The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-06-16
EASTERN SKETCHES.
SKETCHES OF INDIA.
IEritten bY an QGeer.

"One OF the greatest IllnUoo icStiV"io IL
the Carnatic is held annually at Conjeveran
1t is called the Garudastavum. and cele-
brates the descent Of the god Nlshnu upol
earth. For ten successive days small
holy. and ancient image of the god is either
borne in triumphal procession among ms
delightful followers, or exposed to the ador-
inr gaze in the courts of his temple. Fol
ten days the streets are thronged with Brah-
snins and fakirs, pilgrims, from atar, and
peasants from the neighbolhood Nothing
is heard but the frcnzied shout of the exult-
ing fanatic, or the song of the merry idier
whom the season of holiday sets loose form,
his wonted toll.
81 chanced to be stationed within a few
miles of Conieveram at the period OF this
festival, in June 1922, and | went over t.
eniov the scene. 1t was the second hour
after midnight that mounted my horse
and rode forth alone. There had been rain
in the night; the moon was still up; and on
my path, whether tree or shrub, grass, or
gravel-sand, or pool Of water, was glistning
and silvery.
"My heart beat happily as Hooked about
me, and though alone, felt not lonely; not
even when the moon set, and LETT me IN
darkness. The old world was present to
my imagination; was on my way to gaze
on a scene familiar to those nations whose
history and fate are recorded in the sacred
pages of the Old Testament. a scene only
to be now viewed among the idolat0rs OF In
dia.
''As approached the town, entered
upon the more public road, and found NUM-
bers of native peasants in groups of tami-
lies, some with burthens on their heads; 9th
ers with children in their arms, or on their
hips;* or leading those who could run alone;
some aged and bending to their tall stavcs;
all pressing on with noiseless football, and
that silent heart-throbing eagerncss with
which, in all countries, we hasten to q high
place of public and solemn assembly.
"NIv guide led me to the chonitry, whith-
er the procession was to come, instead OF to
the gate Of pagoda, whence 1t first issues; SO
that lost the moment when, with the break
of day, the doors of the temple were thrown
open, and the breathless multitude behold,
and bow before their God; light the incense
on their small censors; and break ana pour
out the milk of ther cocoa-nuts; and send
up those mandcning cries with which they
hail the revercd image glorihed, as they BE-
lieve it to be, BY a present deity.
"Directed by the soui d of the tumult, and
the hurried movement Of the crowd, soon
discovered the procession. 1t was led by
one Of their wandering saints, hale old man
with a flowing white beard, robes ot deep
salmon color, and turban of the same, but
high and mithric in form. lie blandishcd III
his right hand, staff with an iron head, in
shape like the sceptrc OF Nishna; ana ne
sang aloud and danced with wild fotatorg
notion
"Some twenty men followed, mounted on
Brahminy bullocks, and beating tomtoms.
oil IA
niagara or large royal drum. Long Flies OF
dancing girls, with toys and flowers in their
shining hair, came after, linked hand IN
hand and moving in measured steps to the
music Of the temple. Then the image of
god, borne Oh the bowed neck Of Ganida,
with attendant Brahnins, and the. umhrcl-
lass and chowries of sovereignty. All these
were carried on vast platform ralscd lar
above the heads Of the crowd. A throng of
officiating Brahmins, with their peculiar
complexion and shaven crowns, closed tho
procession.
1--WE dincd, large party of us with Mr.
e. the acting collector and magistrate, on the
evening of this day, at his temporary bun
galow in the town. and were summoned from
table soon after nine to meet the night pro-
cession. The order Of it was like that ot the
morning, but now Nishnu rode upon Ellt
and glitterins figure of lIanuman, the mon
key-god; the platform was lighted up, hUn-
tlreds of the attendants we're bearing torches,
ard about fifty men carried large trcsu!5,
whose trident heads were all iiamc; they
were firing off rockers on al sides, aud just
after we came out the procession halted. q
large space was cleared; there was good
show Of c-works; and two immense coles
sal frures Of pasteboard, well dressed, and
admirably managed, denctd to the laudl"
laughing crowds; and here in the midst Of
this multitude were dozen Of us pale IN
ropeans. railIh and two Of his sons, and q
wealthy native merchant, seated on English
arm-chairs. | shall never forget the scene;
| had feared that the moon would spoil the
effect of the lights and fireworks, but no
there was much sulphureous blue i'll the fire
works, and the farng blaze Of the torches
gave to the leaves of the tall cocoa tress
which line the streets, a metallic brllllancy
on many of them we're clusters Of Indian boys
every house-top, every broken wall, was COY
cred with groupes, thronging as bees swarm
and dense moving mass filled the street
| was much delighted with the picture, ye
I did at times, look up to the blue cloudlcs
vault of heaven, and to the golden stars, and
asI gazed upon the moonshlnii gin calm ma
jesty, the tumult of my spirits was reprove
and repressed.
"We accompanied the procession to tn
MontipumA and saw the nautch girls dane
before the god. There were none Of thcl
remarkable for beauty, but the dress an