Dr. Wurrr’s Description of a Jutra near Surat. 875 
soon afterwards a number of huts, in all stages of preparation, formed of 
the verdant materials so abundantly furnished by the contiguous woods, 
saluted and gratified the sight. The decorum, harmony, and peaceable de- 
meanour which pervaded the assembled multitude, though in a constant state 
of motion and various degrees of fluctuation, created a most favourable 
impression of the Hindu character. Their moderation and orderly habits 
cannot be better illustrated than by the fact, that during the seven days of 
the Jatra no act of violence or theft was heard of. The tout ensemble of this 
exhibition presented a_picture on which the mind delighted to repose, and, 
by generating kindred associations, carried it back to the golden age, when 
the mutual confidence of men superseded alike the curb of law and the 
regulations of police ; a state of society which the Hindis ascribe to the 
Avatara of their beloved RAma, the author of the miracle whose anniver- 
sary they were now celebrating. 
The streets, being solely allotted to shops, were constructed on a very simple 
plan, and, following the custom of most Hindi towns, were very narrow. 
The main street skirted semicircularly round the wells as a centre, and was 
about a quarter of a mile in length: from this two or three led down to the 
wells, two or three more were extended from the opposite side into the 
fields, and the spaces comprised within these limits were filled up with the 
visitors, variously grouped, but chiefly by castes and villages, while others 
were dispersed more irregularly, as the shade of lofty trees or clumps of 
shrubbery at different distances had attracted their choice. 
The general mode of association appeared to be, as observed above, by 
castes and villages; and sometimes a slight outline of thorny branches 
pointed out the stations of the more respectable parties, composed of Brah- 
mans and wealthy Banyans. Artizans of every description improved their 
pious errand by bringing along with them different wares, the produce of 
their own industry, the sale of which communicated to the scene of devo- 
tion a degree of sprightliness and complacency highly animating. 
This admixture of profane and sacred pursuits added to the number of 
visitors a great many individuals entirely unconnected with the ceremony. 
The greater proportion of the last consisted of Parsis and Musalmans: the 
former, as customary, had solely engrossed the sale of spirituous and intoxi- 
cating liquors, and seemed to reap a plentiful harvest from the deplorable 
attachment of the inferior castes to that kind of intemperance. Several 
companies of jugglers, musicians, and dancers contributed their efforts to 
Vor. IIL. 38 C 
