3o8 GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN. 



" by the Ferfansy DerviJJj, or Sof, and by the Indians, Se- 

 " najey. In this fmgular clafs of men, who, in Hindoq/iany 

 << defpife every fpecies of clothing, there are a number of 

 « enthufiafts, bnt a far fuperior proportion of knaves ; every 

 « vagabond of abilities who has an averfion to labor, being re- 

 " ceived into a fraternity which is regulated by laws of an un- 

 " common and fecret nature. The Hindoos view them with a 

 «' wonderful refpedl, not only on account of their fandtified re- 

 " putation, but from a fubftantial dread of their power ; the 

 ^^ Fakeer pDgrimages confiiting often of many thoufands of 

 " naked faints, who exadt wherever they pafs a general tribute, 

 " and their chara6ler is too facred for the civil power to take 

 " cognizance of their condufft. Every invention, in a word, of 

 « perverted ingenuity is exhaufted in diftorting and deforming 

 ■, '« nature, fome, of the moft elevated enthufiafra, ftriking off even 



*' their own heads on great folemnities, as a facrifice to the 

 " Ganges, which they worfliip; if the nerves of the felf-devoted 

 " victim are powerful enough to difmember it completely, he 

 " unqueftionably goes to heaven, if not, his former fandtity is 

 " queftioned, and his future happinefs remains a doubt." 

 Varisties of. In the frontifpiece to volume i. I have given figures of two 

 of this clafs. The firft, with great length of hair, is one of 

 the felf-tormentors who are mentioned at p. 306, and who prac- 

 tife the moft luiheard of aufterities. Thefe are the enthufiafts 

 which bear the name of Togeys : others I have feen named 

 Saniajfes, or Pilgrims ; but Mr. Craufurd makes them fynoni- 

 mous with the former. The other figure I have given in the 



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