NOVEL MODE OF DROWNING. 
175 
and to have the benefit of his shadow pass over 
them. He would sit by the hour on the bank of the 
Ganges smeared with cowdung, that most sacred of 
Hindoo cosmetics, receiving the homage of the de- 
luded multitude, without even a turban to protect his 
head from the sun, which darted its quivering rays on 
the broad waters, whence they were reflected with in- 
creased intensity. He did not utter a word ; and in 
the estimation of his infatuated worshippers this silence 
was the greatest possible proof of holiness. 
By severe and unremitting penance the unhappy 
man only added to his mental distresses, and at length 
the energies of his mind were so completely subdued 
that his life was a burthen to him. There are seve- 
ral modes of self-destruction not only permitted by 
the Hindoo code, but registered as actions which the 
gods delight to distinguish with their approbation ; 
and by one of these the wretched fanatic determined 
to take his departure forthwith from a world which 
he had of late tried by every possible means to render 
miserable. When he should have performed a suffi- 
cient number of daily penances to drain from his 
abased spirit the feculencies with which years of un- 
checked indulgence had charged it, he resolved to 
become a holy sacrifice, and ascend to the Swerga 
bearing the credentials of martyrdom. 
In accordance with this holy determination, the 
penitentiary procured two large earthen jars measur- 
ing each about two gallons. Into the bottoms of these 
he caused to be drilled two holes of half an inch dia- 
meter, inserting a long wooden plug into both aper- 
tures. Having made the necessary preparations, shortly 
