OF THE OLD WORLD. 25 o 



convulsive manner, as if wrestling with some ima- 

 ginary enemy, groaning and keeping his face covered 

 with a cloth. Taking advaiitage of his terror, I con- 

 tinued in the same tone of voice, " Perriatumbie ! 

 are you not ashamed of having so ill-used your 

 good Sawmy Haniman ? Did you not tie seven 

 tails of male elephants shot by your master as a 

 lignum (the sacred thread worn round the body 

 Duly by the Brahmins) round the image of that pert 

 god, Ganesea ? Perriatumbie ! my evil eye will 

 always be upon you, and the rest of those who ill- 

 treated me, to work you evil, until I have also a 

 lignum of elephant tails on me, and my wounds are 

 anointed with the fat and blood of many tigers. I 

 want no sacrifices of sheep and cocks, for the price 

 of them comes out of the pocket of your master, on 

 whom be blessings and good luck, for he never did 

 me any harm, and must not suffer for your ill- 

 doings. Go and show him the fresh trails of ele- 

 phants and tigers, that ho may kill them, and bring 

 me their spoils as offerings, that I may not destroy 

 you all, as your crimes deserve." I then stole 

 quietly away and joined the rest of the gang, but in 

 the course of half an hour I saw the spell had begun 

 to work, for the people collected in groups, and 

 whispered mysteriously to each other ; and every 

 now and then tlie names of Haniman and the 

 Gooroo caught my ears, which proved that a great 

 sensation had been caused by this supernatural 

 visitation, which I increased to an awfully exciting 



