painted with various colors. Garlands of flowers are also put round
their necks, and over their backs. To these are added strings of
cocoa-nuts and other kinds of fruit, which, however, are soon 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