_Sarasvadi_ is the wife of Brahma, the creator of the universe; and the harmony, proportion, and order observed in it, are, according to the doctrine of the Brahmans, to be ascribed to her influence alone. Her opponent is the goddess of disorder and contention, named _Mudevi_. A tabernacle had been constructed for Sarasvadi under a large tent, and a great number of Brahmans were busily employed in waiting upon her. After many libations, the statue of the goddess was at length carried round in procession, strewed over with flowers, and then placed upon an altar. After this the king approached in great magnificence, and with the most devout respect presented to her his dagger as an offering. During this time all the gates of the city were beset with soldiers, and no one was suffered to go out or to enter. The festival continued eight days; and when it was finished, the king distributed presents to the Brahmans. Each received a rupee, though more than 4000 were sometimes assembled. The high-priest presented to the king a _Vastram_, that is, a piece of silk or cotton stuff; a _Viraghen_, or piece of gold, worth about three scudi; and a cow, as the support of life, because these people live chiefly upon milk and butter. Such a present is called _Godànam_. It has been usual in India since the earliest ages; and no greater favour can be shewn to a Brahman by the king than to give him a cow. At the end of sixteen days I at length obtained leave to depart; but before I set out, I wrote to the bishop and apostolic vicar, to inform him in what manner I had settled the business. This letter has been printed at full length in my _India Christiana_. As the _Cassanar_ or clergyman of the Christians of St. Thomas at Callurcada, whose name was _Ciandi_, had applied to me to get some abuses reformed which had crept into his congregation, I conversed on that subject with the prime minister _Cumàren Cembaga Ràmapulla_, and procured from him a letter to the officer at _Ambalapùshe_, to whose jurisdiction _Callurcada_ was subject. I shall here subjoin a copy of it, translated word for word from the Malabar language: “The business respecting which I write is this: Father Paolino appeared before his majesty at _Padmanaburam_, and informed him that some _Mappulians_ (so the Christian women are commonly called) in the parish of _Callurcàda_, which is subject to the jurisdiction of the governor of _Cembacolam_, indulge in criminal intercourse with various _Shuddras_ (Pagan nobility of the fourth cast), and condescend to live with them as concubines. Now, as this is the case, continued the Father in name of the bishop of _Verapole_, the distinction between the casts will be destroyed, and nothing but confusion will prevail among the different classes of the inhabitants; which gives him great uneasiness.