Father Joseph de Carignan, who was settled as missionary at _Bettia_, says, therefore, in a book which he dedicated to the king there: “Your Pagan authors write in your _Puràna_ (a history of ancient times), and a part of your philosophers teach that there exists one God, who is an almighty, incorporeal, and pure spirit.” Could he have written thus with impunity in the presence of the Brahmans, and particularly to a king, had he not been certain of what he advanced? Niebuhr, Pallot de St. Lubin, and others have sufficiently proved, that many Indians entertain the purest notions of the Divinity. One day having asked an ignorant Malabar Pagan how extensive the love of God was, according to his idea, he replied: _Saptasagaram eluranda lògavum onnu ciuttia vàsughi sarpamàya avene pidicia caratina ábharatinál ettarudáde oru mey_. That is: “God is so great, that the serpent _Vásughi_, which surrounds the seven seas and the fourteen worlds, would be too small should he wish to employ it on his finger instead of a ring.” It is here seen, that this heathen formed a very exalted conception of God, though he expressed himself in a figurative manner. It must, however, be confessed, that there are men also in India so stupid and blind as to believe the Deity to be a being that consists of several parts; and who consequently worship, as their god, the sun, the atmosphere, water, and even the rice which serves them as nourishment. But where is the country in the world in which there are not fools? Respecting the manner in which God produced the world, and still conducts himself in the government of it, the Indians are divided in their opinions. 1. Some believe that God first produced the goddess _Bhavàni_, that is, all-creating nature. The latter, having brought forth three gods, called _Brahma_, _Vishnu_, and _Shiva_, converted herself into three females, and these married their own sons. The office assigned to the first was to produce every thing useful in the world; the second was to preserve them; and the third was commissioned to destroy them, when they should be no longer necessary. Life, increase, and death--or creation, preservation, and destruction--are every where observed in the kingdoms of nature. The above-mentioned goddess _Bhavani_, who represents all-creative nature, according to the doctrine of the Brahmans, is the deity who, next to the Supreme Being, is entitled to the greatest veneration. 2. Others assert that _Vishnu_, the spirit of God, (for this is shewn by the appellation _Pranen_, which in the book _Mahabhàrada_ is expressly added,) created in the beginning every thing from water; and from his navel proceeded _Brahma_, _Shiva_, and the whole multitude of the other gods.