324 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



scended by starlight, and by the rising light of a still 

 unseen moon, to the Khengar palace, without meeting 

 Avith any molestation, or, indeed, with any person 

 at all. 



The next clay was devoted to visiting some places 

 of interest not far from the Jain temples. One of 

 these is the famous Bhairava Jap, or "Leap of 

 Death." This is a huge rock which rises on the 

 edge of the ledge and slightly overhangs the great 

 precipice, so that a leap from it must involve a 

 tremendous fall. It used to be the custom for those 

 who desired to avail themselves of this convenience 

 to take up a cocoa-nut with them, to place it on the 

 very verge of this rock, and to poise themselves on it 

 which naturally resulted in their going over. The 

 Leap of Death, however, does not seem to have been 

 very often had recourse to in historical times, and 

 for years the use of it has been forbidden. But even 

 still, occasionally, the leap is taken, and, no doubt, 

 would be so more often than it is were it not for the 

 difficulty of getting up to the top of the rock, now 

 that a rope which formerly afforded aid has been re- 

 moved. There is no lack of other points where quite 

 as effectual a leap could be made ; but over these it 

 might not have the same sanctified effect. Xear this 

 I came on the residence of a very famous and char- 

 itable ascetic, called Shivadas, who bears a high 

 reputation, and who condescended to talk with me. 

 This man is of unknown age : he seems to have been 



