1.04 PROCESSION OF VISHNU. 



dancing girls. In the accompanying sketch (Plate V.) 

 I have endeavoured to convey some idea of this extra- 

 ordinary group, and I only regret that the space at my 

 disposal does not admit of giving a more complete view 

 of the temple-buildings. 



The other temple, to which I was accompanied by a 

 score of little Indians through an avenue of cocoanut 

 palms, which somewhat shaded me from the broiling 

 sun, is dedicated to Vishnu, and varied but little in its 

 construction from the one just described, excepting 

 that it was even larger. It so happened that Vishnu 

 was more complacent and held a feast on the very day 

 of my visit ; the street leading to the entrance was 

 gaily dressed in flags and festoons of flowers, and the 

 ponderous chariot, on which the god was to take an 

 airing, stood ready in front of the Vimana, the crowd 

 shouting Ram ! Ram ! but I had not time to wait his 

 pleasure, and was content to witness the arrival of the 

 chief priest, an old man, his forehead besmeared with 

 ashes, dressed in purple silk and gold, a gilt tiara on 

 his shaky head, and borne aloft in a golden palki, in 

 shape resembling a shell. He was marshalled by two 

 elephants gorgeously caparisoned, three small cows 

 with gilded horns mounted by men beating the tom- 

 tom, by his own horse led and surrounded by a crowd 

 of shouting natives, some carrying what looked like 



