HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL, £1 



vance the foot which is up beyond the toe of that 

 on the ground, to meet the preachers, who observe the 

 same pace as their wives ; and the mats, as the 

 parties pass over them, are always taken up and 

 placed again before. Having passed each other, the 

 women take place behind the men, and follow them 

 by the same step at which they at first set out, to the 

 house of one of the ^preachers : when arrived, the 

 men taking one side, and the women the other, they 

 wash and change their clothes. Here the ceremony 

 ends ; and the preachers, with their wives, are invited 

 to a feast at the Maungy\. 



The above is the only festival where women can 

 assist, or bear any part, as a woman never prays in 

 public on these hills. It has before been said, that they 

 are to recommend themselves to the protection of the 

 Supreme Being, morning and night. During the 

 time of the above festival, the compliment of a salam 

 is not paid to any person. 



Pow Gosaih, or the God of the Road, or High- 

 way, is the first worship young men perform ; though 

 it is not undertaken till some accident has induced 

 the person to consult the Cherreen, or Satane, whether 

 his praying and making an offering will be accepta- 

 ble. This trial is perhaps of itself sufficient to con- 

 firm the opinion, that Pow Gosaih is offended; 

 therefore the young suppliant vows to worship him. 

 On the day of thanksgiving, on which the new Ta~ 

 halloo is first eaten of, or on the day appointed for 

 the new Kosarane-hzrvest, he proceeds to a high 

 road, and cleans and washes a small space under 



E 2 the 



