should again be filled with the glory of the Lord coming from the East."

When we consider the various allusions to the East in Holy Writ; at the comparisons to the sun, in reference to divine illuminations; reflecting on the homage paid to the great orb of day by all the heavenly bodies; looking at the idea of the Orientals, "that the face is always towards the East,” i. e. it is the eastern part of the body; at the phrases, "not turn to the right or the left," i. e. neither to the north nor to the south; we get a new view of many interesting passages of Scripture.

XLVIII. 23.-" Benjamin shall have a portion." Margin, instead of “a," " one.”

In the Tamul it is the same, thus, Oru manuthan, lite ray - always one, which we render a.

ONE man

DANIEL.

CHAP. I. verse 2.-"He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god."

In all heathen temples there is a place for the sacred jewels and other treasures. The ornaments of the idols are sometimes of GREAT value. I have seen the small crown, breast-plate, and necklaces of one idol worth more than 4007.

II. 4. "O king, live for ever."

These words are not addressed to the ears of royalty MERELY. Has a man been greatly favoured by another, he says, "Ah! may you never die." "So good a man ought never to die." "May you live for ever." "Will death come to such a man as this?" "Live, live, for ever."

IV. 25. 66

heaven."

They shall wet thee with the dew of

This was one of the miseries of Nebuchadnezzar, and a much greater one than the people in England imagine. Think of the state of the body and pores after being twelve hours in a blazing, sun, and then think on such a dew falling as will saturate all the clothes; and a tolerable view is gained of the great reverse, and the effect it must have on the human frame. Of a wretched man it is said, "The sun falls on his head by day, and the dew by night." the sun and made wet by the dew.”

"He is scorched by

V. 12.-" Dissolving of doubts." The margin (Chald.) has instead of "doubts," "knots."

A very difficult subject is called a mudiche, a knot! Thus the explaining of a riddle is called "untying the

knot." Of a talented man it is said, "Ah! he is very clever, he can tie or untie any knot." Of a dream, it is asked, "who can loose this knot?" Of any mysteries, or of deep plans, it is asked, "Ah! who can untie these knots?" "How difficult that passage was, but he soon unravelled the knot."

27. -"Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found

wanting."

This striking form of speech is much used in the East at this day. Thus, should two men be disputing respecting the moral character of a third person, one will say, I know the fellow well, "I have weighed him, and he is found wanting." "He found wanting! you are much lighter than he." "What! miscreant, do you wish to weigh against me?" "Thou art but as one part in a thousand." "Begone! fellow, or I will soon weigh thee." "Yes, yes, there is no doubt about it: you have weighed me; I am much lighter than you." "What kind of times are these? the slaves are weighing their masters." "Yes, the low castes have become very clever, they are weighing their superiors." "What! woman, do you call in question the authority of your husband: are you qualified to weigh him ?" "The judge has been weighing the prisoners, and they are all wanting."

VI. 23. "No manner of hurt was found upon him,

--

because he believed in his God."

The Orientals have an idea, that in WHATEVER a man BELIEVES, whether in reference to the existence or nonexistence of evil or danger in regard to himself, that, so will his condition be regulated. In walking once with a learned Brahmin, through a grove of cocoa-trees; I enquired, Why are you not afraid of those nuts falling on your head, and killing you on the spot? "Because I have only to BELIEVE they will not fall, and all is safe," was his reply.

VII. 15." I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the

midst of my body, and the visions of my head

troubled me." Margin (Chald.) "sheath." "Sheath;" this is a very curious expression when applied to such a subject, but it is perfectly natural. When a person has swooned, the people say, "His life has gone into its URI," i. e. SHEATH, meaning some particular place into which the life is supposed to retire and conceal itself from the sight. Has a man been wounded by a serpent, and should he appear to be dead, it is often said, "Fear not, his life has merely gone into its SHEATH." When a person's eyes are much sunken by sickness, the people say, "Alas! his eyes have gone into their sheath." "Well, my friend, when did you arrive?" — " I came just as the sun was going into its sheath," i. e. going down. "I am happy to hear that the king has put his anger and his sword into the sheath."

HOSEA.

CHAP. III. verse 2.
pieces of silver."

"So I bought her to me for fifteen

Slavery has been common in the East from the most remote antiquity; but its form in general is very mild: hence masters and slaves are more like companions than those betwixt whom such a relationship exists. If the latter can tell a good story and flatter their lords, they may almost do as they please. A good high-caste female slave may be had for 60 Rds, i. e. 4l. 10s. ; whereas a low-caste can be purchased for 20 Rds, 17. 10s. A high-caste male slave will fetch 31. but one of an inferior degree only half that sum.*

IV. 16.-"For Israel slideth back as a back-sliding heifer."

By a reference to the 14th and 15th verses it will be seen that this denotes the loose conduct of the daughters of Israel, and exactly in this way do people speak of the same class of females.

VI. 4.-" O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee?

for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away."

* During the time the Right Honourable Sir Alexander Johnston was chief justice of Ceylon, a government regulation was made, which will soon cause slavery to be extinct in that island. By the proposal of numerous inhabitants to the Prince Regent, that children born after the 12th of August, 1816, should be emancipated; and by the government regulation, No. 8. dated the 17th April, 1821, it is decided, "All female children of female slaves, born on and after the 24th of April, 1821, being the day of celebrating His Majesty's birthday, are declared free:" thus, in a short time, even from that regulation, there would not have been a single slave in Ceylon.