222 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
summoned the Brahmins from the temples of Mahadeo, 
informed them of his projected pilgrimage, and after 
he had solemnly committed his precious child to their 
protection, he told them, that in her hands he placed 
the power of drawing all such sums of money as his 
friend Bikhari, the banker, should conceive to be really 
necessary to the strict performance of his vow. 
When he had completed his arrangements, the bania 
retired to his sleepless couch, and there during the slow 
and silent hours of the night he continued in painful me- 
ditation, until this unhappy thought entered his mind. 
If, said he within himself, my return should be longer 
delayed than I anticipate; if sudden death should 
overtake me in the dangerous straits of my pilgrimage, 
and the entire remnants of my once ample wealth be- 
come exhausted in my absence, what will become of 
my sweet child P And with this bitter consideration 
he continued a long time in ungovernable anguish. 
At last, starting from his couch, “ Ah, ah ! ” cried he 
aloud, with a wild tortured laugh, “ Ah, ah ! thus will 
I at least protract this fearful evil. The hand of that 
overgrown slave whom in my blind folly I have ap- 
pointed to dispense the fine meal is as the hand of a 
giant, and the villain, delighting in the hideous prospect 
of my downfal, employs tenfold his natural activity in 
dealing forth the bounty ; but who among mortals has 
a hand so delicately small as that of my most precious 
V anadosini ? Ah, ah ! in the narrow doorway of my 
shop will I erect a seat for her ere I depart, and there 
