THE GODDESS GUNGA. 151 



could have played appropriate parts ; nor was music 

 wanting to complete the simile, for the rushing of 

 the torrent, the rolling of the shingle on the bed of 

 the river, the murmuring of cascades, which rose 

 and fell as if the waters were advancing or retiring, 

 and the mournful sighing of the wind as it swept 

 through numerous rocky gorges, formed a strangely 

 wild melody appropriate to the sombre grandeur 

 of the scene. 



Our tent was pitched on a little clearing close 

 to the river, and our people found shelter in one of 

 the numerous caves excavated in the face of the 

 rock for the use of pilgrims to the shrine. The 

 head Brahmin, induced by the offer of a few 

 rupees, showed us through the temple ; but there 

 was little to be seen in the Holy of Holies, the 

 great object of adoration being a small silver image 

 supposed to represent the goddess Gunga, before 

 which a few oil lights are continually kept burning. 

 Having satisfied our curiosity, and distributed our 

 largess, we adjourned to dinner, after which we 

 were present at certain ceremonies and dances 

 performed by our people and some villagers to 



