A PIOUS FRAUD. 45 



and took care to extol his great piety, his advanced religious state, and 

 unworldly spirit, in the villages near. Hundreds of people soon began to visit 

 the Gooroo (spiritual guide) and to pay their reverence to him. 



At last it began to be rumoured about that his long contemplation of 

 sacred things had gained this holy man the Divine approval, that super- 

 natural powers had been granted to him, and that he proposed a descent to 

 Patarla (the regions existing under the earth, according to Hindoo mythology), 

 and a return after seven days. This produced tremendous religious interest 

 for many miles round. An abundant harvest was just over ; it was the dry 

 weather and the people had nothing to do ; so thousands flocked to bow 

 before the saint who, unmoved as ever, appeared to be in a rapture of con- 

 templation. Charitable contributions of grain poured in from all sides, and 

 after being offered to the still oblivious Gooroo, were cooked for the con- 

 sumption of the attendant crowds. After a few days, moved by the spirit, 

 he transferred the scene of his devotions to some open ground a mile dis- 

 trait, and here, under the directions of his two companions, his newly-attached 

 disciples commenced the excavation of a hole in the ground, about five feet 

 deep and three in diameter, which was to be his starting-point for the lower 

 regions. Over this was built a substantial earth-work shrine, with a small 

 door at one side ; surmounting the whole was the figure of a bull, the 

 emblem of Shivite worship, in clay. At a distance of about twenty feet 

 from this structure the two attendants erected a small hut of branches : 

 this was carefully closed in with cloths, and during the few days when the 

 shrine was being prepared, the man of ashes spent the whole of his time in 

 it, fitting himself (it was supposed) by renewed diligence in prayer for his 

 projected visit to the other world. 



The public excitement was kept up at all hours by incessant tom-toming 

 and horn-blowing, and the charitable and well-to-do ryots who were present 

 distributed food gratuitously to the daily-increasing crowds. At last the 

 eventful day for the mystical disappearance arrived. The chief men amongst 

 the multitude pressed round the shrine as the Gooroo approached it chant- 

 ing a song of adoration, and implored his blessing. The devotee then entered 

 the hole below the shrine, and it was securely closed and thenceforth sed- 

 ulously watched day and night pending his resurrection, and in accordance 

 with his parting instructions. 



During the intermediate time interest in his performance was kept alive 

 by exciting news of his having been seen first at Bissalwadi, a hill five miles 

 to the west ; shortly afterwards, in the jungle ten miles in an opposite direc- 

 tion. In fact, his appearance and reappearance were as unsettling as that of 

 Mr Toots at the church windows during the publishing of the banns of mar- 



