BY DR. BERNCASTLE. 179 



excursions. Many of the idols set up in these temples during 

 the hours of devotion were thought to be of great value, and 

 it is not uncommon even now to see them formed of gold or 

 silver, having for eyes diamonds and other precious stones. I 

 saw an instance of this in visiting the hill temple of Parbutty, 

 near Poona, held in high veneration by the natives, and supported 

 by the Government from motives of policy. A blind Brahmin 

 in charge opened with his key the iron doors of the corner pagodas, 

 each one containing a god in white marble. I was not allowed 

 to approach the middle temple, but a light was procured and 

 held against the door to enable me to see inside the group of the 

 god Seva, in solid silver, Gunputty his wife, and Parbutty the 

 child, both in solid gold. Their eyes are made of diamonds and 

 rubies of great price, which I saw sparkling in the dark. They 

 are robed in white dresses, put on by Brahmins, who are the only 

 persons allowed ever to enter their sanctuary. The three idols 

 are valued at 60,000 rupees. Twenty-five Brahmin priests of 

 high caste are paid by the Company a sum of 18,000 rupees a 

 year to live in the temple and perform the rites. A guard of 

 sepoys is furnished by the Government for the protection of 

 these idols. As these idols offered great temptations to the 

 plunderer, it was necessary, therefore, in order to carry on the 

 ceremonies inculcated in the sacred Vedoo, and at the same time 

 to preserve the riches of the temple from the spoiler's hand, that 

 these buildings should be erected in places presenting great 

 natural advantages in the way of security. The officiating priests 

 resided upon the spot, in rooms set apart for their accommodation ; 

 and the deluded worshippers who came, often laden with offerings, 

 to pray, cared little for distance, or for the difficulties of the road ; 

 seeing that the more dangers they encountered in these their 

 pious journeyings, the more acceptable they believed their service 

 to be. Of the licentious character of the rites celebrated in these 

 Pagan temples, it is needless here to speak. They have passed 

 away. 



It has been remarked by travellers in ancient and modern 

 Egypt, that there is a striking resemblance known to subsist 

 between the usages, the superstitions, the arts, and the mythology 

 of the ancient inhabitants of Western India, to those of the first 



