into execution the command of the facred books. This office fell to the lot of Samtan, or Dajanthi Lama, who had received the latter title of honour on account of his having lived in a monaftery, or hermitage, till he attained to that rank. Early in the morning, next day, he fet out for Sarepta with a numerous train of priefts, as the intended fucceffor of the deceased Lama. As on fuch occafions each prieft receives a confiderable part of the property left by the deceafed Lama, the number affembled was exceedingly great; fo that, in the course of a day and a half, above feventy gellongs, and many others of inferior rank, were collected. For thofe of the highest rank a fufficient number of horfes, partly faddled, and partly unfaddled, were provided, and diftri buted among them according to their dignity. There was alfo plenty of fheep and other animals, intended to be killed for food. The Dajant fhi Lama then called the priests together to regulate the funeral ceremonies. For that purpofe the facred books, which had, till that period, been kept clofely fhut up, were produced; and after all the circumftances attending the Lama's death, together with the time, had been compared with the rules in these books, it was concluded that the body should be burnt. The place appointed by the new Lama for performing the ceremony was the Moo Chammur, or fummit of a fandy hill, near Sarepta; from which the hut of the deceafed, where ftrict gaurd was kept to prevent any one from approaching it, was diftant only a few hundred paces. The foundation of a furnace was then accurately measured out by the Lama him. felf; and the earth was dug up with great care and folemnity by the gellongs and priests; for no perfon of any other condition durft put a hand to the work During this labour the Lama, accompanied by the moft dif tinguished of the priests, returned to the habitation of the deceased, where they fat down in a circle, and prayed from books with great earneftnefs and fervour. While they were thus employed, the deceased was stripped of his ufual clothing, and his yellow ornaments, jamon chubzufun were put upon the body; together with a yellow lackered five-pointed crown, called ooli-malachai. His throne, on which he had breathed his laft, with a devout benevolent afpect, fitting cross-legged, with his hands folded, was raifed up, and after his wide yellow drefs had been spread out around it, he was fuffered to remain in that ftate. The entrance of the habitation was covered by a particular kind of curtain, and guards were placed on each fide to prevent the common people from looking in when the priests entered or went out. In the mean time the prayers were continued at intervals; and, on a certain fignal being given, the people af fembled without were fuffered to enter one by one, uncovered, in order that they might pay their laft refpect to the deceased, by kneeling and touching his yellow robe with their foreheads. As the number collected was, however, too great, the new Lama at length went out, and beftowed his benediction on all those within his reach, by laying his rofary (erken} on their head; but as the throng around him increased more and more, he diftributed a general benediction among the whole multitude, by waving the rofary, after which he returned to pray, with deep fighing and fobbing. Such of the people as had not obtained the Lama's benediction, fhewed their respect and veneration by walking round the hut of their deceased, and, as it were, deified Lama; and counting their beads amidit con. tinual fighs, while they repeated, by way of prayer, the monofyllables om ma ni pat me chung; and every now and then, in going round, threw them felves down, with their faces towards the earth, before the door of the hut. After fome time two fingular fi gures, made of dough, were brought out from the hut, on wooden trenchers, and borne towards the place deftined for the furnace. They had each two legs and two arms; but, in other refpects, they bore a greater refemblance to devils than to men. While prayers were performing in the hut of the deceafed, the rest of the priests fat together in circles, dif perfed here and there, filled with confternation, and viewing attentively what was going on. A deputation, appointed by the new Lama, made a diftribution to the priests, according to their rank, of the cattle and other property left by the deceafed; and, by command of the prince, fix hundred rubles, in ready money, were collected from the horde, to defray the expence of the funeral, and to be divided among the priests. The four fides of the foundation, dug for the furnace, in which the body was to be burnt, were directed towards the four cardinal points. On the north, fouth, and eaft fides, large fire holes were dug, and covered to wards the fide of the furnace with earth, that the wood might lie under the covering, and not within the furnace itself, to prevent any of the afhes of the wood from being mixed with the afhes of the body. The bottom was then conftructed of tiles, which had been conveyed on horfeback by gellongs from the distance of fome werfts; and, inftead of lime, clay was employed to cement them. When the furnace was raifed about a foot above the earth, a large iron tripod, made for the purpofe, was fixed in the middle of it, and one of the gellongs immediately placed himfelf in the furnace, crofs-legged, on the tripod, in order to try whether it would anfwer the intended purpofe. A kind of hut was then erected around the furnace with poles, which were co vered up to the top with pieces of old. felt. This hut was about eighteen or twenty feet in height; and at the top was a large opening, to afford a paffage to the flame and the fmoke. All the priests who were prefent, after viewing the furnace, went in proceffion, accompanied by the new Lama, to the habitation of the deceafed, where the fifteen priefs who were to officiate put on the drefs peculiar to their office. This drefs confifted, firft, of a fort of fhirt, called bitschan majak, which the priests use inftead of breeches and flockings. It is worn next the fkin, and is gathered in plaits, and faftened round the middle by means of a broad girdle. Over this was put the schúbi chubzufun, which is a fhort red fhirt without fleeves, and open at the breaft; alfo the gika majak, a piece of red cloth placed around the body in folds above the first short majak, and fastened by means of a red fafh; the fecond majak muft hang down almoft to the heels. The Chief Lama alone had a jamohn chubzufun, or red fhirt, with short fleeves, which was faftened by means of a broad yellow girdle. In the lat place all of them had a tfchogi chubzufun, or large fquare piece of filk, which, except a border two spans in breadth, confifted of red and yellow patches, four inches fquare, difpofed checquer-wife. Some, however, had this piece of filk entirely yellow. It was thrown over the fhoulders, fo as to reach the ground behind; and the two corners of it before were fastened over each other on the breast. The arms, head, and legs, during the ceremony, were bare; and each had wound his rofary around his arm; all which gave them a very terrible appearance. After they had put on their dress, a certain kind of veffel, called ordu charafch, was brought forth, and put into the hands of the Bakski, or inftructing prieft, who walked next to the Lama; and who, inftead of the variegated piece of filk, had one entirely red. Another small metal veffel, of coftly workmanship, containing facred water, mixed with fpices and fugar, and ornamented at top with a very beautiful peacock's father, was delivered to the Lama, and borne by him at the head of the proceffion. Eight of the gellongs, dreffed as above defcribed, fupported the bier, and the other five had in their hand each a bell. The habitation of the deceafed was torn open behind with the utmost expedition, and the body, after the large yellow filk cloth suspended from its shoulders had been thrown entirely over it, and the high fpiked crown had been put on its head, was taken out, and placed, in a fitting pofture, on a bier made for the purpofe. The bier was borne by the eight gellongs, and the proceffion moved towards the furnace in the following order; firft, the Lama, then the bakfchi, after him the dead body, then the five gellongs, with their bells, and, in the last place, the remainder of the mufic and the people. During the proceffion the Lama, every now and then, dip ped the peacock's feather in the facred water, and sprinkled it every where around him. The inftruments of mufic, befides the bells, were three long copper trumpets, which emitted, at moft, two or three bafs notes, and which followed behind. They were full three yards in length, and therefore were fufpended by rings to two poles, and, in that manner, carried by two men. There were alfo four drums fufpended from a pole; and two mufi cians, with brass cymbals, which were beat in the fame manner as the Turkish. The people, who had affembled in crowds on all fides, were kept off by priefts appointed for that purpofe, and armed with ftrong cudgels. As foon as the proceffion reached the furnace, the muficians placed themfelves in a femicircle before the enEd. Mag. March '1800. trance of the hut, and made a loud noife with their inftruments. The body of the deceafed Lama was then carried with great fpeed into the hut, and placed on the tripod, after the crown and yellow covering had been taken from it. Both thefe articles were afterwards conveyed back, with the fame proceffion and mufic, to the habitation of the new Lama. The next operation was to complete the conftruction of the furnace, which was done with great privacy. Two pieces of iron were put round the neck of the deceased, projecting fo far on each fide, that the ends of them could be built into the wall. These ferved to keep the body upright in the midft of the fire. The top of the furnace was arched in a floping manner over the head of the dead body; and on the weft fide, where there were no fire-holes, a fquare opening was left in the top, through which, while the body was in a ftate of combustion, tallow and other inflammable fubftances were poured. The wood deftined for fuel was all cut exactly of the length of the fire-holes, and a great quantity of butter, incense and refin, was intermixed with it. Near the furnace was placed a kettle, in which the butter was melted with the other ingredients: and on both fides of the furnace there were small altars, covered, as ufual, with facred veffels and lamps. A magnificent throne was prepared on the weft fide for the officiating Lama; and, when every thing was ready, the Lama put on the yellow wrapper of the deceased, placed his crown on his head, and feated himself on the throne. The gellongs, who had laid afide their facerdotal habits, and affumed their ufual drefs, fat down in a circle around him. Each had a bell in his left hand, and a book lying before him, on his knees, and on a fignal given by the Lama, the fmall lamps on the altar, and the wood in the three fire-holes of the furnace, were Bb imme head. immediately lighted. The two figures face, and various movements of th of dough already mentioned appeared also on one of the altars. The fire was lighted about seven o'clock in the evening, amidft prayers, finging, and the noife of bells and mufical inftruments, which was fometimes interrupted by converfation between the Lama and the bakfchi, respecting fome paffages of the facred books. The Priefts who kept guard were, in the mean time, ftrictly forbidden to fuffer any person to peep in through the holes in the tent. Wood was continually thrust into the fire-holes; and the Lama, by means of a ladle with a long handle, furnished at the fore part with fmall fpouts, poured fome of the grease which stood near him through the aperture upon the body, by which means the fire was fo ftrengthened, that the flames rofe in a continued column to the height of eighteen or twenty feet above the furnace. It was found neceffary, therefore, to enlarge the aperture in the top of the tent, to prevent it from being deftroyed. The gellongs, alfo, were foon obliged to ftand fo far back, that every thing which, took place within the tent, or hut, could be plainly feen. At certain times the, Lama threw the bark of trees, daubed over with refin, and pieces of confecrated white filk, into the top of the furnace; and as he was expofed to great heat by ftanding fo near it to pour the fat over the body, a fcreen was held constantly before his face by one of the gellongs, which fecured him from the flames, but permitted him to fee the aperture in the top of the furnace. The prayers offered up in the Tangut language, while the body was burning, became always longer, and were uttered with a louder tone of voice. They were intermixed with the ringing of bells, the clapping of hands, fnapping of fingers, thrufting the fingers through each other, and then drawing them back, great contortion of the eyes and This formidable fire was kept up for three hours, after which the furnace was fuffered to stand fome hours to cool. One can fcarcely believe with what ftrength the fire was maintained by the air which paffed through the furnace, and the different aromatic fubftances which were thrown into it prevented any difagreeable effect from the fmoke, or the fmell of the body. Next morning, when the furnace had cooled, it was opened with great fecrecy, under cover of the tent, and the body, fhrivelled like a mummy, being taken out, was divided in portions among the priests. Some of the poor people alfo, who were able to force their way through the crowd, obtained fmall bits of the little which was left. This burnt fubftance of the Lama's body (Lamain-Dhinder) is confidered, by the fuperftitious people, as a facred medicine; and it may therefore be faid, that the Lama is gradually confumed by his own worshippers. This mode of burning the body produces fcarcely any afhes, as the fkin, flesh, and bones, are fo baked, by continually pouring fat over it, that the whole mafs has the appearance of a cinder, and is equally friable. The few afhes, however, which remain, are carefully fcraped, together with the afhes in the fireholes, and are preferved by the priests. After the furnace was opened, it was entirely rafed to the foundation, and not a single ftone of it left. All the materials were carried in a cart to the other fide of the Wolga, where the horde at that time refided. At the four corners of the spot where the furnace had flood, high flags (mani) were erected; and, at the end of fome weeks, when the horde returned to the district of Sarepta, a fmall ftone chapel was constructed in the middle of the four flags, and filled in the infide with infcriptions, images, / rags rags of old clothes, and the like, and ed the conclufion of the whole cere furrounded by a ditch. This form- mony. LIST OF PICTURES SENT FROM ITALY TO PARIS BY THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, WITH ANECDOTES OF THE PAINTERS, [From the Appendix to the President de Brosses's Letters on Italy.] THE cities and towns which have been laid under contribution for those mafter pieces of art are Bologna, Cento, Cremona, Fano, Foligno, Loretto, Mantua, Milan, Modena, Parma, Perugia, Pefaro, Placentia, Rome, Venice, Verona. In making the enumeration of thofe pictures, we think beft to follow the alphabetic order of the names of the painters who executed them, adding brief hiftoric notices refpecting their lives and works. Albano was born at Bologna in 1578, and died in 1660. He was the pupil of Denis Calvart of the Caracci, and of Guido. He was already known in France by the fol. lowing pictures taken from Versailles -Diana and Acteon, Apollo in the fervice of Admetus, the Triumph of Cybele, the Holy Family, the Repofe in Egypt, two Annunciations of the Virgin, and Jefus Chrift appearing to the Virgin. Finally, we are indebted to him for a Nativity of the Virgin, in which the figures are a large as life, and which lately came from Bologna. Alfani, born at Perugia in 1480, died at the fame place in 1558. He was an éléve of Pietro Perugino, the condifciple and friend of Raphael, whom he accompanied to Rome, and whofe after-pieces he ftudied. The Virgin, Saint Francis, and Saint Antony of Padua. This piece came from Perugia; and the figures in it are of the natural fize. particularly formed himfelf by the works of Correggio. From his hand we have a Defcent from the Crofs, which is one of his beft pieces, and one of thofe that most contributed to his reputation-the Call of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew, Saint Michaelina, the Annunciation of the Virgin, taken from the pontifical palace of Loretto, the Circumcifion of Chrift, procured from Pefaro, the Virgin, Saint Antony, and Saint Lucia, from Perugia. Bassano, called the cavaliere Leandro, born at Baffano in 1658, died in 1623. He was a difciple of the Venetian fchool, was educated under his father, and excelled particularly in portrait. From him we have a Refurrection of Lazarus, confifting of twenty figures as large as the life. This piece came from Venice. Bellini, born at Venice, died in 1516, at the age of ninety years. He was one of the founders of the Venetian school, and the master of Georgione and Titian. To him Italy is indebted for the practice of painting in oil. He artfully gained the fecret from Antony of Meflina, who had himfelf learned it from the 'celebrated John of Bruges. We had already his portrait and that of his brother. His Chrift in the Tomb came to us from Pefaro. Breughel, born near Breda in 1575 died in 1642. He was the pupil of his father, called the Old. After having employed his pencil on flower and fruit pieces, he went to Italy, where he practifed the reprefentation of figures and animals. His works difplay great tafte: five pieces are particularly diftihguished-Daniel in Bb 2 Baroccio, born at Urbino in 1528, died in 1612. Originally educated in the principles of the Florentine fchool, he afterward went to Rome to study the style of Raphael. He the |