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2
WARS OF THE RAJAS.
[Chap. 1.

2. After some time[1] this lake, called Bucca Raya Samudram became so full of water that the two (maravas) sluices did not suffice, and were rushing in a flood. When the (āyagāndlu) petty village officers and the townsmen came and beheld this, a [goddess] possessed a woman: and she exclaimed I am Ganga-Bhavāni. If you will feed me with a human sacrifice, I will stop here: if not I will not stop.

While (1) the villagers[2] and the elders took counsel about making the sacrifice, (9) Ganga Devi possessed (8) a girl, (7) not yet grown up, named Musalamma; she was the (6) seventh and (5) youngest daughter-in-law of (4) Basi Reddi (3) who dwelt (2) at Bukka Raya Samudram: [the goddess (11) said to her] (10) Become thou the sacrifice.

She accordingly was prepared to become a sacrifice: she adorned herself [as a bride] with yellow and red paint: wearing a pure vest and holding a lime in her hand. She set out [in procession] from [her] home, and came up on the embankment. She adored the feet of her father-in-law, Basi Reddi, and did homage to the townsfolk. She said I have received the commands of Ganga-Bhavāni: "I am going to become a sacrifice." Thirty feet from the "Embassy, sluice" there was now (gummada) a gap: between which and the bank a chasm had opened. She went through the chasm and stood therein:[3] and they poured in earth and stones upon her (lit. upon the bank): so the bank stood [firm and safe][4]

3. The following day this Musalamma who had thus become[5] a Sacrifice, possessed the females of the village: she said "Make a


  1. Page 2.
  2. The numerals here placed shew how the words are arranged in the original.
  3. Literally, by her going and standing.
  4. This is one of many stories that go to prove the rite of human sacrifices in ancient days. Among bramins such practices have always been denounced as crimes: but the local petty deities or pariar gods are honoured by slaughtering goats instead of human sacrifices, to this day.
  5. Such a sacrifices, as also the burning alive of a widow, was always represented as a voluntary and meritorious suicide.