seen in the street (for he fancied there were none of the Feringhees about him who were rendered so unsightly by the complaint as himself), he applied to a hukeem, whose name was Politeness, who gave him an ointment to rub upon his face and hands; which, on being applied, drove in the evil humour, cleansing his skin, but making him sick at heart; insomuch as to render him incapable of all enjoyment. In this condition he remembered the former days of his pilgrimage, when he had peace with God, through the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, he called to mind the healing leaves which the shepherd-boy had administered to him, whose effects were so different from those of the hukeem's baneful ointment. And on the recollection of these things he exclaimed, "Lord, thou hast hid thy healing art from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed it to babes." Here he lamented himself bitterly, not knowing what to do: when one came behind him, and touching him on the shoulder, said, "Arise, and depart; for this is not thy rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy thee, even with a sore destruction.' (Micah ii. 10.)

At these words the pilgrim arose in haste,

and departed; leaving all things behind him but his pilgrim's garment, his book, and his golden lota: and thus, with his trusty staff in his hand, he directed his steps to that part of the city which led to Mount Zion.

CHAPTER X.

SHOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PILGRIM WHEN HE LEFT THE CITY OF VANITY.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."-2 Cor. vi. 17, 18.

Now I saw, in my dream, that when the pilgrim had left the habitations of the Feringhees, and was making his way to the gate that opened towards Mount Zion, he came to a place where a number of persons were holding a festival to the goddess Luckshmee, who presides over wealth. The night was dark, for it was the last of the decrease of the moon in the month Kartiku; but many lamps were burning before the image of the goddess, who was represented in yellow garments, and sitting on the lotus. These lamps cast a dismal and lurid glare on the surrounding hults; and the air rang with the filthy

songs of the idolaters and the horrid din of Hindoo music.

Now the pilgrim endeavoured to make his way through the crowd; but being perceived by a company of shroffs, worshippers of the idol, who were sitting in their shop, they requested him to come in; for having seen him in the houses of the Feringhees, and among the chief of those persons, they imagined that they might render his credit useful to themselves in their business, if so be that they could win his favour. But the pilgrim excused himself, saying, "My brethren, I was once such as you are. At that time, I was an assiduous observer of all the ceremonies of your religion: my adorations were more especially paid to her whose image I now behold; I celebrated the worship of Luckshmee four several times in the year. Being a rich man, it was said of me by the superstitious, Luckshmee is gone to abide in his house.' But I have long renounced this and every kind of idolatry, being convinced that these idols which our fathers worshipped are not the true Gods. Our God is in the heavens, the true and only God; but these idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths.

but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not; they have hands, but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat."" (Psalm cxv. 5-7.)

"You have been living with the Feringhees, my friend," replied one of the shroffs; "and we know that they despise our religion, and teach others to do the same: we will, therefore, waive this subject, and if you will enter into our house, we will there converse on other matters which more immediately concern us."

I saw then that they pointed to certain heaps of silver money, which were placed on low tables before them, as they sat upon the ground on the floor of their shops; and they promised to reward the pilgrim handsomely, if he would give them his interest with the wealthy Feringhees in those parts.

In answer to this, the pilgrim, lifting up his heart to God, and receiving an immediate supply of strength from on high to resist the temptation, replied, "I was once a rich man, as I before mentioned, and enjoyed all the pleasures which riches could supply: but, finding that

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