ass belonging to Daniel's father was missing. It had
strayed, and Daniel went from Singonahully towards Goobbe in search of
it, but without any intention of entering the town. On his way he met a
great crowd of people. There was in the crowd something different from
anything of the kind he had ever seen. He noticed that many of the
people had their bodies painted yellow, and there was to him something
very strange in their appearance, dress, and conduct. As he was gazing
at the people and walking slowly along, he stumbled, and fell over a
dead body, probably a victim of the cholera. He was very much alarmed;
and as he got up from the ground in agitation and terror, he saw his
uncle coming towards him, who, thinking Daniel was going into the town
of Goobbe, threatened to beat him, and said, in a very angry tone, "Why
are you going to that cursed place?" To escape his uncle, Daniel run
into the thickest part of the crowd, and he then determined to go along
with them, and see what was to be done. As they proceeded slowly
towards the large tank, (lake), he saw that a few men near the front
were carrying an image of clay in the shape of a woman. She had been
worshipped to avert cholera, and now the worshippers were taking the
idol to throw it into the tank, as the last act of their devotional
ceremony. Daniel was a close observer of all that was done, and he saw
at one time, when those who carried the idol held it up higher than the
heads of the people, tears run out of its eyes. Many persons in the
crowd saw the tears, and they all fell prostrate before the image of
clay, and cried aloud, "O mother, why are you shedding tears? Tell us
what grieves you, and we will do whatever you require." The priest,
immediately pretending that the goddess had entered into him, commanded,
as if the idol spake, that more sacrifices should be offered. On
hearing this, all the people stood still. They did not go on towards
the tank, but remained just where they were, until the animals could be
brought for the chucklers to offer them in sacrifice. The _chucklers_
are the lowest class of persons in India, and to Europeans it is
unaccountable that, under any circumstances, they should be called upon
to act as priests. But so it is, in some localities. They sacrifice to
Mari, as the goddess who sends and takes away cholera and all epidemic
diseases. There is good ground for the opinion that these outcasts are
the descendants of t