74 Mqjor-General Sir J. Malcolm on the Bliills. 



" tain) in Gondwara* Barma', on her arrival, performed her devotion? 

 " to Sedasiva, with such assiduity that, when that holy being awoke from 

 " the trance, in which he had been plunged, she attracted his attention, and 

 " he desired her to mention her prayer, and it should be granted. Barma 

 " replied, that her only wish was to be blest with children, that her name 

 " might remain in the land of her nativity. Sedasiva, on hearing this, 

 " gave her a club, or staff, which he directed her to throw against the 

 " branches of a mango-tree, and to pick up the fruit that fell. Slie obeyed, 

 " and obtained five mangoes ; but not being satisfied, she again threw up 

 " the stick, when, to her surprise, it adhered to the tree, and at the same 

 " time, the mangoes she had already obtained, vanished from her hand. 

 " Mortified by this disappointment, she imposed upon herself, as a penance 

 " for her avarice, the task of sweeping with the long dishevelled tresses of 

 " her hair, the spot on which Sedasiva lay reclined in tapasi/a, hoping 

 " that her humility and devotion would appease that anger, to whicii she 

 " attributed her disappointment. Barma had performed this task for the 

 " space of seven years, when Sedasiva again opened his eyes, and, perceiv- 

 " ing the same votary standing before him, enquired why she had not de- 

 " parted with her fruit. Barma' related what she had done, and the 

 " consequence. ' It was a just punishment,' said Sedasiva, ' for your 

 " cupidity. Take the stick, and try again ; but learn to be satisfied with 

 " what fate grants you, and seek no more.' Barma, thus warned, took 

 " the stick, and knocking down five mangoes, departed with them to Toraii 

 " Mall. During the journey, she happened to lodge at the house of a 

 " Komar, or pot-maker, whose daughter ate one of the mangoes, and bt- 

 " came immediately pregnant. In the same manner, three other mangoes 

 " were eaten by tlie respective daughters-in-law of the difierent house- 

 " holders, who gave her lodging. They were, a Danyd (a merchant), a 

 " Rajput (a soldier), and a G6udla (a cowherd). Their daughters-in-law, 

 " becoming all pregnant from eating the mangoes, were, in due time, de- 

 " livered of sons. The Komdr's daughter-in-law's son was called Duk- 

 " KUMBHi ; the Bavyd's was called Gunji ; the Rajput's was called Wanu 

 " Samar ; and the Gdwdla's was called Velam. 



* Probably the Mahddeva hills, where the pilgrims still continue to pay their adoration to Se- 

 da'siva, or Maha'deva. 



