ETTAIAH. 
123 
children, for verily it appeared that the contest 
between the powers of evil and good would end only 
in the destruction of Ettaiah, and of all its wretched 
inhabitants. Nor was the piteous tumult appeased, 
until the youthful chief Buddunaut with all the 
grace and dignity of superior virtue, thus addressed 
his subjects : — 
“ ‘ Take courage,’ he said, * my unhappy people — 
return in peace to your homes, the sun shall not 
again rise and set ere this enchantment be dissolved, 
even though your safety be only purchased by my life.’ 
“ Relying upon this noble promise, the affrighted 
citizens slowly withdrew to their houses, praising the 
self-devotion of their chief, and invoking for him 
the aid and protection of Krishna ; while the chief 
Brahmins and astrologers busied themselves within 
the temples to ascertain the auspicious moment when 
Buddunaut should commence the adventure. 
“ The prosperous conjunction of the heavenly signs 
denoted the pure and solemn hour before dawn, and 
Buddunaut full of zeal and courage, robed in regal 
attire, and attended by a numerous train of priests 
and nobles, climbed the rugged hill, and then bidding 
adieu to his followers crossed the fatal threshold alone. 
“ The people of Ettaiah assembling in crowds, stood 
upon the sides of the hill and along the banks of the 
river, their eyes fixed upon the lofty walls and shining 
towers within whose precincts their beloved chief had 
ventured. The hours sped on— no food had entered 
m 2 
