A EUX THROUGH KATHIAWAR. 331 



morning, though it was some time before I could fall 

 asleep. As the moon rose it lighted up an. immense 

 rock, which rose immediately above the roofless cottage, 

 on the floor of which I was lying ; and the unpleasant 

 idea obtruded itself that the top of this rock would 

 be a most convenient point for rolling down large 

 stones or rocks into the cottage. There even seemed 

 to be rocks upon it handy for the purpose ; and I 

 unfortunately remembered a story, told by Colonel 

 Tod, of an Aghora who nearly killed a Brahman lad 

 with large stones for the purpose of turning him into 

 food. Of course I had noticed the rock before, but 

 the possibility of its being turned to such a use had 

 never occurred to me until I was lying alone beneath 

 it, and it became lit up by the moon. This was 

 rather more than I had bargained for. I had a re- 

 volver and a breech-loading pistol and rifle with me 

 arms sufficient for any number of Aghoras but 

 they would not protect me, when asleep, against 

 rocks. The idea was quite gratuitous and rather 

 absurd; but it was difficult to get rid of it, and it 

 was aided by the maniacal cries of an ascetic high up 

 on the peak above. So I watched that rock for some- 

 time, till the fatigues of the day brought sleep ; and 

 whenever I partially awoke from the hardness of my 

 bed, I found my eyes turning upon it 



Mre Postans says of Girnar : " The people of the 

 neighbourhood, with all the superstition common to 

 those who dwell surrounded by mountain fastnesses, 



