New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-10-25
rna Dancing eIrlls rank.

Many years ago the jungle which stretches for
miles towards the west OF Poomba, in India, in
tested by serpents Of such deadly venom and erocty
as is now only 70 be- found ~ the nala or cobra de
capelo--a sacred emblem. and worshipped symbol
Of the Deity. But unlike this holy reptile, the snakes
in the neighborhood were diaholical spirits, the
cursed offspring Of the giant Mammal, destroyed by
mighty silva. Now unhappllY, when silva, or Ma
hadeo slew the monstrous oppressor be neglected 10
scorch up the blood which flowed from the wounds
Of Mammal, from every drop Of which sprung
vicious reptile. The oathsome twinheaded serpent,
spotted with leprosY the whip-sna6e with gray and
white bands, whose tail is spiked with poisonous
therns the greensnake that darts from the trees on
the passerby the variegated carpet-snake whose
bite Stays ere the bitten hes had time to shrek the
black-snake whose fangs emit a Siekeninp OdOF that
fascinates the bird on the bough and many Others
with scorpions and centipedes were engendered by
The blood Of the giant fostering in the suns heat.
And when silva, gTieved at this omission, and with
held by the Highest from any future iucanta ion,
witnessed the misery that followed and The de5oa-
ton of the country, he was permitted to prophesy
that the serpent brood should only be extinct when
priestess OF the pagods, young, beautiful. brave and
chsse, resisting the temptations OF the world, should
resign herself sacrifice to death by daring to lead
the swarm of reptiles to the lake OF the JinS on the
margin Of the forest After many years, fair young
damsel joined the troop Of dancing girls, expressing
her determination to offer her life at The tank of the
Jins. Two years were passed in holy publication ere
the Buahmins consented to the sacrifice, When per-
ceiYing how every temptation that was made to
withdraw her from the life Of purity and worship she
had adopted was resisted they agreed.
We viii not delay our account by describing the
grandeur of the procession and the wonders Of the
eayalcade that were prepared to do her honor Obey
ing, no Doubt she voice Of Brahma within her. she
refused to mount the sacred elephant that was in
readiness, and commanding the Brahmans the proud
Byragees the Suniassees and other votaries Of that
creed to let her precede them, she stepDed forth
alone into the jungle, no other weapon in her hand
than the nina or lutte, to which she was accustomed
TO chant her songs the service of the gods she
entered the forest, followed slowly by the mute and
wondering crowd, every tree seemed to rustic with
life every tree became alive with Yid and horrible
reptiles the air was etd with their BREATH and the
only sound was sibatiOn. But 10 at the first chord
Of her yna at the first gush of music that issued from
her throat the wind became fragrant as the utter
ance OF multitude Of roses and the menaciug Kisses
sank into silence, only broken by her glorious voice.
Then, too the terrible creatures, ranging themselves
obedienty out Of the track without erecting crest
or vibrating forked tongue, followed her grayely as
she proeeeded nor did she falter steu or pause in
her song, till she reached the lake There in waving
her hand in farewell to the crowd she again began
70 sing, and stepping into the water was followed
by the noxious swarm of serpents. When she had
attained the depth OF her waist she took off her tiara
and throwing it into the waves, exclaimed aSiya
the Destroyer, come now and complete the death of
the ant and his pr 6 n.y. Whereat the whole
brood OF snakes sank dead into the depths of the
pool. When the water had now gained her neck, she
cast forward her vinai exclamng 'Yishnu the Pre-
server, let nothing that is poisonous henCetOrWard
be found in this lake y And then with sound OF
music stranged in her pure throat by the permitted
death, she disappeared beneath the waters. Iu that
spot, where she was last seen rocky altar has arisen
whose foot swathed by the rich foliage and scented
cups OF the sacred lotus and tther come the devOut
the sick, and the soIrowul to invoke the assistance
of the gentle divinity which presides over what is
now called hunchun. ChurloO, the Dancing Girls
Tank