Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/232

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Bhawānī, the Mahomedans must forego the use of beef the moment they enlist themselves under her banners; and though they may read their khoran, they are not suffered to invoke the name of Mahommed.

"The khoran is still their civil code, and they are governed by its laws in all matters of inheritance, marriage, &c.

"Your obedient servant,
"H.[1]"


I have been greatly interested in the above account: there are numerous Thugs in and around Cawnpore; they never attack Europeans; but the natives are afraid of travelling alone, as a poor bearer with one month's wages of four rupees has quite sufficient to attract them. They seldom bury them in these parts, but having strangled and robbed their victim, they throw him down a well, wells being numerous by the side of the high roads.

In 1844, I visited the famous temple of Bhawānī at Bindachun, near Mirzapore. See the portrait of the Devi, entitled "Bhagwan;" and the sketch of the "Temple of Bhawānī," in the Second Volume.

  1. From the Calcutta Literary Gazette, inserted in the Government Gazette,
    October 7th, 1830.