26." Thou writest bitter things against me." "Ah! the things that man has written against me to the

Judge, are all kassapu, all bitter." bitter fault." "Who will make this

"Oh! that is a bitter,

bitterness sweet?"

27.-"Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths: thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet."

The punishment of the stocks has been common in the East from the most remote antiquity, as is seen in all their records. But whether the stocks were formerly like clogs, or as those of the present day, it is impossible to say. Those now in use differ from those in England, as the unfortunate culprit has to lie with his back on the ground, having his feet fast in one pair, and his hands in another. Thus, all he can do is to writhe his body; his arms and legs being so fast, that he cannot possibly move them. A man placed in great difficulty, says, "Alas! I am now in the stocks." "I have put my boy in the tulungu," i. e. stocks; which means he is confined, or sent to the school. To a young man of roving habits it is said, "You must have your feet in the stocks," i. e. get married. "Alas! alas! I am now in the stocks; the guards are around my path, and a seal is put upon my feet."

unclean?"

The following are common sayings:-"Who can turn a black crow into a white crane?" "Who can make the bitter fruit sweet?" "Who can make straight the tail of the dog?"

"If you give the serpent sweet things, will his poison depart?"

7.-"There is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof

will not cease."

Trees here appear to be more tenacious of life than"in England. See them blown down; yet from the roots fresh shoots spring up. See them sometimes at such an angle (through storms) that their branches nearly touch the ground, and yet they keep that position, and continue to bear fruit. Those trees, also, which have actually been cut down, after a few showers, soon begin to send forth the "tender branch." The plantain tree, after it has borne fruit once, is cut down; but from its roots another springs up, which, in its turn, also gives fruit, and is then cut down, to make way for another. Thus, in reference to this tree, it may be truly said, Cut it down, but "the tender branch thereof will not cease."

Is a man found fault with because he makes slow progress in his undertaking, he says, "Never mind; the water which runs so softly will, in time, wear away the stones."

XV. 7.-" Art thou the first man that was born?"

When a majority of people agree on any subject, should an individual pertinaciously oppose them, it will be asked, "What! were you born before all others?" "Yes, yes; he is the first man: no wonder he has so much wisdom!" "Salām to the first! man."

16. -"How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water."

Of a man who wallows in sin it is said, "He lives on it." "That wretch eats and drinks injustice." "Truly, that wretch lives on avva-suttam, uncleanness."

XVI. 3.-"Shall vain words have an end?" The

Hebrew has "words of wind."

"His promise! 't is only wind.”

"His words are all

"Breath,

wind." "The wind has taken away his words."

breath; all breath!"

9.-" Mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me." "Has not the cruel man been sharpening his eyes upon me?" "His eyes are like arrows: they pierce my life.” "Truly, his cutting eyes are always upon me." "Yes, yes; the eyes of the serpent."

10.

"They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek."

See

Here is another living picture of Eastern manners. the exasperated man; he opens his mouth like a wild beast, shows his teeth, then suddenly snaps them together. Again he pretends to make another snatch, and growls like a tiger. Should he not dare to come near, he moves his hand, as if striking you on the cheek, and says, "I will beat thy kannan, i. e. cheek, thou low-caste fellow."

12.-"He hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces."

This is a favourite way of showing contempt or superiority, and is finished by thrusting the face on the ground.

XVII. 1.-"The graves are ready for me."

A man far advanced in years, or one who is in deep affliction, says, "The place of burning is near to me, and the wood is laid together for my funeral pile." How are you, Go, order them

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my friend?”—“How am I? I will tell you. to get the wood together to burn this body." A father sometimes says of his wicked sons, "Yes; I know they desire my death; they have been preparing for the funeral; they are ready to WASH me: the bier is at hand, and the wood is pre

66

pared." Why do you all look so anxious? I am not ready for the washing."

14."I have said to corruption, Thou art my father;

to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister." Those who retire from the world to spend their lives in a desert place, for the purpose of performing religious austerities, often exclaim to the beasts, "Yes; you are my relations, you are my parents; these are my companions and friends."

XVIII. 4." He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee?"

"Foolish man, why are you so angry? Will your anger pull down the mountain, or take a single hair from the head of your enemy?" "This evil is only felt in your own heart and house it is your own destruction."

16. "Above shall his branch be cut off." (Isa. xxx.

17.) "Till ye be left as a beacon on the top of a mountain." Hebrew, a tree bereft of branches. (Jer. xi. 16. Ezek. xix. 10.)

Man is often described as a tree, and his destruction by the cutting off of the branches. "Alas! alas! he is like a tree whose branches have been struck by the lightning." "He is a tree killed by the shepherds;" which alludes to the practice (in dry weather when the grass is burned up) of climbing the trees to lop off the branches and leaves for the use of the flocks and cattle. "His branches and shoots are destroyed;' which means, himself and family. "I know all his branches and bunches; " meaning all his connections. (See on Luke xxiii. 31.)

you

17.-"He shall have no name in the street." "What kind of a man is Rāmar ?"-" I will tell : his name is in every street; " which means, he is a person of great "Ah! my lord, only grant me this favour, and your name shall be in every street." "Who does not wish his

fame.

name to be in the streets ?" "Wretch, where is thy name? What dog of the street will acknowledge thee?” "From generation to generation shall his name be in the streets." "Where is thy name written in stone? No; it is written in water."

and he gave me no

answer; I entreated him with my mouth."

When a man becomes reduced in the world, his slaves no longer obey him: he calls, but they answer not; he looks, and they laugh at him.

Hence the verse

"Though I call, he comes not; though he sees, he answers not; or I am engaged, engaged, says he."

17." My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated her for the children's sake of mine own

body."

It is not often that husbands, in these regions, condescend to entreat their wives, but they are sometimes (as when sick or in any way dependent) obliged to humble themselves. He then says, "My wife's breath is not now as mine.” "For the sake of your children listen to my words." Nothing is more provoking to a woman than to say she has the breath of a man.

20. "I am escaped with the skin of my teeth."

I suppose the above words have given rise to the old English saying, "He has escaped with the skin of his teeth ;" which denotes he has had great difficulty in avoiding the danger. But have the teeth! any skin?

It was formerly a custom among the heathen kings to knock out the teeth of their prisoners, or those who had offended