he rear of the
procession was brought up by a shouting crowd of women and children, with
whom we mingled and followed to the temple.

Here we arrived in a few minutes. The temple was a tall circular
building, open at one side. Around it were strewn heaps of human bones
and skulls. At a table inside sat the priest, an elderly man, with a
long gray beard. He was seated on a stool, and before him lay several
knives, made of wood, bone, and splinters of bamboo, with which he
performed his office of dissecting dead bodies. Farther in lay a variety
of articles that had been dedicated to the god, and among them were many
spears and clubs. I observed among the latter some with human teeth
sticking in them, where the victims had been clubbed in their mouths.

Before this temple the bodies, which were painted with vermilion and
soot, were arranged in a sitting posture; and a man, called a "dan-vosa"
(orator), advanced, and, laying his hands on their heads, began to chide
them, apparently, in a low bantering tone. What he said we knew not,
but, as he went on, he waxed warm, and at last shouted to them at the top
of his lungs, and finally finished by kicking the bodies over and running
away, amid the shouts and laughter of the people, who now rushed forward.
Seizing the bodies by a leg, or an arm, or by the hair of the head, they
dragged them over stumps and stones and through sloughs, until they were
exhausted. The bodies were then brought back to the temple and dissected
by the priest, after which they were taken out to be baked.

Close to the temple a large fire was kindled, in which stones were heated
red hot. When ready these were spread out on the ground, and a thick
coating of leaves strewn over them to slack the heat. On this "lovo," or
oven, the bodies were then placed, covered over, and left to bake.

The crowd now ran, with terrible yells, towards a neighbouring hill or
mound, on which we observed the frame-work of a house lying ready to be
erected. Sick with horror, yet fascinated by curiosity, we staggered
after them mechanically, scarce knowing where we were going or what we
did, and feeling a sort of impression that all we saw was a dreadful
dream.

Arrived at the place, we saw the multitude crowding round a certain spot.
We pressed forward and obtained a sight of what they were doing. A large
wooden beam or post lay on the ground, beside the other parts of the
frame-work of the house, and close to th