most sublime of all sciences. By the Cabala, the Jews mean those mystical interpretations of Scripture, and metaphysical speculations concerning the Deity, angels, &c. which they regard as having been handed down by a secret tradition from the earliest ages. The Jewish religion abounds in minute and trifling rites and ceremonies. The minutest circumstances in dressing and undressing, washing and wiping the face, and pairing the nails, and other necessary actions of common and daily life, are enjoined by the rabbis to be performed exactly according to the prescribed regulations.

The Sabbath, Festivals, and Synagogues.

The Jewish Sabbath corresponds to our Saturday; for the observance of which they have the most minute regulations. Nothing is to be undertaken on Friday, which cannot be finished before the evening. The works forbidden on the Sabbath are reduced to 38 general heads; of which writing, blotting out, ruling paper, kindling a fire, or quenching it, form some. The festivals of the Jews are numerous; some of the principal ones are those of the new moon, of the Passover, of Pentecost, of the new year, the fast of atonement, and the feast of tabernacles. The Sabbath preceding the feast of the Passover is called the Great Sabbath, and is kept with the most scrupulous strictness.

In placing their synagogues the highest ground is chosen, and no Jew is permitted to build a house of equal height. In prayer their faces are always turned towards Palestine; the door of the synagogue is, therefore, always placed at the opposite point of the compass. Every copy of the Pentateuch must be in manuscript, and the transcribing of it must be performed according to particular rules.

Dress.

With regard to dress every male is required to have a garment called talleh, which consists of two quadrangular pieces of woollen or silk, joined together by two fillets. These rest on the shoulders, and the pieces hang down, one on the back, and the other over the breast; it being worn as an inner garment. From each of the corners

hangs a fringe, in which the sanctity of it is supposed to consist. Other appendages of Jewish devotion are the phylacteries, one for the head, and one for the arm. But in the general mode of dress, they conform to the countries where they reside.

Marriage, &c.

Marriage is reckoned an indispensable duty of every Jew. Men who live in celibacy long after eighteen are considered by the rabbis as living in sin. Polygamy, though sanctioned by the Talmud, is not practised by European Jews. The betrothing sometimes takes place six months or a year before the marriage. A velvet canopy is brought into the room where the marriage ceremony is to be performed, and extended on four poles. Under this canopy the bride, having her face covered with a veil, is led by two women, and the bridegroom by two men : these are always their parents or near relations. After a short prayer the bride and bridegroom drink the wine which is offered them by the rabbi. A ring is used; the marriage contract is next read; the priest then takes another glass of wine, and repeats seven benedictions; the married couple then drink the wine; after which the empty glass is laid on the floor, and the bridegroom, stamping upon it, breaks it to pieces, indicating by this the frailty of life. The company next shout, "Good luck to you!" The ceremony is concluded by a contribution for the poor in the land of Canaan, and a nuptial feast.

A Jew is at liberty to divorce his wife at any time, or for any cause. The education of the female children is very much neglected, being seldom taught more than to pronounce the words of a Hebrew prayer book. At the age of 13 years and a day, a Jewish youth receives the appellation of Bar Mitsrah, a son of the commandment, and becomes responsible for his own actions: the sins which he commits before that age are ascribed to his father. Jewish girls are accounted at full age at 12 years and a day old. 15*

Funerals, &c.

On the death of a Jew the body is washed with warm water, and near it are placed a lighted taper, a basin of water, and a clean towel, that the soul may cleanse itself from the defilements contracted in this world. For this purpose it is supposed to return to the place every night for a month, during which period the things are kept in the room, and the water is changed every night. At the place of interment, the coffin is opened, and some earth, said to have been brought from Jerusalem, is placed under the head in a small bag, or strewed over the body. The relations and friends of the deceased then take hold, one after another, of his great toes, imploring him to pardon all their offences against him, and not to report evil against them in the other world. The nearest relations

rend their garments.

When the coffin is placed in the grave, each of the relations throws some earth upon it. As soon as the grave is filled, all the attendants run away, lest they should hear the knock of the angel, who is supposed to come and knock on the coffin, and ask the deceased if he can repeat the passage in Scripture which has an allusion to his name: if he is not able to repeat it, the angel beats him with a hot iron till he breaks his bones.

The Jews believe in a resurrection, but the rabbis say it will take place in the land of Canaan, and that Israelites, buried in other countries, will be rolled thither through subterranean caverns; hence Jews in neighbouring countries, if rich, are removed into Palestine before they die. The Jews believe the Messiah is yet to come, and that he will make his appearance with the greatest worldly pomp and grandeur, subduing all nations before him, and subjecting them to the house of Judah.

RUSSIA IN ASIA.

Asiatic Russia is composed chiefly of Siberia; it includes also, in the southwest, Russian Tartary and the Caucasian countries of Circassia and Georgia.

SIBERIA.

Siberia comprises all the north of Asia, and is one of the most forlorn and desolate regions on the globe. A great portion of it is included within the limits of the Frozen zone; and even the southern parts, from their physical structure and great elevation, are exposed to a high degree of cold. Its situation also nearly excludes it from communication with the civilized and improved parts of the world. The rivers, of which the Oby, Enesei, and Lena, are among the largest in Asia, have generally a northern direction, flowing into the Frozen ocean, the shores of which are barred by almost perpetual ice; and they, therefore, serve but little purposes of commerce. Another characteristic feature consists in the immense steppes, or vast elevated plains, which cover a great portion of its surface. These are of a dull uniformity of aspect, marshy, covered with long rank grass, and aquatic shrubs, and filled with almost numberless saline lakes.

The most important natural productions consist in its mines; the next in importance are its animals, some of which are valuable for fur, as the sable, black fox, ermine, and marten. In the northern parts the chief animal is the rein-deer It is a remarkable phenomenon, that about the Frozen ocean, and in various parts of Siberia, there are found prodigious remains of animals, which do not now exist in any part of that region, and many of them not in any part of the world. The most interesting of these relics are the remains of the Siberian mammoth, which was an animal of different species from the American mammoth. The skeletons are seldom found complete.

The mass of the population consists of native tribes, who are in a degree subject to the Russian empire. Among these tribes are the Tunguses, Burats, Yakoutes, Kamtschatdales, Samoides, Ostiaks, and Monguls. The prevailing religion is the system of Boodh or of the Lamas.

Samoides.

The Samoides are a savage people, traversing the immense cold deserts along the Frozen ocean, from the river Mezen nearly to the Lena, about 2,000 miles in length. Their numbers are not supposed to exceed 20,000. They are of low stature, usually between four and five feet; haye a flat round and broad face; thick lips, wide nose, black and rough hair, in small quantity. They are idolaters, and very superstitious; generally quiet and peaceable, though prone to intoxication, and passionately fond of tobacco. They are clothed with skins; live by hunting and fishing, and travel on sledges drawn by rein-deer.

Ostiaks.

The Ostiaks chiefly inhabit the country watered by the Oby, and are generally a nation of fishers, yet some of the more wealthy have herds of rein-deer, and in the southern districts even cattle. They are idolaters, but are less savage than the Samoides; are very hospitable, but simple, timid, and ignorant.

Tunguses.

The Tunguses inhabit the southeast part of Siberia. They are of middle size, have long black hair, small eyes, smiling countenance, of a robust constitution, and endowed with the greatest agility. They have no permanent abodes, but frequently change their place of residence, living in rudely constructed tents. Their chief employment is hunting and fishing. Their arms are bows and arrows, with which they will attack the fiercest animals, and even bears. The delicacy of their sight and smell, on such occasions, is almost incredible. They trace the game by the light mark which its steps leave on the grass or on the moss. They know every tree and every rock, in the regions which they traverse; they can point out to travellers a route of 100 miles by the stones and trees which are found upon it. They are brave, honest, frank, and sincere.

The Yakoutes and Burats resemble the Tunguses in many of their characteristics and mode of living.