VI. SHE MISSED A THRONE
A pilgrimage from Bengal to Benares and Mathura had more of romance and even of perils in the olden times than a voyage from Calcutta to the North Cape or New York to-day. Every new town had its attractions, every temple claimed worship and gifts, every annual fair by a sacred river was a gathering of races. Women who ordinarily never left their village made long journeys on foot, or by boat or bullock cart, when going on pilgrimage; and they traversed the whole of Northern India with its jungles and hills, its cultivated fields and crowded cities. And when they returned to their native village, perhaps after months of travel, they had wonderful tales to tell by the evening fire to listening fellow-villagers about many lands and many peoples.
Nobo Kumar's widow had set out, however, never to return to Debipur. A group of women followed in her train, and were enabled by her bounty to visit the sacred places of Northern India which every Hindu woman longs to see. Hemlata, and Saibalini, too, had some female companions and attendants, and Sirish and Gokul Das, accompanied with a suitable guard.
The journey to the banks of the Ganges was performed by land, the ladies of Debipur being carried in covered litters, and others following on foot or in bullock carts. The Ganges was crossed, and the whole party arrived at Rajmahal.
A halt of several days was made there, for Sirish
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