8 



usually adorned with figures emblematical of their religion, so 

 Jaooernaut has numerous and various representations of that vice 

 which constitutes the essence of his worship. The walls and gates 

 are covered with indecent emblems, in massive and durable sculp- 

 ture. I have also visited the sand plains by the sea, in some 

 places whitened by the bones of the pilgrims; where dogs and 

 vultures are ever seen, who sometimes begin their attack before 

 the pilgrim is quite dead. In this place of skulls I beheld a poor 

 woman lying dead, or nearly dead, and her two children bj r her, 

 looking at the dogs and vultures which were near. The people 

 passed by without noticing the children: I asked them where was 

 their home; they said " they had no home but where their mother 

 was." O, there is no pity at Jaggernaut; no mercy, no tenderness 

 of heart in Moloch's kingdom! Those who support his kingdom 

 err, I trust, from ignorance: " they know not what they do/' 



Jaggernaut, 18th June. 



" I have returned home from witnessing a scene which 

 I shall never forget. At twelve o'clock of this day, being the 

 great day of the feast, the Moloch of Hindostan was brought out 

 of his temple amid the acclamations of hundreds of thousands of 

 his worshippers. When the idol was placed on his throne, a shout 

 was raised by the multitude, such as I had never heard before. It 

 continued equable for a few minutes, and then gradually died 

 away. After a short interval of silence, a murmur was heard at 

 a distance; all eyes were turned to the place, and behold a grove 

 advancing: a body of men, having green branches, or palms in 

 their hands, approached with great celerity. The people opened 



