The Vearl Fishety. lOi 
to the mast of a ship ; and from the end of the transverse 
beam ropes and pnliies are suspended to hoist up the devotee, 
lie then is brought out attended by 'a number of people danc- 
ing before him ; and is led thrice round the swinging post by 
the brahmins and his relations, with loud shouts accompanied 
, by music. In the mean time a sheep is sacrificed, and the 
blood sprinkled about on the suiTOunding multitude, who aie 
eager it shall fall upon them. Barren women, in particu- 
lar, are anxious to catch the drops, in liopes of being by this 
means rendered fruitful ; and with a view to secure the efficacy 
of this charm, they contrive to work, themselves upB during 
the ceremony, to the highest pitch of religious delirium, tearing 
their hair and shrieking in the most dreadful manner. After 
the sacrifice is performed, the devotee is placed on his belly 
flat on the ground ; and two very large hooks, w hich have been 
previously fixed to the ropes suspended from the end of the 
cross-beam, are inserted deep into the flesh of ins back just 
under the shoulders r other ropes are also placed under his bi east 
and across his thighs, to. help, to - sustain the weight of his 
body, lie is then, by means of the ropes and pullies, hoisted 
up to the cross tree, immediately under which he coFitinues 
suspended ; and in this position he is drawn round the post 
tw^o or three times. During this painful cereoioii}^ he repeats 
a certain nuinber of prayers, and continues to throvr among'" t|ie 
crowd fiow'ers wdiich he had. taken up with him for the pur- 
pose; these are considered as sacred relicks, which will keep 
away all disease, and ensure happiness ever after ; and the 
surrounding multitude scramble for tiiem as eagerly as asi Eng- 
lish mob for money thrown among them. 
This ceremony is by no means unfrcqiient, and I have had-- 
3 
