of which the ends hang down to their feet.  On their shoulders they wear a striped cloth, which they say was the dress of the Son of God; and they have a bottle of water hung at their girdle.  They keep two fasts, during the principal of which they eat but once a day, and do not speak a word, using signs on all necessary occasions.  During the other fast they eat as often as they have a mind, but use flesh only at one meal The people are called to prayers by the sound of trumpets, some of which are made of dead men’s bones; and they use human skulls as drinking-vessels.  Of other bones they make beads, which they allege is to remind them of death.  The churches are only opened twice a year, when the votaries walk round the outside three times in procession, and then go in to reverence the images, some of which are of angels, called by them Las, the greatest being the one who intercedes with God for the souls of men.  This being represented with the devil under his feet, was supposed by the missionaries to be St Michael the archangel.  It is not unworthy of remark, that the word Lama, signifying priest, begins with La, which means an angel.  The young Lamas go about the towns, dancing to the sound of bells and other noisy instruments of music; which, they say, is in imitation of the angels, who are painted by the Christians as singing in choirs.

[Footnote 18:  Wherever any coincidence appears in the ceremonies and externals of the heathen worship, the zealous catholics are eager to conceive that these have been borrowed from Christianity; unconscious that their own mummeries have all been borrowed from heathen worship, and superadded to the rational purity of primitive Christianity,—­E.]

At the beginning of every month a procession is made in which are carried black flags and the figures of devils, and attended by drums and music, which they believe chases away the devils.  They use holy water, which is consecrated with many prayers, having gold coral and rice put into it, and is used for driving devils from their houses.  The country people bring black horses, cows and sheep, over which the Lamas say many prayers, as it is alleged the devils endeavour to get into cattle of a black colour.  They cure the sick by blowing on the part affected.  They have three different kinds of funerals, according to the star which rules at the time of death.  In one the body is buried in a tomb adorned with gilded pyramids.  In another the body is burnt and the ashes being mixed with clay are formed into images by which they swear.  In the last, which is reckoned the most honourable, the body is exposed to be devoured by certain birds resembling cranes.  These three forms are used with such as have spent good lives, but others are cut in pieces and thrown to the dogs.  They believe that the good go directly to heaven, and the bad to hell; while such as are indifferent remain in an intermediate state, whence their souls return to animate noble or base creatures according