the name of the priests among the idolatrous Indians; the successors of the ancient Brahmins. See the title Brahmans.

Their name is formed from Brama, their particular deity. They are found in Siam, Malabar, China, Coromandel, and most other eastern nations anywhere civilized; but their chief seat is in Indostan, or the Mogul's country. They have a language peculiar to themselves; in which they have several ancient books, written (as is alleged) by their great prophet Brama, and dictated by God himself.

There are several orders of Bramins. Those who mix in society are for the most part very corrupt in their morals; they believe that the water of the Ganges will wash away all their crimes; and, as they are not subject to any civil jurisdiction, live without either restraint or virtue, excepting that character of compassion and charity which is so commonly found in the mild climate of India. The others, who live abstracted from the world, are either weak-minded men or enthusiasts; and abandon themselves to laziness, superstition, and the dreams of metaphysics. We find in their disputes the very same ideas that occur in the writings of our most celebrated metaphysicians; such as, substance, accident, priority, posteriority, immutability, indivisibility, &c.

Their religion, which was anciently of the allegorical and moral kind, hath degenerated into a heap of extravagant and obscene superstitions, owing to their having realized those fictions which were intended merely as so many symbols and emblems. Were it possible to obtain a sight of their sacred books, the only remains there are of the Indian antiquities, we might in some measure be enabled to remove the veil that envelops those numerous mysteries; but the following story will show how little reason there is to hope that we shall ever be intrusted with such a communication.

The emperor Mahmoud Akbar had an inclination to make himself acquainted with the principles of all the religious sects throughout his extensive provinces. Having discarded the superstitious notions with which he had been prepossessed by his education in the Mahometan faith, he resolved to judge for himself. It was easy for him to be acquainted with the nature of those systems that are formed upon the plan of making proselytes; but he found himself disappointed in his design when he came to treat with the Indians, who will not admit any person whatever to the participation of their mysteries. Neither the authority nor promises of Akbar could prevail with the Bramins to disclose the tenets of their religion; he was therefore obliged to have recourse to artifice. The stratagem he made use of was to cause a boy, of the name of Feizi, to be committed to the care of these priests, as a poor orphan of the sacerdotal line, who alone could be initiated into the sacred rites of their theology. Feizi, having received the proper instructions for the part he was to act,