presence of the whole congregation by means of a whip or rod, that the scandal which he brought on his Christian brethren may thereby be removed[103]. The Christians of St. Thomas still celebrate their _Agapæ_, or love-feasts, as was usual in former times. They give them the name of _Nercia_, public vows. On such occasions they collect and store up a great quantity of sugar-canes, rice, bananas, honey, and rice-flour, of which they bake a certain kind of small cakes called _Appam_. These _Appam_, or rice-cakes, are prepared publicly in an apartment adjoining to the church. On the day of the solemnity all the people assemble in the church-yard; and the priest, placing himself in the door, distributes to them his blessing. They then arrange themselves in rows, and each spreads before him a banana leaf, to supply the place of a trencher. When this is done, the priest commands silence; and the overseers of the church, walking through between the rows, give to each his portion of _Appam_ and a few slices of banana. No Christian departs without having had a share. What is left is given to the Pagans, that they also may participate in this love-feast, and be incited to embrace the doctrines of the Christian religion. It is certainly an affecting scene, and capable of elevating the heart, to behold six or seven thousand persons of both sexes and all ages assembled, and receiving together, with the utmost reverence and devotion, their _Appam_, the pledge of mutual union and love[104].