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THE BANIAN TREE.

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when ripe of a bright scarlet; affording sustenance to monkeys, squirrels, peacocks, and birds of various kinds, which dwell among the branches. The Hindoos are peculiarly fond of this tree: they consider its long duration, its outstretching arms, and overshadowing beneficence, as emblems of the Deity, and almost pay it divine honours. The Brahmins, who thus "find a fane in every sacred grove," spend much of their time in religious solitude under the shade of the banian tree; they plant it near the dewals, or Hindoo temples, improperly called pagodas; and in those villages where there is not any structure for public worship, they place an image under one of these trees, and there perform a morning and evening sacrifice. These are the trees under which a sect of naked philosophers, called Gymnosophists, assembled in Arrian's days; and this historian of ancient Greece, it is observed by Forbes, in his Oriental Memoirs, affords a true picture of the modern Hindoos. "In winter the

Gymnosophists enjoy the benefit of the sun's rays in the open air; and in summer, when the heat becomes excessive, they pass their time in cool and moist places, under large trees; which, according to the accounts of Nearchus, cover a circumference of five acres, and extend their branches so far, that ten thousand men may easily find shelter under them." On the banks of the Narbudda, in the province of Guzzerat, is a banian tree, supposed by some persons to be the one described by Nearchus, and certainly not inferior to it. It is distinguished by the name of the Cubbeer Burr, which was given to it in honour of a famous saint. High floods have, at various times, swept away a considerable part of this extraordinary tree; but what still remains is nearly two thousand feet in circumference, measured round the principal stems; the overhanging branches, not yet struck down, cover a much larger space; and under it grow a number of custard-apple, and other fruit trees. The large trunks of this single tree amount to three hundred and fifty, and the smaller ones exceed three thousand: each of these is constantly sending forth branches and hanging roots, to form other trunks, and become the parents of a future progeny. The Cubbeer

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72 PLEASURES OF PIETY.-STORY OF ABRAHAM.

Burr is famed throughout Hindostan, not only on account of its great extent, but also of its surpassing beauty. The Indian armies generally encamp around it; and, at stated seasons, solemn jatarras, or Hindoo festivals, to which thousands of votaries repair from every part of the Mogul empire, are there celebrated. It is said that 7000 persons find ample room to repose under its shade. It has long been the custom of the British residents in India, on their hunting and shooting parties, to form extensive encampments, and spend weeks together, under this magnificent pavilion, which affords a shelter to all travellers, particularly to the religious tribe of the Hindoos.

PLEASURES OF PIETY.

A Deity believ'd, is joy begun;
A Deity ador'd, is joy advanc'd;
A Deity belov'd, is joy matur'd.
Each branch of piety delight inspires.

Faith builds a bridge from this world to the next,
O'er death's dark gulf, and all its horrors hides;
Praise, the sweet exhalation of our joy,

That joy exalts, and makes it sweeter still;
Prayer ardent opens heaven, lets down a stream
Of glory on the consecrated hour

Of man, in audience with the Deity.

A JEWISH STORY CONCERNING ABRAHAM.

WHEN Abraham sat at his tent-door, according to custom, waiting to entertain strangers, he espied an old man stooping and leaning on his staff, weary with age and travel, coming towards him, who was an hundred years of age. He received him kindly, washed his feet, provided supper, caused him to sit down; but observing that the old man eat and prayed not, nor begged for a blessing on his meat, asked him why he did not worship the God of heaven. The old man told him,

ACCOUNT OF THE WHALE.

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that he worshipped the fire only, and acknowledged no other god: At which answer Abraham grew so zealously angry, that he thrust the old man out of his tent, and exposed him to all the evils of the night, and an unguarded condition. When the old man was gone, God called to Abraham, and asked him where the stranger was. He replied, I thrust him away because he did not worship thee. God answered him, I have suffered him these hundred years, although he dishonoured me, and couldst not thou endure him one night, when he gave thee no trouble? Upon this Abraham fetched him back again, and gave him hospitable entertainment and wise instruction.-How forbearing is God! How intolerant is man! Should not we "be merciful, even as our Father in heaven is merciful ?"

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ACCOUNT OF THE WHALE.

THE Common Whale is the largest animal acknowledged by naturalists. Before the whale fisheries had reduced the number of the species, specimens were often found of the length of a hundred feet and more; now, however, they are seldom caught exceeding sixty or seventy feet. The whole appearance of the animal is highly uncouth. Its bulk is so enormous as to be quite disproportioned to its length, however great, and its head constitutes a third of its whole size. Its monstrous mouth is eighteen or twenty feet in length, and the upper jaw is furnished with a vast number of broad horny laminæ, which constitute the whalebone, and are disposed on each side in regular series. The eyes are very small, and on the top of the head is a double spout-hole, from which the animal ejects water at pleasure, so as to give the appearance of a marine fountain of great height. Its colour varies, but is most commonly black above and white beneath. It resides principally in the northern seas, and is supposed to feed on the different kinds of marine mollusca. The tail of the whale is its weapon of defence; it is of enormous size, of a crescent shape, and capable of giving blows, one of which is E

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THE VANITY OF WEALTH.

enough to destroy a large boat, and makes a noise resembling the report of a cannon. The whale uses its tail only in swimming, and advances with a velocity truly surprising, when we consider the huge mass it has to convey through the water. Like most large fishes, it generally swims against the wind. The male and female are very faithful to each other. The latter is a most affectionate mother, protecting her young to the last; she seldom produces more than one at a time. The whale-fishers attack the animal by throwing from their boats harpoons, sharp instruments, which piercing the flesh, remain in the body. The whale, feeling himself wounded, darts away with such velocity, that the boat would be upset if there were not appointed a person to let out, with skilful rapidity, the line which is attached to the harpoon. After many similar wounds have exhausted it by loss of blood, the whale rises to the surface, where it soon dies. The sailors haul the carcass to the ship, to which it is fastened by cables. They then get upon it, as it floats on its back, and cut away the whalebone and blubber, turning it alternately on the four sides. The blubber is thrown into the hold, whence it is drawn up at leisure, to be cut into small pieces, and stowed away in barrels. The Greenlanders, to whom the whale is of great importance, serving them for clothing, food, habitations, &c. go out all together in their canoes to the fishery, and after killing the whale, cut him up while floating in the water, being assisted, in floating themselves so long, by a peculiar dress inflated with air. The whale has other enemies besides men; small shell fish fix themselves to his under surface, and the sword fish wounds him dreadfully. When offended, he spouts water furiously, producing a tremendous noise.

THE VANITY OF WEALTH.

No more thus brooding o'er yon heap,
With Av'rice painful vigils keep;
Still unenjoy'd the present store,
Still endless sighs are breath'd for more:

GOODNESS OF GOD DISPLAYED IN HIS WORKS.

O! quit the shadow, catch the prize,
Which not all India's treasure buys.
To purchase heav'n has gold the power?
Can gold remove the mortal hour?
In life can love be bought with gold?
Are friendship's pleasures to be sold?
No-all that's worth a wish-a thought,
Fair virtue gives unbrib'd, unbought.
Cease then on trash thy hopes to bind;
Let nobler views engage thy mind.

GOODNESS OF GOD DISPLAYED IN HIS WORKS.

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IN creation God has manifested himself as a being infinitely good. What multitudes of animate creatures has his beneficent hand produced! From the beginning of the world mankind have been endeavouring to estimate all the different animals that inhabit the earth, and yet there are daily discovered new species of them, hitherto unknown. Is not life invaluable to every thing that breathes? Is it not a blessing to the poorest worm? What pleasure then must God have in doing good, seeing he has bestowed on so many creatures the felicity of conscious existence! But of what use would life be, if it were to be immediately taken away? God has ordained that every creature should live as long as was necessary for its destination. He has appointed to each the place it should inhabit; and each finds at its will all that is requisite for its preservation. Many animals are born with instinct and industry sufficient to seek for their own food; others, like mankind, are at first taken care of, and taught to provide for themselves, by their parents. With what an inexhaustible fertility has God endued the earth for the benefit of the human race! Nearly six thousand years have elapsed since it began to support the myriads of beings that live upon its productions; and though the world should last as long as it has done, it cannot be doubted that a sufficient supply of nutriment would be afforded

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