380 
quin, when he approaches a temple; no person being allowed to 
ride near those structures. 
These ignorant and bigotted priests seem to hold strangers in 
abhorrence, and detest every intrusion into their holy retreats: I 
nearly lost my life by indulging an innocent curiosity near Qui- 
lone, a Dutch settlement, twenty miles to the northward of Anjengo. 
Strolling one evening through a wild scenery of woods and forests, 
I accidentally saw a Hindoo temple, almost concealed by banian- 
trees. Pleased with the scenery, I ascended a rising ground within 
the grove, to take a sketch; and in an adjoining tank saw a Nair 
girl performing her ablutions: she instantly snatched up her gar- 
ment, and ran to an inner court; aware of her high caste, I did 
not attempt to speak to her; but seating myself on the bank, 
finished my drawing. In the grove was a Nair at his devotions, 
who, on the female speaking to him with earnestness, looked sted- 
fastly at me, and departed with her to the temple. Thinking no 
more of either, I returned leisurely towards Quilone; when hearing 
a noise, 1 looked round, and perceived the same man, joined by 
several others, armed with sticks and stones, hastily following, and 
alarming the forest with their cries. I had neither time for delibe- 
ration, nor any weapon to defend myself; but, with a little distance 
in my favour, ran to the nearest village, and claimed the protec- 
tion of some Moplahs, having received a few stones in my 
flight. 
Upon inquiring from these Mahomedans the nature of an 
offence so undesignedly committed, they told me I had, in the first 
instance, ventured on sacred ground, untrod by Europeans; and 
had seen a woman of high caste in a consecrated tank; crimes of 
