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throne. I was told that there were about 120 persons on the car altogether. The idol is a block of wood having a frightful visage painted black, with a distended mouth of a bloody colour. His arms are of gold and he is dressed in gorgeous apparel. The other two idols are of a white and yellow colour.–Five elephants preceded the three towers, and having bells hanging to their caparisons, which sounded musically as they moved.
I went on in the procession, close by the tower of Moloch; which, as it was drawn with difficulty, grated on its many wheels harsh thunder. After a few minutes it stopped; and now the worship of the god began.—A high-priest mounted on the car in front of the idol, and pronounced his obscene stanzas in the ears of the people; who responded at intervals in the strain. ‘These songs,’ said he, ‘are the delight of the god. His car can only move when he is pleased with the song.–The car moved on a little way, and then stopped. A boy about twelve years was then brought forth to attempt something yet more lascivious, if peradventure the god would move. The child perfected the praise of his idol with such ardent expression and gesture, that the god was pleased, and the multitude emitting a sensual yell of delight, urged the car along—After a few minutes it stopped again. An aged minister of the idol then stood up, and with a long rod in his hand, which he moved with indecent action, completed the variety of this disgusting exhibition.—I felt a
