Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-07-08

tblrsts for blood, it is given to her. in
the hope that she Ii ay Ire appeased and
induced to spare ii life of man. wo-
man, or child whom sue had doomed to
death.
A colony of large taIlless monkeys,
mum bering many thousands and all re-
garded as living gods and goddesses is
connected with the temple. They wan
der around all over the neighborhood.
through the temple, and are seen in the
bazaars, upon the flat roofs of houses,
In the gardens, and everywhere. The
visitors to the temple feed them liberal
~ with grain, fruit, and sweetmeats.
Inc gardens and even the shops of the
open baZaars a. o often ruined by them.
III a European or Mohammedan were
to Kill one of the MONKEYS it would
probably lead to disturbance of the
peace of the city. A similar colony or,
rather, two such colonies of MONKEYS
are found in the city of Muttra, a few
hundred miles north of Benares. The
two colonies are of one species and
seem to have divided the city between
them. The natives of Muttra are not
able to distinguish the monkeys of one
colony from those of the other when
they meet any of their simian fellow
citizens. Not so with the MONKEYS,
however, for if any member of one
colony venture to invade the territory
OF the others, a desperate battle begins,
In which all the monkeys of the two
colonies engage.
One of the most interesting sights fo1
foreigners in Benares is an obser gntory
erected about 10 years ago, and still
In good state OF preservation. 1t was
built by the order of Java Singh,
Ralputana chief, and rises high above
one of the CHATS or flights of stone steps
from the river to the top of the cliff,
The instruments were also constructed
under the immediate guidance of Jaya
Singh. They are of vast size, built of
solid masonry, and covered with fine
and durable plaster, which gave to the
surface of the instruments when new
the appearance of enamel One of the
instruments is called "Yantra Samrat,"
or ''prince of Instruments 1t con-
sists of wall sc feet long, Al feet
broad, exactly in the plane of the
meridian. The wall slopes from the
Southern end, where it is 6 feet 4!
inches high, up to the Northern end,
where it is % feet 81 inches high, and
points directly to the North pole. In
the centre of the wall are stone steps
to ascend to the top of it. On the
eastern and western sides of this wall
there is a mural quadrant feet IL
inches broad and u feet thick. Both
sides of each of the arcs are marked
with divisions of six degrees each, each
of which is subdlvided into SIX equal
parts, and each 2 inches in breadth.
The radius of the lower edge of each of
the arcs is 9 feet 81 inches. By means
of this instrument the distance from
the meridian and the declination of any
planet or star and the sun and also the
right ascension of n star may be known.
Benares contains several wells and
tanks, square or oblong in shape. Each
of the four sides is bounded by flights
of stone steps along the whole length.
All these wells are regarded as sacred.
There are several, such as the Well OF
Fate, the Well of Virtue, and the Well
of Serpents, &c. The Manikarnika
Well, or Well Of the Ear Jewel, is the
most wonderful. 1t consists of large
Oblong excavation, the four sides of
which are flights of stone steps leading
down twenty-fiv or thirty feet to the
water of well. On the North side of
the steps is an image of the godNishnu,
and close to the water on the west side
are sixteen small affairs, all in row,
on which pilgrims and others place Of
ferings to their ancestors. The well
contains only few feet of water, ex-
cept in the rainy season; on account of
the constant use of it by thousands 1t
is exceedingly foul. All pilgrims on
their annual visit to Benares inquire
anXiously for this well. They believe
that by plunging beneath its filthy
waters all their sins, however heinous,
will undoubtedly be washed away.
There is no place in Benares or in
India, I suppose, held in such super
stitious reverence as this well. The
legend regarding its origin is so silly
that it is hard to believe how it could
have been written in earnest 1t Is
known from the legend given in the
Kashi khanda, SanskrIt book, that
the god Vishnu dug the well with hls
discus, and instead of water filed
it with the perspiration from his own
body. He then went TO the north
side and began to practice austerIties.
In the meantime the god Mahades ar
rived, and, looking into the well, saw
in it the beauty of hundred millions
of suns, and was SO enraptured that he
at once broke out into loud praises of
Vishnu. In his Joy Mahades declared
that Whatever gift he might ask of him
he would grant. Pleased at the offer,
Vishnu replied that his request was that
Mahades should always reside with
him. Mahades hearing this was great
ly fiattered, and his body shook with
delight. From the violence of the o.
tion an earring fell from his ear into
the well. From this circumstance
Msaades gave 1t the name of Manikar-
niI-o ean Well Of the Ear Jewel