Lieut. -Colonel Brigg^ Memoir of the early Lije of Nana Farnevis. 99 



" Hindustan. (Oct. 2, 1759). I accompanied him, taking with me my motlier 

 " and my wife, for the purpose principally of making pilgrimages to the holy 

 " cities of Benares, Prayag (Allahabad), and Gaya, and of becoming purified. 

 " in the waters of the Ganges. As my frame was at this period afflicted with 

 " a disease which reduced my strength and animal spirits, I found my mind 

 " more composed and fitted for devotion than when I was in rude health. 

 " My whole life and soul were now wrapt up in veneration for religion and 

 " respect for my mother, who greatly encouraged my religious feelings. 



" After crossing the Nerbudda I fell sick, and was afflicted with dysen- 

 " tery to such a degree that I could not rise. His Highness Bhao Sahib, 

 " out of his great consideration, ordered the army to halt for some days, 

 " till I got better. We reached the Chumbul at the period of an eclipse, 

 " and e\'entually arrived on the Jumna at the Gow Ghaut. We then pro- 

 " ceeded to Mathura, where having performed the religious ceremonies 

 " enjoined at the temples, we went to Vrijiddvan (Binderabun). Here I 

 " bathed in the very pool where the divine Crishna crushed the serpent 

 " Kalya. We also saw the remains of the very kadam-tree (Nauclea Orien- 

 " talis), in which the god concealed himself after having stolen away the 

 " clothes of the shepherdesses who were bathing in the holy stream. At 

 " Binderabun we visited the several temples of Atal-behdni, Kunj-behdni, 

 " Banki-behdni, Rddhd-KisJwr, and Gavind-j'i ; all dedicated to the god 

 " Crishna in his various shapes. I also assisted for sometime in performing 

 " the duties of the temple of Kunj Behdni. I visited the tree of Rddhd 

 " (where Crishna assisted to dress his mistress), as also the •wownsi-txee, 

 " under which he used to recline and play on his pipe. I likewise visited 

 " the Scva Ban and Kunj Ban, two groves where the god used to retire. 

 " The trees of the latter are rather low in stature ; but they are very 

 " thickly studded with branches and leaves, affording a permanent shade, 

 " The grove abounds in trees of all kinds : but those, whose nature it is to 

 " have thorns in other places, here have none. I was much delighted in 

 " these groves, and could fancy them still the retired abode of some 

 " divinity. 



«» I also went and rolled in the Ramal Rett (soft sand-hills in the bed of 

 " the Jumna), which still remain as in the time of the god. 



" One afternoon I paid a visit to the holy persons who reside at the spot 

 " called Dnydn Gdjrt, with whom I was much pleased ; and before dark I 

 ", performed (Sandhya) prayers and ablutions at the Dhir Sumir, so called 



02 



