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OF THE HINDI'S.
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men sprinkle water upon corn sown or grown in fields, crying aloud, “Pongal, pongal!' meaning, Let the corn grow in plenty, by the grace of the glorious sun, wlio has begun his northern course (the Uttarayana), which is a day of the gods. At noon rice and milk are again boiled, and are presented to Indra, praying liim to bestow abundant rain, and by thus favouring pasture, cause cattle to increase and multiply. In the afternoon, cows and bulls are washed, and fed with part of an oblation first offered to Indra; and being also painted and adorned with leafy and flowery chaplets, are brought in herds, attended by bands of music, to the public place of the village; there the cow-keepers dress victuals, and provide fresh perfumes and flowers, wherewith to decorate their animals; and sprinkle saffron water with mango leaves upon them, as a preservative from evil, crying aloud, · Pongal, pongal!' meaning, Let cattle be cherished and multiplied, by the grace of Indra, as well as of Gopala (or Krishóa the cow-hierd). Then the Hindus, with joined hands, are to walk round the cows and bulls, and particularly round the Brahmans, and to prostrate themselves before them. This done, the cow-keepers, with their herds of kine and oxen, return home to their several houses!. Hence this day is termed Máttu Pongal; that is, the feast of cattle."
The Abbé Dubois adds the following particulars of this part of the ceremony. "On peint de diverses couleurs les cornes des vaches et on leur met au cou une guirlande de feuillages verts entremêlés de fleurs à laquelle on suspend des gâteaux,
