Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-08-15
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"A SACRIFICE 70 BHOHhNl
n Story of Peasants Of India.
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Sitaram Dhas left his hut at Garlic. {
dawn he carried on his shouldc.- his
rude plow. consisting OF two stron.
POLES, the one forming the beam aud
ths other. shod with iron at o<,,. Snd.
serving nt once sss tho share and the
single handle. lie drove his two IittIS
builocks. already yoked. before him.
His wife. Mana. AMI his sister. l:rbi
shr1lly wished him luck in his DAYS
plowing. and Ramchand his little
o-year-old boy proudly bore S.ta-all' :
great bamboo bow and quiver or ar
rows, for who could tell what evil
beast father might find in The clearing
which he had made in the forest. not
TO speak OF the chance OF Il line buck
coming his way TO provide them with
q feastl
Arrived at the clenring. Sitaram firm
ly lashed the beam of the plow TO the
yoke. slung the bow and quivrr al his
back and stuck the handle OF his little
Santhai AK in his girdle. Then. driving
the iron shod point OF the plowshare
into the ground and cheering on the lit
tie bullocks with an inspiriting cry. the
plowman began his work Back and
forward the little bullocks plodded all
the long morning The sun rose high
in heaven and poured down It's rays
pitilessly on the little clearing OF four
or hve acres. Sitaram was himself
ready for the midday rest when little
Ramchand appeared with a great arm
ful or coarse grass which he had cut
The plow was stopped in the furrOw.
the grass thrown down before the hun
cry bullocks, Sitaram lay down in a
shady spot to sleep through the heat Of
the day. and the boy started OF to
gather sticks for the fire at home.
When the sun began to sink toward
the west. Sitaram awoke. He had had
q dream which disturbed his mind. He
though he saw the great black image
OF the goddess Bhowani. with her
necklace of grinning white human
skulls, standing before him rs he had
seen II in the old temple that stood.
feared and reverenced by all his tribe
far In the recesses Of the hills The
goddess said not word. hut she looked
at him with a frowning and terrible
countenance and brandiShed before his
eyes the great sacrificial knife she held
In one OF her hands.
Sitnram trembled IN every limb. He
dared not try TO guess what that awful
apparition might portend. The goddess
loved human sacrifices. and. though
the Sahib Log. who were lords OF the
land, did their best To prevent them.
be knew that children Were sometimes
offered. But the plowing must be fin
ah no hoN ~
begin sowing Ia the meantime he
would try 10 forget his dream. Again,
with voice and goad. he urged the bull
locks TO their work. The last furrow
would soon be turned. IT was nearly
dark when the bullocks got 10 the end
OF the last furrow and Sitaram stop
Red them. He had scarcely let go the
hAOdle OF the plow when something
that in the uncertain light looked like
q grayish pun OF smoke flew out OF
the darkness OF the forest and allghted
with q crash on one or the hullocks.
Sitaram snatched AT the strong bam-
boo bow and lifted sn arrow on the
string, for he well knew that il was
one OF q pair OF tigers that the shikaris
Of all the country round had been
tracking for weeks past. The beast
had killed the strong young bullock
that Mana's father had given to her
husband. Sitaram drew the bow with
ali his force. holding I'm his hand a sec
ond arrow in case the first should miss
It's mark. The tiger lay on tho body of
the PROSTATE bullock. greedily drinking
the blood which flowed from wound
in the animals throat The arrow flew
true 10 its aim and buried half its
length in the great cats shoulder. But
IL had been shot from behind. and Sita-
ram knew he had given neither n NOR
tai nor a disabling wound. The tiger
snarled savagely and bounded into the
darkness. followed by the second ar
row.
Sitaram sorrowfully released the sur
viving bullock from the yoke and drove
the trembling animal home. leaving the
plow and tackle behind. The night
closed In, and should the tiger return
20 feed on the carcass OF the dead bull
lock there would be no chance OF an
other shot. So a family council was
held In the little hut. Mana and Rebi.
after the fashion OF the Snntbai wom-
Ell. freely gave their opinions. 1t was
decided that I'm the morning Sitaram
should go and seek counsel Of old Ra-
jandra I,ai Bhaai. the tribal priest who
served the feigplc OF the great goddess
Bhowani
The wisdom and Sapctity OF Raiandra