xx THE ANTELOPE 337 



passing through the body, and perhaps ricochetting into some 

 village a mile on the other side. 



At Bertulla, where we were camped for some time, the village 

 was benefited by the presence of a Hindoo priest. This fellow 

 was an extraordinary personage, as he combined the ascetic with 

 the acrobat. Naked, with the exception of the smallest waist- 

 cloth, he was smeared from head to foot with ashes : his begrimed 

 face had the unearthly appearance produced by this ghastly 

 colouring, and his large eyes shone with that peculiar brilliancy 

 which may be so frequently remarked among the religious 

 enthusiasts of India. This holy man was an important personage 

 at Bertulla, as he possessed a small temple upon the outskirts of 

 the village, which represented all that was ecclesiastical in this 

 portion of the district. The temple, or church, was about 8 feet 

 square, therefore it was somewhat limited in accommodation ; it 

 was glaringly white, with a small shrine, painted with divinities, 

 which appeared to be in an advanced stage of scarlet fever. 



The signal for divine service was given upon a species of 

 trumpet, which emitted a weird sound, happily unlike any other 

 instrument to which we are obliged to listen. This high priest 

 was the sole representative of the little temple, and he led a 

 solitary life ; his chief occupation consisted in sweeping his small 

 courtyard and brushing up his premises. He had no dwelling, 

 neither did he sleep upon a bedstead, nor even upon the ground, 

 but he laid himself upon a horizontal bar like the pole of a bullock- 

 cart, supported upon posts about 3 feet above the courtyard floor. A 

 short cross-piece at one end was sufficient for his shoulders, and upon 

 this uncomfortable perch he was able to pass the night in rest. 



We became great friends, as I frequently gave him presents for 

 his temple. I am fond of clergymen generally, as they are never 

 shy in accepting donations for their parishes. My interpreter 

 described this faky as "a sort of Bishop"; he accordingly became 

 known by that name in camp. The Bishop would have been 

 known in England as "a sporting parson." Although a devout 

 man, he was a sportsman at heart. The tank abounded with 

 wild-fowl, and I was accustomed to supply sufficient ducks and 

 teal for our entire party almost daily. Upon these occasions I was 

 invariably attended by the Bishop, who plunged into the water 

 like a retriever to secure the birds when either killed or wounded. 

 This cleansing process effected a sudden change in his appearance ; 

 the ash-smeared faky became a really handsome man when divested 

 of his holy colouring. I had presented him upon one occasion 

 with a few rupees to beautify his church, and he became more 



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