THE ABOEIGIXAL TRIBES. 177 



were fixed in cracks in the pavement of the rock, worn 

 smooth by the feet of the pilgrims, and moist and 

 slippery with the waters of the stream that issues from 

 the cave. 



The cave itself opens through a lofty natural arch in 

 a vertical sandstone cliff ; and for about three hundred 

 feet runs straight iuto the bowels of the hill. It is 

 without doubt natural ; and a considerable stream of 

 clear cold water issues from a cleft at its further end. 

 Here is set np the little conical stone (Lingam) which 

 represents the god, and attracts all these pilgrims once 

 a year. No temple made with hands, no graven image, 

 nothing of the usual pomp and ceremony of Brahminical 

 worship, adorns this forest shrine. Outside on a plat- 

 form a Brahman sits chanting passages in praise of the 

 god, out of the local Sivite gospel (the Rewa Khanda) ; 

 and a little way ofi" an old woman tolls the great bell at 

 intervals. But within there is no officiating priest, no 

 one but a retainer of the aborig^inal chief whose risfht it 

 has been from time immemorial to act as custodian of 

 the shrine, and to receive the offerings of the pilgrims. 

 No pilgrim ever brings more up the hill with him than 

 he means to offer ; for he may take back nothing — his 

 last rupee, and even the ornaments of the women, must 

 be left on the shrine of the god. Before passing into 

 the cave the pilgrim leaves with the Brahmans outside 

 (along with a sufficient douceur) his pair of small 

 earthen vessels for the receipt of holy water. These 

 they fill from the stream, seal up, and return to the 

 pilgrim, who then proceeds to make the tour of the 

 holy places on the MabdJeo hills. This takes him the 

 whole of the remainder of the day. At each place a 

 cocoa-nut is offered; and little piles of stones, like 



