5J2 



distress, invoke with fear and trembling the power of Bhairava, 

 and of the female Sactis ; who were formerly, perhaps, considered 

 by the natives as the malignant spirits of the woods, mountains, 

 and rivers ; and worshipped by sacrifices, like the gods of the rude 

 tribes which now inhabit the hilly country east from Bengal, and 

 whose poverty has hitherto prevented the incursions of the sacred 

 orders of their more learned western neighbours." 



In the groves surrounding the Guzerat temples, as in many 

 other parts of India, are sacred bulls, belonging to their respective 

 Dewals. These animals, after being dedicated with great cere- 

 mony, by the brahmins, to different deities, have a distinguishing 

 mark set upon them, and are permitted to go whither they please ; 

 and to eat whatever they like, of grain, provender, or crops in the 

 fields ; not only without molestation, but frequently by invitation ; 

 these consecrated animals seem to be as much venerated as the 

 Apis in ancient Egypt. Where they are not kept within the pre- 

 cincts of the temples, as also Avhere they most abound, there is 

 generally a representation of one or more of the race, sculptured in 

 marble, stone, or petrified rice, reposing under the banian or peepal 

 trees ; living or dead they are supposed to add to the sanctity of 

 these holy retreats. I mentioned the nearly fatal consequence of 

 my having inadvertently strayed into one of these enclosures in 

 Malabar: I met with no such prohibition in Guzerat, neither 

 within my own purgunnahs, nor any other; I seldom entered the 

 temples, but often read or made a sketch under the same banian 

 tree with the officiating brahmin and his associates, without giving 

 the leasL offence. 



Such shady enclosures seem to have been an appendage to most 



