Newspapers / The Noth. Carolina gazette. / July 7, 1753, edition 1 / Page 2
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p: "I ^ V pliecd'f'be ftriif^eR parit in the pfefervation,of liv ing ere'turca, and in abftalli4iiHf’ioni flcfti, wine, See, they- were here particularly cnjoih;,d the ktepin-j; of theie two cc.nmandm{ nts: tho^ the poikrity of bhucluery are un der the fame obligation. 'liv defeendants of Shnddery v/crc allotted toi ti ant' j and it was rnotpe particalarly enjoined this caf; to be Cevout, and to refrain from all cozenage in their dealings, aS exprefted in the 3CI and 4t!i commandments. The race of Cuttery were appointed to be the caft of rul- trs or magiffratesand, bteaufe opprtluon is a lin molt common among the powerful, they are commanded in the 5th and 6th cominaiulments to be juPi, merciful, and cna- ritablc. The generations of Wyfe the youngeft Tons arc all liand'y- crafifmen, and are more particularly concurned in the pre cepts of the yth and 8th curnmandrnenti, wi.ich lay a re- ftraint upon idlencls and theft. Neverthelcfs all tlic calfs arc i^liged to the obfervarice of 'all thefe commandments : but tmfv are rnoit- generally cau tious iri keeping the yomniandmcnts i^ppropiiatcu to liieir , cwn partltular tribe. * The ceremonial law of tlicf® people is obligatory to all the cafts. (i.) I'h ey frequently 'iVafh their bodies in rivers, in commemoratiun of the dclhudtion brought upon the world by the flood, for wickednefs and fin. On tins occalion the Bramane pronounceth a k id abfoluJion, la)ing, O/’, Lord^^ this perjon is polluted avd Jil^ ly as the mud in the river j but the water thereof cun / 7/iv him clean; do then aljo in Hie rnaniur wajh away his fins. And the penitent, having pniT^cJ liimfclf thrice in the river, ofiers certain grains of rice, and is difmillcd with a b iief that Ins fins are forgiven. (2.) They anoint their I’orcheads with a cl 1 tain rtti unc tion, which, being ffuck with cetrain grains, is a lign that* Go4 had marked them for hi> leople ; and,, as tfus is inicrd- cd purely to prefcivc ih )iy of their baptifni, it is d.nly renpyrt'd, w’ith certain . ,0 put them in mind that they ihould live as become "^peou'e. (3.) They are enjoined to'wurfhip under green trees. In which places"Hhe Braqiiiis 'erect temples, to Pag^ds. .Here they bring tlnJK* ofl'erings, receive undtions, pay their ado rations, which they .\-umhffr by the chipi e; of ^ little Ull ; (pclebrate their fcltivals v ith great folcmniiy ; and pray lor health, riches, fruitfulneii of 4^ue, and for fucccl's in all Mrlffcif- wtJilkrtakings. (4 ) "I hey ufe in their temples a form of pruytr, ccnfirt- 'i'lig o a repetition of certain n i les of God parjpl!r..fk d and explained : pioceflicns with lo'ud' ^aikling oi bi.lls and iing- ing, and alfo ofter prayers and gilt.} to images, (5,) They woilhip faints and invoke them for fucctfs in their fcveial affairs, and art aijoineU long pilgrimages to the rjver Ganges, &c. ■* (6.) Upon the firfl: fight of any creature after the rifing of the fun, they are cu»mmanded to glorify God. But they pay a more extraord^Jtry tievotion to tiie fun and moon, which they call the .v^ljcycs of God. And they pay a par ticular regard to forne b’jeafls, as to kine and bnfl’alccs ; to whom they attribute fo m]tich innocence and goodnels by the fouls of men entering i^nlo llieii., Dthat they bchncar the floors of their houfes thei. dung, and think the ground fandtined by fuch polln.^iHin. (7.) When a child i> to he named, one of its kindred, pointing aywriting pen to the fortlicad of the child, prays, that CwbJ would write* good chirtgj in t!ie h'carf: of that child ; h.'d’which the congregation (ays, y/mcn. 'Then the diild is named, and, after anbiiitiiig its u-rehead with the red unc tion is difnnflcd. But, if it be” Brainin's *chiiil, it is not on’' walked with vvaij^, .but.anointed with oil aifo, the pri ft nfing "thefe words of confecration, O Lord we prefent unto thee this child barn cf a holy tribe, nncinted I'jiih oil and cleanjed xvith pure water. 7 bin they proceed with the other *’ ceremonies, as above ; anti 'all join in prayer that he may live a righteous obferver of tlie law of the Bian ins. After this ceremony is over, they enquire out the exact time cf the child’s birtli, and c. Iculatc his nativity... gathering by the afpciSf cf the twelve h^^of the. heaven, the chances ormif- chances, tlut may beipIPim, and on the day of his marri age, and not before, publllh the dangcr.s p fl, and the con- je»Siural evils to co.nic in the fequel of tite child's life. (8.) ^he ceremonial of their marri.igus is very remark able. For, as they.account marriage one of the heft actions of a man’^ life, it is ufhered in, performed, and conlum-. matdi. iri an oxtragidinary mamier* To die, uiunawied B ) ^ra,.^vy .wa-iT-' thought a great misfortune, wherefore it is common f rents to propofe the marriage of their children at fevcii old. And when the parties contracting for their chi have made known their intention, ‘and have agreed upo matter, the young virgin is vilited by proper meflenger ” lo, with prefentsi fent to her parents, and with trumpt •ir^juiiruins, and fongs in praife of her beauty and other pe feians, wait upon her in great form to alk her confent and, ‘if fhe accept of the prefents, her parents return complii.'tent to the youth by other mefitngers, who ca gills, to the hridegroom, and are ufhered m with inufic anJ' fiitgingto his praife alfo. - --—The Bramiiis informed of thi cuiura\;t, appoint t'uc day for folemnizing the marriagej tipij it is publifheJ to all the town by a foiemn ihow for tWodaysji on iiic firfl day the nridcgfixun, with a rich crown updil*h!l' head, attended by all the men's children of the fame cafli elouthed ui their beft attire, and otherwife adorned with jew cIs and fcarls, Sic. fomc on horfes, others in pallankins, am coaches, &c. makes the tour of the public ftreets in grea nuptial pomp, preceeded by kettle-drums^ trumpets, and gilded pageants. On the next day the bride richly deckedi j crowned, and attended in like manner, mak« ht;r proceffion *, and, towards evening they repair home, where the marriage ceremony is performed always at the fettiugl of the fun, at which lime a fire is made between the bouplc to be mariie(?j,|| to intimate the ardency of their conjugal afFcctions; thenl the Bramin, that ofliciates, inclofeth them both with afilker]| cord round their bodies, to witnefs tlie indifloJu weuluck, and that in marriage there ought to be or mifaking of one another; afterv/ards a cloth is held tween them, to intimate that no one ought to make their nakcdncls known to another belore marriage. Then^ tile Bramin, enjoyning the man to provide all thiiigi convenient to tlie w'oinan, and charging the woman to b true to her niarn.ige-bcd, pronounceth a blefling of fruitful ifluc m them both. When this is finilhed, the cloth is taken away, tlie filken cerd is unloofed, and. the new married couple arc permitted to enjoy each other. it may be proper to oblerve farther, that here is nevi given any dowry, except the jewels .worn on the nuptial dayJ to prevent thoie mercenary uimappy ni'arriagc.s, too frequenf in politer nations. ,,.and each other amongfl themfclves, bn the calf pf the hx-hy.craftfmen, railed th6 Wyfes, muf marry only to one of rheif own trade : thus, a fhoemake|fj fan may imury a flioeinikcV.s daughter, &c. to keep ' tribes and trades from mixing : Tm/ may any wot cept of the caft of the VVyfcs, be paiyfnitted to cond hulband j but all men, except tHc'--£i;jjLm'.% m.a!iv a ftcond wife. •*- * In India arc two forts of Biamins, or people that dife! the prielliy office among them. 1. A common iort^ whom there arc great numbers. 2. A more paYticular J^,:| called Banians, W'ho arc not fo numerous. The coinrnori Baman.s divide themfcivcs into cighrt*- cafts, according to the fchools or febis to which they pro| ftfs a fubjeiliion. And thefe, as they difeharge their minii Aerial function, in praying with the prop) ■ or reading their] law, flrain their bodies, into fuch rnimica/gefliircs, as may beft engage the attention of the people j extend both their hands towards heaven,^ as ready to receive t?oe things they pray for I fix their eyes* downwards, and kneel upon theft/ knccB to cxprcis their fear and reverence \ and 'they always! read the law of Bremaw, their patriarch, with a kind ou fniging and voice of rejoicing. [T/;r Remainder in cur next.J YMUto the Supreme. H O W every y imw'orthy of thy Ic j, .1 Great C led' is ciring man.^ plum’d with vain thoughfe^ t..-f (c!f approviiig I'ciencc, proud he deems Himfclf, poor w'urin, fuJjKunt ; yet how blind, How loft, how impotent are all his ways ? VVhft W'OLi’d he boaft,—knowledge ? yet beholdj .How fmall the Circle that contains the fum The very wifeft dare pretend to know f And even the poor fhort prefent is our all Of «ertainty, the reft, conjecture, night. And dim im.igination ! why ermtend 7'onguc-doughty tiifputants ? why vainly ftrive To fhew U5 human j^ide with fulJeft glare, lathftbroiid.glaii of huinan igaorance ? 1^^
July 7, 1753, edition 1
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