and scorching winds of mid-day suns and sultry deserts; and, at other times, to the violent rains and unwholesome damps of the wintry season. His beard and nails were grown to an enormous length, his limbs were parched and shrivelled, and his cadaverous countenance was more than half hid by his matted locks, in which the birds of the air had built their nests. And not far off there appeared another exposing himself to the heat of seven slow fires.

There were others who allowed themselves the liberty of moving from place to place; but each had some distorted limb, or some monstrous deformity. Many of these had their arms fixed above their heads, the hands of which being immoveably clasped, the nails had grown through the palms. Others wore artificial hair reaching down to their feet, clotted thick with dirt, and adhering together like a rope; while their bodies were smeared with ashes and cow-dung, which formed their only covering.

Some I saw suspended in the air by iron hooks pierced through their flesh; and others had iron spits passed through their tongues. Many widows were burning alive upon the funeral-piles of their dead husbands; while the crackling of the blazing piles, the cries of the distressed, and the shouts of the multitude, added to the harsh discord of barbarous music, made the whole wilderness to resound.

Then I looked after the pilgrims, and behold, Goonah Purist followed them, with bleeding steps, till the way, as they advanced, became strewed with human bones, whereat I greatly wondered.

And now fresh companies of pilgrims, from all quarters, joined that to which Goonah Purist had attached himself; insomuch, that the multitude became very great. So they passed on, till they

came to a place, which might be compared to the Valley of Hinnom, where an inclosure containing twelve pagodas became visible, on the shore of a sullen lake; at sight of which the multitude broke forth into loud cries of joy: and I could distinguish, in the roar of applause, the word, "Jugunnathu! Jugunnathu!"

Now, when the pilgrims approached the gates of the inclosure which contained the twelve pagodas, I perceived that the ground was strewed with bodies of the dead and dying; the way being literally paved with skulls and bones bleached in the sun. The air also was tainted with the horrid effluvia of putrid and mangled carcasses, which wild dogs, vultures, and jackals, were devouring at their leisure. Moreover, I heard the loud howling of beasts of prey; and perceived many sharks and alligators approaching the shore of the lake, seeking their accustomed prey with wideextended jaws. And behold, when the multitude drew near, I saw many mothers cast their infants into the mouths of these devouring monsters, while sons and daughters plunged their aged parents into the lake, as an offering to its insatiable inhabitants.

While I beheld these things with horror and amazement, behold, the great gates of the inclosure were thrown open, whence an enormous car, of a pyramidical form, was drawn forth, ornamented with numerous figures of idols, the noise of whose many rumbling wheels was like the agitation of the earth, when it is disturbed with inward convulsions. This was the car of Jugunnathu; and behold, the infatuated multitude cried out afresh when they saw it: some seizing the cords by which it was drawn, and others running to cast themselves on the earth before the dreadful car, by which they were crushed to death in an instant.

Then I looked towards Goonah Purist, and behold, his companions were persuading him to cast himself before the car, in like manner as others had done; assuring him, that he would, by so doing, ensure to himself the highest bliss in the next world.

Now while the poor man hesitated, and looked this way and that way, not knowing what to do, the noise of the dreadful car every moment becoming louder and louder, as it approached the place where he stood, slowly passing through the crowd, which opened before it to the right and left; suddenly a voice was heard speaking with authority: Cease, ye idolaters; your couch shall be in hell, and over you shall be coverings of fire." (Koraun, chap. vii.) And behold, a band of men appeared, with turbans on their heads, clothed in green, and armed with sharp and fiery swords: and on the blades of their swords was engraven the word Persecution. Their banner

was the moon in her increase; and the motto it was, upon There is one God, and Mahommed is his Prophet." At sight of these, the whole multitude of pilgrims fled, and took shelter within the walls of their pagodas. But Goonah Purist was unable to escape, by reason of his iron sandals: so he remained alone with the armed band, to wit, the followers of the prophet Mahommed; yet could they not heal him, nor cure him of his wound. (Hosea v. 13.)

CHAPTER II.

Shewing how Goonah Purist, or the Slave of Sin, sought Salvation among the Followers of Ma

hommed.

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."-Rom. iii. 20.

Now I saw, in my dream, that, when the conquering followers of the prophet Mahommed had compelled the pilgrims to take shelter within the walls of their pagoda, and there were none left without but Goonah Purist, who, as I said before, was unable to run, by reason of the iron spikes within his sandals; the chief of the conquerors, seizing him roughly, demanded of him, wherefore he came thither, and how he came to be thus burdened, bruised, and bleeding. "Miserable idolater," said he, "know you not that there is but one God, and that this God is mighty and wise? He hath created the heavens, without visible pillars to sustain them, and hath thrown on the earth mountains, firmly rooted; and he hath replenished the same with all kinds of beasts. This is the creation of God. (Koraun, chap. xxxi.) But, verily, the idols which you invoke, besides God, can never create a single fly, although they were assembled for that purpose;

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and, if the fly snatch any thing from them, they cannot recover the same from it." (Koraun, chap. xxii.)

Then answered Goonah Purist, "My Lord, your slave is a poor burdened sinner, the weight of whose offences against the Supreme Being is such as will assuredly sink me into the depths of hell, unless I find one who is at once able and willing to save me."

"And art thou come hither," answered the Mussulmaun," in search of a saviour?"

"I was directed to this place," replied Goonah Purist, "by a holy Bramhun, who shod me, by way of penance, with these iron sandals; and who promised that I should find in this place deliverance from my burden, and also purification from my sinful inclinations, which, as you, my Lord, may observe, break out even upon my body, like a foul and filthy leprosy, polluting me from head to foot."

I heard then, that the other began to mock, telling him that his idols were deaf, and dumb, and blind, and could not help him; nay, that if he continued to worship them, he would be cast into hell, and never come forth from its fire. (Koraun, chap. ii.)

"And is this certainly the case?" said Goonah Purist.

"Assuredly," replied the other.

Then cried Goonah Purist, "If this be so, what must I do to be saved?"

Mussulmaun. Believe in God, and in our pro

phet.

Goonah Purist. If your prophet can save me, I will gladly renounce these idols, and all my merits as a Hindoo, to follow him: for I have long had my doubts respecting these idols, and have begun to fear that they can do nothing for me. But I do not know your prophet, neither