The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-17
A Trip 10 Juy.ernuEf.


Having read much and seen nothing OF
this great sacro-Pagan city, accompanied
by an officer in the BENGAL army, left
the renowned city o. palaces, Calcutta, to
visit the pandemonum of the Hindoos.-
1t was in the month of May, in the pres
ent year, when the hot weather was in
tolerable, and my friend being an invalid,
was recommended by his medical at,en-
danl to repair to the seaside, with view
to recruit his strength, by inhaling the sea-
breeze.
AS VIC travelled by night in our palan-
gums, (the bearers or supporters progress
sing onward at the rate of about four
miles IN hour,) we did not reach Midna-
pore until tho forenoon Of the following
day, when we were most kindly and hos
pitably received and entertained by the
keeper of the Zillah. He had provided
us with bearers for our dak to proceed on
10 Balazore, distance of so miles, and
after having recruited ourselves with ne
cessary refreshments, we again started on
our road for the latter station.
On our reaching the capitol of Orissa,
we were obliged to cross the river Ma
hanuddee, which in the hot season is al
most dry, and the sand composing its he'd
was SO lmprognated with heat, by the
operation Of the suns heat, that the bear
crs were repeatedly compelled to drop
their palanquins hastily, and run, utter
ing dolelul cries, to the nearest rill they
could approach, 10 cool their naked way
worn feet, which appeared literally bis
tered by the heat of the soil.
We tarried day at Cottack, and at
two o'clock in the morning proceeded on
ward towards Juggernaui, 50 miles llom
the above named station, and here, at ear
ly dawn, we first perceived the sides of
the highway to that much talked of city
paved with the osseous remains of human
ity. 1t was truly pileous but disgust
ing sight. Deserted Investments the dead,
borne by the winds, appeared huuerlng
upon the ihorny brakes Of the circumja-
cent junsles, agitaled by the sea-breeze,
as we approached towards the sands of
Juggernaut, which are laved by the surf
constantly templuously beating over them,
propelled by the heavy surges which set
in upon them from the waters of the Bay
of Bengal. Hundreds of half furnished
pilgrims were in the act of coursing their
way to the great Pagan shrine, while
hosts of naked mendicants threw them
selves PROSTATE by the sides of our palan-
quins, seeking a temporary relief in the
shape Of a few pice or cowrcs. The
nearer we approached the city of abomi-
nation the horrible effects of Pagan idola-
try, in an equal ratio, appeared to multiply
themselves. There appeared nought but
wre,chcdness on every side; the dead and
the dying formed the agonizing features
of one miserable picture.
On our arrival at our ultimate destina.
ton, the lofty gilded cupalos and nina
rets Of the pagoda of Juggernaut, as the
splendor of the sunbeams played upor
them, appeared strikingly grand TO Tho
eye. We entered our humble bungalow
and having made what domestic arrange
ments we considered necessary to on
comforts, we, on the same evening
mounted on neighbours elephant, visited
the temple. AS we passed over the sands
no pen can describe the horrors that felt
Some scores, nay | may say hundreds o
human beings, of all ages and sexes. lay
r their remains fully exposed to view, be
ing eaten up by carbon beasts and birds
: whilst the atmosphere was iniolerable.--
So truly offensive was it, that even the ell
: cphant upon which we were mounted
exhibited NANTES, symptoms OF impa
i thence whilst passing over this arena
!. death, by erecting his proboscis, an
trumpeting, ia sure and iniaIlible token
a discomfort on the part Of that animal. J.
n The city was swarming with pilgrims
Ii all casts, and numerous Brahmanee bul
'e were feeding with them from their ow