Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-25
GAZETTE.
cApr MUNDY,s SKETCHES IN INDIA.

1--WE had some amusing sport with another
kind Of falcon, of which, | believe, | have not
male mention. II is very small bird, perhaps
barely SO large as thrush, and Its prey Is pro-
nortioned to its strength. II is hswn at quails,
suarrows and others of the feathered tribe. Of the
ike cal,bre. The mode Of starting it is different
from that used with any other hawk. The fal-
roner holds the little well-drilled savage within
IN. srasp of his hand, the head and tail pr0trud-
irp at either opening, and the plumagc carefully
smoo,hed down. When he arrives within twen-
~ or thirty yards Of the quarry. the sportsman
throws his hawk much az he would a cricSet-ball,
IN the direction oft. The little creature gains
his wings in an instant, and strikes the game at
Ter the manner Of the bhause. There is aqueer
tribe Of greearious little birds, common 10 India,
which afford very laughable sport with the above
described hawk. They are usually found in a
chatterng. futtering congress OF ten or dozen,
at the foot of baubu tree; where the little busy
bodies are so absorbed in the subject under imme-
dla,e agitation, that the falconer may approach
within six PAGES of their noisy court OF parlia-
nent ere they entertain a thought Of proroguing
il. In the heat Of the debate. down comes the
little hawk like Cromwell) into the midst of the
astonished assembly, and begins to lay about him
right and left; when, strange to say, the whole
tribe set upon him, ungutbus ef rostris. and with
yrulence Of tongue as manifestly vltuperative,
to Discerning ear, II ii were couched IN words.
In the dust Of the contest the sportsman ruus up.
and all the party take wing, except some two or
three uafortunates, who, having caught tartar,
lie ilutering in the clutches Of the feathered ty-
rant"
Again, boar-bunting, we are told, is much
more exciting than even the tiger chase, and
more depends on the sportsman's own activity
and skill.
ga Hoo. sent on retreat, will dash through
the thickest fence of prickly pear as it it were
YOUNG quick hedge; spring over fifteen ieet
ditch with the agility OF deer; and should ne
meet with a precipitous ravine IN his path, ne
tunbles into it. and out oft as it he had not got
nscL N break. These same obstacles lie IN the
way of the rider, who has to bear II constantly In
mind. that, unlike the fox.hunter, he carries
sharp-e edged weapon in his hand, which, IN an
awkward grip, he NAV chance TO run into ms
steed. and which in a fall may prove an ugly com
panion for himself"
On the subject Of the pigrim'tax Tor the mon
strous idolatry Of Jugseruauth, we transcrlbe
what Mundy says:
{. The usual influx Of pilgrims at this epoch Is
immense; crowds Of votarles are already assem-
he'd in town, ur are YEARLY Flooding their way
EDWARDS Tins Mecca of their hopes. But their
numbers decrease yearly, and the sanctty oil
J,yvernauth wanes IN proportion to the progress
Of civilization in India. The mad fanatieisn'
which formerly led hundreds Of voluntary VIC
inns 10 immediate themselves beneath the wheels
Of the idols car-an Offering which is said to ex.
tract A chastity smile Of delight from the blood
layiov D,gon-is now much sobered down.
Sterling mentions that, during the four years IN
which he witnessed the ceremony, JugSernautf
WAS only propi,iated with three sacrifices; and
that these wretches. being afflicted with some
grieyous bodily complaints, merely embraced
that method of Kidding themselves of mlsera
Die existence, as preferable to the more commw
place suicide of hanging or drowning. 1he ave
rare number of pilgrims annually resortins u
poocoe is said to be about one hundred anu TWEEN
~ thousand, many Of whom are destined nevei
10 return. Thousands of these poor wre,che;
die from famine, over fatigue during the journey
OF from the pernicious climate OF the rainy sea
son; and their corpSes, thrown on the sand nea
the English station, are either burnt, or lett Il
be devoured by the troops of Parlah dogs, Jack
ais, and yulturcs, with which this place, SO rict
IN food for them. swarms. The chaplain OF thu
district assured me that he has himself seen VI
the space of half an acre of ground, as many a
Que hundred and fifty bodies with twice as man,
of the abave named scavensers lighting over thel
horrid feast,
As they lazly murnbled The bones Of the dead,
When they scarcely could rise from the spot ~her
they fed.'
AT the festival Of the Rath Jattra, the idol
are conducted IN state to visit their country seat
one mile and half from Poorse--a journey u
.hrss days. By all accounts, the method OF IN
Quoting their worships from the temple to thei
raths, or cars, Is not remarkably ceremonious. :
Ropes being fastened round their threats. the
are dragged 'ueck.and heels down the gran
steps, though the mud, and are finally hauled o
the same gallows-like process into their respect
i've vehicles, where they are decorated oy IN
priests, aud welcomed by shouts OF admlratlo
and triumph from the fanatical multitude. In
raths, on which the monster-deities are drawn
are Of massive dimensions and clumsy architec
lre; tina, Of Sri Jeo is nearly forty-five feet
height, has platform Of thirry-hve feet square