184 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
In this state of undisturbed content the still beauti- 
ful Hindoo passed several months. Her gains were 
indeed scanty, but sufficient for all the necessary 
purposes of sustaining life ; and in her present state 
of abased feeling she required no more. Although 
cast among those with whom in the brighter days of 
her prosperity she would have shuddered to come in 
contact, she did not forget those religious obligations 
which before her unhappy abduction she had always 
discharged with scrupulous exactness ; never allowing 
a morning to pass without performing her customary 
ablutions : in short, none of the numerous ceremonies 
of her religion were neglected, although so much of 
the day was occupied in the duties of her servitude. 
It was her determination now to atone for her 
negligence during the period of her enrolment among 
the upholders of another creed. Though frequently 
made an object of ridicule by the more licentious 
of the rude community who had admitted her 
among them when she was discarded from all 
other societies, she nevertheless did not allow her- 
self to be diverted from her sacred purpose, but 
earnestly endeavoured by present assiduity to atone 
for past neglect. 
The island of Ramiseram being considered a place 
of greater sanctity even than Benares, the Brahminee 
determined to visit its celebrated pagoda, there renew 
her vows of fealty to the divinities whom she had 
abandoned, and submit herself to the objurgations of 
the priests who presided at the shrine of that holy 
sanctuary. In former days it used to be the resort of 
pilgrims from all parts of Hindostan ; and the present 
