They were each devoted to the service of some particular deity, and had quarters provided within the spacious precincts of his temple.
Here a certain number were always on duty, and men living there practiced the stern severity of conventual discipline.

Thrice during the day, and once at night, they were called to prayers.
They mortified the flesh by fasting and cruel penance, drawing blood from their bodies by flagellation or by piercing themselves with the thorns of the aloe.

When their turn of duty was over, they resided with their wives and families outside the temples.
The great cities were divided into districts, placed under the charge of a sort of parochial clergy.

These administered the rites of baptism, confession, and absolution, each of which strongly resembled that of the Christian religion.

In baptism the lips and bosom of the infant were sprinkled with water, and the Lord was implored to permit the holy drops to wash away the sin that was given to it, before the foundation of the world, so that the child might be born anew.