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durbar when the mantra was explained. My Mahomedan and 

 Parsee servants seemed to be as much affected as the Hindoos. 



Cicero justly observes, " superslitio t'usa per gentes oppressit 

 " omnium fere animos, atque hominum imbecillitatem occupavit." 

 — Superstition, when once diffused through the world, oppressed 

 the souls of almost the whole human race, and fixed itself upon 

 the weakness of our nature. 



With people thus bigotted, and subject to such laws and 

 usages, it was of no avail to argue. In vain I opposed to the 

 divination of the seers the solemn treaties lately entered into, and 

 the binding security of the Bhauts, given by the Mandwa rajah 

 and Gracia chieftains ; my Dhuboy friends remained immoveable 

 in their superstitions belief, and were more concerned than of- 

 fended at my incredulity. At length they dropped that part of 

 the subject, and laid the greater stress upon the undoubted intelli- 

 gence they had received of the plot devised against me by the 

 Gracias. Having been informed that Ryjee Sihng, the principal 

 Bhaut of Serulah, and one of their principal securities, was then 

 in Dhuboy, to convince my friends that I did not entirely despise 

 their counsel, I deviated a little from my first plan, and desirino- 

 him to be called, I directed him to get ready immediately and 

 accompany me on horseback beyond the bed of a river in the 

 wild country, between the Dhuboy and the Baroche purgunnas, a 

 woody tract of Zinore, intersected by gullies and ravines, the 

 haunt of wild beasts and Bheel robbers. This spot had been 

 pointed out as the intended scene of action ; and appearing so well 

 adapted for an ambuscade, I resolved to pass it before the close of 

 day. In all former journeys from Dhuboy to Baroche, a distance 



