122 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
“ While thus employed the blind Bhudroo, first 
victim of Khoob-soorut, stepped forth from the multi- 
tude and cried aloud — 
“ ‘ Hear me, 0 ! most noble Buddunaut — in early 
childhood we were friends, and like to brothers, and 
for love of thee, and to restore peace to thy city, 
I will reveal the cause of my present affliction, 
though death itself be the penalty. In yonder 
palace dwells a false enchantress, sent by the terrible 
goddess Kali to win back your people to her worship, 
or to exterminate the whole race amid tortures such 
as we have suffered. 
“ ‘ The vain love of praise, and the accursed desire 
of wealth, first lured me within yon fatal walls. 
The sorceress is more beautiful than day ; who can 
stand before her P — 
“‘But beware, O ! beware, ye who are yet unscathed 
take warning, my fellow citizens, danger and death 
lurk like serpents amid her seeming paradise, her 
smile is ruin, and her loveliness a lure into the paths 
of destruction — 0 ! fly, then, the haunts of the de- 
deceiver.’ — He stretched forth his arms imploringly 
to his companions, a livid hue overspread his face, 
and sinking at the feet of Buddunaut, he expired in 
horrible convulsions. 
“ Great was the dismay of the spectators — they 
threw themselves upon the ground, tore their gar- 
ments, and cast dust upon their heads, cursing the 
evil fate that had come upon themselves and their 
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