504 SURVEY OF THE GAK&ES. 



the head with oil, taken from the lamp placed before the altar; by which 

 a61, they make a formal abjuration of their parents and kindred, devoting 

 their future hves to prostitution. A short distance beyond it is a Mat'h 

 OT fane of Rassea De.vI, the god of love ; wiiose shafts, if we may be- 

 lieve the reports and complaints of his numerous votaries, are tainted with 

 a fatal and pernicious poison: indeed, his wounds appear to be so generally 

 diffused, that four fifths of the inhabitants are supposed to labor under the 

 eiTedls of them ; and the calamity is heightened by their ignorance of pro» 

 per remedies to check their pregresSe 



At this place, we had an opportunity of seeing -a'Ctin0us ceremony, 

 which is occasionally observed by the hill people, and took place on the 

 opposite side of the river, nearly m front of ,ourients. It is called the 

 Bhart or Bhe'da ; and is a kind of propitiatory oWation to the genius of 

 the mountain, to draw down his bless-ing on the land, and preserve the 

 crops from the destructive ravages of xats and vermin. A thick rope, 

 of amazing length, \yas made fast to a stake, near the bed of the river; 

 and the other end earned, by eighty or one hundred men, to the top of 

 a hill, nearly one mile in ascent ; and being passed through a running^ 

 block of wood, it was secured to a large tree, and made as tight as it 

 could be stretched. On this hazardous vehicle, a man of the cast of 

 'J\^at's, or tumblers, was placed astride, and, without being tied, or hav- 

 ing any aid to preserve his balance, excepting some large bags of 

 sand, fastened to his legs and thighs, he was. started from the summit, 

 and arrived in safety at the bottom. The omen was considered fortunate, 

 and the enterprise liberally rewarded, by the Zejnindars, or owners of 

 the land. Had the man lost his seat, and fallen, he would most proba^ 

 bly have been killed on the spot ; but death was at ail -events the forfeit 



