CHAP. XX.

Dwell where it pleaseth thee.-Verse 15. The margin reads, “good in thine eyes."

Ask a man, "What are you going to do?" the reply will often be, "What is good in my eyes."-" Whither are you going?" "Where it is good in mine eyes."-"I wish you would perform that for me." "It is not good in mine eyes.”

He is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other.-Verse 16.

Dr. Boothroyd translates this passage, "I have given to thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, to purchase veils for thee and for all who are with thee."

The English notion of an Eastern veil is, that it is merely used to cover or conceal the face. But this is not all; it serves also for a garment.

The object of Abimelech appears to have been, to purchase that garment which a woman throws over her head. It is called mukādu, because it serves also to cover the face. It is considered to be a great charity to give garments of that description, and rich men often purchase large quantities for that purpose. A husband will say to his wife, when he wants her to do any thing which is arduous, "Ah! the apple of my eye! only do this, and I will give thee a gold (mukādu) veil."

CHAP. XXI.

God hath made me to laugh.-Verse 6.

A woman advanced in years, under the same circumstances, would make a similar observation: "I am made to laugh." But this figure of speech is also used on any wonderful occasion. Has a man gained any thing he did not expect? he will ask, "What is this? I am made to laugh." Has a person lost any thing which the moment before he had in his hand? he says, "I am made to laugh." Has he obtained health, or honour, or wealth, or a wife, or a child? it is said, "He is made to laugh." Ah, his mouth is now full of laughter; his mouth cannot contain all that laughter." See Psalm cxxvi 2.

Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.Verse 8.

When the time has come to wean a child, a fortunate day is looked for, and the event is accompanied with feasting and religious ceremonies. Rice is given to the child in a formal way, and the relations are invited to join in the festivities.

For almost every event of life the Hindoos have a fixed rule, from which they seldom deviate. They wean a female child within the year, "because, if they did not, it would become sterile." But boys are often allowed the breast till they are three years of age.*

Sarah saw the son of Hagar, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.-Verse 9.

It is not uncommon for a man of property to keep a concubine in the same house with his wife; and, strange as it may appear, it is sometimes at the wife's request.† Perhaps she has not had any children, or they may have died; and they both wish to have one, to perform their funeral ceremonies. By the laws of Menu, should a wife, during the first eight years of her marriage, prove unfruitful; or should the children she has borne be all dead in the tenth year after marriage; or should she have a daughter only in the eleventh year; he may, without her consent, put her away, and take a concubine into the house. He must, however, continue to support her.

A good way off, as it were a bow-shot.-Verse 16.

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This is a common figure of speech in their ancient writings: "The distance of an arrow ; so far as the arrow flies. The common way of measuring a short distance is to say, "It is a call off;" that is, so far as a man's voice can reach."How far is he off?" "O, not more than three calls; that is, were three men stationed within the reach of each other's voices, the voice of the one farthest off would reach to that distance.

It is a curious fact, that a cow, having a female calf, is milked after one week; but after a male, not till one month.

+ I know a couple with whom this occurred; and the wife delights in nursing and bringing up the offspring of her husband's concubine.

And his mother took him a wife.-Verse 21.

When a father dies, the mother begins to look out for a wife for her son, though he may be very young; and her arrangements will generally be acceded to.,

CHAP. XXII.

Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there.-Verse 2.

In the book called Arupattu-Moovaa Kathi, is the following account:-In the village of Tiru-Chang-Katang, lived a man named Siru-Tondan. He was exceedingly benevolent, and never would eat his food until he had called the holy Pandārams to partake of it. One day he went out, as usual, to invite them to his repast; but for some time could not find one. At last, Siva (the god) appeared as a Pandāram, and offered to accompany him; stating, however, "that his curry must be made of a child of twelve years of age, who is the only son of his mother." The father was to seize and hold the child, and the mother was to cut it up and prepare it. "Then," said he, "I will eat." The curry was prepared, and brought before the Pandaram; but he would not partake of it. He then restored the son to life again, and the parents knew it was not a Pandaram. The god then blessed them for their faithfulness, and vanished out of their sight.

I and the lad will go and come again.-Verse 5.

The people of the East never say, as those of England, when taking leave, "I go," or, "I am going;" but, "I go and return." Nan Nan poy varrukerain.

CHAP. XXIII.

Abraham bowed himself to the people of the land.-Verse 7. The politeness of Abraham may be seen exemplified amongst the highest and the lowest of the people of the East in this respect, nature seems to have done for them what art has donc for others. With what grace do all classes

bow on receiving a favour, or in paying their respects to a superior! Sometimes they bow down to the ground; at other times they put their hands on their bosoms, and gently incline the head; they also put the right hand on the face, in a longitudinal position; and sometimes give a long and graceful sweep with the right hand, from the forehead to the ground.

My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver.-Verse 15.

Respectable people are always saluted with the dignified title, "My lord;" hence English gentlemen, on their arrival, are apt to suppose they are taken for those of very high rank.

The man of whom Abraham offered to purchase Machpelah, affected to give the land. "Nay, my lord, hear me; the field I give thee." And this fully agrees with the conduct of those who are requested to dispose of a thing to a person of superior rank. Let the latter go and ask the price, and the owner will say, "My lord, it will be a great favour if you will take it." "Ah! let me have that pleasure, my lord." Should the possessor believe he will one day need a favour from the great man, nothing will induce him to sell the article; and he will take good care (through the servants or a friend) that it shall soon be in his house. Should he, however, have no expectation of favour in future, he will say, as Ephron, "The thing is worth so much; your pleasure, my lord."

CHAP. XXIV.

At the time that women go out to draw water.-Verse 11. It is the work of females in the East to draw water both morning and evening; and they may be seen going in groups to the wells, with their vessels on the hip or the shoulder. In the morning they talk about the events of the past night, and in the evening about those of the day. Many a time would the story of Abraham's servant and Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, be repeated by the women of Mesopotamia, in their visits to the well.

And I put the ear-ring upon her face.-Verse 47.

Nothing is more common than for heathen females to have a ring in the nose; and this has led some to suppose, that the jewel here alluded to was put into that member, and not on the face. "I put a jewel on thy forehead." (Ezek. xv. 11.) The margin has, for forehead, "nose."

It does not appear to be generally known, that there is an ornament which is worn by females in the East on the forehead. It is made of thin gold, and is studded with precious stones, and called pattam, which signifies "dignity." Thus, to tie on the pattam, is to "invest with high dignity." Patta-Istere "is the name of the first lawful wife of the king." In the Sathur-Agaraathe, this ornament is called, "the ornament of the forehead." *

We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.-Verse 57. Do people wish to know the truth of any thing which has been reported of another? they say, "Let us go and inquire of his mouth." "Let us hear the birth of his mouth." Do servants ask a favour of their mistress? she will say, “I know not what will be the birth of the master's mouth; I will inquire at his mouth."

So the mother and brother of Rebekah inquired at the mouth of the damsel, whether she felt willing to go with the "And she said, I will go."

man.

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse.-Verse 59. How often have scenes like this led my mind to the patriarchal age! The daughter is about, for the first time, to leave the paternal roof: the servants are all in confusion; cach refers to things long gone by; each wishes to do something to attract the attention of his young mistress. One says, "Ah! do not forget him who nursed you when an infant: " another, "How often did I bring you the beautiful lotus from the distant tank! Did I not always conceal your faults?"

• Tyerman and Bennet say of a bride they saw in China, "Her head-dress sparkled with jewels, and was most elegantly beaded with rows of pearls encircling it like a coronet; from which a brilliant angular ornament hung over her forehead, and between her eyebrows." (Vol. ii., p. 265.) I find, since my return to England, this ornament is worn by ladies at home.