CHINCHOOR. 157 
seven generationSi I repeated my inquiries, but they were positive 
it was for twenty-one, I suggested the possibiKty of a failure of the 
male line, which they would by no means admit, declaring that 
Gunputty had made the promise, and he would take care to fulfil 
it. I think however they have not acted with their usual prudence, 
for the present Deo has no son, and his wife is still a child ; were 
any accident to happen to him before she is old enough to have 
children, I think the Brahmins, ingenious as they are, would have 
some difficulty in carrying on the imposture. 
Captain Moore mentions the constant miracle of the Deo's ex- 
penses being so much greater than his income : this might easily 
be accounted for by the secret contributions of other Brahmins, 
who are essentially interested in the imposture, or by the supposi- 
tion of a secret treasure having fallen into their hands, by no means 
a singular circumstance in a country, where perpetual danger induces 
every body to bury a large part of their property, without intrust- 
ing the secret to any one. Of this some conjecture may be drawn 
from an event, that has lately taken place at Bisnagur. A man has 
appeared there, who declares that he is sent by heaven to rebuild 
that ancient city ; he has actually laid out the plan of the new 
town in a regular manner, with gardens to each house, and goes on 
building rapidly. Whenever he wants money, he goes to the top 
of a hill, where he declares he receives it from heaven, but pro- 
bably he has discovered some secret treasure, from which he draws 
such ample resources. 
The Deo resides on the opposite side of the river, in a very ex- 
cellent house for the country, part of which was built by old Nana 
Furnese, and part by Hurry Punt. We went over in a boat, and 
