The attributes of this deity have been fully explained already. II. The second lunar feast is called _Egadashi_, or _Egashì_, because it always falls on the eleventh day on which the moon either increases or decreases. On this day, all women who have been delivered in the course of the week, or who approach the time of their delivery; all barren females, or those who suffer from a suppression of the menses; likewise all patients who have been cured of the small-pox, and all fishermen and farmers, must observe a strict fast in honour of the goddess _Bhagavadi_. All these people are fully convinced that the moon assists women in labour, expels the fever of the small-pox, promotes the growth of the fruits of the earth, is propitious to fishing, and has an effect on menstrual purification. They repair, therefore, very early, as I had an opportunity of seeing several times at _Feira d’Alva_ and _Barcale_, either to the sea, or, as circumstances may serve, to some river or pond, where they perform their usual ablutions, and then cause a half-moon, or some other sacred mark which has a symbolical relation to the moon, to be painted on their foreheads. When this is done, they hasten to the temple of _Bhagavadi_; bring her an offering of coco-nuts, rice, butter, pepper, flowers, and other vegetables; deposit all these before the door of the temple, and pray to the goddess with uplifted hands. On this day they are not allowed to take the least nourishment before sun-set; and even then they must use nothing but boiled rice, fruit, pulse, and water. Milk, fish, and betel, are strictly forbidden during these fasts. These devotees, and particularly the philosophers among them, have an uncommon dexterity in observing the phases and aspects of the moon, and of foretelling from them the changes of the weather. When the moon is obscured by a cloud, and it begins to lighten, they regulate their predictions by the following rule: _Vadàya cabilà vidyul atabáyádi lohini_ _Pìda vrshàya vigneyà._ That is: “When the lightning appears of a dark blue colour, it prognosticates wind: if it be very red, drought will follow: if it has a yellow appearance, it denotes rain.” All the physical and astronomical observations commonly ascribed to _Zoroaster_, or _Zera-Thust_, have originated properly from the Indian _Shamanæi_, and agree perfectly with the observations of the modern Brahmans.