1871.] 
The Country of Bray. 
43 
but the vision was all too high a mystery for the herdsmen’s simple 
daughters, who begged the two boys to doff such fantastic guise 
and once more as they were wont join them in the sprightly 
dance. Then reaching the Jamuna at Khelban by Shergarh, where 
Krishna’s temples were decked with the marriage wreath ( se - 
Tiara),* they follow the course of the river by Chir Grhat, where 
the frolicsome god stole the bathers’ clothes, and arrive at Nand- 
ghat. Here Nanda bathing one night was carried off by the 
myrmidons of the sea-god Yaruna, who had long been lying in 
wait for this very purpose, since their master knew that Krishna 
would at once follow to recover his foster-father, and thus the 
depths of ocean, too, no less than earth would be gladdened with the 
vision of the incarnate deity. The adjoining village of Bhayganwf 
derives its name from the ‘ terror’ ( bhay) that ensued on the news 
of Nanda’s disappearance. The pilgrims next pass through Baclih- 
ban, where the demon Bachhasur was slain ; the two villao’es of 
Basai, where the Gropis were first ‘ subdued’ {based) by the power 
of love ; Atas, Nari-Semri,J Satikra, and Akrur, where Kansa’s per¬ 
fidious invitation to the contest of arms was received; and lastly 
Bhatroncl,§ where one day when the two boys’ stock of provisions 
had run short, some Brahman’s wives supplied their wants ; though 
the husbands, to whom application was first made, had churlishly 
refused ; and so arrive at Brindaban, where many a sacred ghat and 
venerable shrine claim devout attention. 
The pilgrims then cross the river and visit the tangled thickets 
of Bel-ban|| in Jahangirpiir; the town of Mat with the adjoining 
woods of Bhandir- ban and Bhadra-ban, where the son of Boliini 
# This is a curious specimen of perverted etymology illustrating the persis¬ 
tency with which Hindus and Muhammadans each go their own way, and 
ignore each other’s existence. There can be no doubt that the town derives its 
name from a large fort, of which the ruins still remain, built by Sher Shall, 
Emperor of Delhi from 1540 to 1545, A.D. 
f This village is more ordinarily and perhaps more correctly written and 
pronounced Bbauganw. 
J A large fair called the Nan Durga is held at the village of N'ari Semri dur¬ 
ing the dark fortnight of Chait, the commencement of the Hindu year. The 
same festival is also celebrated at Sanchauli in the Kosi Parganah and at Nagar- 
kot in Gurgaon. 
§ To commemorate this event, a fair called the Bhat-mela, is held at Bhat- 
rond in the month of Kartik. « 
|| Balbhadra, ‘ the strong and good,’ ayio'i l(rx v P°s, is an alternative name lor 
Balaram. 
