shaken off, when they are in motion, and are picked up by children and others, who greedily eat what they gather, as something sacred.  After being driven through the streets, they are suffered, during the day, to feed wherever they please, without a keeper.  I have, however, told you enough.  Are you ready to exclaim, Is it possible that a people can be guilty of such utter folly?  But you, my dear children, would be guilty of just such folly, if you had not the Bible.  Should not the gratitude, then, which you owe to your heavenly Father, for your distinguished mercies, constrain you to do all that you can to send this blessed book to this dark land?

CHAPTER XI.

THE WORSHIP OF THE SERPENT.

My dear Children—­If you have never heard much about the Hindoos, you will be astonished to learn how numerous are the objects of their worship.  They worship many living creatures, such as the ape, the tiger, the elephant the horse, the ox, the stag, the sheep, the hog, the dog, the cat, the rat, the peacock, the eagle, the cock, the hawk, the serpent, the chameleon, the lizard, the tortoise, fishes, and even insects.  Of these, some receive much more worship than others, such as the cow, the ox, and the serpent Cobra Capella.  I will speak at present only of the worship of the serpent.

Of all the dangerous creatures found in India, there are none that occasion so many deaths as serpents.  The people are very much exposed to their bite, especially at night, when they are walking.  They tread upon them, and, as they generally do not wear shoes, the snakes turn their heads, and strike their fangs into those parts of the feet which are nearest to the place where the pressure is made upon their bodies.  Sometimes the bite is followed with instant death.  The Cobra Capella is one of the most common snakes, and one of the most poisonous.  It is said, that it has a thousand heads, one of which holds up the earth.  It has a peculiar mark on its back, just behind the head.  This mark very much resembles a pair of spectacles, without the handles.  If you should go near it, it would raise the fore part of its body about six inches, widen out its neck, so as to be about double its common width, and prepare to strike you.  The reason why the Hindoos offer sacrifices and adoration to it above all the other serpents is, because it is so frequently met with, and is so much dreaded.

In order to induce the people to worship this dangerous enemy, the Hindoos have filled their books with tales concerning it.  Figures of it are often to be seen in the temples, and on other buildings.  They seek out their holes, which are generally to be found in the hillocks of earth which are thrown up by the white ants; and when they find one, they go from time to time and offer milk, plantains, and other good things to it.

[Illustration]