PECULIARITIES OF PILGRIMS. 231 



the}- threw a stray tile or two on the heads of the 

 dismayed spectators. 



Bindhaban is about nine miles from Muttra, along a 

 o-ood road shaded on each side by trees. We pass 

 several pilgrims on their way to the shrines. Several 

 of them are accomplishing vows ; some to crawl the whole 

 way on their knees; others measure their length along 

 the entire distance. This is done by lying down on the 

 road with the head in the direction of Bindhaban. A 

 mark is made in the dust where the top of the head 

 reaches ; then they rise, and, placing the feet on the 

 mark, lie down again, and so on. The sanctity of 

 Bindhaban must be great, Scindiah, the Begum of 

 Bhopal, and other Rajas, have each their houses and 

 temples. But to a sightseer the place is disappointing. 

 These Hindoo buildings compare poor!}' with the 

 magnificent edifices of the Mahomedan Moguls. The 

 more modern temples look new and gimcrack ; and, no 

 doubt owing to the slowness of decay in this climate, 

 their stone lacks the mellowing tone of age. 



January Iteh. — We left early this morning for Deeg, a 

 ride of twenty-five miles. About halfway are the sacred 

 tanks and temples of Govindhun. They are well worth 

 a visit, although the picturesqueness of the whole scene 

 is the chief attraction. The numerous buildings might 

 interest the archaeologist, but to an ordinary sightseer 



