ISf! TEMPLE i^F JUGGERNAUT. 



" Gutter Gate of Juggernaut, l<2lh June, 18C6. 



" A disaster has just occurred. As I approached the 



gate, the pilgrims crowded from all quarters around me, and 

 shouted, as they usually did when 1 passed them on the road, an 

 expression of welcome and respect. 1 was a little alarmed at their 

 number, and looked round for my guard. A guard of soldiers 

 accompanied me from Cutack, the last military station; but they 

 were now about a quarter of a mile behind with my servants and 

 the baggage. The pilgrims cried out that they were entitled to 

 some indulgence, that they were poor, that they could not pay the 

 tax ; but I was not aware of their design. At this moment, when 

 I was within a few yards of the gate, an old Sanyassee (or holy 

 man) who had travelled some days by the side of my horse, came 

 up and said, ' Sir you are in danger ; the people are going to rush 

 through the gate when it is opened for you.' I immediately dis. 

 mounted, and endeavoured to escape to one side ; but it was too 

 late. The mob was now in motion, and with a tumultuous shout 

 pressed violently towards the gate. The guard within seeing my 

 danger opened it, and the multitude rushing through, carried me 

 forward in the torrent a considerable space ; so that I was literally 

 borne into Juggernaut by the Hindoos themselves. A distressing 

 scene followed. As the number and strength of the mob increased, 

 the narrow way was choaked up by the mass of people ; and I ap- 

 prehended that many of them would have been suffocated, or bruised 

 to death. My horse was yet among them. But suddenly one of 

 the side posts of the gate, which was of wood, gave way and fell 

 to the ground. And perhaps this circumstance alone prevented 

 the loss of lives. Notice of the event was immediately communi- 

 cated to Mr. Hunter, the superintendant of the temple, who re. 

 paired to the spot, and sent an additional guard to the inner gate? 

 lest the people should force that also; for there is an outer and 

 an inner gate te the town of Juggenaut; but both of them are 

 slightly constructed. Mr. Hunter told me that similar accidents 

 sometimes occur, and that many have been crushed to death by 

 the pressure of the mob. He added, that sometimes a body of 

 pilgrims, (consisting chiefly of women and children, and old men) 

 trusting to the physical weight of their mass, will make, what he 

 called a charge on the armed guards, and overwhelm them ; the 

 guards not being willing, in snch circumstances, to oppose thejr 

 bayonets." 



