314 CEEEPvlt)NIBS OBSERVE-D AT THE^. 



limits* The concourfe of people affembled was very great.' Into tH® 

 fort the chief people only had been admitted; the multitude were with** 

 oot the walls in- vafl numbers, but from the elevation of the -f pot on 



which the throne was placed moil of ihem could-.fee it.." . 



Thb propitious moment, being arrived, the perdas were withdrawn 

 and the raja expofed to view .with, fhe crown on his head,.. Various 

 rites were then performed by the bramms,. whilft others recited invo*= 

 cations and chaunted. flanzas .appropriate to the occaBon. ^ This con* 

 tinued .for about half an houfj when the chief braining or priefl of the 

 R^' advanced, having a- flat fiLver difh in his left hand, containing a 

 little fine unboiled rice. He approached. Co clofe to the raja, as to be 

 able to reach the crown with his hand^ flopped and recited a prayer ok 

 invocation. . He then took a little of the rioe in his right hand and 

 dropped it on the crown. This he repeated three times letting the rice 

 fall (lowly, whilil he at fame time continued to proclaim in a very loud 

 voice the new titles of the, raja with invocations or prayers bompofed 

 .no doubt for the auguil ceremony <> . 



Thb filence of the multitude without, as well as within the fort| 



during all this was admirable. The awe and reverence with which 



ihey beheld the rites and hfleoed to the bramins wzs fo great, that no£ 



abreath was to be heard whilft they continued,, fo that the voices of 



the bramins were diftinclly heard out of the fort ; but the moment for 



adoration, which was that when the lad rite with the rice was complet» 



ed, was no fooner comCj than a fimultaoeous fhouc burft from the 



whole, fo loud and fudden and fo ilriking to me, from its being totally 



unexpeBeds that it feemed the ihout of Miltoh's pandsemonium rea» 

 lized. 



The adoration at the fame time began, and continued as long as th:; 

 ■ Raja remained expoleda which was, above an houij during which the 



