[Illustration: ENTABLATURE FROM A HINDU TEMPLE.] In the accompanying engraving the transmigration of the soul is illustrated. This is drawn from a photograph of the entablature of a temple near the foot of the lofty Himalayas. The sculpture which follows tells of the romantic adventures narrated in the Ramayama. These sculptures are the common people’s teachers; indeed, the world over, the language of pictures is far more loved and better understood than any other. Pictures and sculptures constitute the one language intelligible to people speaking widely different dialects. [Illustration: CHILDREN AT WORSHIP IN A TEMPLE IN BENARES.] Herein, too, is one of the great powers of heathenism over the children. Before they can read for themselves or remember the doctrines taught them, they see the pictures and enjoy the stories they communicate. These become part of the children’s mental store. They are realities to them. They are never forgotten. They never lose their power. This is abundantly demonstrated in the experience of every teacher. When verbal description has failed a picture has made all clear. [Illustration: BAS-RELIEF FROM A HINDU TEMPLE.] BENARES. True Hindus consider the city of Benares to be situated in the very centre of the earth, and to be the most sacred city in the world. There are not less than 80,000 Brahmins, or “holy caste” Hindus, residing here, and the city also is stocked with the so-called “sacred bulls and sacred monkeys.” There are more than 1,000 temples and over 500,000 enshrined deities. More than 100,000 pilgrims visit Benares annually, 20,000 of whom may be seen rushing at one time into the River Ganges, at a given signal, that they may bathe at the proper moment. The river is reached by flights of broad steps, and on these the Hindus pass the busiest hours of the day, bathing, dressing, saying their prayers, lounging and gossiping. Benares is believed by some to be 80,000 steps nearer to heaven than any other part of the world. Ten miles around Benares is said to be such holy ground, that whoever dies within this area is sure of going to heaven, however great a sinner he may have been. THE SACRED CITY OF THE SIKHS. Umritsur, in North-western India, is the holy city of the Sikhs. This is a sect of reformed Hindus, who at first rejected idolatry, but who afterwards found its fascination too strong for them. In the centre of a large tank--called the Lake of Immortality, because whoever bathes in it is shielded from everlasting death--is a temple of pure white marble, with a roof made of plates of copper, richly gilded; this is called the Golden Temple. Before crossing the bridge or causeway to the temple, one must put off the shoes from his feet, so holy is the place.