7 



present them with various kinds of food. The quantity of vic- 

 tuals offered to these idols is so very great as to feed twenty thou- 

 sand persons. They also, at certain times, carry the image in pro- 

 cession upon a carriage of sixteen wheels; and they believe that 

 whoever assists in drawing it along obtains remission of all his 

 sins." 



Such was the account of Abul Fazel, the Mahomedan vizier of 

 Akber, two hundred years ago- He has there omitted one material 

 circumstance in the procession of Jaggernaut; that of the volun- 

 tary human sacrifices to this lascivious god! This can now be too 

 well supplied from a late publication by Dr. Claudius Buchanan, 

 who was an eye-witness of the horrid scene he describes; which I 

 shall curtail as much as possible. 



Jaggernaut, lAth June 1806. 



i£ I have seen Jaggernaut. No record of ancient or 

 modern history can give, I think, an adequate idea of this valley 

 of death; it may be truly compared with the valley of Hinnom. 

 The idol called Jaggernaut, has been considered as the Moloch of 

 the present age; and he is justly so named, for the sacrifices offered 

 up to him by self-devotement are not less criminal, perhaps not 

 less numerous, than those recorded of the Moloch of Canaan. Two 

 other idols accompany Jaggernaut, namely Boloram and Shubu- 

 dra, his brother and sister; for there are three deities worshipped 

 here. They receive equal adoration, and sit on thrones of nearly 

 equal height. 



" The temple is a stupendous fabric, truly commensurate with 

 the extensive sway of the horrid king. As other temples are 



