The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-26
juGGERNAuT's JEWELS.
"o" the Honor of the Idol Was Defended
by Its Faithful Priests

- AeS FieSlS.
Many years ago / was auartered a
Fnzarabad, an important military sta
ZION about one hundred and fifty mile
from the Madras coast. Unfortunate
~, at the time | was there, gambilu,
ana betting were much in vogue, anl
many men plunged and came to grie
over their debts of honor. Of all tina
gay company, nobody was more popu
lar and better-liked by both men ant
women than young Fitzroy; but, un
iorscnately, he lost money at tn.
races, tried to recover himself at III.
whist table, but failed, got into I'll,
hands OF the Marwarrees, and 90
deeper and deeper into the mire O
debt. At length he told the narrator
that he intended to so to England t.
raise money. will you come ava,
with mePs he asked. Give out tina;
we have taken ten days leave for some
shooting, and see me down to The
coast. If | go off alone, | shall b.
stopped by those cursed Marwarrees. ,
After some hesitation ] agreed. He
sent In his application for leave tc
Europe on private affairs, and | gave
out that was going on ten days
shooting expedition
A week later with a couple of ton.
gas, we had started on our long and
wearying journey to the coast, where
my poor yo,ng friend hoped to pick
up steamer to take him to Europe
On the second day We met crowds OF
people tramping along. In reply te
our Inquiries we were told they were
all returning from the great festival Of
Juggernaut. held at Puri, now only
some three days journey from where
we were. The tongawalla kept us in
terested with graphic description of
the festival and of the great god,
which was especially remarkable for
the wonderful jewels it possessed
two emerald eyes ofinestimable value,
its lips formed of the finest rubbies in
the world, and a necklace of priceless
pearls. he sun was sinking as al
last We neared the town of Puri. and
we could see the pinnacles of the tenn
pies rise above the trees which sur.
rounded the place. Half a mile the
other side of the town stood the
Travellers Bungalc. where we
intended putting up for the
night. A more uncomforta.
BILE meal never ate than
the dinner which was served up to us
that evening, and | was quite thankful
when the poor lad said he was dead
beat and would go off to bed. Myowu
room was on the other side of the
bungalow. and l took my pipe and sal
smoking in the veranda. The moon
was just rising when l thought l saw
the figure of a European stealing along
the wall of the compound. Strange,
thought, and wondered what other
European there could be here at the
same time. An idea struck me- and
went across to my companions room.
There was nobody in it, the bed was
undisturbed. threw down my pipe,
and rushed out into the moonlight. A
few seconds later l was out in the
road, and turned instinctively in the
direction of the temple.
could not see the young officer; but
ran on until | reached the wall of the
temple compound-an enormous cOun-
ty-yard of paved stone, on which were
lying a number of priests, their white
garments wrapped round their heads
and bodies. In the BACKGROUND
was placed temple after temple, but in
the very center stood one solitary
shrine raised on three separate flights
of steps. aud inside | could see the
great black god raised on three other
smaller flights of colOred marble steps.
The moonbeams shone directly on the
god and lit up the emerald eye and
ruby lips, while the pearl necklace
glowed on his huge black bosom. To
my unutterable horror | saw my COM
panion walking right across the court
yard. My tongue Glove to the roof
of my mouth. | dared not shout even
if | could have raised my voice. A
chastity horror took hold of me as the
idea struck me that in his madness my
poor friend intended to save his honor
by the greater dishonor of robbing the
idol. Speechless l saw him mount
step after step, and the next
moment | saw him enter the
sacred shrine a, ross the threshold
Of which no other foot but that of the
Brahmin has ever passed. Nine steps
led up to the god. He paused. tried
TO shout, but no sound would come.
He raised his hand as if to tear Off the
pearl necklace. 1t was still above his
reach. His foot then touched the sew
enth. Oh God! can ever forget the
sight? In the moonlight flashed out
two arms covered with a hundred
nay. two Acknowledgements, and
elasped the daring youth to the
black gods breast At the same
moment the sound of gong broke the
stiffness of the night, and in one mo-
ment the priests had cast off their COW
erings and were rushing to the shrine.
Two minutes later | saw the amazed
and Mortified priests carrying out the
life;ess body of the dishonored En-.
elishman, and | turned and fed
Times of India.
"