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at her slave Johilla, and a great variety of attendants preparing a 

 nuptial banquet; to which a romantic fable is attached. Soane, a 

 demi-god, being enamoured with the extreme beauty of Narmada, 

 after a tedious courtship presumed to approach the goddess, in 

 hopes of accomplishing the object of his wishes by espousing her. 

 Narmada sent her slave Johilla to observe in what state he was 

 coming; and, if arrayed in jewels, of lovely form and dignity, or 

 worthy to become her consort, to conduct him to Omercuntuc. 

 Johilla departed, met with Soane, and was so dazzled with the 

 splendor of his ornaments and extreme beaut}', that she fell pas- 

 sionately in love with him, and so far forgot her duty, as to attempt 

 to personate her mistress; in which succeeding, Narmada was so 

 enraged at the deceit, that, upon their arrival at Omercuntuc, she 

 severely chastised Johilla, and disfigured her face in the manner 

 said to be represented on the image. She then precipitated Soane 

 from the top of the mountain to the bottom, whence that river 

 rises; disappeared herself in the very spot where the Nerbudda 

 issues; and from the tears of Johilla a little river of that name 

 springs at the foot of Omercuntuc. 



Such is the fabulous source of the Nerbudda, on whose banks 

 I had a beautiful villa, and extensive gardens; in whose rural 

 villages, shady groves, and holy island, I have enjoyed many de- 

 lightful parties; and by a residence of seven years, generally 

 within view of its bold meanders, have occasion to recollect many 

 local circumstances with peculiar pleasure. The fate of Nerbudda 

 is in many respects similar to that of Lodona, the chaste nymph 

 of Diana, who, with her virgins, had for a season forsaken the 

 haunts of mount Cynthus for the shades of Windsor: the meta- 



