﻿tROM CHUNARGIIUR TO YERTNAGOODUM. 79 



in the country : he therefore earneftly recommended to 

 me to pafs, if pofTible, while the Mahratta army was 

 there; as it would cffeBually fecure me from any 

 meafures which the Rajah might be inclined to make 

 ufe of, to impede or moled us. I felt myfelf much 

 obliged to the Gcofaign for the information he had af- 

 forded mc. He was, I found, a native of Benares^ 

 and had come into thefe wilds to procure lac; a quan- 

 tity of which he had purchafcd from the Chohan 

 mountaineers, for a little fait and cloth, and was carry- 

 ing it to his country. He added, that the fatigue and 

 trouble he had endured in the courfe of this traffic, 

 was fuch that he would no longer continue it. 



Having difmifTed the Goofaign with a fmall prefent, 

 I fent a party of my people to examine Ootna gaut. 

 They returned in about half an hour, and reported, 

 that, unlefs the ftones fhould be removed, and the 

 earth fmoothed in fome places, it would be impoffible 

 to get the cattle up the gaut. Finding it was likely 

 to be an arduous undertaking, I fent for the head man 

 of the village, who was a Gaiitea,* and afl^cd him if 

 he could afford me any affiftance in afcending the pafs. 

 He replied, that, without invoking the Deity wha 

 prefides over thefe mountains, and facrificing to him 

 a gelded goat, and a cock, we fliould never be able ta 

 furmount the difficulties before us. Being anxious, 

 at all events, to profecute my journey, I felt no in- 

 clination to argue with him on the propriety of this 

 meafure. Upon afking him at what place it was ufual 

 to perform the ceremony, and when the facrifice would 

 be mofl acceptable ; he replied, that the name of the 

 Deity was Lilcauntdeo; that he refided on the high 

 rock which I have before mentioned in exploring 

 Punkyputte}- gaut ; but, to prevent my being delayed^ 

 if I would intruft the facrifice to hinij he would take 



the 



• An inl^abitant of the gauts. or pafTes. 



