﻿125 NARRATIVE OF A ROUTE 



dtvn^ was the interpreter between us. The xefult of 

 our interview was, that Dooroog Shaw wanted a pre^ 

 fent from me: I told him his inhofpitable treatment 

 did not merit it, and that I fliould give him none. At 

 this he appeared much offended; but finding that his 

 importunities availed him nothing, he ordered three of 

 his Goands to attend us as guides, with whom we im-r 

 mediately departed, leaving him no time to waver, or 

 to countermand his orders. 



Having difmounted from my horfe in the courfe 

 of this march, to take the bearings of fome remark- 

 able hills, a man, and a lad about ten years old, 

 whofe faces I knew not, fell proftrate at my feet. Upon 

 inquiring rnto the caufe of it, I was informed they 

 belonged to a tribe of Hindoo mendicants, known by 

 the name of Goofaigns. The man firll raifmg his 

 head and hands, in the mod fupplicating pofture, re- 

 quefted that I would hear him. Surprize at this un- 

 common circumftance arrefted my attention, and he 

 began to recite his tale. He faid, that he, in com- 

 pany with many other Goofaigns, had fet out from the 

 place of their refidence, Mirzapour, (a town well known 

 on the banks of the Ganges J and that, after having 

 travelled through the Englifli territory to Cutfack, and 

 made the pilgrimage of Jaggernaut, they had refolved 

 to make all the pilgrimages in the fouthern parts of 

 the Peninfula : But wifliing firft to vifit the fource of 

 the Mahanuddce, and principal places of fanclity upon 

 the upper parts of the Gunga Godavery, they had taken 

 their route along the banks of the former. Having 

 travelled unmolefled for fome time, and fubhfted, in 

 fome places, on the alms of the Hindoos, wherever 

 they found them, they had at length fallen in with the 

 hills and jungles inhabited only by the Goands, who 

 had plundered them, and murdered many of their 

 companions; of whofe bodies they had made offerings 

 to their God; and that the two pitiful objecls before 

 me, were an inllance of uncommon good fortune in 



efcapin^ 



