us for some days past. They cover the road before and behind, as far as the eye can reach. At nine o'clock this morning, the temple of Juggernaut appeared in view, at a great distance. When the multitude first saw it, they gave a shout, and fell to the ground and worshipped. I have heard nothing to-day but shouts and acclamations by the successive bodies of pilgrims. From the place where I now stand, I have a view of a host of people, like an army, encamped at the outer gate of the town of Juggernaut; where a guard of soldiers is posted to prevent their entering the town, until they have paid the pilgrim's tax. I passed a devotee to-day, who laid himself down at every step, measuring the road to Juggernaut by the length of his body, as a penance of merit to please the god."

"Juggernaut, June 14, 1806.

I have seen Juggernaut. The scene at Buddruck is but the vestibule of Juggernaut. No record of ancient or of modern history can give, I think, an adequate idea of this valley of death; it may be truly compared with the valley of Hinnom.' The idol called Juggernaut has been considered as the Moloch of the present age; and he is justly so named, for the sacrifices offered up to him by self-devotement, are not less criminal, perhaps not less numerous, than those recorded of the Moloch of Canaan. Two other idols accompany Juggernaut, namely, Boloram and Shubudra, his brother and sister; for there are three Deities worshipped here. They receive equal adoration, and sit on thrones of nearly equal height.

This morning I viewed the Temple; a stupendous fabric, and truly commensurate with the extensive

sway of the horrid king. As other temples are usually adorned with figures emblematical of their religion, so Juggernaut has representations (numerous and varied) of that vice which constitutes the essence of his worship. The walls and gates are covered with indecent emblems, in massive and durable sculpture. I have also visited the sandplains by the sea, in some places whitened with the bones. of the pilgrims; and another place a little way out of the town, called by the English Golgotha, where the dead bodies are usually cast forth, and where dogs and vultures

are ever seen.*

"The grand Hindoo festival of the Rutt Jattra, takes place on the 18th inst. when the idol is to be brought forth to the people. I reside, during my stay here, at the house of James Hunter, Esq. the Company's Collector of the tax on pilgrims, and Superintendent of the Temple, formerly a student in the College of Fort William, by whom I am hospitably entertained, and also by Captain Patton, and Lieutenant Woodcock, commanding the military force.

Mr. Hunter distinguished himself at the College by his proficiency in the Oriental languages. He is a gentleman of polished manners, and of classical taste. The agreeable society of these gentlemen is very refreshing to my spirits in the midst of the present scenes. 1

• "The vultures generally find out the prey first, and begin with the intestines; for the flesh of the body is too firm for their beaks immediately after death. But the dogs soon receive notice of the circumstance, generally from seeing the Hurries, or corpse-carriers, returning from the place. On the approach of the dogs, the vultures retire a few yards, and wait till the body be sufficiently torn for easy deglutition. The vultures and dogs often feed together; and sometimes begin their attack before the pilgrim be quite dead. There are four animals which may be seen about a carcase, at the same time, viz. the dog, the jackal, the vulture, and the burgula, or adjutant, called by Pennant, the gigantic crane."

was surprised to see how little they seemed to be moved by the scenes at Juggernaut. They said they were now so accustomed to them, that they thought little of them. They had almost forgotten their first impressions. Their houses are on the sea-shore, about a mile or more from the temple. They cannot live nearer on account of the offensive effluvia of the town. For independently of the enormity of the superstition, there are other circumstances which render Juggernaut noisome in an extreme degree. The senses are assailed by the squalid and ghastly appearance of the famished pilgrims, many of whom die in the streets, of want or disease; while the devotees, with clotted hair and painted flesh, are seen practising their various austerities, and modes of self-torture. Persons of both sexes, with little regard to concealment, sit down on the sands close to the town in public view; and the SACRED BULLS walk about among them and eat the ordure.*

"The vicinity of Juggernaut to the sea probably prevents the contagion which otherwise would be produced by the putrefactions of the place. There is scarcely any verdure to refresh the sight near Juggernaut, the temple and town being nearly encompassed by hills of sand, which have been cast up in the lapse of ages by the surge of the ocean. All is barren and desolate to the eye; and in the ear there is the never intermitting sound of the roaring sea."

"Juggernaut, 18th June, 1806.

"I have returned home from witnessing a

"This singular fact was pointed out to me by the gentlemen here. There is no vegetation for the Sacred Bulls on the sand-plains. They are fed generally with vegetables from the hands of the pilgrims."

which I shall never forget. At twelve o'clock of this day, being the great day of the feast, the Moloch of Hindostan was brought out of his temple, amidst the acclamations of hundreds of thousands of his worshippers. When the idol was placed upon his throne, a shout was raised by the multitude, such as I had never heard before. It continued equable for a few minutes, and then died away. After a short interval of silence, a murmur was heard at a distance; all eyes were turned towards the place, and beheld a grove advancing. A body of men having green branches, or palms, in their hands, approached with great celerity. The people opened a way for them, and when they had come up to the throne, they fell down before him that sat thereon, and worshipped. And the multitude again sent forth a voice like the sound of a great thunder.' But the voices I now heard, were not those of melody or joyful acclamation; for there is no harmony in the praise of Moloch's worshippers. Their number, indeed, brought to my mind the countless multitude of the Revelations; but their voices gave no tuneful Hosanna or Hallelujah ; but rather a yell of approbation, united with a kind of hissing applause.* I was at a loss to account for this latter noise, until I was directed to notice the women, who emitted a sound like that of whistling, with the lips circular and the tongue vibrating; as if a serpent would speak by their organs, uttering human sounds.

"The throne of the idol was placed on a stupendous car or tower, about sixty feet in height, resting on wheels which indented the ground deeply, as they turned slowly

"See Milton's account of Pandemonium."

.

under the ponderous machine. Attached to it were six cables, of the size and length of a ship's cable, by which the people drew it along. Thousands of men, women, and children, pulled by each cable, crouding so closely, that some could only use one hand. Infants are made to exert their strength in this office, for it is accounted a merit of righteousness to move the god. Upon the tower were the priests and satellites of the idol, surrounding his throne. I was told that there were about one hundred and twenty persons upon the car altogether. The idol is a block of wood, having a frightful visage, painted black, with a distended mouth, of a bloody colour. His arms are of gold, and he is dressed in gorgeous apparel. The other two idols are of a white and yellow colour. Five elephants preceded the three towers, bearing towering flags, dressed in crimson caparisons, and having bells hanging to their caparisons, which sounded musically as they moved.

"I went on in the procession close by the tower of Moloch; which as it was drawn with difficulty, 'grated on its massy wheels harsh thunder.' After a few minutes it stopped; and now the worship of the god began.-A high priest mounted the car in front of the idol and pronounced his obscene stanzas in the ears of the people, who responded at intervals in the same strain. • These songs,' said he, are the delight of the god. The car can only move when he is pleased with the song.' The car moved on a little way and then stopped. A boy of about twelve years old was then brought forth to attempt something yet more lascivious, if peradventure the god would move. The child perfected the praises of his idol, with such ardent expression and gesture, that the god was pleased, and the multitude emitting a sensual yell of de