verse, "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." And this reference to the navel, as being connected with earthly prosperity, is common at this day. Has a person arisen from poverty to affluence, it is said, "His navel has grown much larger." Should he insult the man from whom he has derived his prosperity, the latter will ask, "Who made your navel to grow?"

IV. 13. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not

go: keep her; for she is thy life.”

It is said of the fixed will or purpose of those who take fast hold of learning or any other thing, "Ah! they are like the hand of the monkey in the shell of the cocoa-nut; it will not let go the rice."

:

"On the banks of a broad river there was once a very large herd of monkeys, which greatly injured the fields and gardens of the inhabitants. Several consultations were held as to the best way of getting rid of those troublesome marauders to take their lives was altogether contrary to the religious prejudices of the people; and to take them in traps was almost impossible, as the monkeys never approached any place without well examining the ground. At last it was determined to procure a sufficient number of cocoa-nuts; to make in each a small hole, and fill them with rice. These were strewed on the ground, and the people retired to watch the success of their plan. The offenders soon went to the place, and seeing the rice (their favourite food) in the nuts, they began to eat the few grains scattered about on the ground: but these only exciting their appetite, they each thrust a HAND through the small hole into the nut, which was soon clasped full of rice. The HAND now became so enlarged that it could not be withdrawn without losing its booty to leave such a dainty was more than the monkey could consent to: the people therefore came forward, and

soon seized their foes, as the cocoa-nut attached to the hand prevented them from getting quickly out of the way. They were, therefore, all made prisoners, and ferried across the river, and left to seek their food in the wilderness." "Take

fast hold of instruction; let her not go; keep her; for she is thy life."

V. 19.-"Let her be as the loving hind."

The hind is celebrated for affection to her mate; hence a man, in speaking of his wife, often calls her by that name. My hind, my hind! where is my hind?" "Alas! my hind has fallen; the arrow has pierced her life."

VI. 5. "Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler." Does a man complain of his numerous enemies, it will be said, "Leap away, friend, as the deer from the snare." " Fly off, fly off, as the bird from the fowler." "Go slily to the place; and then, should you see the snare, fly away like a bird."

13." He speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers."

It should be remembered, that when people are in their houses, they do not wear sandals; consequently their feet and toes are exposed. When guests wish to speak with each other, so as not to be observed by the host, they convey their meaning by the feet and toes. Does a person wish to leave a room in company with another, he lifts up one of his feet; and should the other refuse, he also lifts up a foot, and then suddenly puts it down on the ground.

"He teacheth with his fingers." When merchants wish to make a bargain in the presence of others, without making known their terms, they sit on the ground, have a piece of cloth thrown over the lap, and then put each a hand under, and thus speak with the fingers! When the Brahmins convey

religious mysteries to their disciples, they teach with their fingers, having the hands concealed in the folds of their robes.

27. "Can a man take fire in his bosom ?"

When an individual denies a crime of which he has been accused, it will be asked, "Will you put fire in your bosom?" “I am innocent, I am innocent; in proof of which I will put fire in my bosom." Does a man boast he will do that which is imposible, another will say, " He is going to put fire in his bosom without being burned."

Females of that class are generally dressed in scarlet! have their robes wound tightly round their bodies; their eyelids and finger nails are painted or stained; and they wear numerous ornaments. (2 Kings ix. 30.) See on Isa. iii. 16. and following verses.

X. 11.

"The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked." "The language of a holy man is like a well with good springs: thousands may be refreshed there." "The words of a bad man are like the springs of the sea; though very strong they are not sweet."

"Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked." To cover the mouth is the sign of sorrow: thus, they who act violently will sooner or later reap the fruits thereof. They will have to cover their mouth in token of sorrow for the past, and in anticipation of the future.

XI. 22.—" As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion."

Nearly all the females of the East wear a jewel of gold in their nostrils, or in the septum of the nose; and some of them are exceedingly beautiful, and of great value. The Oriental lady looks with as much pleasure on the gem which_ADORNS

her nose, as any of her sex in England do upon those which deck their ears. But as is that splendid jewel in the snout of a swine, so is beauty in a woman without discretion. She may have the ornament, her mien may be graceful, and her person attractive; but without the matchless jewel of virtue, she is like the swine with a gem in his nose, wallowing in the mire. "The most beautiful ornament of a woman is virtue," Tamul proverb.

29. "Shall inherit the wind."

This form of expression is still used in India. "I understand Kandan will give a large dowry with his daughter; she will, therefore, be a good bargain for your son." "You are correct, my friend; she is to inherit the wind." "I once had extensive lands for my portion; but now I inherit the wind." "I know you would like to have hold of my property; but you may take the wind."

XIV. 13." In laughter the heart is sorrowful."

Few people are such adepts at disguising their feelings as those of this country, for they can laugh or weep as circumstances require.

Joab, no doubt, looked very pleasantly when he went to Amasa to kiss him, but his hand was ready to smite the unsuspecting victim to the ground. When they fawn and laugh, their hearts are often most fertile in plots against

XVI. 15." In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain." Poets often speak of the generosity of the great as the clouds full of rain, but the uncharitable are like the clouds without rain. "O the benevolent man! he is like the fruitful rain; ever giving, but never receiving."

XVII. 18.—"A man void of understanding striketh hands." (xxii. 26. "Be not thou one of them that

strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts."

"He that hateth suretiship is sure.")

The Hindoo proverb says, "Munindär muneruka-kaduvār, i. e. He who stands BEFORE may have to pay." This, therefore, is the idea of a surety: he stands BEFORE the debtor, and covenants with the creditor for the payment of the money he, therefore, who stands before, is literally betwixt the contending parties. In this respect "was Jesus made a surety" for us: he stood BEFORE, and became our MEσITYS, or Mediator.

The melancholy instances of ruin, in consequence of becoming surety for others, are exceedingly numerous in the East. Against this they have many proverbs, and fearful examples; but nothing seems to give them wisdom. Nearly all the government monopolies, both amongst native and European rulers, are let to the highest bidders: thus, the privilege of searching for precious stones in certain districts, of taking up the chiar root, salt rents, fishing for chanks or pearls, is confined to those who pay a fixed sum to government. As the whole of the money cannot be advanced till a part of the produce shall be sold, SURETIES have to be accountable for the amount. But as such speculations are generally entered into, in order to better a reduced fortune, an extravagant price is often paid, and ruin is the consequence both to the principal and his surety. This practice of suretiship, however, is COMMON in the most TRIFLING affairs of life: "Pareellutha-vonum, i. e. Sign your name," is asked for to every petty agreement. In every legal court or magistrate's office may be seen, now and then, a trio entering, thus to become responsible for the engagements of another. The cause of all this SURETISHIP is probably the bad faith which so commonly prevails amongst the heathen.

XVIII. 10. "The Lord is a strong tower."

Men of wealth are called towers. Thus, when such a person dies, it is said, "The pellata-koburam, i. e. strong tower, has

BB