184 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



till, in mid career, a projecting rock reversed his position, 

 and caused a headlong fall. Instant death followed this 

 descent of ninety feet, and terminated the existence of 

 this youth, whose strength of faith and fortitude would 

 have adorned the noblest cause, and must command 

 admiration when feelings of horror have subsided. Thus 

 closed the truly appalling scene." '"' 



With the exception of the murder of a poor old 

 w'oman who shrank from the fatal leap when brought 

 to the brink, but w^as mercilessly pushed over by the 

 excited religionists, this was the last of these sacrifices 

 that was j)ermitted, the country coming in 1824 under 

 our administration. 



But the powers of evil were not yet to be baulked 

 of their victims. The British Government could 

 prevent deluded and drugged devotees from casting 

 themselves over the Bir-Kali rock ; but it could not 

 deprive Kali and Kal-Bhairava of their fell executioner 

 — the cholera demon. Year by year the pestilence 

 invaded the encampments of the pilgrims. Sanitary 

 science would say that it arose from the germs of 

 disease brought from the festering gullies of the great 

 cities, and pushed into activity by the exposure, bad 

 food, defiled neighbourhood, and poisoned water, of the 

 pilgrim camps, pjut the Hindii saw nothing in it but 

 the wrath of the offended Divinity claiming his 

 sacrifice. Year after year the gatherings were broken 

 up in wild disorder. The valley of the cave, the steep 

 hillside, and that green glade in the Sal forest, were 

 left to bury their dead, while the multitude fled 

 affrighted over the land, carrying far and wide with 



* Extract from a letter of 29th of November, 1822, from Captain 

 Douglas, Political Assistant in Nimar, to the Kesident at Indore. 



