BELICS OF POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. 



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injthe corridors, shewed him the gloomy extent of this mountain- 

 temple, in which no image of any deity interrupted its magnificent 

 simplicity. The shadow of a single priest emerging from his cell 

 behind the pillars, seemed to represent the littleness of man in the 

 chambers of his Creator; but Ibrahim thought only of his pur- 

 pose, and questioned the stranger, in a faltering voice, concerning 

 Chandela and her son. The priest replied — We are Jines^ and 

 this cavern is dedicated to a purer and more ancient religion than 

 the Brahmins. We beheve our God all-wise, all-seeing, all-pro- 

 ductive, and all-happy— without name, without shape, without 

 tribe, love, or weakness. The man who can attain these perfec- 

 tions will soon behold God ; is already in his presence, and will 

 be united to him. Thy Chandela would have nothing to fear 

 from us. We believe the world eternal, therefore we hold it sin- 

 ful to attempt destruction ; we believe all things governed by ne- 

 cessity, therefore we blame nothing but adultery and theft, which 

 never can be needful. Go in peace." He offered Ibrahim food, 

 but of a very simple kind, for their creed excludes animal meats, 

 milk, and honey : informing him that the Hindoo priests had pro- 

 bably named the cave of Carli to mislead his search, while they 

 performed their melancholy rites on the shore. Dreading to find 

 them completed, Ibrahim descended into a deep and dismal val- 

 ley, opening by a narrow pass into the sea, which encompassed a 

 small island near its mouth, as low and dark as the abhorred isle 

 of Sangor, famous for human sacrifices. Two Brahmins answered 

 his enquiries by intelligence that they had already disposed of 

 Chandela according to her doom ; but the next hour would decide 

 whether her son should belong to them, or to the miserable caste 

 of his mother. Breathless and aghast with fear of this decision, 

 Ibrahim stood among the crowd, while the votaries of Hindoo 

 superstition approached in garlands of flowers and scarlet robes, 

 bringing in a magnificent litter the unfortunate boy designed for 

 an offering to Kali. Beautiful and rosy in the sleep procured by 

 opium, they placed him in the centre of the road, strewing cusa- 

 grass, oil and milk, upon his garments. Citarrs and trumpets 

 mingled with the heavy sound of a triumphal car containing the 

 idol Kah, represented by a gorgeous mass of ebony, studded with 

 rubies, drawn by an elephant of rare beauty. Certain that the 

 infant's death would be decided if the wheels of this vehicle pur- 

 sued their way, Ibrahim saw only one desperate expedient in his 



