le. This is the
great day for visiting among friends. The salutation begins by the
question, "Has the milk boiled?" To which the answer is, "It has
boiled." From this, the festival takes the name of pongul, which
signifies to boil.

The third day is called the _Pongul of cows._ In a great vessel, filled
with water, they put saffron and other things. These being well mixed,
they go around the cows and oxen belonging to the house several times,
sprinkling them with water. After this, the men prostrate themselves
before them four times. The cows are then dressed, their horns being
painted with various colors. Garlands of flowers are also put round
their necks, and over their backs. To these are added strings of
cocoa-nuts and other kinds of fruit, which, however, are soon shaken
off, when they are in motion, and are picked up by children and others,
who greedily eat what they gather, as something sacred. After being
driven through the streets, they are suffered, during the day, to feed
wherever they please, without a keeper. I have, however, told you
enough. Are you ready to exclaim, Is it possible that a people can be
guilty of such utter folly? But you, my dear children, would be guilty
of just such folly, if you had not the Bible. Should not the gratitude,
then, which you owe to your heavenly Father, for your distinguished
mercies, constrain you to do all that you can to send this blessed book
to this dark land?

CHAPTER XI.

THE WORSHIP OF THE SERPENT.

My dear Children--If you have never heard much about the Hindoos, you
will be astonished to learn how numerous are the objects of their
worship. They worship many living creatures, such as the ape, the tiger,
the elephant the horse, the ox, the stag, the sheep, the hog, the dog,
the cat, the rat, the peacock, the eagle, the cock, the hawk, the
serpent, the chameleon, the lizard, the tortoise, fishes, and even
insects. Of these, some receive much more worship than others, such as
the cow, the ox, and the serpent Cobra Capella. I will speak at present
only of the worship of the serpent.

Of all the dangerous creatures found in India, there are none that
occasion so many deaths as serpents. The people are very much exposed to
their bite, especially at night, when they are walking. They tread upon
them, and, as they generally do not wear shoes, the snakes turn their
heads, and strike their fangs into those parts of the feet which are
nearest to the place wher