JN JAVJ. 



99 



which the worslitppors lirtd plaited a fringe of Arcng paliia 

 leaves. This sanie stone is thus decorated at every visit 

 made by the worshippere to the aacred grove. 



At the base of two of the stoties, where porhapg they have 

 hiiii for iiukiiown time, I foiiDd an earthenware jar, both of 

 them somewhat broken, hnt of elegant shaixj and artistic 

 design, not of ordinary native pattern or workmanship ; but, 

 Iwsides these jars, the egg-shaped stones and the image, all 

 the mouuments were of rough stone and without inscription or 

 8igu of handicraft* At the base of all the principal monnds 

 and pillars I found remains of their offerings, 



I learnt that the worshippers belonged to the tribe calletl 

 the Karan{)s ov Kalatigs^ who lived in a village lying several 

 days' journey to the southward. Four times a year a procea- 



BABTHEKWABE l«OT FE05J THE KAUANQ** C.BOVF. 



sion of old men and youths repairs, by paths known only 

 to themselves, through the dense intervening forest in a diiect 

 course by valley and mouutiiin, to this sacred grove ; the old 

 men to worship and make offering, the youths to see and 

 learn the mysterious litany of their fathers. The old men lead 

 the w ay ; the rest follow in single file, no one breaking the 

 silence of their journey, Should any one be encountered by 

 them on the way their pilgrimage is considered for that time 

 unpropitious, and they return to their viDage to wait for a 

 more favourable occasion. On their arrival with early 

 morning at the grove they camp in a small hut, cleanse the 

 ground about the sacred mounds, and perform during the 

 night or on the following day the rit^s known to them- 

 selves alone ; in the evening they take their departure to an 



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