ETTAIAH. 
117 
nificent palace, which, even in the days we speak of 
had fallen to decay, and the name of its first founder 
oblivion had blotted from the hook of the past. Die 
ring the late awful pestilence it had been used as a la- 
zaretto, and was studiously shunned by all the citizens 
of Ettaiah, as a sad memorial of the sufferings they 
had endured. The damp mists of death seemed to cling 
around its mouldering walls, the wailings of despair to 
fill the breezes that swept through its lonely courts, 
and the wayfarer, homeward bound, turned his eyes 
from the broken outlines of walls and towers cut- 
ting the sapphire sky, and praised the god Krishna 
that it was not with Ettaiah as in her evil days. 
" But lo ! in the solemn stillness of night, when all 
within the city were locked in repose, the wicked 
Kali descended in the form of an enormous vampire, 
and deposited Khoob-soorut (the beautiful) in one 
of the vast chambers of the palace. — Then by her 
magic art she recalled into existence all the ancient 
splendours of the abode, and surrounded the syren, 
destined to effect the destruction of Ettaiah, with 
every species of luxury and magnificence that might 
aid her own unrivalled beauty in fascinating the 
minds of men, and seducing them again to the 
worship of evil. 
“ The sun arose, and his crimsoned beams illumined 
the snow white domes and glittering cupolas of the 
restored palace; and, from the gates of Ettaiah, poured 
forth an eager crowd to gaze and wonder. Nearer 
