23.-"I will not take from a thread even to a shoe

latchet."

This may refer to the red thread worn round the neck or the arm, and which binds on the amulet; or the string with which females tie up the hair. The latchet I suppose to mean the thong of the sandal, which goes over the top of the foot, and betwixt the great and little toes. It is proverbial to say, should a man be accused of taking away some valuable article which belongs to another, "I have not taken away even a piece of the thong of your worn-out sandals."

XV. 17, 18.—“A burning lamp that passed between those pieces," "In the same day the Lord

made a covenant with Abram."

Several eminent critics believe the lamp of fire was an emblem of the Divine presence, and that it ratified the covenant with Abram,

It is an interesting fact, that the burning lamp or fire is still used in the East in confirmation of a covenant. Should a person in the evening make a solemn promise to perform something for another, and should the latter doubt his word, the former will say, pointing to the flame of the lamp, “That is the witness." On occasions of greater importance, when two or more join in a covenant, should the fidelity of any be questioned, they will say, "We invoke the lamp of the Temple" (as a witness). When an agreement of this kind has been broken, it will be said, "Who would have thought this? for the lamp of the Temple was invoked."

That fire was a symbol of the Divine presence, no one acquainted with the sacred Scriptures can deny; and in the literature and customs of the East, the same thing is still asserted. In the ancient writings, where the marriages of the gods and demigods are described, it is always said the ceremony was performed in the presence of the god of fire. He was the witness. But it is also a general practice, at the celebration of respectable marriages at this day, to have a fire as a witness of the transaction. It is made of the wood

of the Mango-tree, or the Aal or Arasu, or Panne or Palāsu. The fire being kindled in the centre of the room, the young couple sit on stools; but when the Brahmin begins to repeat the incantations, they arise, and the bridegroom puts the little finger of his left hand round the little finger of the right hand of the bride, and they walk round the fire three times from left to right. "Fire is the witness of their covenant; and if they break it, fire will be their destruction."

In the Scanda Purana, the father of the virgin who was to be married to the son of the Rishi, said to him, "Call your son, that I may give to him my daughter in the presence of the god of fire, that he may be the witness;" that being done, Usteyār gave his daughter Verunte in marriage, the fire being the witness.”

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XVI. 2.-"Obtain children by her." The Hebrew has "Be builded by her."

When a wife has been for some time considered steril, should she have a child, she is said to be making her house new, or rather, she has caused the house to be newly built. When a man marries, "he is making a new house."

XVIII. 1. "And he sat in the tent door in the heat

of the day."

Often has my mind reverted to the scene of the good old patriarch sitting in the door of his tent in the heat of the day. When the sun is at the meridian, the wind often becomes softer, and the heat more oppressive; and then may be seen the people seated in the doors of their huts, to inhale the breezes, and to let them blow on their almost naked bodies.

2.-"He lift up his eyes, and looked."

To lift up the eyes does not mean to look upwards, but to look directly at an object, and that earnestly. A man coming from the jungle might say, "As I came this morning, I lifted up my eyes, and behold, I saw three elephants." "Have

you seen any thing to-day in your travels?" "I have not lifted up my eyes. "I do not see the thing you sent me for, sir." "Just lift up your eyes, and will soon find it."

you

4.—“Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and

wash your feet."

How often, in passing through a village, may we see this grateful office performed for the weary traveller! As the people neither wear shoes nor stockings, and as the sandal is principally for the defence of the sole of the foot, the upper part soon becomes dirty. Under these circumstances, to have the feet and ankles washed is very refreshing, and is considered a necessary part of Eastern hospitality.

The service is always performed by servants. (John xiii. 14.)

Such was the language of Abraham before the Lord. A poor man pleading for mercy, or speaking of his own littleness, says, "Ah! my Lord, I am but man (i.e. dust) before you. Has a man been greatly despised, he says, "I am accounted as dust."

XIX. 19. "Thy servant hath found grace in thy sight." Nothing can be more common than this form of speech. Has a man been pleading with another and succeeded in his request, he will say, "Ah! since I have found favour in your sight, let me mention another thing." "My lord, had I not found favour in your sight, who would have helped me?" Happy is the man who finds grace in your sight!"

26."His wife looked back from behind him." "From behind him." This seems to imply that she was following her husband, as is the custom at this day.

When men, or women, leave their house, they never look back, as "it would be very unfortunate." Should a husband have left any thing which his wife knows he will require, she will not call on him to turn or look back; but will either take

the article herself, or send it by another. Should a man have to look back on some great emergency, he will not then proceed on the business he was about to transact. When a person goes along the road (especially in the evening), he will take great care not to look back, " because the evil spirits would assuredly seize him." When they go on a journey, they will not look behind, though the palankeen, or bandy, should be close upon them; they step a little on one side, and then look at you. Should a person have to leave the house of a friend after sunset, he will be advised in going home not to look back: "as much as possible keep your eyes closed; fear not.” Has a person made an offering to the evil spirits, he must take particular care, when he leaves the place, not to look back. A female known to me is believed to have got her crooked neck by looking back. Such observations as the following may be often heard in private conversation. "Have you heard that Comāran is very ill ?”—"No, what is the matter with him?"—" Matter; why he has looked back, and the evil spirit has caught him."

XX. 15.-"Dwell where it pleaseth thee." The margin reads, " good in thine eyes.”

Ask a man, What are you going to do? The reply will often be, "What is good in my eyes." "Whither are you going?"-"Where it is good in mine eyes." "I wish you would perform that for me."-"It is not good in mine eyes."

16.-"A covering of the eyes unto all that are with thee."

Dr. Boothroyd translates this passage, "I have given to thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, to purchase veils for thee and for all who are with thee."

The English notion of an Eastern veil is, that it is merely used to cover or conceal the face; but this is not all, as it serves also for a garment.

The object of Abimelech appears to have been to purchase that garment which a woman throws over her head. It is called Mukādu, because it serves also to cover the face. It is considered to be a great charity to give garments of that description, and rich men often purchase large quantities for that purpose. A husband will say to his wife, when he wants her to do anything which is arduous, "Ah! the apple of my eye, only do this, and I will give thee a gold (Mukādu) veil.”

XXI. 6.-"God hath made me to laugh."

A woman advanced in years, under the same circumstances, would make a similar observation: "I am made to laugh." But this figure of speech is also used on any wonderful occasion. Has a man gained any thing he did not expect, he will ask, "What is this? I am made to laugh." Has a person lost any thing which the moment before he had in his hand, he says, "I am made to laugh." Has he obtained health, or honour, or wealth, or a wife, or a child, it is said, "He is made to laugh." "Ah, his mouth is now full of laughter; his mouth cannot contain all that laughter." (Ps. cxxvi. 2.)

8.-" Abraham made a great feast the same day that

Isaac was weaned."

When the time has come to wean a child, a fortunate day is looked for, and the event is accompanied with feasting and religious ceremonies. Rice is given to the child in a formal way, and the relations are invited to join in the festivities.

For almost every event of life the Hindoos have a fixed rule from which they seldom deviate. They wean a female child within the year, "because, if they did not, it would become steril; " but boys are often allowed the breast till they are three years of age.*

9.-" The son of Hagar

Abraham."

which she had born unto

* It is a curious fact, that a cow, having a female calf, is milked after one week; but after a male, not till one month.