New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-09
Nesu'a)ork Qt,ilp 0rib,me.
BAYARD TAYLOR's LETTERS.
XCL
AIlahabad, and a Hindoo Festival.

fOptIdclc.
for the dawn when there was jar that gave NE ylo
lent hump on the head and side OF the garree was
heaved into the air, but after pause, rghted itself
The horse started off AZ full speed dragging the wreck
alter him but stopped, and jumped cut, TO
find the sprrg broken and the hind wheels SO much IN
ured that obliged to leave the vehicle in the
road The driver had doubt fallen asleep, and the
borse going at his usual rapid rate had hurled the gar
rae against tree Leaving the groom 20 take charge
of the wreck, the driver took the mailbag on his nead
NY carpet bag in his hand and led the horse towaId
CawnpOre followed him, and We trGdged silently for
ward for an hour and half when reached the Can
ees at dsybresk. 1t lucky that the accident hap
pened so near the end of the journey.
Tie same afternoon left CawnpOre for this place, in
4 carree as usual. Still the ntermnabe plains,
though the landscape became richer proceeded south
ward except when the road approached the Ga0ges,
where there are frequent belts OF sandy SOIL worn into
deep gueys by the rain The fields Of barley were in
full head the mustard in full blossom, and the flowers OF
the mango beginning to open. The afternoon
warm and the road very dusty. passed the town
Of FuttebpOe dusk but experienced an hours delay
during the night, which was loss to account for I'M
Ill found the neat morning that the driver had taken
two natives the roof Of the garree pasengerst Ala
lsbsd. They pilgrims TO the Festival, and were
thus depTyng themselves Of the greatest merit OF the
pilgrimage which consists in making the journey on
foot There is now quite sharp discussion going on
among the learned punds, as to whether the m1rn OF
religious pilgrimage will be destroyed by the lntrsduc
ton Of railroads. That railroads will be built in the
course of time is certain that thousands OF pilgrims
viii then make of them, Is equally certain pfos'
pect which fills the old and orthodox Brahmins with
great alarm.
passed dIeary night, martyred by the teothache.
When the sun rose saw the Gauges IN the distance,
and the riches and beauty of the scenery beOkened my
approach to Aababad. The plain was covered with
deuqe Of the richest grain fast shooting into head aud
dotted with magnificent groves of neem and mango
trees The road was thronged with pilgrims returning
from the Festival and the most OF them women a well
as men, carried large earthen jars Of Gauges water
suspended to the ends OF pole which rested on their
shoulders in spite of the tolls of the journey aud the
priyatiOns they must have undergone, they all had
composed coBtented look if the great object of their
lives had been accomplished.
In two lo,rs | reached the Allahabad Cantonmens.
but falling To find the residence OF Mr.. Owen, OF the
American Mission, directed the driver to take me to
the hotel On the way we passed through the native
town which abOunds in temples and shrlnes Flags
we're flying in all directions, drums beating and
several professions could be discovered marching over
the broad plain which ntervenes between the town and
the fort The day gloriousy clear aud balmy, and
the foliage OF the superb and tamarnd trees that
shade the town spaTkled in the light. | remembered
the story the MOhammedan COnquerors, who were so
enchanted with the beauty of the country, and so well
satisfied with the mild and peaceable demeanor Of the
inhabitants, who gave up the place without striking
blow that they named it Allahsbad-the City OF God
Is original name Priag, a Hindoo word sgnifylns
the Junction, on account OF the confluence OF the
Gauges and the Jumna.
The first face saw at the hotel was that of fellow
traveller acros. the Desert, whom had last seen at
Suez He had just come up from Calcutta, on his way
to Lahore saw but little Of him, as Dir. owen INSIST
ed ON my taking room in his house, where was again
on American soil on the banks Of the Jumna. have
rarely passed day more agreeaby than in his pleasant
family circle, which enlarged last evening by the
presence Of bis colleagues the Rev Messrs Shaw and
lisy The American Missionaries in India, wherever
have met them have been to what the Latin monks
in Palestine were but not like the latter with latent
hope of reward They all earnest Jealous and abO-
rous men, and some of them, among whom' may men
ton Mr. Owen and Mr.. Warren, of Agra are ripe scho
lars In the Oriental languages and literature.
Mr. Owen bad appointment TO preach 10 the natives
in the afternoon and accompanied him 10 the scene oil
the festival Oh the banks of the Ganges The climax OF
the occasion is past and the great body of the pilgrims
lave departed Tor their homes but there are st sew
eral Thousands encanped in and around the town. On
the plain the Gapges, stands an extemp0ie town.
consisting Of streets of booths kept by the NAIVE mer
chants who take care Of their temporal aud spiritual
welfare at the same time, with dexterty which would
do credit to Yankee Upon mounting dyke which
has been erected restrain the water Of the Gauges
during iuundatons again behed the Holy River and
its sandy and desoate shores. twas indeed cherries
proslect-a tubd feed in the midst, aud hot dreary
clare Of white sand on either side The bank VI the
river from the point where stood 10 its junction with
the Jumna-a distance Of nearly half mlle-was COW
cred with shrIes flags and the tents OF tAkees winch
consisted merely Of cotton cloth thrown over piece
OF bamboo. There were hundreds OF so-csed nOy men,
naked except single cotton reg aud with their bodies
covered with ashes or yellow powder which gave them
an appearance truly hdeous Their hair was long ani
matted and there Wild seam IN their eyes Whlch
satisfied ne that their iaIatca character Vas not az
sumed Many Of them were young men, win Keen
spirited iaces but the token OF incpient mono
g4a Az %
GROUND or il the shade Of their rude tents rapt in holy
distraction buG the most Of them walked about IN
siess way display ing their disgusting figures to the
Multitude.
The shrines OF which there were great numbers we're
taudry affairs OF tnse and coored paper with coarse
figures ofMatadeo Gancsh, Hanuman and other deite'
Many we're adorned with flowers, and had been recently
refreshed With tie water Of the Ganges was struck
with the figure Of an old gray bearded saint who was ex-
pouI ding tie Yedss 10 Brahmn, who, seated cross
legged under large umbrella, read sentence after sen
tence OF the acrtd writing The old fellow showed 70
much apparent sincerity and satisfaction, and was 80
fluent in Lis explanations, that was quite si.h
him Indeed, there not the slightest approach 70
leyity manifested by any one present
We threaded the crowd Of ghastly Jogeea, Hosalns
end other sshy akeers, to the Place oil hAirN
enclosed spot containing about an acre and nail Oh
Grand Here the heads and boards OF the pilgrims are
lorn million Of years in Paradise being given BY the
gods 10 return for every hair offered up lhe gSlh1
within the enclosure carpeted with hair ana ai
tod that on great occasions t IL Literally Anee
Tbere were only two persons undergoing the operation
ard as wished 10 inspect It closely, entered the
enclosure When you consider the repugnance Snlcn
the Hndoos have toward destroying animal me- you WIZ
comprehend that did not venture among 80 ucu hAir
without soue hesitation. fellow win mean Of lnicA
isrk oks ana bushy beard had just seated himself Oh
The earth We asked him who be was and whence he
cane. He was Brshmin from FqttehPore' who had
made pilgrimage fiOm Hurdvsr' where ne had hied