130 Tam Garai, the Good Banyan. (Fes. 
darted out from the mountains of Bollodo. The rush of the animal had 
been checked by the sight of the recoiling throng, and it was advancing 
slowly, with distended jaws, in the wide space thrown open by its 
appearance. 
A poor and tattered old man, who, from the first, had stood aloof from 
the crowd, was left, by its sudden flight, alone upon the path. He was 
an Halachor—as despised a caste as that of the Parias—and, even in 
the midst of danger, did not dare to mingle with his more favoured 
countrymen, lest he might chance to contaminate them by an accidental 
touch. The monster made a spring, caught the old man, and, with a 
growl of triumph, was bearing him towards the mountains. 
Suddenly, a person darts from the throng, boldly cuts off the retreat 
of the panther, forces him to let go his prey, and thrusts his arm down 
his distended throat. 
In vain did the baffled brute, panting with fury, and his eyes starting 
from their sockets, plunge his fangs into his adversary’s side. The 
Indian resists and struggles ; strangles him, and flings him, expiring, 
upon the sand. 
The people sent forth a shout of joy and astonishment ; but it was 
louder, and still more exulting, when they recognized, in the conqueror 
of the panther, the good banyan, Tam Garai, whose whole fortune had 
formerly been exhausted in succouring the poor of Guzzerat. 
When order was restored, the young rajah reappeared. He was ina 
warrior’s costume, and mounted on a courser of Arabia. He made his 
steed prance with extraordinary skill, went through the ranks of his 
soldiers, and promised riches and honours to them all. The people 
admired the grace and dexterity of the young rajah; but every mind 
was intent upon what had just occurred ; and every eye kept turning 
from the spectacle of grandeur to the mountains of Bollodo. 
The breaking up of the review was announced for the morrow. The 
royal tents were pitched upon the bank; perfumes burned on ever 
side ; fires were lighted all over the plain. The brahmins invoked the 
benedictions of Heaven on a king who was the hope of Indostan ; and 
the poets of the courts struck up their noblest strains to celebrate his 
skill in horsemanship, the lustre of his diamonds, and even the 
generosity of which, no doubt, they were desirous to have evidence. 
The king entered his tent well pleased. He thought the praises he 
had heard of himself gave great evidence of the proper notions of his 
people. He could not consider any projects of aggrandizement too great 
for a people so deserving. He even began to ponder seriously on the 
wonderful things he meant to accomplish. But he was desirous of hear- 
ing nearer at hand of the vast impression he had made. If the great men 
and the poets were so struck by his display of magnificence and power, 
what must the populace say of it when they get among themselves, and 
can freely unbosom their delight ? He wrapped himself in a simple garb 
of rajput, and set off on foot for the great avenue of palm and sandal. 
The multitude had hastily thrown up rude shelters there for the night. 
He saw groups every where in warm and eager conversation. He 
approached some of them. It was strange to be lurking about thus to 
hear his own praises ; but he was curious to know what the lower orders 
liked him most for. He listened. The name of Tam Garai was the only 
one which met his ear! There were earnest questionings about his situa- 
tion and his wounds; the excess of his magnanimity, in exposing his 
