824 ON ORISSA PROPER 



the gratified mob raise a loud shout as their final response, and all rush 

 forward with the cables. The progress made varies greatly according to^ 

 the state of the roads^. the care used in keeping the Raths in a proper di- 

 rection, the zeal and number of the pilgrims, and the will of the priests of 

 as they say of the god, the former having some method of choking the 

 wheels, and thereby preventing the movement of the cars, notwithstanding 

 the utmost efforts of the credulous multitude to advance forwards. Gene- 

 rally from two to three days are consumed in reaching the Gondicha Nouiy 

 where the images are taken out. Before even this period has elapsed, the 

 curiosity and enthusiasm of the pilgrims have nearly quite evaporated, they 

 steal off in numbers, and leave Sri Jeo to get back to the temple as he 

 may. Without indeed the aid of the villagers before described, and of the 

 population of PGri who hold their ground free of rent on condition of per- 

 forming this service to the deity, the Raths would now-a-days infallibly 

 stick always at the Gondicha. Nour. Even the god's, own proper servants 

 will not labor zealously and effectually without the interposition of autho- 

 rity, and I imagine the ceremony would soon cease to be conducted on its 

 present scale and footing, if the institution were left entirely to its fate and, 

 to its own. resources, by the officers of the British Government. 



That excess of fanaticism which formerly prompted the pilgrims to court 

 death by throwing themselves in crowds under, the wheels of the car of Ja- 

 gannath, has happily long ceased to actuate the worshippers of the present 

 day. During four years that I have witnessed the ceremony, three cases 

 only of this revolting species of immolation have occurred, one of which 

 I may observe is doubtful and should probably be ascribed to accident; in 

 the other two instances the victims had long been suffering from some 

 excruciating complaints, and chose this method of ridding themselves of 

 the burthen of life, in preference to other modes of suicide so prevalent with 

 the lower orders under similar circumstances. The number of pilgrims 

 resorting to Jagamiath has I think been exaggerated, as well as the 

 waste of human life occasioned thereby, though doubtless, in an unfavorable- 



