of happier days she had hitherto forbore to trouble him with complaints; but seeing no amendment she seized the opportunity of her husband's absence to repair to the durbar, in hopes of regaining that affection which had formerly constituted her happiness. Fearful of a cool reception, she had previously consulted the most celebrated cunning-woman in the city; who prepared a box of ointment, which she was to apply by stealth, as near as possible to the heart of the object beloved; and, if so far successful, she might be assured of accomplishing her wishes. Zeida knew not the character of her friend; he resisted the tear of beauty, and the eloquence of love; and having convinced her of the difference between their former attachment, and the crime of adultery, persuaded her to return home before the approaching dawn discovered the impropriety of her visit.

Poor Zeida felt that life without love is of little value, as poignantly as Khosroo, Hafiz, or any of the Persian poets. The sentiments, so much extolled in the Yusef Zelekha of Jami, only express those, which, in unstudied language, flowed from the lips of Zeida at this affecting interview.

Enrapt Zelekha, all her soul on fire,

Flew from her home, t'accomplish her desire;

The raven night now slowly wings its way,
The bird of morning hails the new-born day :

Th' enchanting warblers sing in rival pride,
The blooming rose-buds throw their veils aside :

The virgin jasmin bathes her face in dew,
The violet scents her locks of azure hue;

LOVE-CHARMS.

But sad Zelekha knows no pleasing rest,

While hopes and fears possess her anxious breast:

Her powers of reason wild despair disarms,
Prompting to scatter all her roseate charms :

Smiling, to all she wears the face of joy,
A thousand flames her burning breast destroy.

Night, more than day, desiring lovers hail,
For that withdraws, but this bestows the veil.

Conceal'd by night, she gives her griefs to flow,
And seeks in solitude relief from woe.

In youth's gay garden, like a flower she rose,
Pure and unruffled, as life's water flows:

Giv'n to the winds, away her peace is flown;
Upon her bed unnumber'd thorns are strown."

...

265

Respecting the virtues of the ointment prepared by the experienced matron, such charms are generally credited in India: many allusions to them are found in oriental stories; the "ointment poured forth," and similar expressions in Solomon's Song, have probably the same tendency. The ancient poets abound with philtres, charms, and medicaments, to excite the tender passion. Unguents, bones of snakes, blood of doves, and a variety of potions are mentioned by the Greek and Roman writers; especially the Arcadian plant called hippomanes. Many appropriate passages might be quoted from Homer, Virgil, and Propertius. One from Horace, where Canidia seems to have been placed in a similar situation with Zeida, will suffice:

266

SPELLS.

Atqui nec herba, nec latens in asperis
Radix fefellit me locis.

Indormit unctis omnium cubilibus
Oblivione pellicum.

Ah, ah, solutus ambulat veneficæ

Scientioris carmine.

Then what am I? There's not an herb doth grow,
Nor root, but their virtues know,

And can the craggy places shew;
Yet Varus slights my love, above my pow'r,
And sleeps on rosy beds secure;

Ah! much I fear some rival's greater skill
Defends him from my weaker spell.

It would be endless to repeat the variety of instances relating to these spells and incantations, which were continually brought before the courts of adawlet in Baroche and Dhuboy, where they could neither be refuted nor counteracted. Those brought to light in the public court were generally more intended for destruction by poison, than for the creation or revival of the tender passion. To effect the latter many virtues are attributed to the mendey, or al'hinna, a fragrant and elegant shrub in the oriental gardens, already mentioned. The other spells were composed of less innocent materials, and appropriated to more iniquitous purposes. With the exception of human ingredients, they bore a very near resemblance to the singular anecdote recorded by Tacitus, and confirmed by Dio Cassius, respecting the death of Germanicus, who was supposed to have been poisoned at Antioch, by the secret orders of Piso, by means of Martina, a celebrated female practitioner in these arts. "Under the floor, and in the cavities of the walls, a collection of human bones was found, with charms, and magic

verses, and incantations. The name of Germanicus was graved on plates of lead; fragments of human bodies, not quite consumed to ashes, were discovered in a putrid condition, with a variety of those magic spells, which, according to the vulgar opinion, are of potency to devote the souls of the living to the infernal gods."

Excursion through the English Purgunnas in Guzerat-Bats of enormous Size-Serpents-Cure of their venomous Bite by Lullabhy-Character of Lullabhy-Vanjarrahs Life of the Palanquin-bearers Anecdote of a young Hindoo Mother Country near Zinore-Pass of Bowa-Peer-Arrival at DhuboyMountain of Powaghur - Brodera -Debauched Character of Indian Princes-Mahomedan Women-Mosques and Sepulchres -Funeral Ceremonies-Grand Wells-Beauty of the Brodera Purgunna-Valuable Produce of the District-Oppressions of Government-Character of Futty Sihng-Magnificent Wedding of Vazeer Ally-Anecdote of Hyder Ally-Letter from the Mharatta Peshwa to George the Third-Happy Consequences to be expected from the Power and Influence of the British Government in India-Music of the Hindoos-Ceremonies at a Hindoo Wedding-Encampment near Brodera-Injustice of the System and general Character of the Hindoos-Meah Gaum Rajah-Death and Character of Hiroo Nand-Sacrifice of his Widow Mahomedan Women - Serpents - Serpent-eatersLocusts - Distillers - Potters - Floods― Average of Annual Rain.

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In the month of January, 1783, I accompanied the chief of Baroche, then lately arrived from Bombay, on a tour through all the purgunnas under his jurisdiction, as collector-general. We formed a social party of five English gentlemen, with proper officers and attendants; it being necessary for those who fill high stations in