that the offerings consisted of consecrated cakes; that the ceremony itself is denominated stradha: and that a Hindoo's hopes of happiness after death greatly depend upon his having children to perform this ceremony, by which he expects that his soul will be released from the torments of naraka or hell. In his sixth note upon the text of the Geeta his account of this ceremony is still more ample for in that note he acquaints us that the Hindoos are enjoined by the vedas to offer these cakes to the ghosts of their ancestors, as far back as the third generation; that this greater ceremony of the stradha is performed on the day of the new moon in every month; but that they are commanded by those books daily to propitiate them by an offering of water, which is called tarpan, a word signifying to satisfy, to appease. A speech of the Indian emperor Dushmanta, in the Sacontala, remarkably exemplifies this observation. That em peror, struck with horror at the idea of dying childless, exclaims, Ah me, the departed souls of my ancestors, who claim a share in the funeral cake which I have no son to offer, are apprehensive of losing their due honour when Dushmanta shall be no more on earth; who then, alas, will perform in our family those obsequies which the vedas prescribe? my forefathers must drink, instead of a pure libation, this flood of tears, the only offering which a man who dies childless can make them." MAURICE'S Ind. Ant. vol. ii. p. 80. N. 869.-xix. 8. Then the king arose, and sat in the gate.] This custom appears to have been very ancient, and is found in other writings than the sacred books. Homer thus represents Nestor. The old man early rose, walk'd forth, and sate On polish'd stone before his palace gate. Where ancient Nelus sat, a rustic throne ; But he descending to the infernal shade, Sage Nestor fill'd it, and the sceptre sway'd. Odyss. i. 518. These seats or thrones might be consecrated with oil, to draw reverence to the seats of justice by an act of religion. No. 870.-xix. 35. Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women?] The Mahometan caliphs are represented as surrounded by young and handsome ladies in a morning, with all sorts of instruments of music in their hands, standing with great modesty and respect; who, on their sitting up in their beds, in order to rise, prostrate themselves, and those with instruments of music begin a concert of soft flutes, &c. In the halls in which they eat and drink, bands of musicians are supposed to attend them in like manner. (Arabian Nights' Entertainments, vol. ix. p. 20.) Theocritus has described the same custom as existing amongst the Greeks, and from the words of Barzillai to David it appears, that something of the kind was practised in the court of that king. No. 871.-xx. 3. They were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.] In China, when an emperor dies, all his women are removed to an edifice called the palace of Chastity, situated within the walls of the palace, in which they are shut up for the remainder of their lives. Macartney, p. 375, No. 872.—xx. 9. And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.] This is the custom still among the Eastern people. The Indians take one another by the chin, that is, the beard, when they would give a hearty salute to a person; at the same time saying, Bobba, i. e. father or Bii, brother. See Peter 1 della Valle, Travels, p. 410. and Oriental Customs, No. 104. and 109. No. 873.-xxiii. 15. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!] Agathocles relates that there were certain fountains in those regions, to the number of seventy, whose waters were denominated golden, and of which it was death for any one to drink, except the king and his eldest son. This may explain the wish of king David for water from the well of Bethlehem, unless we suppose it to have arisen from a predilection, like that of the Parthian monarchs for the water of Choaspes, which was carried with them whereever they went, and from that circumstance styled by Tibullus regia lympha, and by Milton, the drink of none but kings. Gillingwater, MS. No. 874.-1 KINGS ii. 5, And shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. It is evident that David meant by these words to describe the violence of Joab, the effects of which seem to have been coincident with the sentiment of Abdollah, who 66 went out and defended himself, to the terror and astonishment of his enemies, killing a great many with his own hands, so that they kept at a distance, and threw bricks at him, and made him stagger; and when he felt the blood run down his face and beard, he repeated this verse, the blood of our wounds doth not fall down on our heels, but on our feet, meaning that he did not turn his back on his enemies." OCKLEY's Hist. of the Saracens, vol. ii. p. 291. In like manner the blood shed by Joab fell on his feet, on his shoes; it was not inadvertently, but purposely shed: shed with ferocity, rather than valour. FRAGMENTS, No. 321. No. 875.-ii. 10. So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.] In general the dead were buried out of the eastern cities: and as this was the usual practice, it was not departed from, but upon very particular occasions. It was a mark of distinguish-> ed honour to be interred within a city. "Hali Dey, as a very eminent mark of distinction, was buried within an inclosed tomb within the city." Hist. of the Piratical States of Barbary, p. 163. HARMER, vol. ii. p. 141. No. 876.-ii. 23. And king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.].Solomon considered it as a treasonable request, that Adonijah should desire to have David's wife. For, according to the custom of the Hebrews, no man who had been the servant of the king might serve any other master; nor might any man ride upon the king's horse, nor sit upon his throne; nor use his sceptre; much less might any private person marry the king's widow, who belonged only to his successor. Thus God gave David all the wives of Saul. 2 Sam. xii. 8. See Selden de Uxor. Heb. lib. i. сар. 10. No. 877.-ii. 28. And caught hold of the horns of the altar.] That it was customary to fly to the altar as to a place of safety, is evident from this and various other passages of scripture. It was equally practised by the Jews and other nations. With the Greeks it certainly prevailed. Of the altar of Jupiter Hercæus it is said to one, -fly To Jove's inviolable altar nigh. Odyss. xxii. 372. POPE. The altar mentioned by Virgil was of the same nature : to this Priam fled at the taking of Troy. See En. ii. No. 878.-iv. 7. And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and his household.] These are doubtless to be considered as his general receivers; for "the revenues of princes in the East are paid in the fruits and productions of the earth; there are no other taxes upon the peasants." Chardin, MS. HARMER, vol. ii. p. 284. No. 879.-viii. 31. And the oath come before thine altar in this house.] It was the custom of all nations to touch the altar when they made a solemn oath, calling |