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NOTICE RESPECTING THE TEMPLE

OF JUGGERNATH; COMMUNICAT-
ED BY A GENTLEMAN RESIDENT ON

THE SPOT.

THE Temple of Juggernath Jaganath may in shape be described as a cone deprived of its apex, and in a line with it are two squares with pyramidical roofs, attached to the side

of that cone. The conical building is

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Jaganath is here worshipped as Krisna or Vishnu, one of whose bones is said to be preserved

itself 147 feet high, and it is sur Whenever there are thage.

mounted first by an earthen vessel of
20 feet, and over it by a wheel of 14
feet, making a total of 181 feet. The
total height of the square next adjoin-
ing it, to the top of the wheel is 105 feet,
and of the one beyond 81 feet. These
three, composing, in fact, one temple,
make the most conspicuous appear
ance, but within the square inclosure
in which they stand are several simi-
lar smaller buildings. The Temple
stands
on
a small sand hill about half
a mile from the sea, and tradition says
that its foundation is sunk to a

equal to the height of the building the
a
bove ground. Close to it a smaller
and older temple is shown, about 30
feet/below the gr
great one, and said
to be on the original level of the pre-
sent structure.

By accounts preserved in the Temple, it is said to have been erected about 620 years ago, or about A. D. 1198. As this is a very moderate de gree of antiquity in the Hindoo code, and as the same records, with a modesty somewhat unusual, call the Temple of Bhowanesur in the neighbourhood 450 years older, we may perhaps, in the absence of other data, be satisfied

moons

in the month of Assaur, a new idol is
formed. Search is made by the Bra-
mins through the forests for the neem
tree, which is to be employed. It is t
said to be found with a lamp burning
under it, and guarded by a snake, ande
that no bird or animal ever rests upon mod
it. When the image is made, they
carpenter has his eyes blinded by se
ven cloths, and the bone of Krishnu,
which is said to be inclosed in a caso!
ket, is transferred from the
throat I
the old to that of the new image.
The
carpenter commonly died as soon as 11. I
the work was completed, but no one............
would refuse so honourable a death.
However, this dying seems now to I
have fallen into disuse. The old
image is buried in an inclosure near
the north gate of the Temple, which s
is said to be guarded by a snake with "
seven heads, and where n

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goes except when an image is to be
deposited. The present idol was made
in 1809.
Boas to oals bas
On the second day of the first new
moon after the month of Assaur, the
great festival of the Ruthjattra (chabow
riot) commences. The three idols of ot
Jaganath, Bulbuddur, and Soobud-oxo

Jaganathith this date. Of course, hra, are then brought from the Tem

to have been worshipped ed at this veerection of the place very many thousand years present Temple. There are about 100 other deities within the outer wall of the Temple.

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The appearance of the three principal idols, especially of Jaganath, the chief of them, is disgusting in the ex

treme, but they have been already

described with sufficient accuracy, especially in the 8th volume of the Asiatic Researches, where is a very ingenious and partly just explanation of the shape they have assumed; deriving it from the character of the mystical O'm; the sound not to be pronounced excepting by a Bramin. This is acknowledged by all Hindoos,

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ple and placed on the chariots to be
garden, about a mile from the Tem-
conveyed to the Goondeecheh baree p
ple, where, in consequence
ace of an a-
greement of some thousand years
standing, with the holy Rajah Inder-
domun, Jaganath is engaged to pay a pod
visit of seven days every year. The 17
ruth or car, called
which he travels is Mandeeghose, ono

height, and as much in length and
breadth. It has sixteen wheels, each an
six feet in diameter, and with sixteen
spokes. The other cars have fourteen
and twelve wheels, and are a few feet w
lower. Six ropes, each 180 feet long,
are employed to pull each of them,
and with 100 men at each rope, when
Jaganath is in good humour he moves

on tolerably well, all things consider ed. If out of humour, however, it is said the utmost exertion of 1000 men will not stir him. In this case some stop is doubtless applied to one of the wheels, which may be done without its being obvious. When it occurs, one of the attendant priests throws himself on his back before the idol, and beats rapidly with the soles of his feet on the platform, the people shout, and for a second or two before the enormous mass advances, every joint in it seems to creak. The crowd, the clamour, and the enormity of the machine, are not without an effect somewhat imposing. The cars are decorated with broad and other cloths of the most gaudy colours, and as is not unusual in such shows, there is a great mixture of meanness and finery. These are, perhaps, the only cars in the country on which are no indecent paintings, but the indecencies exhibited by the priests in front of the idol, and before all the people, are infinitely more horrid than has ever hitherto been stated. They are, indeed, not of a nature even to be hinted at. The distance of the garden from the Temple is above a mile, and the cars usually travel it in three or four days.

The number of pilgrims who visit the Temple fluctuates extremely in different years, as the great festivals happen at lucky or unlucky periods, as the weather is fine or the reverse, and as the countries around are quiet or disturbed. During the first two or three years of the English government no duty was exacted at the Temple, and the number of pilgrims was greater than ever was known. Since the imposition of the tax the number has much diminished, but it may be doubted whether they ever amounted to the million and more at which, with a little Oriental exaggeration, they have been computed. On asking a native who had some means of knowing, to state how many pilgrims attended at the festival of the ruth juttra, he observed, that "where luks (hundreds of thousands) of people would not be missed, the number cannot be known."

It appears, however, from official accounts, that the number of taxed

*Vide Harington's Analysis of the Bengal Regulations, Vol. III. p. 223.

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pilgrims at the Asnan and Ruth jattras, in May and June 1814, was 7 was 77,323, and the gross collections for the year ending 30th April 1815 was S. R. 1,35,667, (or L. 16,958.) This, however, is considerably more than ever was known to be realized, excepting in this year; and from the same author, it appears that the number of pilgrims assembled at the same festivals in 1815 was only 5444. From the 1st May 1817 to the 30th April 1818 the total number was 66,605, of which 32,831 were exempted from the tax, and in the subsequent year the number paying the tax was 46,676. These two latter years were both extremely unfavourable, owing to some alarming disturbances in the neighbourhood of the Temple, but again at the two principal festivals the number paying the tax have amounted to 71,672. Upon the whole, perhaps, the total number of pilgrims within the year fluctuates between 60,000 and 150,000, about two-thirds of whom attend within two months, viz. at the principal festivals of the Asnan and Ruth jattra.

The number of deaths within the town among the pilgrims in six weeks from the 26th May, when 71,672 attended, was 315. Rice sold at the same period at the moderate price of 30 seers per rupee, or about one-half penny per pound.

Pilgrims come to this Temple from the Dekkan, Guzerat, Cashmere, Nypal, and Assam, and all the intervening country. There are several thousand priests attached to the Temple, a considerable number of whom have agents whom they dispatch to collect pilgrims, and conduct them to the Temple. Since the imposition of the duty, some change is remarked in the class of pilgrims from those who frequented the Temple under the preceding native government. More rich private persons now attend, but fewer of the petty chiefs and princes. These latter, under the Mahratta government, could protect themselves and their attendants; now they dread the strictness and inflexibility of the English police, which is felt, however, as a protection by private travellers.

At Jaganath, pilgrims of all casts can eat together of the food which has been offered to the idol, which, indeed, forms their chief diet during

the short stay they usually make. In ree) contains 5200 houses, and is not all other respects the distinctions of otherwise remarkable. east and sect are preserved.

It is now unusual for any person

BY A GENTLEMAN RESIDENT IN
CEYLON.

*樂

to throw himself under the wheels of ACCOUNT OF THE LATE MAJOR DAVIE; the car, unless he is otherwise tired of life. At the last ruth jattra one individual, who had suffered severely for two or three years from a pain in the bowels, a disorder common in the country, voluntarily sacrificed himself in this manner. In the preceding year a similar instance occurred. The natives not uncommonly hang themselves from the same cause. Another person expired while in the act of worshipping Jaganath.

Endless fables, in the usual style of Hindoo legends, are current at this Temple. Here is a branch of a living tree, of which another branch flourishes at Benares, 400 miles off, but where the root may be is not ascertained. Here is a figure of a Guroor, (a fabulous bird,) which cures the bite of a snake, if the person bitten can be brought in time. The great car of Jaganath occasionally moves of itself, but nobody is forthcoming who ever saw this miracle. This is not the place, however, for a detail of these wonders.

It is a curious subject of inquiry, how far these absurdities are credited, but it is difficult for foreign strangers and rulers, who are of necessity widely separated from the people, to form an opinion. No adequate reason occurs for the pilgrimages made, excepting a belief in their efficacy. It is sufficiently obvious, however, that the priests of the Temple, who constantly give out that the idol is asleep, or eating, or writing a letter to another idol, must laugh at the credulity of the multitude. Upon the whole, perhaps, a few of the people disbelieve the whole, some more disbelieve the Braminical falsehoods now told, but think the original institution was divine; another class strictly believe the whole, and the greater number, among whom are most of the lower class, care little about the matter, but are also disposed to credit all.

FROM the great degree of mystery which has hitherto prevailed, and the very confused and contradictory accounts that were in circulation, not only in Britain, but throughout a great part of the world, relative to this lamented officer, the following particulars may probably prove satisfactory:

In the month of June 1803, our garrison at Kandy, the capital of the natives, was greatly reduced by sickbeen attacked by the prevailing fever, ness; and General Macdowal having left the place in the command of Major Davie, with a very inadequate garrison, consisting of only a part of the 2d Malay regiment, which was, however, understood to be much attached to him, as he had formed and disciplined that corps; and a detachment of the 19th regiment, of which there were only about twenty convalescent Europeans fit for duty, the rest of this detachment, to the number of 120 men, were lying sick in the hospital, incapable of being moved. While our garrison was in this state, and very short of provisions, the rainy season commenced, and, by the overflowing of the rivers, enabled the Kandians to cut off all communication with Columbo, the capital of the British possessions. About four o'clock in the morning of the 24th June, (1803,) before day-break, the natives attacked Kandy in very great force. The small garrison kept up an incessant fire upon them, till two o'clock P. M. when the troops being much exhausted with fatigue, the European officers of the Malay regiment represented to Major Davie that, as the Kandians continued to pour down in such numbers, the place could not be much longer tenable, for a torrent of the natives had for sometime been pressing upon, and were then attempting to force the palace. A council was then held of the whole European officers in the garrison, fourteen in number; and, after some consideration, a white flag was displayed, and a conference was

The morals of the priests of the Temple are of the worst order. Robbery, drunkenness, and all manner of licentiousness, are constantly practised within its walls. The number of prostitutes retained in the immediate service of the idol is sixty-five. The town of Pursottom Chutter (Poo- p. 150.

See Scots Magazine, February 1804,

shortly afterwards held with the chief Adigar, (the general of the natives, and their king's prime minister,) at which articles of capitulation were adjusted,-written out upon olas,-signed, and exchanged. By these it was stipulated, that the garrison should march with their arms and ammunition towards Trincomalee, the nearest British settlement, upwards of 100 miles distant;-that Prince Mootto Sawmy, a member of the former reigning family, and who had best right to the crown, should be permitted to accompany them, and that the Adigar should take care of the sick and wounded, and supply them with provisions and medicines until they could be removed to Trincomalee. The Adigar then delivered to Major Davie a passport in the name of the King of Kandy, that the garrison should proceed without molestation. About five o'clock P. M. the garrison, consisting of 14 European officers, 20 British soldiers, 250 Malays, and 140 GunLascars, marched out of Kandy, accompanied by Prince Mootto Sawmy and his attendants. They reached the banks of the Maha-villa-ganga, where they were obliged to halt for the night, only a few miles from Kandy, as that river is not fordable, and there were neither boats nor rafts by which they could cross it. It rained very hard all night, and the party had nothing to protect them from the inclemency of the weather. Next morning (Saturday, 25th June) our troops were employed in endeavouring to construct rafts, when the Kandians appeared in force on both sides of the river, and at 7 A. M. four of the head men waited upon Major Davie, with a message from the King, that Major Davie should be supplied with boats and every assistance to enable him to accomplish the march of his troops to Trincomalee, provided he would deliver up Prince Mootto Sawmy. This Major Davie peremptorily refused to comply with, and desired them to tell their King, that Major Davie would not permit, and much less make, any deviation from the articles of capitulation. About two hours after this, another party of Kandian chiefs wait ed on Major Davie. They spoke to him in a very mild and conciliatory manner, and solemnly declared that the King was desirous to see and embrace Mootto Sawmy as a relation, and

that he would receive and treat him kindly. After consulting with his officers, Major Davie informed the ambassadors, that he was fully determined not to deliver up Mootto Sawmy. Upon which the ambassadors plainly told him, that he and his small party were now completely hemmed in by the river, and surrounded on all sides by the Kandian army, and that the only mode of saving the lives of his officers and troops, was to cause them to lay down their arms and march back as prisoners of war to Kandy. A council of officers was again held, and, after much deliberation, they came to be of opinion that, under all the circumstances in which they were placed, their want of provisions and ammunition, the thinness of their own ranks, from the desertion of a number of the Malays during the night, the overwhelming force with which they were surrounded, and the impossibility, from the flooded state of the rivers, of cutting a passage for themselves in any other direction but towards the centre of the enemy's country,there was no alternative left but to comply with the King's demand, and to return to Kandy unarmed. Early in the morning of Sunday the 26th June, the Kandian troops, attended by some Caffrees, marched upon our position in great force, accompanied by a mob of armed natives, for the purpose of escorting Major Davie and his small party to Kandy. When they had arrived within a mile of the capital, the Kandian force was drawn up on each side of the road, and the British troops desired to march into the centre of the lane, with the Malays in front. The Europeans were then halted, and the men of the Malay regiment ordered to march on. They all proceeded, except four native Malay officers, and a few Malay servants, attending on their masters, who refused to go on before the British officers. A Kandian chief then asked the Malays, who had marched forward, if they were willing to enter into the service of the King of Kandy. Those who refused were immediately bound, and committed to the charge of the Caffrees. The rest of the Malays being then told that they must either suffer instant death or enter into the Kandian service, they all answered that they would serve the King of Kandy, and were immediate

ly conducted towards the capital. So soon as they were out of sight of the Europeans, the English officers were separated from the private soldiers; and after this had been done, the whole, both officers and privates, were led out, two by two, to a distance from one another; when the Caffrees, by order of the chief Adigar, perpetrated one of the most perfidious and barbarous massacres which history records. The only Englishmen selected for preservation were Major Davie, and Captain Rumley of the Malay regiment. Captain Humphreys of the Bengal Artillery, with a Sub-assistant Surgeon of the Malay regiment, who was a native of Columbo, contrived to escape in the confusion which prevailed during the perpetration of this most atrocious act of treacherous assassination; the former was retaken, and carried a prisoner to Kandy; the latter concealed himself in the woods, but did not reach Columbo till the month of September following. The first accounts of this dreadful affair were obtained from George Barnsley, a corporal of the 19th regiment, who, after being left for dead in the general slaughter, had revived, and found means to make his escape. In his turn, he had been led out with his companions, knocked down by the Caffrees with the butt end of their muskets, and desperately wounded by the blow of a sword across the neck; but, finding himself revive, he crept into a thicket, where he lay till the following night, when he swam across the river, and reached Fort Macdowall on the 27th June.

Major Davie and Captain Rumley were at first carried to Kandy, where they found that the perfidious promise of the Kandians to take care of the sick had been, in the first place, broken, and the whole of them murdered in cold blood. After Captain Humphreys was brought in, the three officers were carried to Hangaram Kettee, and taken before the King, who ordered them to be confined there in separate apartments, but to be well treated. The King, who was distinguished for nothing but great cruelty and weakness of intellect, is supposed to have been prevailed upon to save them by his chief Adigar, a wily politician, of considerable talents, who had recommended himself to the Kandians, by the deepness of his de

VOL. VII.

signs, and the perfidious cunning which he uniformly exhibited in his endeavours to accomplish them. Pelime Talawve was, in short, a complete personification of the Kandian character, which, with a fawning address, is marked by the deepest shades of cruelty, treachery, and cunning. Upon the death of the former King in 1798, Pelime Talawve had the address to supplant Mootto Sawmy, the presumptive heir, and to place a young Malabar of inferior extraction on the throne. In his name the chief Adigar now ruled with absolute sway. The Kandian territory being entirely cut off from all communication with the sea by the British possessions, his object in preserving Major Davie was to obtain a sea-port as his ransom, but our government could not listen to this proposal. The Adigar then attempted, by the falsest misrepresentations of the conduct of our government, and their alleged neglect of Major Davie, and by holding out the most magnificent promises to him, to prevail with Major Davie to take the command of the Kandian army. It was regretted by some of his brother officers at Columbo, that he did not, in appearance, do so, and avail himself of this proffered opportunity of duping the treacherous Adigar, and of putting a stop to farther bloodshed, by bringing over the whole of the Kandian forces to the British. But Major Davie was incapable of duplicity, and he rejected the Adigar's proposals with the utmost disdain, although he was made aware that the forfeiture of his liberty, if not life, was, the consequence.

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Both Captain Rumley and Captain Humphreys died from the effects of the climate, after they had been a short time in captivity. It was when he was thus left alone that the abovementioned attempts began to be made on the allegiance of Major Davie ; and the Adigar continued to practise them for a series of years, in the vain hope that Major Davie's spirit would at length be subdued by secluded inactivity, and the imputed neglect-of-his own government. But in endeavouring to accomplish this, all the devices of the calculating Adigar proved abortive, and British faith stood the test against even Kandian duplicity.

It appears from the most authentic accounts that could be obtained,

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