174 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



amorphous idol with a light foot, while a wild pleasure marked 

 his countenance. As soon as this subsided, and repeatedly 

 during the painful scene, I addressed myself to him, in the 

 most urgent possible manner, to recede from his rash resolve, 

 pledging myself to ensure him protection and competence for 

 his life. I had taken the precaution to have a boat close at 

 hand, which in five minutes would have transported us beyond 

 the sight of the multitude. In vain I urged him. He now 

 more resolutely replied that it was beyond human power to 

 remove the sacrifice of the powerful Bhyroo ; evincing the 

 most indomitable determination, and displaying so great an 

 infatuation as even to request me to save him from the fell 

 dagger of the priestess,* should he safely alight upon the idol. 

 So deep-rooted a delusion could only be surmounted by force ; 

 and to exercise that I was unauthorised. While confronted 

 with the idol, his delusion gained strength ; and the barbarous 

 throng cheered with voice and hand, when by his motions he 

 indicated a total and continued disregard of my persuasions to 

 desist. He made his offering of cocoa-nuts, first breaking one ; 

 and he emptied into a gourd presented by the priestess* his 

 previous collection of pice and cowries. She now tendered to 

 him some ardent spirit in the nut shell, first making her son 

 drink some from his hand, to obviate all suspicion of its being 

 drugged. A little was poured in libation on the idol. She 

 hinted to him to deliver to her the silver rings he wore. In 

 doing so he gave a proof of singular collectedness. One of 

 the first he took off he concealed in his mouth till he had 

 presented to her all the rest, when, searching among the 



* The priestess here referred to was probably tbe Bheel custodian of the 

 shrine. There is nothing to prevent the hereditary custodian from having been 

 a female at that time ; but priestesses, properly speaking, have never existed in 

 India. Her receipt of his collections from the people also indicates this con- 

 clusion. 



