And I now saw that she was beautified, yet in every particular with those proportions which characterized her earthly organism; so that had her friends beheld her (as I did) they would have exclaimed, "How well you look!"

I did not particularly notice the emotions of her fast unfolding spirit, except to remark her philosophic tranquility, and her non-participation with the members of her family present, in their bewailing of her departure, to unfold in Love and Wisdom. She understood at a glance that they could only look upon the cold and lifeless form which she had just deserted; and she comprehended the fact that it was owing to want of true knowledge, that they thus vehemently regretted her physical death.

about two hours or more, Becoming accustomed to from her position over the will-power, passed out of

The period of this change was but this varies in different cases. her new situation, she descended body, and, by an effort of her the open door of the bedroom. It being summer the open doors offered no obstruction, and I saw her pass out from the house into the atmosphere! To my delight and surprise I saw her walk in the atmosphere, as we tread the earth, which all spiritual organizations can do.

Immediately she was joined by two friendly spirits from the spiritual country; and after tender recognition, the three gracefully ascended obliquely through the air. I gazed upon them until distance shut them from my view, and returned to my external and ordinary condition.-A. F. Davis.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX A.

The word Veda means knowing or knowledge in the original Sanscrit, the sacred language of the Hindoos. Max Muller, with others, considers the Rig-Veda as the oldest, and indeed the original from whence the others were chiefly derived. The Yagur-Veda, the Sama-Veda, and the Atharva-Veda, are mostly liturgies or hymns for sacrificial occasions. Rig, or Rich, is from a Sanscrit root meaning to celebrate, and the ten books of the Rig-Veda contain about a thousand hymns, and for at least 2,500 years their verses and words have been carefully counted and memorized in the schools of the Brahmins, and countless commentaries have been written upon them.

The first Ashtaka, or book, of the Rig-Veda has been translated by H. H. Wilson, F. R. S., &c, an eminent English scholar and resident in India, and his work is published in London, under the patronage of the Directors of the East India Company. Max Muller, Professor in Oxford University, and eminent in character and learning, has published a part of his translation. Rev. J. Stevenson, D. D., of London, has published, under the auspices of the Oriental Translation Fund, his translation of a part of the Sama-Veda, made after a residence in India. From these sources, and from the Progress of Religious Ideas by Mrs. L. M. Child, I have made my extracts. The hymn to Agni, page 9, and the two following, are from Wilson; for the rest from the Rig Veda, I have used Muller, except as parts thereof may be with other Vedas, from Mrs. Child's valuable work. Harug, Rosen, Burnouf, and others,

have rendered valuable aid by research and translation, and the work of Muller now in progress will give us the fullest translation of these ancient books.

Dr. Harug, an eminent authority, dates the Vedic period in which these books were composed and collected, at from 1,200 to 2,400 B. C., and the oldest hymns of the Rig Veda at 2,400 B. C. Muller says we cannot well assign a later date than from 1,200 to 1500 B. C., supposes that writing was unknown at the date of the oldest hymns, and calls the Rig Veda "most venerable of Books."

Brahmins trace back the Vedas 4,000 years, and Sir William Jones dates them about 1,580 B. C., or more than a century before Moses.

The Code or Institutes of Menu, or Manu, dates probably from 900 to 1,200 B. C.

Of course, there can be no exactness in such remote dates, but the opinion of the best authorities leaves little doubt that the Rig Veda is the oldest of all Sacred Books. It is the Bible of Brahminism, and Muller says that India "is saturated with the idea of revelation;" although there is a wide departure from the simple purity of these old Vedic teachings.

The Vedas know no idols, and teach a consciousness of sin which the divine powers can remove, if repentance be real, and prayer and sacrifice be observed. Personal immortality is taught in some of the hymns. The transmigration of souls would seem a later idea of Brahminism. The great sacrifice of the juice of the Soma, or moon-plant, is the occasion for many of the Vedic hymns. The idea of One God is taught. Rig Veda, hymn 164, says: "They call Him Indra, Mithra, Varuna, Agni; that which is One the wise call it in divers names.

Sometimes each of these is called the God. The thought of a Great Soul and Cause seems present, yet mingled with a personification of Nature's attributes and powers; Indra is sunlight; Agni fire, and messenger; Varuna is day; Ushas dawn; Murats Storms, &c. Rakshakas are evil spirits, Rishis saints, and sometimes spirits of the departed. Of later date are

Shasters, Puranas, Brahmanas, and many other works, in which are gradually brought out the strange mythology mingled with the great truths of Brahminism; such for instance as the following from the Ramayana: "The sacrifice of a thousand horses has been put in the balance with the true word, and that one true word weighed down the balance. No virtue surpasses veracity. It is by truth alone that men attain to the highest realms of bliss. There are two roads that conduct to perfect virtue; to be true, and to do no evil to any creature."

Father Bouchet, a Catholic missionary in Hindostan, found the Trinity and the incarnation of the second person thereof taught there. Brahm, the Infinite, was manifest through Brahma and Vishnu, the preserving powers, and Siva the destroyer, in Brahminical teachings, and Whittier has well interpreted their idea:

"For wisely taught the Hindoo seer,
Destroying Siva, forming Brahm,
Who woke by turns earth's love and fear,
Were one, the same."

Incarnations of Vishnu were a part of their belief.

The BHAGVAT GEETA, or Dialogues between Kreeshna, or Chrishna, an incarnation of Deity, and his disciple Arjoun, is dated by Sir William Jones at 3,000 B. C.

This is probably too ancient a date, but the fact that only the three oldest books of the Vedas are mentioned in it would indicate a high antiquity.

I have used the translation of Charles Wilkins, A. D. 1785. He was an Englishman in the employ of the East India Company, and a letter of endorsement of his ability and character, and of the excellence of his work, from the well-known Governor of India, Warren Hastings, is in the preface of the volume before me.

J. C. Gangooly, an educated Hindoo, a convert to Unita rianism, who visited this country some years ago, giving the Hindoo belief as to signs and wonders that attended the birth