507 



purity, but healing efficacy, is annexed to the ablution. Pilgrims 

 from distant provinces resort thither for the cure of different com- 

 plaints : they do not, I believe, entirely rely on the virtue of the 

 water for convalescence, but apply also to the medical skill of the 

 brahmins, who are the principal physicians in India. 



A belief in the purification of the Ganges, Nerbudda, and other 

 sacred rivers of India, universally prevails : all castes of Hindoos 

 resort to them at stated periods to perform their religious ceremo- 

 nies. There may be some among them, who, like Naaman the 

 Syrian general, would say, "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of 

 Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel ; may I not wash in 

 them and be clean ?" and, like him, may treat the Indian Jordan 

 with contempt. Such a character is very rare, nor would his ex- 

 ample have much influence in a society where ancient manners 

 and customs, especially in religious concerns, are so tenaciously 

 adhered to. 



We recommended the cleansing virtues of the Nerbudda to an 

 elderly mahomedan, named Shaik Edroos, who lived many years 

 in our family. At first he waited at table, and performed little 

 offices about our persons ; but on the appearance of some spots of 

 leprosy we excused him from that part of his employment. These 

 spots increasing, his motley skin grew so disgusting, that we dis- 

 pensed with his attendance at table, and at length procured him a 

 situation where the disorder did not interfere with his duty ; for, 

 although Shaik was not suddenly smitten, like Gehazi, for avarice 

 and falsehood, yet his skin gradually experienced the same effect, 

 until, like him, he became " a leper as white as snow." The white- 

 ness of the Indians afflicted with this disorder is so extremely disa- 



