Every Brahman is obliged once a year to celebrate the established rite of _Yajna_, or “sacrifice:” if he be in indigent circumstances, he is to go round to his brethren, and expend whatever he collects in the Yajna, which is thus performed: there are three _Kundams_,[112] or “fire-pits” to be formed, in front of which is fixed a wooden post; then a rope made of Durva grass (in Sanskrit, _Kúsá_) is thrown around the neck of a black he-goat, and fastened to that post; _Hóm_ is then offered up during five days; on the first day, the sacrificer and his wife both perform their ablutions, nine Brahmans at the same time going through the rite of washing their heads and persons; of these nine, one is looked upon as Brahma himself, all present obeying his commands, and the remaining eight Brahmans waiting obsequiously on him. In addition to these, sixteen more Brahmans are required, who are to recite by themselves the _Mantra_, or “forms of prayer,” at the moment of the _Hóm_, or “burnt-offering.” In order to light the fire, they bring small pieces of a wood which in Sanscrit they call _Arana_,[113] in Hindi, _Ak_ (asclepias gigantea); and also for the same purpose another kind, in Sanskrit, _Khandíra_,[114] in Telinga, _Chandaru_; for the Homa, a wood in Sanskrit called _Pámárak_, in Telinga, _Utarini_, in Dakhani _Akhárah_, of which they make tooth-picks; also a wood, in Sanskrit _Udámvarah_[115] (ficus racemosa), in Telinga, _Miri_, in Dakhani, _Kular_, in Parsi _Anjir dasti_, or “wild fig;” and another wood, in Sanskrit _samí_,[116] and in Telinga, _Khammi_; also a grass, named in Sanskrit _Dúrvá_,[117] in Telinga, _Kargi_, in Dakhani, _Haryálí_; also another sort, called _Darbas_: altogether nine are required. The eight Brahmans first mentioned having repeated the proper incantation, lay hold of the goat in such a manner that they make it lie down on a bed formed of the leaves and branches of the tree _Khartarhari_, or _Karshartari_, in Sanskrit, _Kaliśakha_,[118] in Telinga, _Balsúkúma_, and in Dakhani _Karankabánta_. In the next place, the sixteen Brahmans, having recited the formula, or appropriate Mantra, stop up all the animal’s orifices, so that he can neither exhale nor inhale, and keep him in that position until he dies. Then one of the sixteen Brahmans, cutting off the head at one blow, flays the carcase and cuts it up into small pieces, throwing away all the bones to some distance, and then mixes up clarified butter with the flesh. The eight Brahmans next lay it piece by piece on the fire, whilst the other sixteen are employed in throwing on the above mentioned kinds of wood, and pouring clarified butter on them. The eight Brahmans eat of the meat thus roasted; the person who offers the sacrifice also partakes of it; after which he gives among all the officiating Brahmans one hundred and one cows with their calves, along with a _dakshinah_, or “presents of money.” Hóma must also be performed on the second day, and gifts presented to the