15 JANUARY 1876, Page 3

The Athenaeum states that a poem has been forwarded to

London from India, and will shortly be published, in which the author, a Canarese scholar, not only apostrophises the Prince of Wales as an Avatar, but declares that he shall henceforth be his -read :- "I have cast aside the Trimurti [the Trinity]. If I ask for rain, the Prince will give it ; If I ask for the sun, the Prince will smile.

• Is he not omniscient, omnipresent, almighty, the essence of per- fection?

I will breathe him, and he shall be my food.

I have no need now to doubt in faith : my new religion is one of sight and knowledge.

I have seen the flower-face of my God !"

It is difficult to believe, till the whole poem is published, that the poet is sincere, but there is nothing opposed to Hindooism in such a cult. One European at least is worshipped in Northern India, and some caste or other might find it convenient to insti- tute a worship of the Prince of Wales, as less cruel than Siva, less immoral than Vishnu, and more accessible than Brahma. The three feathers would do very well for the symbol of the caste, -to be painted between the eyes, and the motto, " Ich Dien," would be a short and easy creed.