EZRA.

CHAP. V. verse 7.-"They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all

peace."

The people of the East are always very particular as to the way in which they commence a letter. Thus, they take into consideration the rank of the individual to whom they write, and keep in view also what is their object. "To you who are respected by kings." "To him who has the happiness of royalty." "To the feet of his excellency, my father, looking towards the place where he is worshipping, I write.” A father to his son says, "Head of all blessings, chief of life, precious pearl." When people meet each other on the road, they say, "Salam, peace to you." Or, when they send a message, or ask a favour, it is always accompanied by a salam.

IX. S.-"Plucked off the hair of my head."

In great disappointment, fury, or distress, this people tear out their long hair. They also bite their lips and arms.”

6. "Our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens."

"Ah, that fellow's sins are on his head: how numerous are the sins on his head. Alas! for such a head as that. Who can take them from his head? His iniquity is so great, you may see it on his head."

Does a man wish to extenuate his crime, to make himself appear not so great a sinner as some suppose, he asks, "What! has my guilt grown up to heaven? no! no!" "Abominable wretch, your guilt has reached to the heavens." "Can you call that little, which has grown up to the heavens?"

8.-"Give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes." The margin has, "or a pin," that is, " a constant and sure abode."

It is worthy of notice, that the Tamul translation has it "a hut in his holy place. To "lighten" the eyes signifies, to give comfort, to strengthen, to refresh. A father says to his son, when he wishes him to do any thing, "My child, make these eyes light." "O woman, enlighten my eyes, lest I be swallowed up with sorrow." "O that our eyes were clear! who will take away the darkness from my eyes?"

X. 1." Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God."

People on their arrival from England are astonished at the apparent devotion of the Hindoos, when they see them cast themselves down before their temples. Those of high rank, and in elegant attire, do not hesitate thus to prostrate themselves in the dust, before the people. How often, as you pass along, may you see a man stretched his full length on the ground, with his face IN the dust, pouring out his complaint, or making his requests unto the gods. It matters not to him who or what may be near him he heeds not, and moves not, till his devotions are finished.

9.-"All the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain."

What a marked illustration we have of this passage every wet monsoon. See the people on a court-day, or when they are called to the different offices on business. The rains come on; they have only a piece of cotton round their loins, and a small leaf, which they carry over their heads: they all run in a stooping position (as if that would save them from the rain) to the nearest tree, and there they sit in groups, huddled together, and trembling" for the great rain."

When friends, servants, or acquaintances have a request to make, or a secret to disclose, they walk about with a gloomy countenance, and never speak but when spoken to. Their object is, to induce you to ask what is the matter, because they think you will be then disposed to listen to their complaint.

7..

"Moreover I said unto the king, if it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah.”

No person of consequence travels in the East without a letter or kattali, i.e. a command from the Rasa, the governor, the collector or officer in authority, to the different chiefs of the districts through which he may have to travel. Were it not for this, there would often be a difficulty in getting supplies, and there would generally be a great delay; the officers would be insolent and overbearing, and the purveyors would demand thrice the sum the articles were worth. The letters in question are generally in duplicate, so that one precedes the traveller, and the other is in his possession. Thus, when he arrives at the choultry or rest-house, there will always be people to receive him, who are ready to furnish him with supplies, and coolies to help him on his journey. Sometimes they declare they are in the greatest want; they cannot get rice, they have neither fish nor fowls, and are brought to the lowest ebb of misery.

IV. 3.-"Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall."

When men deride the workmanship of a mason, they say, "Che! why, if a dog or a jackal run against that wall, it will fall." "A wall! why, it will not keep out the jackals."

21." From the rising of the morning till the stars appeared."

Thus did the people labour from the earliest dawn till the latest glimpse of evening light. "Well, Tamby, have you found your cattle?"-" Found them? no! and I wandered from the rising east, till the stars appeared.” "At what time do you intend to leave the temple?"-"Not till the stars appear." "When do you expect the guests?"—"Immediately when the stars appear."

V. 13. "I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out

every man from his house, and from his labour, that

performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied."

When men or women curse each other, they shake the lap, i. e. their cloth, or robe, and say, "It shall be so with thee." Does a man begin to shake his sali, or waistcloth, in the presence of another, the other will say, "Why do you shake your cloth here? go to some other place." "What! can you shake your lap here? do it not, do it not." Yes, yes; it is all true enough; this misery has come upon me through that wretched man shaking his cloth in my presence."

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The natives always carry a pouch, made of the leaf of the cocoa, or other trees, in their lap; in one part of which they keep their money, and in another their areca-nut, betel leaf, and tobacco. It is amusing to see how careful they are, never to have that pouch EMPTY; for they have an idea, that so long as a single coin shall be found in it (or any of the other articles alluded to), the ATTRACTION will be so great, that the contents of the pouch will not be long without companions. See the Englishman who wants any thing out of a pouch or bag;

if he cannot soon find the article he requires, he shakes out the whole not so the Hindoo; he will fumble and grope for an hour, rather than shake out the whole. "Do that! why, who knows how long the pouch would remain empty?" It is therefore evident, that to shake the lap conveyed with it the idea of a curse.

14.-"I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor."

Nehemiah did not eat that bread which properly belonged to him as the governor. When the Orientals say they eat the rice of a person, it denotes they are under obligations to him. People who have formerly been employed by you often come and say, "Ah, my lord, how long it is since I had the pleasure of eating your rice." Those who are in the service of the government, are said to eat the rice of the king. A servant who is requested to injure his master, says, "No, no; have I not eaten his rice for many days?" Of a person who has been faithful to a superior it is said, "Yes, yes; he has eaten his rice, or he would not have been so true to him."

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IX. 37.-" Whom thou hast set over us, because of our sins."

These people attribute all their losses and afflictions to their SINS. Has a man lost his wife or child, he says, "Enpāvatin-nemityam, for the sake of my sins, this evil has come upon me." "Why, friend, do you live in this strange land?” "Because of my sins." No people can refer more to SIN as the source of their misery, and yet none appear more anxious to commit it. "The sins of my ancestors, the sins of my ancestors, are in this habitation," says the old sinner, who wishes to escape the sight of his own.