the fall of men, but of the origin of the first sin, with respect to the wicked inferior gods having fallen, and become men.

Q. As the Supreme God is perfectly good, from whence comes evil or sin in the world?

A. The origin of sin is attributed to the mischievous and corrupted temper of men.

Q. Is the devil, or any other powerful spirit, the cause of sin, and did the wicked spirit seduce men to sin?

A. In no wise.

Q. Wherein consist the chief points of the persuasion of Boodoo? Have they a moral law, like our ten commandments.? If so, tell first how many commandments do they contain: secondly, what they are called and thirdly, who gave those commandments, and at what place?

A. The chief points of the persuasion of Boodoo are, according to his moral law, threefold, consisting of thoughts, words, and works; and in order that he may, in a manner pleasant to himself, impart those three qualities to his fellow-believers, he recommended to them the strict observance of the ten commandments, in these and similar words: namely,

1. Do never give to truth the name of untruth, and even do never suspect them. 2. Do not desire the goods of your fellow-creatures, nor long for them. 3. Do never wish the death of your enemies.

4. Avoid all lies.

5. Do not betray the words of others. 6. Avoid all injurious and filthy words. 7. Hate all idle conversation, which may tend to the ruin of yourself and your fellow.

creatures.

8. Commit no murder.
9. Do not steal.

10. Commit no fornication nor adultery. Of those ten commandments, the three former are founded upon the first chief quality, namely, the thoughts; the four following upon the words; and the three

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