interior length of this peristyle is one hundred and twenty-three feet, and sixty-four deep; the walls at either end, near nine feet thick, decreasing externally as they ascend; the slabs of stone forming the roofs, are over the centre columns, twenty-five feet long, about six broad, and extremely thick.

Hence, by a large portal of elegant architecture, we entered the vestibule, the roof of which, considerably lower than that of the peristyle, is supported by six pillars, three on either side; their decorations much mutilated: the little that is visible shews them to be fluted. This room is about half the length and breadth of the outer one, but being nearly filled with rubbish, we passed through another large door, into a room of the same length and height, but narrow enough to admit of large slabs reaching across with oat the intervention of pillars. Apertures are cut in the ceiling to admit air and light; and a passage or door, to the right and left, leads to other parts of the temple. Facing the door where we had entered, is another, which led into a third room, rather larger, and lighted in like manner from above; from these there are four doors leading to different parts of the building, to the right and left; and a portal facing that by which we had entered, which led us into a dark recess about thirty feet long, and twenty-five broad, whose roof in like manner consisted of transversal slabs. This probably was the great sanctuary, at the further extremity of which was a hole, through which we were enabled to descend into a vault, which, like the rest of the apartments, is nearly filled with earth. We, however, ascertained by our lights, that the floor

above was formed of numerous small slabs of stone cemented to each other, and destitute of any other support than what they derived from the judicious manner in which they were united. Returning hence, after visiting some rooms to our right, we went through a passage to the left that led to an apartment, where we in vain endeavoured to maintain our ground against a host of bats, that finally obliged us to resume the course of this passage, which led by many steps of easy ascent, and many windings round the centre, to the summit of the temple; in approaching which it branches off to the right and left, the latter opening to a corridore, within which was a sanctuary, through the floor of which a perforation afforded light to a part of the temple which had not fallen under our observation. On the ceiling of this corridore, which is about twenty feet long, and half that breadth, is a curious female figure sculptured in relievo, represented in a bent, extended posture. The limbs, though disproportioned, are particularly beautiful: it is in the highest preservation, and worthy peculiar attentiou. By some steps projecting from the rear of the peristyle, we ascended to its summit, wheuce we commanded a fine view of the country, Ginnie, our camp, and the meanderings of the river; in our rear was a spacious burial ground; beyond, an extensive desert. The intervening distance to the Nile was covered with rushes and a thorny weed, which gave the country a verdant appearance, and supplied the place of a luxuriant cultivation. The nume rous villages, each shaded by its grove of dates, afforded a faint couception of an Indian scene; but the sterility of the neighbouring de3L 4

serts

serts that bounded the contracted landscape, forbade the indulgence of the pleasing comparison.

On the slabs are cut the names of several French travellers, who visited the place in 1779, and one of a democrat, dated the year eight.

Leaning over the temple, I discovered, on the fillet, a Greek inscription, in a state of great preservation, which I transcribed, and afterwards revised from below; unfortunately the information it conveys is trifling, and the obliteration of a part prevents its being of that utility I had at first anticipated.

Though we had ascended by the stairs, the mound of ruins on one side presented a more ready descent; and industriously profiting of the moment, we lost no time in completing our observations.

The French have been digging round, and within the temple, in different places, to ascertain its dimensions, and we were indebted for our access to many of the rooms, to the pains taken by them to discover their entrances; for which purpose they have removed a great deal of rubbish. The whole exterior of the temple is in perfect preservation, exeept the defacement, which many of the figures within reach have suffered. On the south and west faces · are some very elegant spouts for carrying off water, issuing from the mouths of couchant lions, decorated with rams-horns. The whole summit of the temple is disfigured by heaps of rubbish and fragments of walls, as also the mounds which surround it, which probably owe their existence to a colonade, or some range of buildings with which it was enclosed, and which are now buried. To the south-east, at some hundred yards distance, is a ruined gateway,

boasting little beauty; it is situated at the foot of the eminence on which the temple is built, and being almost beyond the range of the present ruins, might have belonged to some other edifice. Some wretched Arabs, who employ themselves in digging amongst the ruins, brought us a few Roman coins, which we purchased.

Though we had been several hours in contemplating the beautiful monument before us, yet we had conceived but an inadequate idea of its varied perfections; so many objects occurred to arrest our attention, each discovering some peculiar attraction, that it would have afforded ample occupation during our remaining stay at Ginnie, to have bestowed on each the consideration they merited; a circumstance which greatly damped the anxiety I had before felt to visit Thebes, where such an infinity of matter presents itself to the inquisitive traveller.

Our Indian followers, who had attended us, beheld the scene before them with a degree of admiration bordering on veneration, arising not only from the affinity they traced in several of the figures to their own deities, but from their conviction of its being the work of some Rácshas, who they conceived had visited the earth to transmit to an admiring posterity a testimony of supernatural talents.

I shall dismiss this subject by observing, that though the contemplation of these surprising monuments of the genius of the ancient Egyp tians creates a high idea of their civilization, and respect for their antiquity and progress in arts, it is obvious they are greatly indebted to a beneficent Providence, which, by placing them in a temperature, where the frequent and sudden transitions of

climate

climate seldom if ever occur, has given to their works a permanence they could never have derived from the combined power and art of man; though it must be allowed, that notwithstanding the apparent aridity of the atmosphere, owing to the almost perpetual absence of raiu, the exhalations* from the circumjacent inundation, are so great as to occasion, at one period of the year, a humidity little inferior to that which would proceed from actual immersion; and which in their consequences would equally affect that brilliancy of colouring which has stamped a characteristic pre-eminence on these chef d'œuvres.

Narrative of a New Discovery of Christian Churches, at Travancore, in India.

[From the Bristol Journal.] THE Rev. Dr. Buchanan, who left Bengal some months ago, with a view of proceeding to Travancore, to enquire into the state of the Syrian christians, arrived in that country about the beginning of Nov. last, having travelled from Calcutta to Cape Comorin by land. His highness the rajah of Travancore was pleased to afford to Dr. Buchanan the most liberal assistance in the prosecution of his enquiries. About the middle of Nov. Dr. Buchanan proceeded from the sea-coast into the interior of the country N. E. of Quilon, to visit the antient Syrian churches situated amongst the hills at the bottom of the high Ghauts, which divide the Carnatic from Mala

yala. The face of the country in general, in the vicinity of the mountains, exhibits a varied scene of hill and dale, and winding streams. These streams fall from the mountains, and preserve the valleys in perpetual verdure. The woods produce pepper, cardamoms, and cassia or wild cinnamon; also frankincense and other aromatic gums. What adds much to the grandeur of the scenery in this country is, that the adjacent mountains of Travancore are not barren, but are covered with teak forests, producing the largest timber in the world.

The first view of the christian churches in this sequestered region of Hindostan, connected with the idea of their tranquil duration for so many ages, cannot fail to excite pleasing emotions in the mind of the beholder. The form of the oldest buildings is not unlike that of the old parish churches in England; the style of building in both being of Saracenic origin. They have sloping roofs, pointed arch windows, and buttresses supporting the walls. The beams of the roof being exposed to view, are ornamented; and the ceil ing of the choir and altar is circular and fretted. In the cathedral churches, the shrines of the deceased bishops are placed on each side of the altar. Most of the churches are built of a reddish stone squared and polished at the quarry; and are of a durable construction, the front wall of the largest edifices being six feet thick. The bells of the churches are cast in the founderies of Travancore. Some of them are of large dimensions, and have inscriptions in Syriac and Malayalim.

Malayalim. In approaching a town in the evening, the sound of the bells may be heard at a distance, amongst the hills; a circumstance which causes the British traveller to forget for a moment that he is in Hindostan, and reminds him of another country. When Dr. Buchanan arrived at the remote churches, he was informed by the inhabitants that no European had, to their knowledge, visited the place before. The Romish priests do not travel thither, there being no church of their communion in that quarter.

The number of Syrian churches is greater than has been supposed. There are at this time fifty-five churches in Malayala, acknowledging the patriarch of Antioch. The last church was erected by the present bishop in 1793.

The Syrian christians are not Nestorians. Formerly, indeed, they had bishops of that communion, but the liturgy of the present church is derived from that of the early church of Antioch, called "Liturgia Jacobi Apostoli." They are usually denominated Jacobita; but they differ in ceremonial from the church of that name in Syria, and indeed from any existing church in the world. Their proper designation, and that which is sanctioned by their own use, is, "Syrian Christians;" or, "The Syrian church of Malayala."

The doctrines of the Syrian church are contained in a very few articles; and are not at variance, in essentials, with the doctrines of the church of England. Their bishop and metropolitan, after conferring with his clergy on the subject, delivered the following opinion:-"That an union

with the English church, or, at least, such a connection as should appear to both churches practicable and ex pedient, would be a happy event, and favourable to the advancement of religion." It is in contemplation to send to England some of the Syrian youth for education and ordination.

The present bishop, Mar. Diony. sius, is a native of Malayala, but af Syrian extraction. He is a man of respectable character in his nation, and exercises himself in the pious discharge of the duties of his high office. He is now seventy-eight years of age, and possesses a venerable aspect, his white beard descending low to his girdle. On public occa sions he wears the episcopal nitre, and is robed in a white vestment, which covers long garments of red silk; and in his hand he holds the pastoral staff. The first native bishop was ordained by the Romish church in 1663. But he was of the Romish communion. Since that period the old Syrians have continued, till lately, to receive their bishops from Antioch. But that antient patriarchate being now nearly extinct, and incompetent to the appointment of learned men; the christian church in Malayala looks henceforth to Britain, for the continuance of that light, which has shone so long in this dark region of the world.

From information given by the Syrian Christians, it would appear, that the churches of Mesopotamia and Syria (215 in number) with which they are connected, are struggling with great difficulties, and merely owe their existence to some deference for their antiquity; and that they might be expected soon to flourish

lourish again, if favoured with a ittle support. It would be worthy he church of England to aid the hurch of Antioch in her low estate. The church of England is now, what he church of Antioch once was. The mode in which aid can be best afforded to Christians under a foreign Dower in the East, is not chiefly by contributions of money, but by reresenting to those governments with which we may have friendly interourse, that these Christians are of he same religion with ourselves, and hat we are desirous that they should e respected. The argument from be sameness of religion is well unlerstood by all Asiatic princes, and au never fail when seriously proDosed; for they think it both natural ud obligatory that every government should be interested in those vho are of its own religion. There re two circumstances which invite is to turn our eyes to the country of 'the first generations of men." The olerant spirit of the Wahabian Maomedans is a fair prognostic, and romises to aid our endeavours to estore to an antient community of Christians the blessings of knowledge nd religious liberty. Another faourable circumstance is, that some of the churches in Mesopotamia, in ne of which the patriarch of Anioch now resides, are said still to emain in their pristine state, and to ave preserved their archives and ncient manuscript libraries. A donestic priest of the patriarch, now in Cochin, vouches for the truth of this act. We know from authentic his ory, that the churches between the Rivers escaped the general desolation of the Mahomedan conquest in the 7th century, by joining arms with The Mahoniedans against the Greek hristians, who had been their op

pressors. The revival of religion and letters in that once highly-favoured land, in the heart of the antient world, would be, in the present circumstances of mankind, an auspicious event.

The Syrian christians in Malayala still use the Syriac language in their churches; but the Malayalim, or proper Malabar (a dialect distinct from the Tamul) is the vernacular tongue. They have made some attempts to translate the Syriac scriptures into Malayalim; but have not hitherto had the suitable means of effecting it. When a proposal was made of sending a Malayalim translation to each of their fifty-five churches as a standard-book, on condition that they would transcribe it and circulate the copies among the people, the elders replied, that so great was the desire of the people in general to have the bible in the vulgar tongue, that it might be expected that every man who could write, would make a copy on ollas (palm-leaves) for his own family.

It ought to be mentioned to the praise of the present bishop of the Romish church on the coast of Malabar, that he has consented to the circulation of the Scriptures throughout his diocese. The Malayalim translation acquires from this circumstance an increased importance; since there will be now upwards of 200,000 christians in Malayala, who are ready to receive it. The translation of the New Testament (which it is proposed to print first) has already commenced under the superintendance of the Syrian bishop. The true cause of the low state of religion amongst the Romish churches on the sea-coast, and in Ceylon, is their want of the bible. It is doubtful whether some of the priests know that such a book

exists.