whom they buoy up with the most
felicitous prospects to come, feeding their fancies with the hope of
future aggrandizement and wealth. Such is the confidence of the
uninformed villagers in these promises of future bliss, that they will
part with their all to insure a favourable prediction; but, when the
auspicious and long-watched-for period arrives at which their hopes are
to be realized, then they see how they have been deceived and robbed.
But the miscreant priest has always a loophole to creep out at, either
by asserting that his dupes have not dedicated a sufficient portion of
their property to the priesthood; that it is necessary for them to do
penance so many days; or give so much money, so much corn, and so many
pieces of cloth to the priesthood, to enable them to invoke their gods
for the promised mercies. This is frequently complied with, and the
delusion goes on from one imposition and infatuation to another.

This is the description of the people inhabiting those beautiful
mountains, on which the eye could dwell, and always find something new
to feast on. This very fort of Callenger had, but a short time before,
been stained with the purple stream flowing from Christian bosoms. It
was in the storming of this fort, that his Majesty's 53rd regiment of
Foot suffered so severely before they succeeded in planting Old
England's banner on its proud top. On the summit of the edifice is a
monument, which was erected to the memory of the brave fellows who fell
in the assault of this place.

We remained here three or four days, visiting this fort; and the oftener
we went up, the more we were astonished how it was possible our troops
could have got in on the occasion alluded to. To us who merely journeyed
for amusement up its stupendous sides, the ascent was most difficult,
and by the time we had gained its summit we were exhausted. That a fort
like that of Callenger, often attempted by legions of native armies,
should have been taken as it was, was matter of amazement to all who
beheld it. It had once, we understood, been taken by stratagem in the
following manner. A native rajah, who was going to war, solicited the
governor's permission to lodge his treasures and family there as a place
of security during the war. The governor, no doubt actuated by the hope
of the ultimate possession of the treasures, readily granted the
required asylum, for which purpose a hundred doolies, or covered
palanquins, were to be sent up